This Naked Mind Podcast

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of alcohol dependence, addiction, suicidal thoughts, mental health struggles, and relapse.

Why we drink too much isn't always obvious—what if the answer lies deeper than willpower or self-control? Dr. Charles Knowles, a world-renowned surgeon and author, spent decades trapped in a cycle he couldn't explain: 10 years of fun, 10 years of fun with consequences, and 10 years struggling to stop. As a high-achieving professional, he looked nothing like the stereotype of someone with alcohol dependence, yet he faced the same battle millions experience in silence. Through his journey to find freedom from alcohol and extensive research, Dr. Knowles discovered that understanding how we learn to drink, and why some people can't unlearn it, is the key to breaking free. In this episode, Dr. Knowles joins Coach Cole Harvey to explore the science behind gray area drinking, the difference between positive and negative reinforcement, and why shame is the biggest barrier to change.

Dr. Charles Knowles and Coach Cole discuss :

"Light turning on" moments: when alcohol feels like instant peace for the first time

Why being sober means having peace of mind, not just being alcohol-free

The powerful analogy: trying not to drink is like being deprived of water in the desert

How the "memory super league" in your brain makes drinking patterns nearly impossible to break

Gray area drinking and the role of worry, cognitive dissonance, and control

Alcohol reliance as a missing piece in how we talk about modern drinking habits

Why dry challenges work best when they become a learning process (not just "white-knuckling")

Finding out who you are without alcohol after years of drinking shaped your identity

And other topics…

Episode links:

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Related Episodes:

Gray Area Drinking with Jolene Park | Naked Life Story | EP 47 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-47-naked-life-story-jolene-park/

Are there normal drinkers? | Reader Question | EP 400 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-400-reader-question-are-there-normal-drinkers/

Why do I keep going back to drinking? | Reader Question | EP 570 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-570-readers-questions-why-do-i-keep-going-back-to-drinking/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains mentions of chronic illness, disordered eating, self-harm, and the death of a loved one.

Can learning to love yourself unconditionally be the missing piece in your alcohol-free journey? Jean, 65 days alcohol-free, worries about her sister's upcoming visit and how to maintain their bond without wine. Coach Cole helps her realize their connection runs deeper than shared beverages and guides her to communicate authentically before the visit. Meanwhile, Megan struggles with relapse, rebellion against authority, and decades of self-judgment stemming from her childhood diabetes diagnosis. Coach Zoe helps Megan understand how her adaptive child's protective rebellion has morphed into adult self-sabotage, including using her mother's care as a hiding place to avoid addressing her drinking. Through powerful coaching, Megan discovers that giving herself unconditional love and attention is the key to releasing her need for alcohol. 

In Jean’s Session: 

“What’s different is just the liquid” reframe

Calling ahead: why honesty beats hiding

Staying warm and welcoming without self-betrayal

Connection activities to replace happy hour

Scripts that say “no pressure, no judgment”

Learning to love yourself unconditionally while holding true to your values

…and more

In Megan’s Session: From authority-resistance to authentic choice

A daily 20-minute anchor for energy and clarity

Naming grief and care-giving as hiding places

The “I’m choosing to drink over you” pause tool

Resetting after slips with compassion, not shame

Learning to love yourself unconditionally through every season

…and more

Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning.

Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/

Zoe Ewart is a Certified Naked Mind Senior Coach who brings her experience and understanding to help with the tricky parts of life’s big changes. Her coaching gives you an enjoyable, light-hearted, and safe environment to effortlessly take back control of alcohol so you can feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Zoe taught Pilates for 15 years. She has four adult children and more animals than the Ark ever had.

Learn more about Coach Zoe: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/zoe-ewart/

Episode links:nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

How To Show Up For Yourself and Stop Drinking - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E831 - https://thisnakedmind.com/how-to-show-up-for-yourself-and-stop-drinking-e831/

 Sharing the Truth About Alcohol (How To Talk With Family) – Reader Question - E396 – https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-396-reader-question-how-can-i-tell-my-family-the-truth-about-alcohol/

Learning To Trust Yourself Again – Alcohol Freedom Coaching – E746 – https://thisnakedmind.com/learning-to-trust-yourself-again-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e746/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

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Shopify:Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠ 

Quince:Go to ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

BetterHelp:BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/nakedmind

Do you find yourself wondering how to shut your brain off without alcohol when social situations feel overwhelming? Glenn spent decades believing alcohol was essential—from watching his parents' basement bar parties to using beer as a social crutch in college. By COVID, weekend-only drinking had become daily drinking, and he was hiding bottles from his wife. Traditional counseling focused on willpower and substitution didn't work. The therapists hadn't experienced what he was going through, and Glenn felt like they were silently judging him: "Why can't you just stop?" When he discovered The Path, everything shifted. Instead of demanding he quit immediately, the program invited him to experiment, gather feedback instead of facing failure, and explore his emotional relationship with alcohol. It took a full year, but three weeks before his membership ended, Glenn had his aha moment. Glenn joins Coach Cole to share his journey from childhood exposure to genuine freedom, proving that awareness and curiosity can accomplish what willpower never could.

In this episode, Glenn and Cole discuss:

Learning that alcohol equals fun from parents who met working at a brewery

Being the shy introvert who always held a beer to avoid conversation

Boundaries that worked until COVID turned the house into a bar

Why therapists who never drank couldn't relate to the struggle

Skipping the book and joining The Path for coaching and community support

Reframing drinking as data points and feedback instead of failures

Discovering how to shut your brain off without alcohol through journaling and awareness

The aha moment that came three weeks before his year-long Path ended

Building real social confidence without pre-drinking or hiding bottles

And more breakthroughs on the journey to freedom...

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Calming the Type A Mind Without Alcohol - Jennifer’s Naked Life - E804 - https://thisnakedmind.com/how-to-turn-your-brain-off-without-drinking-e804/

The Path to Inner Clarity - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E748 - https://thisnakedmind.com/the-path-to-inner-clarity-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e748/

Why Willpower Fails: Cracking the Code to Emotion-Driven Behavior Change - Reader Question - E668 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-668-readers-question-why-willpower-fails-cracking-the-code-to-emotion-driven-behavior-change/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠https://www.hungryroot.com/mind

Shopify:Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠ 

Quince:Go to ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

BetterHelp:BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/nakedmind

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of stroke, death of a spouse, and grief.

What happens when you stop trying to think your way through living alcohol-free and start feeling your way forward? Ann felt trapped by an endless to-do list and the fear that alcohol would "attack" when her defenses were down. Jamie clung to her nightly glass of wine as the last piece of normalcy after losing her husband and surviving a stroke. Both women were stuck in their heads, analyzing and overthinking instead of experiencing their journey. In this episode, you'll witness the moment everything shifts. Coach Hayley guides Ann through reframing her entire approach to recovery, helping her discover how to move from thinking to feeling through powerful language shifts and self-compassion. Coach Cole helps Jamie see that prioritizing her health isn't about deprivation—it's about opening new doors.

In Ann’s Session:

Transforming fear of alcohol lurking around the corner into confidenceReframing "to-do lists" as "adventures that await"Understanding liberation versus fixation with alcoholConnecting with your body instead of living in your headShifting language from "I need to" to "I get to"Recognizing personal gains instead of focusing on gapsHolding goals loosely to reduce overwhelm and fearAnd more topics…

In Jamie's Session:

Navigating life after stroke and loss of spouse without alcoholBreaking free when alcohol feels like your last piece of normalcyPrioritizing health as the foundation of recoveryUnderstanding choice versus deprivationDiscovering how to move from thinking to feeling during griefManaging stress and mental health alongside physical wellnessVisualizing the doors that open when one closesApproaching doubt and fear with curiosity instead of judgmentAnd more topics…

Hayley Scherders is a certified TNM Coach with training from the Canadian Addiction and Mental Health Association. Drawing from personal experiences, Hayley understands how tough change can be and provides a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space where her clients can feel supported. She believes that with the right mindset, anyone can change their life at any time.

Learn more about Coach Hayley: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/

Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning.

Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

How do I deal with death and grief without alcohol? - Reader Question - E262 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-262-reader-question-grief-without-alcohol/

What Rewiring the Brain Really Looks Like - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E807 - https://thisnakedmind.com/reprogramming-your-brain-after-quitting-drinking-e807/

What To Do When The Emotions Hit After You Quit Drinking – Alcohol Freedom Coaching – E845 – https://thisnakedmind.com/drinking-to-avoid-emotions-afc-e845/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠https://www.hungryroot.com/mind

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠ 

Quince:Go to ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

BetterHelp:BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/nakedmind

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses childhood trauma, parental abandonment, domestic abuse, substance use, and mental health topics.

Have you ever realized you're doing to someone you love exactly what hurt you most as a child? That gut-wrenching moment hit Heather hard when she recognized she was neglecting her son the same way her alcohol dependent father neglected her. Growing up, she watched her dad drink every night, becoming hostile and unavailable while she desperately needed connection. Her mother had already left, and the bullying at school made her feel even more alone. By her twenties, Heather was chasing belonging through party drugs and alcohol, convinced that being the life of the party meant she'd finally be accepted. Fast forward to her divorce, and she was drinking two bottles of wine alone every night, passing out in front of Netflix, unable to be present for her son. But the real wake-up call came when her child witnessed her having a trauma response while intoxicated. That's when Heather joined The Path and discovered what finding connection without alcohol actually means. Through coaching calls, self-compassion, and community support, she learned that genuine connection starts with being safe within yourself—not performing for others or numbing your pain.

Heather and Coach Cole discuss:

Heather’s early memories of an unpredictable, drinking parent and the “Sunday blues” that still linger

How childhood bullying and self-sabotage formed a template for chasing approval and bracing for criticism

Becoming the designated driver, then later stepping into party culture, drugs, and chasing acceptance at any cost

Motherhood, isolation, and week-on/week-off parenting that turned wine into a nightly coping strategy

The breaking point meltdown that led Heather to seek real help instead of trying to “just stop” on her own

How The Path showed her that finding connection without alcohol is possible through safety, shared stories, and unconditional support

Rewriting generational patterns by parenting her son with emotional language, nervous-system tools, and open conversations about alcohol

Feeling “me is okay, me is cool” and stepping into a new season of confidence, self-trust, and genuine belonging

How Heather now seeks out like-minded people, creates connections from the inside out, and has more insights, reflections, and ah-ha moments

Episode links:nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

One Year No Beer – Andy’s Naked Life – E57 – https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-57-naked-life-story-andy-ramage/

Can I Just Take a Break From Alcohol? – Reader Question – E378 – https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-378-reader-question-can-i-just-take-a-break-from-alcohol/

Finding Your True Self and Building Genuine Connections Without Alcohol – Alcohol Freedom Coaching – E821 – https://thisnakedmind.com/building-genuine-connections-without-alcohol-e821/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at https://www.hungryroot.com/mind

Shopify:Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠ 

Quince:Go to ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

BetterHelp:BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/nakedmind