The Hidden Struggle of the High Functioning Drinker - with James Swanwick

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats to James Swanwick about high-functioning drinking, success, pressure and the growing movement of people choosing to live alcohol free — not because they’ve completely fallen apart, but because they simply feel better without it.

James is an Australian stop drinking expert, author, investor, entrepreneur and former SportsCenter anchor on ESPN. He is the creator of stop drinking organisation, Alcohol Free Lifestyle, which helps business owners and executives finally break free from alcohol without AA, rehab or willpower.

Together, Vic and James unpack the myth that alcohol problems only affect people at “rock bottom” and explore why high achievers often struggle silently for years. They chat about identity, pride, social pressure, parenting, masculinity, success and why being outwardly functional can actually make it harder to admit something isn’t working.

They also explore a really interesting question:

Can giving up alcohol sometimes be less about “having a problem”… and more about choosing a different lifestyle entirely?

Plus there’s chat about celebrity alcohol brands, the rise of the alcohol-free movement, Gen Z turning away from booze and why many people are beginning to realise that alcohol may be taking far more than it gives.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered:

“Do I actually need to wait for things to get worse before I make a change?”

Enjoy!

Find James' work here -

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamesswanwick/

FB: https://web.facebook.com/AlcoholFreeLifestyle

https://web.facebook.com/JamesSwanwickOfficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlcoholFreeLifestyle

https://www.youtube.com/@JamesSwanwick

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesswanwick

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5253hMZWPlEWj6AVodbkC7

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alcohol-free-lifestyle/id1518416850

X: https://x.com/jamesswanwick

AFL Website: https://alcoholfreelifestyle.com/

💛 Resources & Links

📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays

A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.

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