Mike Hardenbrook
#1 best-selling author of "No Willpower Required," neuroscience enthusiast, and habit change expert.
Appears in 248 Episodes
The Real Reason Hangovers Don’t Change Drinking
You’d think a hangover would be enough to stop drinking. For most people, it’s not. In this episode, we look at why delayed consequences don’t change behavior, how the...
Why “Just Quit Drinking” Never Worked for Me w/ Claudia Christian
Claudia Christian is an actress, author, and leading advocate for evidence-based approaches to alcohol use disorder. She’s best known for her roles on Babylon 5, NYPD ...
Why Constant Self-Improvement Can Quietly Wear You Down
We’re surrounded by advice on how to do better, be better, and optimize every part of life. But what if the constant effort to improve is part of what keeps us feeling...
My Top 5 Resources for Dry (or Dryish) January
If you’re starting Dry January or Dry(ish) January today, this episode is about support, not pressure. We talk about how to approach the month with kindness instead of...
9 Things to Decide Before January Starts
January 1 is symbolic, not magical. In this episode, we walk through nine decisions to make before January starts if you want change to actually stick. We cover why wa...
How to Do Dry(ish) January Without the Rebound w/ Katie Nessel
Dry January doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. In this episode, Katie Nessel from Soberish Mom and I talk through what Dry(ish) January really looks like in real life,...
Why Drinking Less Feels Different This Year W/ Katie Nessel
Katie Nessel from @soberishmom is back, and a lot has shifted since we last talked. In this conversation, we catch up on what the past year has really looked like insi...
Dry January: Tips For Going All In
If you’re thinking about going all-in on Dry January—or weighing whether Dry or Dry(ish) makes more sense—this episode helps you think it through calmly and realistica...
The ABC Method for Cravings and Stress Drinking w/ Rachel Lundberg
Today’s guest is Rachel Lundberg. Rachel has spent more than three decades working with movement, yoga, and nervous system regulation, and she’s the founder of Thrive ...
7 Subtle Ways Drinking Changes as Life Changes
We don’t drink the same way in every season of life — and that’s not random. In this episode, Mike explores seven subtle signs that your drinking may be reflecting som...
How Malcolm Cut his Drinking by 75% with Sunnyside Med
What happens when someone discovers that medication, structure, and real support can work together? In this conversation, Malcolm shares how Sunnyside Med helped him g...
The Top 5 Myths Mindful Drinkers Still Believe
Even when you’re drinking less and feeling better, certain beliefs can quietly make the whole process feel harder than it needs to be. In this episode, we break down f...
Is Your Gut Driving Your Cravings?
In this episode, Mike explores a surprising angle on cravings: the role your gut plays in when and why they show up. Drawing on new research about the gut–brain axis, ...
Your Post-Thanksgiving Reset Starts Here
Thanksgiving shakes up your routines, your sleep, your stress, and your drinking rhythm — even when you’ve been doing the work. In this episode, we break down what the...
7 Strategies to Stay on Track and Still Enjoy Thanksgiving
It sounds cheesy, but at this time of year here at Sunnyside we're always incredibly grateful for you, our Sunnyside members. You bring us inspiration through your suc...
10 Cognitive Distortions That Tell You “You’re Not Getting Better”
You can stick to your plan most of the week, make better choices, feel more aware—and still wake up after one off night and think, “Nothing’s changing. I knew I’d end ...
The Four Pillars of Letting Go Without Going All-or-Nothing w/ Jeanette Hu
When most people hear the word sobriety, they think labels, meetings, or giving something up. For Jeanette Hu, it meant something very different. She spent years drink...
The Emotional Levels Behind Why You Drink
We all drink for different reasons — stress, relief, habit, escape, connection — but underneath those behaviors is something deeper: the emotional level we’re operatin...
Real Stories from Sunnyside Med - Using Medication to Quiet the Voice w/Ian Andersen
Today we're continuing the conversation around Sunnyside Med - I’m joined again by co-founder Ian Andersen to talk about what’s new, his own personal experience taking...
The False Summit: When One Is Never Enough — Part 1
I used to say, “I don’t want a beer — I want a six-pack.” It always got a laugh, but underneath that joke was something real: one never felt like enough. In this episo...
