Journey to the Sunnyside | Mindful Drinking & Alcohol Health

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A Journey from Alcohol Struggles to Pro Bodybuilder w/ Anne Marie Chaker Feb 27, 2025

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Anne Marie Chaker spent 27 years as a journalist at The Wall Street Journal, but behind the success, she was struggling. After a series of personal losses, alcohol became her way to cope—until a chance encounter in a hotel gym changed everything. In this episode, she shares how strength training helped her break free from extremes, transform her mindset, and rebuild her life. We also dive into insights from her upcoming book, LIFT, where she challenges the “skinny ideal” and explores why building strength is the real key to confidence and longevity. If you’ve ever struggled with moderation, fitness, or finding balance, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible.

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ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

10-Minute Mondays: Why Motivation Won’t Save You (And What Actually Works) Feb 24, 2025

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Motivation gets you started, but it won’t keep you going. That’s why so many people start cutting back on alcohol, feel amazing at first, and then suddenly hit a wall. So what do you do when the excitement wears off and old habits creep back in? In this episode, we’ll break down why motivation fades (it’s not your fault), the science behind it, and five powerful strategies to stay on track—without relying on willpower. If you’ve ever thought Why is this getting harder?, this one’s for you.

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The Dark Side of Discipline: Why You’re Focused on the Wrong Thing w/ Craig Ballantyne Feb 20, 2025

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Most of us have been told that success comes down to grinding harder, waking up at 5 AM, and pushing through with sheer willpower. But what if I told you that might actually be holding you back?

Today, I’ve got Craig Ballantyne on the show. If you don’t know Craig, he’s the guy who’s helped over 250 entrepreneurs become millionaires—not by doing more, but by focusing on the right things. He’s the author of The Perfect Day Formula, Unstoppable, and his brand-new book The Dark Side of Discipline, where he completely flips the script on what it really takes to succeed. His work’s been featured in Forbes, Inc., Men’s Health, and he’s coached high performers across business, fitness, and personal development. We’re gonna dive into why most people are wasting their discipline, how extreme self-control can actually backfire, and what you should be focusing on instead.

But before we get into all that, Craig’s got a powerful story when it comes to alcohol. He was a binge drinker. He had crippling anxiety. He even landed in the ER—twice. And he’s going to break down exactly how he made the shift, what finally clicked, and how he changed his entire environment without ditching his friends. So if you’ve ever struggled with discipline, willpower, or figuring out how to actually make real changes stick—this episode is gonna hit home.

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7 Scientific Reasons You Feel Guilty After Drinking (And How to Fix It) Feb 17, 2025

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Ever wake up feeling guilty after drinking, even if nothing really happened? That regret isn’t random—it’s the result of what alcohol does to your brain. This episode breaks down the neuroscience, psychology, and brain chemistry behind why drinking can leave you feeling anxious and self-critical the next day. Plus, I’ll share practical ways to break the guilt cycle so you can move forward without the unnecessary regret.

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Why You Keep Making Drinking Decisions You Regret (And How to Stop) Feb 13, 2025

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Ever told yourself you’d only have one drink—only to wake up regretting it? Or started the week determined to cut back, only to throw that plan out the window by Friday? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking down why your brain keeps tricking you into making drinking decisions you regret and, more importantly, how to break the cycle. We’ll explore how different “versions” of you—morning-you, evening-you, social-you—battle over your choices, why decision fatigue and emotional triggers make it harder to follow through, and how social settings influence what and how much you drink. But here’s the good news: once you understand these patterns, you can outsmart them. We’re sharing practical, science-backed strategies to help you recognize these mental shifts in real time and set yourself up for success—without relying on willpower alone. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I keep making the same mistakes with drinking?” this episode is for you.

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You’ll Never Watch Super Bowl Beer Ads the Same Way Again (Top 5 Breakdown) Feb 12, 2025

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Super Bowl Sunday and beer ads go hand in hand—but have you ever thought about why? In this episode, we’re taking a fun, eye-opening look at the top 5 beer commercials from this year’s Super Bowl. From celebrity cameos to humor and nostalgia, these ads do more than just entertain—they shape how we think about beer, socializing, and even the game itself. I’ll break down the clever psychology behind these ads, why they work so well, and how they reinforce drinking culture in ways we don’t always notice. Plus, one ad this year totally flipped the script—and it might just change how you see beer commercials moving forward.

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10-Minute Mondays: The #1 Fear After Cutting Back (And How to Beat It) Feb 10, 2025

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Maybe you’ve taken a break, cut back, and you’re feeling great. But then the doubt creeps in: Can I really trust myself around alcohol? What if I slip and end up right back where I started? In this episode, we break down why that fear happens, how your brain is wired for habits, and three simple steps to rebuild self-trust so you can make confident choices without fear, guilt, or second-guessing.

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How Fitness and Mindset Can Redefine Your Relationship with Alcohol w/ Maggie Jenson Feb 06, 2025

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Maggie Jenson’s approach to alcohol reduction focuses on wellness, fitness, and mindset—without strict rules or cold-turkey restrictions. In this conversation, she explains why traditional recovery methods didn’t resonate with her, how movement and nutrition played a key role in her transformation, and what helped her reshape her habits in a way that finally felt sustainable. If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol or want to take a new approach, this episode will give you a fresh perspective

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From Trauma to Transformation: Breaking Free and Taking Back Control Feb 05, 2025

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Maggie Jenson, Behavior Change Specialist and founder of Magnify Progressive Wellness, joins us to share her deeply personal journey—growing up with an alcoholic mother, experiencing trauma, and how it shaped her relationship with alcohol. She opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to reframe her past, break free from generational patterns, and ultimately find purpose in helping others. This is a raw and insightful conversation about mindset shifts, overcoming regret, and how trauma, when reframed, can become a source of strength.

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10-Minute Mondays: Stop Cravings and Self-Sabotage in 3 Simple Steps Feb 03, 2025

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Maybe you crushed Dry or Dry-ish January, or maybe it didn’t go as planned. Either way, February is a fresh start. When stress hits or cravings creep in, it’s easy to slip back into old habits—but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this 10-Minute Monday, I’m sharing a simple but powerful strategy to stop cravings and self-sabotage in their tracks and realign with your best self—whether you're keeping the momentum going or ready for a reset. Tune in now and set yourself up for success.

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