Work with me to prepare for your own Misogi:
👉 strongerwithout.uk/coaching

▶️ Join the next Stronger Without Weekend in Purbeck
A one-day reset for men ready to reconnect with nature, brotherhood, and their own potential. No phones or booze. Just presence.
👉 strongerwithout.uk/events/purbecks

📬 Subscribe to the Stronger Without Newsletter
Weekly reflections, honest stories, and actionable systems to help you show up fully. Be the first to see what is coming up next on the Podcast and for live events.
👉 https://strongerwithout.substack.com/subscribe


0:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Misogi
0:30 – Comfort Is Killing Us
1:07 – Army Training at 17: My First Misogi
5:00 – Modern Life: Comfort in the Corporate World
6:40 – Cold Showers & Sea Swims: Small Discomforts
7:56 – Discovering The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
8:50 – The Origin of Misogi: Japanese Purification Rituals
10:03 – Michael Easter’s Misogi in Alaska
11:02 – Why Doing Hard Things Makes Life Easier
12:00 – More Military Misogis: Sandhurst & South Wales
14:53 – What Is a Misogi? The Two Key Rules
16:07 – No Social Media Rule & Validation Culture
18:03 – Why Most Challenges Aren’t True Misogis
20:03 – My Personal Misogis: Walking Across England
21:23 – Undocumented Challenges from My World Bike Tour
23:02 – Comfort Statistics: Obesity & Softness in the West
24:05 – Why Most Men Lack a Rite of Passage
25:17 – My Ultimate Misogi: The World Bike Trip
26:35 – Overcoming the Pyrenees: Confidence Through Challenge
27:37 – Training for a Marathon (But It's Not a Misogi)
28:03 – Invitation: Join Me for a Real Misogi Experience
29:48 – What It Could Look Like: Rucksacks, Rivers, Mountains
30:22 – This Is Not a Competition—It’s for You
31:07 – How to Get Involved
31:59 – Closing Words: You’ve Got More in the Locker

In this episode, I’m talking directly to anyone in their 30s, 40s, or beyond who feels like it might be too late to start something new, especially online. It’s not. In fact, your lived experience might be the very thing someone else needs right now.

I discuss how perfection isn’t the goal, and how to take the first step in creating something meaningful. Whether it’s YouTube, a podcast, or just showing up more fully in your life, this is your reminder to begin.

You don’t need to be the best. You just need to be real.

Want to go deeper? Here’s how to take the next step:

▶️ Join the next Stronger Without Weekend in Purbeck
A one-day reset for men ready to reconnect with nature, brotherhood, and their own potential. No phones. No booze. Just presence.
👉 strongerwithout.uk/events/purbecks

📬 Subscribe to the Stronger Without Newsletter
Weekly reflections, honest stories, and actionable systems to help you show up fully. Be the first to see what is coming up next on the Podcast and for live events.
👉 https://strongerwithout.substack.com/subscribe

🧭 Apply for Private Coaching
One-to-one coaching for men ready to lead themselves again — in body, work, and life.
👉 strongerwithout.uk/coaching

00:00 – Why now is the perfect time to start YouTube
01:03 – What this video covers
02:01 – Why YouTube isn't saturated (especially in 2025)
03:25 – If you're over 35, here's why you should start
04:44 – Example: Woodworking YouTuber Steve Ramsey
05:50 – Searchable, useful content works best
07:04 – My dad started a pond YouTube channel
08:51 – You only need to be one step ahead
09:44 – My background and why I started
10:12 – You don’t need to be perfect
11:00 – The gear I started with (and lessons learned)
12:08 – Talking to camera gets easier (and scarier things exist!)
13:00 – Stronger Without: My shift in direction
14:02 – Vulnerability builds trust faster than expertise
15:20 – You can pivot your content direction
16:04 – Structure, strength, clarity, connection: My four pillars
17:24 – Stronger Without is about documenting, not preaching
18:23 – You are the niche – example: Atomic Shrimp
19:05 – Gear: What you actually need to get started
20:27 – Audio matters more than video quality
21:30 – Uploading consistently is key
23:08 – The realities of editing and making time
25:13 – How to make money on YouTube
27:20 – Real-world example: Monetising pond content
29:43 – What I offer through coaching
30:29 – Affiliate links, events, and courses
31:17 – Why your story matters
32:28 – Speak from experience, not theory
33:03 – Each video is a brick in your wall
33:59 – Final encouragement: Just start
35:11 – Do this for 20 years – it's never too late
35:38 – Be human in an AI world
36:17 – Free Stronger Without events – join us

I used to think alcohol was essential to travel, something that made it easier to meet people, take risks, and soak up new cultures. But behind every night out was a hidden cost: wasted mornings, empty wallets, near-death experiences, and a slow erosion of clarity.

In this episode, I share my honest story of drinking while travelling, the moment it nearly killed me in Barcelona, and how I turned everything around. I’ll walk you through the systems I use to stay sober on the road and how saying no opened the door to a richer, more intentional way of seeing the world.

Whether you're sober curious, travelling soon, or just want to live with more clarity, this one’s for you.

Plus: a few practical tips you can start using today, and an invite to join our Stronger Without walks.

Want to go deeper? Here’s how to take the next step:

▶️ Join the next Stronger Without Weekend in Purbeck
A one-day reset for men ready to reconnect with nature, brotherhood, and their own potential. No phones. No booze. Just presence.
👉 strongerwithout.uk/events/purbecks

📬 Subscribe to the Stronger Without Newsletter
Weekly reflections, honest stories, and actionable systems to help you show up fully. Be the first to see what is coming up next on the Podcast and for live events.
👉 https://strongerwithout.substack.com/subscribe

🧭 Apply for Private Coaching
One-to-one coaching for men ready to lead themselves again — in body, work, and life.
👉 strongerwithout.uk/coaching

00:00 - Intro: The Hidden Cost of Drinking While Travelling
01:10 - My Story: Boozy Travels from Age 16
02:35 - The Wild Uni Years and the Daily Mail Headline
03:40 - Six Weeks of Drinking Across Europe
04:30 - Near-Death Experience in Barcelona
05:25 - Balconing and British Tourists Abroad
06:45 - Injuries, Fights, and the Darker Side of Drinking
08:00 - The Real Costs: Money, Safety, and Lost Days
08:50 - Why I’m Not Preaching—Just Sharing
09:30 - How I Stay Sober While Travelling
10:30 - “No” is a Complete Sentence
11:15 - The Power of Respecting Boundaries
12:05 - The Night That Changed Everything in New Orleans
13:30 - From One Month Sober to Five Years
14:00 - What I Do Now Instead of Drinking
15:00 - The Joy of Alcohol-Free Mornings
15:40 - Drinking Steals Happiness From Tomorrow
16:30 - How to Find Like-Minded, Sober Travellers
17:00 - Stronger Without Events: Join the Movement
18:30 - What’s Next for the Stronger Without Community
19:30 - Final Thoughts: Subtract Alcohol, Add Presence