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This episode features Kirsty Mulcahy, the founder and director of Sober Buzz Scotland, who takes us through her personal journey of maintaining six years of sobriety with flexible and judgment-free journaling techniques.

Whether you're gearing up for Dry January, Sober October or simply seeking a break from booze, Kirsty’s insights will provide you with practical tools to explore and improve your relationship with alcohol and yourself.

Kirsty has been through her own journey and used journalling as a tool to help her maintain the lifestyle she knew she deserved, from training as a transformational coach to launching her CIC and taking Scotland by the hand.

Hear firsthand about the therapeutic benefits of journaling as both a creative outlet and a form of self-therapy. Drawing from her own experiences, Kirsty shares how journaling has evolved from initial apprehensions to a daily practice that brings clarity and joy.

Kirsty also highlights the importance of a supportive community like Sober Buzz Scotland and offers useful journaling prompts to guide your reflections. Whether you're using a traditional notebook or a digital platform, this conversation will inspire you to capture both the highs and lows of your journey, ensuring a well-rounded reflection of your experiences and the support you need to keep going.

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

It’s time to stop beating around the bush and get real with yourself. Giving yourself time to assess your relationship with alcohol is not just the purview of the disordered drinker.

You don’t have to wait until you’re in a ‘troubled’ relationship with grog; in fact, you don’t even need to wait for a hangover; all you need is to really assess what alcohol is bringing to your life vs what it’s taking away.

Once you’ve done your own personal accounting, you’ll be ready to start thinking about what you can do to make your relationship with alcohol, and, therefore, your life, better on your own terms.

In this solo episode, you get to hear some of my own story, what motivated me to make a change and some of the thought processes that help us act in our own best interests when it comes to booze.

No judgment, no rules, no expectations – let’s just have a chat.

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

Ever wondered what people actually mean when they say they’re ‘sober curious’?

Not sure what’s involved in being a ‘mindful drinker’

Wondering which lifestyle choice would suit you best?

In this short episode Denise unpacks both terms and helps you get to understand the difference between them both.

Still not sure which is right for you? Take the 1st and only low/no drinking personality type quiz at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com/quiz to find out where you are on your journey and what to do next?

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

Arron Smallman is the founder of Let’s Push Things Forward, a Hospitality Specialist Peer-Based Recovery Coach and a World Record Holder!

He is a self-proclaimed low and no alcohol crusader and mental health first aider who recently shared some of his insight with Low No Drinker Magazine readers in the debate on mid-range spirits and their place in a moderation lifestyle.

In this episode Arron and I get into the nitty-gritty of low/no beverages and their place in the UK hospitality experience.

We talk about our combined four decades of experience in bars and the service industry and the good and the bad sides of all we’ve seen.

Arron shares his personal philosophies on life, work and recovery, and honestly, this is like no chat we’ve had on the show before.

Raw, honest and with a unique approach, Arron is the living embodiment of the phrase ‘more than one way to skin a cat’. Aaron's candid revelations about undiagnosed autism and the stigma of sobriety peel back the curtain on an industry often synonymous with excess.

Our discussion spins through the intricacies of mindful drinking, the strategic nuances of integrating alcohol-free options into business models, and the art and science of menu psychology. Aaron's insights are a beacon for those in the industry poised to reshape their offerings in tune with changing tides.

I can’t wait for you to hear this one...

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

First, there was low and no – now there’s light!

As industry leaders in this newer mid-range space, Quarter co-founder Rohan Radhakrishnan is primed to welcome us into his world in this eye-opening delve into the 12% spirit brand.

Co-founded three years ago by childhood best friends Fabian Clark & Rohan Radhakrishnan, the Quarter range includes a 12% Gin & a 12%Tequila – just a quarter of the standard ABV for full-strength spirits.

In our conversation, Rohan shares the origin of Quarter and his own on-and-off love affair with booze, as well as the inspiration that led this dynamic duo to bring the brand to market.

We discuss product placement, public perception and the desperate need for more education all round for the industry to not only grow but to thrive.

As the mid-week drinkers become more discerning about what goes into their glass, Rohan & Fabian become equally discerning about what goes into their drinks; authentic ingredients, expert guidance and masses of trial and error later and this is still only the beginning for Quarter and the light-alcohol market.

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

Join me on this trip down memory lane with Carl Anthony Brown, co-founder of Crossip Alcohol-Free Spirits.

Carl comes at the low/no market from a different perspective, as in his inimitable “unapologetically Bold’ way he makes it clear that his drinks were never made to replicate alcohol and nor were they made for sober drinkers!

Instead, Carl and the Crossip team are making flavour-first drinks for those times when full-strength imbibers are choosing to drink less.

Carl takes me through the creation process of inventing Crossip, which involved a lot of time spent in dark rooms with a lot of booze as he taste-tested his way to just the right formulas for the “currently” three-strong range.

We touch on Carl’s impassioned opinions about the word ‘Mocktail’, and I probe the nation’s favourite television drinks expert for some of his best tips for making low/no cocktails at home.

This episode is full of open chat, honest opinions and lots of laughs. Get your glasses topped up, and come join us!

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

Discover the effervescent world of sparkling pét-nat tea fermentation with Aaron McAllister and Daniel Lasa of Amma Brewery, who join me to share their passion for creating low-alcohol, artisanal beverages that go beyond the everyday.

These brewmasters take us behind the scenes of their six-month ageing process, revealing how their culinary and fermentation expertise culminates in a drink that's as complex as it is refreshing. From the serendipitous discoveries that shaped their methods to the unfiltered essence that defines their brand, we sip through the artistry that sets Ama's offerings apart from conventional spirits.

Aaron and Danny pour out the challenges and philosophies of crafting these premium drinks, emphasizing their dedication to minimal intervention and sustainable practices incorporating natural ingredients from specialist growers around the globe.

We also explore the vital role of the Makers Alliance in cultivating a community for small-scale producers and how they strive to preserve their integrity against the backdrop of a market often controlled by the heavy pour of larger corporations.

Raise your glasses to collaboration and evolution within the craft drink industry, as we celebrate Ama Brewery's journey into the spotlight in fine dining. Aaron and Danny reflect on the importance of language and education in introducing new categories of premium beverages to the discerning palates of consumers and sommeliers alike.

Join us for an episode that's bursting with the complexity, nuance, and the very essence of what makes a drink not just good, but remarkable.

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Talk to me Goose! Tell me what you think of the show?

And now for something a little different…

This week things take a more scientific turn as I speak to Food & Beverage Consultant Hamish Renton.

Hamish is the MD of HRA-Global and, with 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, is in a unique position to shed some light on the newest but little-known fad to be impacting the low-and-no industry.

The ‘fat-jab’ is gaining increased notoriety among celebrities, social media and tabloids as everyone from the ex-Prime Minister to your Gran turns to them to help manage their weight loss.

But what is the unrealised knock-on effect on the low-and-no-alcohol beverage industry?

These medications, which are already being used for their side effects and not what they were initially designed for, are affecting how swathes of Americans (and now Brits) are approaching consumption of everything from food to alcohol and the relationships we have with others along the way.

How will the low/no beverage industry respond? Will this mark the launch of yet another new category? Are the short-term effects going to have long-term impacts on independent producers who already face mounting struggles just to keep up with the big-alcohol Joneses?

This is a truly fascinating subject, dive in with me now…

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker