There's a name for what you've been feeling. You're not an alcoholic. But you're not fine either. And nearly one in four American adults are in the exact same place right now.
In Episode 13 of Beyond the Gray, Kari Schwear delivers the foundational episode she says she should have recorded first. She breaks down exactly what gray area drinking is, where the term originated (a 2011 NIH-sponsored study of 26,000+ adults), and the moment she heard it for the first time and everything in her life finally made sense. She walks through the clinical difference between gray area drinking and alcohol use disorder, shares real client stories of what was actually driving the drinking, and gives you seven signs to know if you're in the gray area right now.
This is the episode you send to someone who doesn't think they have "a real problem" but knows something is off.
In this episode you'll hear:
• The 2011 research study that first identified the gray area between moderate and risky drinking
• How Jolene Park's TEDx talk (300,000+ views) brought the term gray area drinking into the mainstream
• Kari's personal story of the sidewalk moment that changed everything and led to the creation of GrayTonic
• The clinical difference between gray area drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Why gray area drinking is almost never the root issue, it's a symptom of misalignment
• Two real client stories: Sarah's "purpose problem" and Dave's business travel cycle
• Seven signs you might be a gray area drinker (sign #7 might surprise you)
• The habit loop from Atomic Habits and how the "forget it switch" keeps you stuck
• Why rock bottom is NOT a prerequisite for change, and why the gray area is actually the best time to act
• Books, tools, and next steps you can take starting today
If you've been wondering whether your drinking is "bad enough" to do something about it, this episode will change how you think about that question entirely. You don't need a rock bottom. You need language. And now you have it.
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READY TO GO DEEPER?
Take the free Gray Area Audit and see where your gray areas actually are across all four areas of life: body, being, balance, and business. It takes about 15 minutes and it will give you clarity you didn't know you needed.
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TAKE THE FREE GRAY AREA AUDIT:
https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/The Gray Area Insights Experience goes even deeper with a behavioral scan and two coaching sessions designed specifically for high-performing leaders who know something needs to shift.
Gray Area Insights Experience 👇
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CONNECT WITH KARI
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BOOKS MENTIONED
What is Beyond the Gray?
You’ve built something solid. A business. A reputation. A life that looks the part.
But somewhere along the way, something started feeling off.
Not broken. Not a crisis. Just… not right.
Maybe the drinking has become more of a habit than you'd like to admit.
Maybe the marriage is stable but not exactly alive.
Maybe you're still driven, but the fire feels different.
You're functioning at a high level — and wondering why that still isn't enough.
Beyond the Gray explores the gray areas of life that successful people rarely talk about — including gray area drinking, midlife identity shifts, relationships, faith, health, and purpose.
Host Kari Schwear, founder of GrayTonic, helps business owners, leaders, and high-achievers understand what’s driving their habits, reconnect with what actually matters, and lead their lives with the same intention they bring to their work.
This isn’t a sobriety podcast.
And there are no labels here.
Just clarity, honesty, and conversations most people are too busy performing to have.
While many of Kari’s clients are men over 50 navigating these transitions, the ideas explored here resonate with anyone ready to move beyond the gray.
New episodes every Tuesday.