Best Retired Rock Critic Podcasts (2025)

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233. New Term Reset 7:56

Play Pause

1d ago7:56

7:56

It's September - time for Sober September! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Tracker here Did you know I've HIDDEN a podcast episode?…

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232. Some feelings are more comfortable than others 6:59

8d ago6:59

6:59

... and that's an uncomfortable starting point! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Tracker here Did you know I've HIDDEN a podcast epi…

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A Britpop Timeline Part 2 (1994) 1:06:54

9d ago1:06:54

1:06:54

In which The Curmudgeons continue catching a wave of Britpop and launch into the second part of our five-part series on the joys of the Britpop era. On this episode, we cover the eventful year of 1994, during which Britpop officially solidified as a thing and started its ascension toward the stratosphere. It was during 1994 that Oasis and Blur rele…

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231. Advice that isn't asked for is probably criticism 7:08

17d ago7:08

7:08

Unsolicited advice, while sometimes well-intentioned, often backfires. It implies that the recipient is doing something wrong and that is not nice to be on the receiving end of. Let's do better. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from any…

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230. How you feel NOT how you look 8:54

24d ago8:54

8:54

Before and After comparisons, Sarah's got something to say on this subject - Of course she has! Listen in. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get m…

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A Britpop Timeline Part 1 (1992-93) 1:16:48

24d ago1:16:48

1:16:48

In which The Curmudgeons hop into the phone booth and travel back to the time when Britpop ruled the world during the heart of the 1990s. What was Britpop? Most specifically, it was a call to rock 'n' roll arms by a swath of young, hungry bands peeved at America's cultural imperialism of the era. The music swayed and blasted with confidence, and it…

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229. Other people's discomfort 6:47

1M ago6:47

6:47

Overheard... “When we have a get together, you should drink because others don’t know what to do with you when you’re not drinking and it’s not fair on them.” OK - I've got some thoughts on this... listen in. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or …

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228. The wine witch 5:45

1M ago5:45

5:45

I've got bad news for you if you often refer to your wine witch... ding dong! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Tracker here Did you …

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Los Angeles Rocks in the 1990s Part 2 (1995-1999) 2:21:04

1M ago2:21:04

2:21:04

In which The Curmudgeons continue their exploration of all the cool and revolutionary sounds blasting out of the City of Angels in the 1990s. By 1995, the music world had been grungified, making things safer, brighter and lovelier for not only hard-rock artists, but folks of the more soul-breaking, confessional variety. And that L.A. satisfied both…

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227. Is alcohol glamorous or cleverly marketed? 5:55

1M ago5:55

5:55

I guess you already know how I'm going to answer this... listen in anyway... I have thoughts! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Track…

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226. What if confidence didn't come in a glass? 5:17

2M ago5:17

5:17

because... it doesn't you know! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Tracker here Did you know I've HIDDEN a podcast episode? It's your …

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Los Angeles Rocks in the 1990s Part 1 (1990-94) 1:34:50

2M ago1:34:50

1:34:50

In which the Curmudgeons once again venture to the City of Angels to recapture all the great vibes generated during the 1990s. After a 1980s in which glam metal and punk scenes dominated, what came next for Los Angeles? Well, the trade winds blew in from the Pacific Northwest, and the influence of grunge made the music crunchier and louder, giving …

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225. When did getting drunk become a joke? 5:36

2M ago5:36

5:36

Today let's explore the normalisation of excessive drinking, particularly among women, questioning why getting drunk is often portrayed as humorous in our culture.... it's not good news I'm afraid! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from …

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224. A Restaurant Rant 7:35

2M ago7:35

7:35

I'm not really one to get my knickers in a twist over things I cannot control however, this is worth a mention! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here …

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The Parallel Universe All-Stars Present...Built to Spill! 1:16:45

2M ago1:16:45

1:16:45

In which The Curmudgeons pay loving tribute to one of our favorite bands. Built to Spill is the brainchild of Boise, Idaho, native and guitar maestro Doug Martsch, who's been banging and crunching his way through indie-rock anthems for more than three decades now. As Arturo Andrade likes to say, BTS, as we call them for short, taught indie-rockers …

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223. Don't lose this moment by searching for another 6:52

2M ago6:52

6:52

Ahhh Yes... That restless habit of searching for the next perfect moment while completely missing the one we're living in right now! Let's talk about it. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscri…

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222. The Power of "I don't want to" 6:37

3M ago6:37

6:37

The Power of "I don't want to." A small sentence that might change change your life. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Tracker here D…

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Why Limp Bizkit Are...Shit!! 1:19:58

3M ago1:19:58

1:19:58

In which The Curmudgeons take a big ol' dukey on that most prominent of rap-metal bands Limp Bizkit. The band is surely one of the worst hard-rock outfits to make it big since cranking up guitars real loud became a thing. Its plodding, uninspired riffage was eclipsed only by its misogynistic, corroded worldview and ultra-dumb lyrics. We dive into t…

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221. To Succeed 7:50

3M ago7:50

7:50

A poetry episode today... To Succeed by Ralph Waldo Emerson. A poem about success that completely reframes how we think about achievement and fulfillment. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscr…

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220. Sober Summer: Five Strategies for Finding Serenity 9:10

3M ago9:10

9:10

Conquer summer sobriety with five powerful strategies! In this episode Sarah explores how to navigate social situations alcohol-free, simplify your summer for serenity, and rewire your relationship with alcohol. What could be better? JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink L…

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A Sober Defense Of...Hawkwind 1:25:26

3M ago1:25:26

1:25:26

In which The Curmudgeons trip out through outer space and rock out to Hawkwind, one of the most singular psychedelic rock bands of all time. And in which we do it completely sober! This band practically invented what is known as space rock, a jammy, propulsive brand of heavy metal that focuses its gaze firmly on the cosmos and all the alien beings …

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219. Re-parenting and self care 6:40

3M ago6:40

6:40

Re-parenting and self-care... two approaches to personal healing that share similarities but serve distinct purposes. Listen today and find out more. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe t…

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218. Alexithymia 6:35

4M ago6:35

6:35

Have you ever been accused of being "cold" or "detached" when inside you're actually experiencing... something, but you just can't quite name it? Listen in to some thoughts on this very subject... JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from a…

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Hûsker Dû…an Underrated Legacy 1:10:20

4M ago1:10:20

1:10:20

In which The Curmudgeons give loud, deserved props to one of modern rock's most influential bands. Hûsker Dû started out as a revered hardcore punk band in Minneapolis in 1979, but by the mid-1980s, the band had veered toward a style that became known as punk-pop--loud and abrasive but also unquestionably melodic and heartfelt. During this episode,…

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217. Emotional entanglement 6:32

4M ago6:32

6:32

Our challenge lies in finding the balance between connection and separation... Emotional Entanglement - what do we need to know? JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less…

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216. Morning routines 6:55

4M ago6:55

6:55

Disclaimer: If you have a solid routine that works for you - then you have got something that is neither torture nor ridiculous, and you should carry on with it and not listen to this episode! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywh…

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Los Angeles Rocks in the 1980s Part 2 (1986-90) 1:52:31

4M ago1:52:31

1:52:31

In which The Curmudgeons continue their exploration of the City of Angels during arguably its most fertile period, namely the decade of the 1980s. Last episode, we established that the glam metal and punk scenes gestated based on a similar us-against-the-world ethos, albeit expressed much differently from one another. By the late '80s, glam metal h…

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215. 4 years of The Drink Less; Live Better Podcast 5:57

4M ago5:57

5:57

May 2021 and I thought to myself.... Well, I'll start writing, recording, editing and publishing this podcast and I'll see how long it takes me to run out of things to say. Ermmmm.... Dear Listener. It hasn't happened yet! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live B…

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214. Things you’ll never hear me say (Part 11) "What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger" 6:56

5M ago6:56

6:56

Sarah argues that suffering isn’t a pathway to personal growth, and emphasises the importance of seeking support and acknowledging vulnerability. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my…

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Los Angeles Rocks in the 1980s Part 1 (1981-85) 1:48:21

5M ago1:48:21

1:48:21

In which The Curmudgeons travel back to sleazy, sweaty streets of Los Angeles to celebrate the music emanating from the City of Angeles. On one end, you had the burgeoning glam metal scene, a parade of excess and depravity in leather, chains and spandex--and some glorious, decadent riffage. On the other end, you had the DIY punk underground, led by…

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213. Parenting and Alcohol - Creating Honest Conversations 6:40

5M ago6:40

6:40

The often uncomfortable topic of parenting and alcohol, Sarah explores how parental drinking habits influence children’s perceptions of alcohol. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my …

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212. "Things you’ll never hear me say" round up 6:26

5M ago6:26

6:26

Today is a round up episode... 10 of the 'Things you'll never hear me say' horrors! Previous episodes of 'Things You'll never hear me say' If I can do it anyone can (38) You've got this (47) There's no need to cry (54) Why would you do that (70) If I can do it anyone can (92) You can't shock me (109) I've heard it all before (136) Just think positi…

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The 3rd Golden Age of Rock: 1980 (Turn It On Again) 1:50:04

5M ago1:50:04

1:50:04

In which The Curmudgeons end their dynamic 3rd Golden Age of Rock series with a loving reexamination of the year 1980. The year stands as crucial pivot point for the development of rock 'n' roll culture. Punk and post-punk were becoming Gothic rock and New Wave. The Clash was serving as a virtual world jukebox. Talking Heads was virtually doing the…

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211. Welcome to your Sober Spring 7:54

5M ago7:54

7:54

Sarah explores the top three benefits of a sober lifestyle, offering practical strategies and resources to support your alcohol-free journey. Learn how to navigate emotional challenges and cultivate sustainable lifestyle changes for a healthier, happier you. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the …

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210. Articulation - can you ask? 5:20

5M ago5:20

5:20

Can you ask for what you want and/or need? Who can you ask? What does it feel like when you ask? Listen in today for a few of Sarah's thoughts on this thorny one! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books…

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Big L - Hip-Hop's Lost Genius 1:09:10

6M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

In which The Curmudgeons honor one of hip-hop's most tragic figures. Big L was a hip-hop savant from Harlem whose flows were endlessly inventive, whose lyrics walked a fine line between pathos and shock value and whose professionalism allowed him to dominate any beat and any style. His star was on the rise in early 1999 before disaster struck and B…

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209. Things you'll never hear me say (Part 10) "It is what it is" 6:18

6M ago6:18

6:18

"It is what it is!" Urrrghhhh don't get me started! OK - do... I just need a 6 minute episode to get this one off my chest - ENJOY! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink L…

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208. The truth about our judgements 7:14

6M ago7:14

7:14

This is a STICKY one, we want to consider ourselves to be judgement free - 'there's no judgement here' and yet this statement is just not true! SORRY! Here's what to try instead.... Listen in! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywh…

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Curtis Mayfield - The Most Underrated Artist in Music History 1:25:23

6M ago1:25:23

1:25:23

In which The Curmudgeons passionately laud, lavish and defend one of the true gentle giants of popular music--and certainly its most underappreciated. Curtis Mayfield was an absolute pioneer of soul, R&B and funk. Mayfield produced an astonishing body of work, first as the bandleader for soul trio The Impressions in the 1960s, and then as a prolifi…

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207. Thank You and No Thank You 5:11

6M ago5:11

5:11

Sometimes we don't want what we've been offered. There are ways to say 'No Thank You' and ways to try and change the norm (if we try with care and kindness). JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Sub…

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206. Things you'll never hear me say (Part 9) "This is a safe space" 7:14

6M ago7:14

7:14

Ahhhh... This one really grinds my gears. Listen in today to find out why and then drop me an email to let me know your thoughts [email protected] JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Su…

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The 3rd Golden Age of Rock - 1979 (Dawn of a New Era) 2:00:18

6M ago2:00:18

2:00:18

In which The Curmudgeons honor one of the most important years in all of rock 'n' roll history. Through the greatest albums and songs of 1979, we hear the sound of one decade fading and another decade splashing into full color and light. Post-punk, for instance, reached its most glorious heights, with bands like Public Image Ltd. and Gang of Four o…

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205. Your choice to feel powerful 6:16

7M ago6:16

6:16

You can choose to feel powerful about your choice not to drink. It might take a bit of consideration - but YOU CAN. Let's put self-doubt aside and look for the seeds of power today - listen in! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anyw…

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204. Our need for reassurance 6:55

7M ago6:55

6:55

Do you need to know what others think before you go ahead and make your decision? Listen in today to find out why we do this! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Ex…

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Real Hip-Hop's Last Stand (1999-2008) 2:31:23

7M ago2:31:23

2:31:23

In which The Curmudgeons examine the last great era for hip-hop, namely the years between 1999 and 2008. After the catastrophe that was the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, hip-hop could have imploded and or lost its footing--or even its respect as a genre. Instead, the movement throughout the 1990s, in which the hardcore went mainstream,…

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203. Conflicting thoughts 7:15

7M ago7:15

7:15

We know more than one thing can be true at a time... but what do we do when it's your thoughts that seem to be so opposed? Listen in today to find out! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe…

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202. Self-talk 6:52

7M ago6:52

6:52

Well, well, well - If it's isn't that voice in my head again! Hello ME! Let's have a closer look at what's going on here then! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less E…

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Elton John (1970-75)…A Legacy 1:30:31

7M ago1:30:31

1:30:31

In which the Curmudgeons know it's going to be a long, long time before the heavens produce a young man as preternaturally gifted as a songwriter and performer as Elton John proved to be back in the early 1970s. John's output during the early part of that fabled decade was routinely incredible, possessed with both a swagger and a tenderness that sh…

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201. Intellectual dishonesty 6:22

8M ago6:22

6:22

All the times I lied to myself but dressed it up as a truth or even a half truth... Time to be totally honest now! JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment he…

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200. Listen in and listen well 7:14

8M ago7:14

7:14

Ahhh yes... being heard, being listened to, being understood... what a relief. JOIN MY EMAIL CLUB HERE Book a space in my Zoom Diary to discuss 1:1 coaching here Buy the best-selling book Drink Less; Live Better here or order from anywhere you usually buy your books. Subscribe to my 5 day Drink Less Experiment here Get my Habit Tracker here Did you…