Alex Simmons: A Journey of Resilience Navigating a Kidney Transplant, @AthleticBrewing | EP3Alex Simmons: A Journey of Resilience Navigating a Kidney Transplant, @AthleticBrewing | EP3
Mocktails Or Messy
Alex Simmons talks through his experience of kidney failure, dialysis and receiving a transplant from his sister, alongside his move toward non-alcoholic drinking. The conversation touches on invisible illness, family, fitness and finding peace after a major health scare.
37:00•31 Jan 2024
Kidneys, Mocktails and Mindset: Alex Simmons on Health, Hustle and Invisible Illness
Episode Overview
- Serious illness can affect people who appear fit, highlighting the importance of internal health over outward appearance.
- A kidney transplant offers a second chance but requires ongoing monitoring, lifestyle changes and awareness that it may not last forever.
- Non-alcoholic options like mocktails and NA beer can support social connection without hangovers or guilt, especially after health scares.
- Invisible illnesses are common, so Alex urges people not to judge others’ health by how they look and to speak up about their own struggles.
- Focusing on peace, gratitude and growth after near-death experiences can shift priorities away from stress and towards what truly matters.
“You go to buy a house, you look at the exterior and you're like, oh, I want it. But then you go inside, it's completely gutted. It's the same thing. You don't know what's going on in people's insides.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This chat with Alex Simmons offers one version of that answer, mixing serious health realities with low-alcohol banter and a lot of heart.
Alex joins hosts Ryan Frankowski and Kelly Miskorski to talk about life before and after kidney failure, from his days as a multi-sport athlete and "weekend warrior" drinker to waking up in hospital with blood pressure at stroke level and being told he needed dialysis and, eventually, a transplant.
His sister stepped up to donate a kidney in December 2023, and he walks through the brutal recovery process – struggling just to get out of bed or go to the bathroom – and the long-term reality that a transplanted kidney may last 10 or 20 years, but not forever. You’ll hear how internal health became his main focus, despite looking "super fit" on the outside.
After a TikTok comment asking, "How does a personal trainer who's super fit like yourself need a kidney replacement?", Alex started speaking up about invisible illnesses and the danger of judging health by appearances. His analogy hits hard: "You go to buy a house, you look at the exterior and you're like, oh, I want it.
But then you go inside, it's completely gutted." The episode also gets into his love for non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing, using it to stay social without guilt or hangovers, and how that connects with Ryan’s aim to enjoy mocktails in a heavy drinking town like Pittsburgh.
Along the way, Alex shares his philosophy behind his gym "Pray Focus Grind", his commitment to being an open book online, co-parenting his energetic 11-year-old daughter, and his renewed appreciation for life after almost dying. If you're rethinking alcohol, dealing with health issues others can't see, or just need a reminder to "pump the brakes" and chase peace, this story might be exactly what you need today.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.