Clean Break Chats

What separates a high-performing team from one that's just going through the motions? According to this week's guest, it usually comes down to three things most organisations never get right: clarity, identity, and the psychological safety to actually fail without consequence.Rich Turner is a high-performance coach, sports scientist, and what he calls a Corporate Athlete. He's spent years taking the lessons of elite sport - the debrief cultures, the marginal gains mindset, the psychology of team identity - and applying them to the messy, complicated reality of corporate teams and leadership. The result is a coaching approach that's refreshingly honest: high performance isn't a moment, it's something you have to be able to sustain.In this conversation, Rich, Rich and Andy get into what the best teams actually do differently, why your identity as an individual - and as a collective - can quietly cap your potential without you even realising it, and why the absence of feedback loops in most workplaces is quietly killing performance. They also explore the self-determination theory, the loneliness of being a solopreneur, why autonomy and purpose matter more than most leaders think, and how the lessons from sport translate - and sometimes don't - into a corporate environment.Oh, and Rich Turner has just made the England Over 35's hockey squad for the World Cup in Rotterdam. So there's that.A wide-ranging, genuinely thought-provoking conversation that will resonate whether you lead a team of two or two hundred.Use code CB10 for 10% off Authentic Brew.

Fair warning: this one goes places. If you've just discovered Clean Break Chats, we'd like to apologise in advance - and also assure you that we do occasionally talk about serious things. Eventually.EP48 starts with Andy somehow surviving 110K in seven days on trails (his legs have not forgiven him), detours through Rich's manic solo parenting Thursday, a heartfelt rant about the alcohol industry's genius trick of making you feel stupid for doing the thing they engineered you to do - and somehow ends up at lactate threshold, heart rate reserve, and race-day pacing strategy. It's a journey.In between: Andy's first supermarket alcohol aisle visit in seven months, the "productive life" reframe that reframes everything about turning 50, Jane - a 70-year-old in their coaching group quietly nonchalanting her way through 2hr 20min long runs - and a midlife health update from Rich that involves neither cancer nor a crisis, but does involve ointment.There's also Andy's A&E dash with daughter Lily the night before flying to Spain, the father-son running bond with Johnny ahead of his first half marathon, and a teaser for a marathon experiment Rich refuses to explain yet.It's honest, warm, funny, and yes - occasionally about haemorrhoids. But stick with it. The good stuff is in there too.Use code CB10 for 10% off Authentic Brew - natural energy, mood-enhancing, and probably better for you than whatever Rich needs from the pharmacy right now.https://www.authenticbrew.com

When Martyn Davies stopped drinking 8 years ago, he had one question that wouldn't leave him alone. What would a comedy club look like without alcohol?The answer he got from the industry he'd spent 20 years in? Laughter. At him. Nobody's going to come to a comedy club without a drink. You need alcohol to laugh.He did it anyway.This week Rich and Andy sit down with Martyn - founder of Sober is Fun and the London Alcohol-Free Comedy Club - for one of the most honest, warm, and at times raw conversations we've had on the podcast. Martyn takes us right back to the beginning: the 90s rave scene, a party lifestyle that lit him up on the outside while quietly falling apart on the inside, and a 27-year relationship with alcohol and substances that eventually took him to a very dark place. Behind closed doors, isolated, pushing away everyone who loved him - until his brother staged an intervention in their parents' front room with printed-off emails and their mum sat on the sofa.That Saturday evening, Martyn said yes to getting help. It changed everything.He talks about his month in rehab, what it really took to build a life in recovery, his recent ADHD diagnosis and how it re-framed so much of his story, and why giving back - to the rehab, to an addiction charity, and eventually through Sober is Fun - became the foundation everything else was built on.And yes, we do get into running. Because of course we do.If you've ever been told your idea is ridiculous, or you're in a place right now where you can't quite see the way out - this one's for you.SOBER IS FUN WEBSITE - https://www.soberisfun.co.uk/

We've all heard of the comfort zone. But what if it doesn't actually exist? This week, Rich and Andy make a distinction that changes everything - it's not a comfort zone, it's a familiar zone. And familiar isn't the same as comfortable. It's just easier than facing what's underneath.They explore how alcohol keeps people locked in cycles they know are hurting them - the Sunday bottle of wine, the Monday shame, the white - knuckling through Thursday - and why that loop can run for years without anyone around you even noticing. Then the conversation goes deeper. Andy opens up about his ADHD diagnosis and the uncomfortable truth that for neurodiverse people, alcohol isn't just a social habit - it's often self-medication. When your brain is running 40 tabs at once and never truly quiets down, a drink that silences the noise isn't a reward. It's a relief. And that's a very different thing.They also get into dopamine, rejection sensitivity, the post-marathon crash, and why going alcohol-free takes far more courage than most people give it credit for.If you've ever felt like you were outrunning something but couldn't quite name what - this episode is for you.

Most people know Georgie Bingham as the voice they heard on Saturday mornings on TalkSport. What most people didn't know was what was happening behind the mic.In this episode, Rich and Andy sit down with broadcaster-turned-coach Georgie Bingham for one of the most honest, raw and genuinely moving conversations we've had on the pod.Georgie opens up about 25 years of early alarms, no weekends, and a career she slowly fell out of love with. About drinking alone in a house that never really felt like home. About a moment where she realised she was pretty much suicidal - and didn't even clock how serious that was at the time. And about how sobriety didn't just change her habits - it gave her back herself.We talk about:The "midlife funk" - and why it's not a crisis, it's a callingWhy giving up alcohol is the bravest thing you'll ever doThe toxic lad culture she navigated as the only female voice at TalkSportFOMO, loneliness, and what it means to finally stop being a sheepHow coaching is helping people do in 5 months what took Georgie 5 yearsThis one hit differently. Whether you're sober-curious, deep in your own midlife moment, or just need to hear someone be brilliantly, unapologetically honest - this episode is for you.Find Georgie: themidlifefunkcoach.com | @GeorgieBingham

This week’s episode is a personal one. Andy hits 7 years alcohol-free, and we unpack what’s changed - and what keeps getting better even this far down the road.We talk honestly about the midlife runner’s reality: the hidden negotiations, the “badge of honour” hangover runs, and the way running can become both a coping mechanism and a doorway to real change. You’ll hear why 100 days is often the point where the real identity shift begins, why clarity is a double-edged sword, and how learning to process grief and emotion (instead of numbing it) becomes a superpower.We also share some race-week energy - Tokyo Marathon shout-outs, training markers, and why consistency beats intensity every time when life is busy and you’re trying to build something sustainable.If you’re a midlife runner who feels stuck, misaligned, or caught in the weekday discipline / weekend sabotage loop - this one will land.In this episode:The 7-year “soberversary” (and why there’s no itch to go back)The badge-of-honour trap: “I can still run after drinking…”Running away vs running towards: the identity shiftGrief, gratitude, and feeling life in full colourWhy 100 days is a real data point (not just a milestone)Consistency > intensity (and how to train without burning out)Race-week shout-outs + how to use races as confidence buildersWork with us: If you’re ready to remove alcohol as the hidden performance ceiling and rebuild self-trust, DM us and start the conversation.

This week we’re joined by Mike Mudie, Co-Founder & CEO of Authentic Brew - a 100% natural functional energy drink created after Mike’s life took an unexpected turn. After leaving a high-pressure career, Mike hit a sudden and serious burnout that forced him to rebuild his health from the ground up - and ultimately sparked the idea for Authentic Brew.We talk about the realities of modern stress, why alcohol and “fake energy” can quietly pull us off track, and what happens when you return to nature for recovery. Mike also shares the story behind Authentic Brew’s unique ingredients (including organic functional mushrooms + seaweeds), why the first production run sold out fast, and how they’re building a values-led brand with 25% of net profit supporting biodiversity restoration.If you’re into running, wellbeing, alcohol-free living, or performance without the crash, this one’s for you.In this episode:Mike’s journey from high performance to total shutdown - and backThe “life hack” of removing alcohol (and why it creeps back in)Why many elite sports teams don’t consume their sponsor productsWhat makes Authentic Brew different (no caffeine, no added sugar, no synthetics)The role of ritual, energy, calm focus - and the outdoor community🎁 Clean Break Chats listener offer: 10% off Authentic Brew Use the link below (discount applied): https://shop.authenticbrew.com/discount/CB10Find out more / join the crew: authenticbrew.com Follow: @authenticbrew

In this episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich dive into the uncomfortable middle ground of alcohol use - the space where you're functioning, coping… but quietly struggling.They explore the idea of being “not bad enough” to quit, yet not truly thriving either. From emotional reliance and the fading bias effect, to using running as a mask rather than a solution, this conversation gets honest about what alcohol was really doing behind the scenes.Andy reflects on the anxiety-filled mornings he never wants to relive. Rich opens up about vocational dependence and the subtle ways alcohol embeds itself into identity and routine. Together, they unpack why so many men in their 40s feel stuck - and why removing alcohol might be the first real step toward clarity, not restriction.This episode is for the runner who drinks. The dad who feels the pressure. The man who looks fine on the outside.If you’ve ever wondered whether alcohol is helping or quietly holding you back....this one’s for you.

In this episode of Clean Break Chats, we’re joined by Ben Gray from Run Talk Run (part of Sport in Mind) for a conversation that goes well beyond running.We talk about movement as a tool for mental health, why small, consistent community spaces matter, and how simply showing up can be life-changing - even on the weeks when nobody else does.Ben shares his own journey through ADHD, alcohol, identity, and finding purpose, along with the story behind Run Talk Run and why it works: no pressure, no pace, no fixing - just moving together and being human.Along the way we cover:why “fine” often isn’t finethe power of walk-and-talk spacestraining for ultras versus training for lifethe calm swan… and the chaos underneathconsistency over perfection (plus an unexpected Cream Egg & pizza 5K PB)If you’ve ever felt on the edge of joining something - or wondered how movement can support mental health without judgment - this episode is for you.

This one’s a proper sit-down, no-filter chat.We start with Ali’s Spine Race update (268 miles, barely any sleep, and she still says it was everything she wanted it to be)… and that opens the door to something bigger:The pain we choose… versus the pain life hands us.Because not everyone’s “Spine” is a Spine.For Rhonda, it was her first Parkrun.For Phil, it was showing up three times in a week.For Sandra, it was making an alcohol-free choice on a cruise.And for Johnny, it’s fighting the resistance, the fear of failing, and the pressure of a ticking clock.We talk about ego, comparison, why confidence doesn’t come first… and why choosing challenge is often how we build the tools we’ll need when life gets hard without our permission.If you’ve been feeling stuck, unmotivated, or like you “should be doing more”… this episode will land.To sign up to our newsletter head over to WWW.AFRUNNERS.COM where you can get on the email list and get great content from Rich and I.

In Episode 39 of Clean Break Chats, we are joined by one of the most honest, respected and quietly formidable voices in endurance sport — Allie Bailey.Allie is an ultra-endurance athlete, coach, speaker and author of two powerful books: 📖 There Is No Wall 📖 31 Days: a Zero-Bullsh*t Masterclass in Mindset Training For: The Modern RunnerSince this conversation was recorded, Allie has gone on to complete one of the most brutal endurance events on the planet - the Winter Spine Race 2026.🏔️ 268 miles ❄️ Mid-winter conditions 🌙 18+ hours of darkness per day 🧠 Relentless mental and physical challengeAnd she didn’t just finish.👉 She placed 7th Female which is an epic result.Allie has taken on some of the toughest terrains on Earth - from crossing frozen Lake Khövsgöl in Mongolia to running the length of the Panama Canal - and has finished 200+ marathons and ultra-marathons around the world. Along the way she’s battled depression and alcoholism, transformed her life, and now helps others find strength through both running and mindset work. In this episode, Allie talks candidly about: ✔️ What it really takes to stand at the start line of races like the Spine Race and multi-day ultras ✔️ Why process over destination is everything ✔️ How mental training outlives physical wins ✔️ Her experience on the Winter Spine Race/Spine Challenger - one of the toughest winter ultras in the UK - and how she accidentally found her way into doing it despite saying she never would ✔️ Valuable lessons in self-worth, motives for running, and letting go of unrealistic comparisonWhether you’re an ultrarunner, a weekend warrior, or someone navigating life’s tough transitions, this raw, honest and inspiring conversation will challenge how you think about effort, struggle, and success.Here’s who we’re talking about:Allie Bailey - British ultrarunner, author, coach, speaker and podcaster. 🏆 Recognised as one of the UK’s most inspiring female adventurers. 📚 Author of the acclaimed “There Is No Wall”. 🥇 Podiumed in numerous long ultras (including Wildhorse 200). 🌍 Has completed 200+ ultra-distance runs including multi-day and extreme conditions worldwide. 📣 Regular speaker on mindset, endurance and mental health. 🐕 Lives in Yorkshire with rescue dog, Pickle (a true trail companion!). 👉 She’s also been part of the Spine Race team in safety and media roles leading up to tackling the Winter challenge herself in 2026

In this episode, Andy and Rich explore the pressure that often arrives with the start of a new year - the sense that things should feel clearer, calmer, and more organised by now… even when they don’t.They talk openly about:Why January can amplify overwhelm rather than motivationHow avoidance, ADHD task paralysis, and self-criticism can quietly stall progressThe difference between self-sabotage and learning to protect your future selfWhy going from zero to all-in rarely worksHow focusing on process over perfection creates sustainable momentumAndy shares his own reflections on feeling scattered and stuck - and how returning to the gym after years of resistance has become a powerful symbol of doing the uncomfortable things that support long-term goals, rather than avoiding them out of fear.Rich dives into mindset, goal-setting, and belief, sharing how a simple mental shift led to a 19:49 5K, reinforcing that progress doesn’t come from doing more - it comes from doing the right things consistently.Together, they reflect on how small, repeatable actions, kinder self-talk, and better focus can unlock confidence, clarity, and forward motion - not just in running, but in life.They also share what’s coming up across Clean Break Coaching, including races, meet-ups, retreats, and a limited-time coaching offer for those wanting structure, accountability, and support as the year unfolds.If you’re feeling the weight of new-year expectations, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan - just the next right step.🔓 Current Coaching OfferFor a limited time, you can get 33% off for 2 months on both coaching options:👉 Group Coaching https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/silveroffer100👉 1:1 Coaching + Group Support https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/silveroffer200

What if going alcohol-free isn’t the change… but the catalyst that unlocks every other change in your life?In this special guest episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich are joined by one of the most influential voices in the alcohol-free world - Andy Ramage (One Year No Beer / Dry / coach & author).For Andy D, this conversation is deeply personal. His alcohol-free journey began back in May 2018 after finding One Year No Beer online, and after months of blipping and slipping, his last “Day One” landed on 28th February 2019 - the same moment he started his first course with Andy Ramage.Together, we unpack why removing alcohol so often becomes the gateway to transformation, including:Why alcohol-free living takes courage - especially when everyone else is walking in the opposite directionHow our beliefs about alcohol (confidence, fun, connection) get formed early… and keep us trapped for decadesWhy alcohol disconnects us from the micro-moments that create real joy and meaningHow clarity, sleep, and emotional resilience return when alcohol leavesWhy men, grief, vulnerability and alcohol are so tightly linked and why we need new spaces for real conversationThe truth about being accused of “preaching” and why sharing this message matters now more than everAndy also shares exciting updates on what he’s building next, including Authentic Brew, a functional wellness drink created to support energy, clarity and connection - and his upcoming documentary tracking real drinkers through an alcohol-free transformation.This is a powerful, honest, funny and deeply human conversation - and if you’ve ever thought about taking a break from alcohol… this might be the episode that changes everything. 📲 Follow Andy Ramage: https://www.instagram.com/andyramageofficial and https://andyramage.com 🍃 Authentic Brew: https://www.authenticbrew.com

Happy New Year - and welcome to the first Clean Break Chats episode of 2026.In this conversation, Rich and Andy reflect on what 2025 really taught them: that success isn’t measured by a bank balance, but by the joy, gratitude, connection, and meaning you’re building day-to-day. They talk honestly about alcohol-free life over Christmas (what felt easy, what still shows up), the “placebo” rituals of special occasions, and the tricky, nuanced question of moderation - especially when alcohol has been part of your identity.They also explore one of the most powerful tools in any change journey: creating a gap between stimulus and response. Because when you think you’re craving alcohol, you’re usually craving a feeling - relaxation, connection, excitement, relief - and you can learn to meet that need without pouring a drink.From there, the chat opens up into running, coaching, and what’s ahead: why process goals beat destination goals, why community race-weekends (like Valencia and Benidorm) matter so much, and what 2026 might look like when you “remove what isn’t important” before piling more on.Andy shares what stepping into 50 feels like (spoiler: it’s not fear - it’s fuel), why the gym suddenly matters for the next challenge, and how he’s thinking about productivity, accountability, and building strength to match big endurance dreams. Rich talks marathon plans, focus, and doubling down on what matters.If you’re doing Dry January - or just feeling that “new year reset” energy -this one will help you simplify, refocus, and start building momentum.Mentioned in this episodeFREE 28-day Alcohol-Free Challenge (code: FREEMAKEACHANGE) - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/alcoholfreechallegeGroup coaching: £75/month (weekly running + mindset call + weekly alcohol-free call) - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/memberships1:1 coaching: from £150/month - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/membershipsFree discovery call (30 mins) to figure out the best option for you - https://calendly.com/rich-cleanbreakcoaching/clean-break-coaching-30min-discovery-call

In this very special Clean Break Chats Christmas Special, Andy and Rich are joined by members of the Clean Break community for an honest, moving and uplifting reflection on the year that’s been - and the year ahead.This episode isn’t about perfect training blocks, PBs or rigid plans. It’s about connection over perfection.Together, we explore:Navigating injuries, setbacks and frustration - without walking awayWhy community matters more than motivationWhat it really means to train smarter, not harderHow being alcohol-free creates space for deeper connection - with yourself, your running, and your familyPatience, sustainability, and learning to play the long gameThe emotional power of running - especially when shared with othersIdentity shifts: “I’m not a runner” → “I am a runner”Why failure isn’t the end - it’s part of the pathYou’ll hear raw, real stories from Liz, Stacey and Kris - covering injury, sobriety milestones, weight loss, mindset shifts, family inspiration, and the courage to keep showing up when things don’t go to plan.If you’re finishing the year feeling tired, stuck, injured, inconsistent - or quietly proud of how far you’ve come - this episode is for you.🎄 A reminder this Christmas: You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to do it alone. And you’re probably doing better than you think.

Victory in Valencia.But not in the way most people think.In this deeply reflective episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich unpack everything that happened before, during, and after the Valencia Marathon - from the electric race-weekend atmosphere to the mental battles after 30km, the heat, the crowds, the doubts… and the breakthroughs.This isn’t a “what time did you run?” episode.It’s a conversation about process over pace, connection over consumption, and why the real win happens long before the finish line.We talk about:Why marathon success is earned in the months before race dayManaging expectations, nerves, logistics, and controllablesRunning alcohol-free and why clarity beats chaos every timeTrusting the process (even when doubt creeps in)The power of mindset, belief, and staying present in the painWhy PBs are a by-product - not the pointCommunity, coaching, and doing hard things togetherWhether you’re training for a marathon, returning to running, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or simply navigating a demanding season of life - this episode is a reminder that you’re not behind, you’re building.🎽 You’re running your own Olympics.And you’re allowed to be proud of the effort - not just the result.🎧 Listen now and take what you need from the journey.