In this episode, I share the extraordinary story of Neil Rutherford. A man who went from chronic illness, burnout, and quiet despair to reclaiming his health, identity, and purpose through lifestyle medicine and living alcohol free.
Neil’s journey is not about willpower. It is about removing the one variable that was quietly sabotaging everything else. Alcohol. What followed was not just weight loss or better blood results, but a complete shift in how he lives, leads, and shows up for his family and the world.
This conversation is living proof that the body wants to heal when you stop breaking it.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why alcohol is the most overlooked lifestyle medicine variable
- How removing alcohol accelerates every other health intervention
- The link between drinking, inflammation, anxiety, and chronic illness
- Why confidence without alcohol becomes internal and sustainable
- How identity shifts after health transformation
- Why lifestyle change beats medication alone
- The ripple effect of one person choosing an alcohol free life
- How purpose often emerges after healing
- Why men struggle in silence and how coaching changes that
- What freedom actually feels like on the other side
Timestamps
00:00 –
02:00 Neil’s introduction and why this story matters
02:00 –
04:00 Recruitment culture, identity, and drinking as normal
04:00 –
06:00 Obesity, anxiety, depression, and the hidden cost of alcohol
06:00 –
08:00 Quitting alcohol and discovering time, clarity, and choice
08:00 –
10:00 Lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, and healing begin
10:00 –
12:00 Reversing diabetes, liver damage, and chronic inflammation
12:00 –
14:00 Gout, Christmas, and the moment everything changed
14:00 –
16:00 Anxiety, nervous system recovery, and real calm
16:00 –
18:00 Identity shift and becoming an Alcohol Free Warrior
18:00 – End Purpose, coaching, leadership, and the ripple effect of change
If this episode resonated and you want to take your alcohol free journey deeper, I highly recommend checking out
Authentic Brew. It is a functional alcohol free drink designed to elevate energy, focus, and connection without the crash, the compromise, or the hangover. It is a powerful tool for anyone upgrading their lifestyle.
If you want to get accredited as a coach, come and join me at
Coach Business School. I am there to guide you through the training and support you every step of the way.
If you are already an accredited coach and want to master the business and marketing side of coaching, join me inside
Coach MBA.
I would love to see you in training very soon.
Let’s do this.
What is Andy Ramage Podcast?
A warm, in-person conversation series exploring what happens when you remove alcohol and make space for real life. Each episode invites a guest into the room for an unhurried, human chat that goes far beyond quick tips and surface talk. Together, we dig into identity, purpose, spirituality, resilience, relationships, and the practical habits that help people feel and perform at their best. Expect honest stories, reflective moments, and valuable insights you can apply the same day. It is the original spirit of podcasting brought back to life by two people sitting down, going deep, and seeing what meaningful conversation can awaken.
For lots of free downloads and to learn more about Andy check out the links below:
To train with Andy check out - https://andyramage.com/
To train with Andy as a coach - https://coachbusiness.school/
To download the Dryy app - https://dryy.disciplemedia.com/signup/BEeW9R