{"podcast":{"title":"Journey to the Sunnyside | Mindful Drinking & Alcohol Health","slug":"journey-to-the-sunnyside-mindful-drinking-alcohol-health-6796606","podcast_index_feed_id":6796606,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/journey-to-the-sunnyside","website_url":"https://www.sunnyside.co","image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/qNwOM3E63mZeaWTP8w9JvEUtP49g_n1dWVr_Oqcdk1Y/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQ5Nzc2LzE3MDc5/NjA2MDEtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg","author":"Sunnyside","episode_count":261,"summary":"Exploring the science of drinking less, from alcohol cravings and habit change to moderation, naltrexone, and building a healthier relationship with alcohol. Whether you're sober curious, cutting back, or thinking about quitting, this podcast meets you where you are. Journey to the Sunnyside is a top 1% podcast reaching over 500,000 listeners every week. Through expert interviews, neuroscience research, and real stories, we cover what actually works — mindful drinking, behavior change, medication-assisted approaches, harm reduction, and more. Hosted by Mike Hardenbrook, #1 best-selling author and neuroscience enthusiast. Brought to you by Sunnyside, the leading program for changing your relationship with alcohol. Start your free trial at sunnyside.co. Disclaimer: The views expressed in our episodes do not necessarily represent those of Sunnyside. If you're concerned about your drinking, please consult a medical professional. This podcast is not medical advice.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-10T00:20:52.817645+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/journey-to-the-sunnyside-mindful-drinking-alcohol-health-6796606"},"episode":{"title":"Why Humans Crave Altered States","slug":"why-humans-crave-altered-states","published_at":"2026-05-14T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/journey-to-the-sunnyside-mindful-drinking-alcohol-health-6796606/why-humans-crave-altered-states","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/journey-to-the-sunnyside-mindful-drinking-alcohol-health-6796606","url":"https://share.transistor.fm/s/61b4a619","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/61b4a619/e1c79c4d.mp3","summary":"In this episode, Mike digs into what anthropologists found after studying altered states across 400+ societies, why your brain can start moving toward relief before you even pour a drink, and how to tell the difference between a habit that enhances your life and one that has quietly become a requirement. From music and movement to the five o’clock pull toward a drink, this episode offers a different way to understand what you’re actually looking for when the urge hits. RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG: When to Take Naltrexone: Timing for Daily and Targeted Use Setting Naltrexone Expectations: A Realistic Timeline Sinclair Method vs. Daily Naltrexone: Which Approach Is Right For You? CONNECT WITH SUNNYSIDE: Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3 Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinsunnyside/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinsunnyside/ Twitter: https://x.com/joinsunnyside TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joinsunnyside ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol health app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days. We now offer Sunnyside Med , a new program that provides access to compounded naltrexone, a medication that can reduce alcohol cravings at the brain level, offering a more clinical pathway for people who need it. Sunnyside Med is a complete…","meta_description":"In this episode, Mike digs into what anthropologists found after studying altered states across 400+ societies, why your brain can start moving toward rel…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":780,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/journey-to-the-sunnyside-mindful-drinking-alcohol-health-6796606/episodes/why-humans-crave-altered-states/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/journey-to-the-sunnyside-mindful-drinking-alcohol-health-6796606/why-humans-crave-altered-states.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}