84: Why I Quit Alcohol & Started Cold Therapy - Ciaran Flanagan

The Primal Shift

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For Ciaran Flanagan, quitting alcohol wasn’t about having hit rock bottom — it was about realizing just how much better life could be without it. Like a lot of people growing up in Ireland, drinking was part of the culture he grew up in. He wasn’t an alcoholic, but he found himself caught in the same cycle so many people fall into: weekend drinking that derailed his focus, energy, and productivity for days.

But after a month without alcohol, everything changed. His brain fog lifted, his sleep scores shot up, and he had more drive than ever before. And once he saw the difference, there was no going back.

Flanagan is the founder of Inergize Health, a seven-figure wellness brand that’s redefining recovery with portable cold plunge therapy. In this episode, we talk about how dropping alcohol wasn’t just a health decision, but a complete shift in how he approached performance, recovery and resilience. That shift led him to cold plunging and breathwork, two powerful tools that helped him replace the false boost of alcohol with mental clarity, emotional stability, and sharper focus.

He shares why he prefers cold plunging after workouts and before bed, the science behind the dopamine and norepinephrine response, and how head-dunking triggers the mammalian dive reflex to boost cognitive function.

We also dig into breathwork, including why it’s one of the simplest yet most overlooked tools for managing stress and sharpening focus. Like cold exposure, breathwork forces you into presence, training you to handle discomfort instead of running from it. And when you stack these practices, the results are undeniable.

If you’ve ever wondered whether cutting out alcohol is worth it, or if you’re looking for practical ways to boost mental and physical resilience, this episode has something for you. Tune in to hear how Ciaran went from feeling “fine” to performing at a whole new level.

Learn more:

Inergize Cold Plunge Review [Blog Post]: https://michaelkummer.com/inergize-cold-plunge-review/

Inergize Cold Plunge Review: https://youtu.be/GedSd8iJX5Y

Learn more about the benefits of cold plunging: https://michaelkummer.com/ice-bath-benefits/

75: Use this Breath technique for Better Focus, Fitness, and Calm: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/75-use-this-breath-technique-for-better-focus-fitness-and-calm/

About Ciaran Flanagan:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://inergizehealth.com/

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, OneSkin!

OneSkin’s lineup of topical skin health products leverage the power of the company’s proprietary OS-01 peptide to remove dead skin cells, improve collagen production, increase skin hydration and more. Check out my before and after photos in my OneSkin review and visit OneSkin here.

Get 15% off with my discount code MKUMMER: https://michaelkummer.com/go/oneskinshop

In this episode:

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Quitting alcohol: A life-changing decision

10:10 - Breathwork & cold therapy: The perfect duo

16:56 - Best timing for cold plunges (morning vs. night)

24:53 - Why you NEED to dunk your head into cold water

31:04 - Cold exposure vs breathwork

32:35 - Cold exposure, glucose, and cancer prevention

37:54 - One hard thing every morning = More success

40:02 - Final thoughts

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[Medical Disclaimer]

The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health.

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I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you’d like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.

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