Mike Hardenbrook
#1 best-selling author of "No Willpower Required," neuroscience enthusiast, and habit change expert.
Appears in 145 Episodes
Reset Your Dopamine: 5 Simple Steps to Reduce Cravings
Why is it so hard to stop at one drink — or to stop reaching for your phone, your fridge, or another quick fix? In this episode, we’ll explore how your brain’s dopamin...
Not an Alcoholic. Not Sober. Truly Free. Here’s How w/ Colleen Freeland
Today we’re talking with Colleen Freeland. She’s a master life coach and addiction recovery specialist who helps high-achieving women cut their drinking by 80% without...
What Your 4th of July Really Revealed About Your Drinking
Big weekends like the 4th aren’t just about fireworks — they reveal how your drinking habits really show up under pressure. In this episode, Mike breaks down why your ...
Why Your Sleep Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
Everyone knows alcohol messes with sleep — but nobody really talks about what happens when you actually start drinking less. Because here’s the weird part: your sleep ...
Why Overthinking Makes You Drink (and How to Break the Loop)
Quick question: how often do you catch yourself replaying the same mistake or worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet? That mental loop isn’t harmless. ...
What We Wish We Knew Before Trying to Moderate w/ Merrilee Burke, LMFT
Today I’m joined by someone whose work I deeply respect and who’s become a trusted voice in the alcohol and mental health space—Merrilee Burke. Merrilee is a licensed ...
This One Question Will Change the Way You Drink
Tracking your drinks matters — it’s a core part of how Sunnyside helps you stay mindful. But if you’ve ever had a “dry day” and still felt off… this episode explains w...
What Happens When a World-Class Bartender Stops Drinking w/ Derek Brown
Derek Brown was named one of the best bartenders in America, author of Mindful Mixology, and now a leading voice in the mindful drinking movement. In this episode, we ...
4 Ways to Use Habit Stacking to Drink Less
Want to cut back without overthinking it? In this episode, Mike breaks down how habit stacking works and how to use it to drink less—by linking new routines to things ...
13 Uncommon Ways to Drink Less (And My Verdict)
In this episode, I walk through 13 lesser-known strategies people are using to drink less. I’ll share how each one works, what the science says, and my own honest take...
The Science Behind Tracking Your Drinks
Think tracking your drinks is too simple to make a difference? Think again. In this episode, Mike breaks down the neuroscience behind why logging your alcohol intake i...
Do I Deserve to Drink? Unpacking the Reward Loop w/ Ian Andersen
In this episode, I sit down with Ian Andersen, cofounder of Sunnyside, to unpack a question that’s more common than you think: “Do I deserve to drink?” We talk openly ...
10 Things to Do When You’re Bored from Drinking Less
Cutting back on alcohol can feel like the right move—until boredom hits. Suddenly, that space where drinking used to live feels…empty. But here’s the truth: boredom is...
How Sunnyside Helped Charlie Break a 40-Year Drinking Habit at 71
After four decades of drinking, Charlie didn’t think he’d ever stop—until a health scare changed everything. At 71, he turned to Sunnyside as a way to start exploring ...
5 Benefits of Drinking Less You Probably Haven’t Thought About
You already know drinking less can help you sleep better and feel more energized—but there’s so much more beneath the surface. In this solo episode, Mike shares five s...
How a Break from Alcohol Redefined Fun, Identity, and Purpose w/ Jordan Carroll
Jordan Carroll never hit a rock bottom—but alcohol was quietly holding him back. In this episode, the Remote Job Coach and global entrepreneur opens up about life in t...
Mindful Drinking This Summer: A Strategy for Clarity and Control
Summer is here, and with it, the familiar pressure to drink. In this episode of Journey to the Sunnyside, Mike shares a strategic approach to mindful drinking that hel...
The Goodness Game: One Small Act at a Time w/ Bryan Driscoll
Today’s episode is a little different — but it hits right at the heart of what this show is all about: small steps, no pressure, and building a life you actually feel ...
What Happens When You Take 90 Days Off?
If you’ve ever wondered what life might feel like without alcohol—even just for a while—this episode is for you. I’m breaking down why taking 90 days off can be one of...
Why High-Functioning Women Are Rethinking Alcohol w/ Heather Lowe
Heather Lowe, founder of Ditched the Drink, joins us to unpack a quiet truth: many high-achieving women are rethinking their relationship with alcohol—not because they...
If You’ve Tried and Failed Before, Start Here
Most people don’t fail at changing their drinking because they’re weak — they fail because they’ve been given the wrong approach. In this episode, I share the mindset ...
Breaking the Circuit: Stop Self-Abandoning and Start Living w/ Dr. Samantha Harte pt. 2
In Part 1, Dr. Samantha Harte shared the personal story behind her shift from physical therapist to emotional healing guide—after losing her sister and realizing that ...
Breaking the Circuit: Stop Self-Abandoning and Start Living w/ Dr. Samantha Harte pt. 1
When Samantha Harte lost her sister to addiction, she made a vow: she would help others heal not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.Today, Dr. Samantha H...
The New Science of Micro-Mindfulness
New research is changing how we think about mindfulness—and how much it really takes to see results. In this episode, we dive into why just 10 minutes a day can rewire...
What Most People Get Wrong About “Normal” Drinking
Think binge drinking means blacking out? Not quite. In this episode, we unpack the real definitions of moderate, binge, and high-intensity drinking—why the lines are e...
Should You Quit or Cut Back?
Wondering if you should quit drinking or just cut back? You’re not the only one. In this episode, we explore why the goal you choose doesn’t have to be forever—and how...
High-Functioning, Low Satisfaction
You’re doing fine. Life looks good on paper. But something about your drinking still feels... off. That’s what I call high-functioning, low-satisfaction—when alcohol i...
Why So Many Drinkers Still Say ‘It’s Fine’ (Even When It’s Not)
A recent Pew Research Center study found that 57% of drinkers in the U.S. believe their alcohol use doesn’t increase their risk of serious health problems—and only 15%...
How Much Can You Drink and Still Be Improving?
You’re already on the path—tracking, planning, and drinking more mindfully. But what’s a good goal? How much is too much? In this episode, we reverse-engineer your ide...
10-Min Mondays: The Monday Mirror: Who Are You Showing Up As Today?
What if every Monday was more than just the start of a new week — what if it was a mirror?In this episode, we explore how to use the “Monday Mirror” to reset your iden...
