Clean Break Chats

This week we pick up Andy’s origin story where we left off — landing in Spain, fusing two drinking cultures, and trying to outrun anxiety with Sunday start lines. We talk about why consistency beats perfection, how to lower resistance to new habits, and what happens when you train hard and drink hard… right up to Andy’s 3:40 at the 2017 London Marathon and the family fallout that followed.

We also reflect on World Mental Health Day: the link between alcohol and anxiety, why connection trumps white-knuckling, and the moment a simple Google search (“Do I have a problem with alcohol?”) opened the door to community and change. We end on a cliff-hanger: the first steps of Andy’s clean break — and what came next.

In this episode
  • Consistency > perfection (and how to remove friction)
  • Solo-parenting realities & gratitude for our partners
  • Community shout-outs & autumn race vibes
  • Spain vs UK: how culture shapes drinking habits
  • When running starts justifying drinking
  • The London Marathon “wake-up” moment
  • Finding help, finding community, starting the break

What is Clean Break Chats?

🎙️ Clean Break Chats – Mindful Miles and AF Lifestyles.

Hosted by Andy and Rich – two ordinary guys who’ve discovered something extraordinary through living alcohol-free. Andy lives by the sea in sunny Spain, and Rich’s home base is in Leeds, UK. What they share is a passion for running, a commitment to alcohol-free living, and a desire to help others unlock the same freedom and joy.

Formerly known as The Running Dryy podcast, this re-branded podcast is part of their new venture Clean Break – a growing community dedicated to helping runners break free from booze and tap into their full potential. Between them, Andy and Rich have run multiple marathons and ultra events, and they credit going alcohol-free as their superpower.

Each episode features raw, honest conversations between the two – full of laughs, insights, and the kind of chat you'd have on a long run with your best mate. They also invite brilliant guests to share their own stories of transformation, triumph, and what it means to live, run, and thrive without alcohol.

Whether you’re sober-curious, in recovery, or just want to hear real stories about finding meaning through movement and mindset, Clean Break Chats is your new go-to listen.

👟 Come for the running.
💬 Stay for the community.
✨ Leave feeling inspired.