RE 611: Professional Athletes Turn to NA BeerRE 611: Professional Athletes Turn to NA Beer
Recovery Elevator
Paul Churchill reflects on NFL quarterbacks backing non-alcoholic beer and what that means for drinking culture, then shares Greg’s story of entering detox and reaching seven days alcohol-free after decades of daily drinking. The conversation highlights shifting attitudes to alcohol, the importance of support, and the early wins and challenges of sobriety.
56:38•2 Nov 2026
From NFL Quarterbacks and NA Beer to Greg’s First 7 Sober Days
Episode Overview
- Professional athletes such as Dak Prescott and Drake May investing in NA beer signal a cultural shift away from normalising alcohol in sports.
- Greg describes over two decades of near-daily drinking, showing how a functioning exterior can hide serious dependence.
- A moment of emotional collapse led Greg to ask his wife to call a detox centre, which he frames as choosing the less exhausting path compared to continuing to drink.
- Burning the ships by honestly telling friends, family and colleagues about detox became a key accountability tool in his first week sober.
- Paul stresses that while NA beers can help some people in social settings, anyone for whom they feel triggering should avoid them, especially early in sobriety.
“"I wasn't ready for a very, very long time, and I really, truly thought that I couldn't do this. But when you come to that moment where something tells you that you're ready, just grasp it, seize it."”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? This episode brings together two big threads: pro athletes backing alcohol-free beer and one man’s raw first week without booze. Paul Churchill kicks off by talking about NFL quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Drake May becoming part-owners of Athletic Brewing, an alcohol-free beer company. For a sport long hooked to regular beer sponsorships, this shift feels massive.
It sends a clear message: peak performance and alcohol don't mix, and saying yes to NA beer can be a statement that alcohol is, as Paul says bluntly, "shit... It's poison." He also points out that while NA beer can be helpful for some, it can be triggering for others, especially early on, so caution and self-honesty are key.
The heart of the episode is Greg, a 44-year-old college professor from Champaign, Illinois, who is just seven days alcohol-free after drinking daily for over two decades. His story stretches from secret sips of rum and eggnog as a teen, to bartending and acting in Chicago and Los Angeles, to years of five-to-ten drinks a night while holding down a career, marriage, and fatherhood.
Things escalate to hidden vodka in cupboards, morning drinks to steady his hands, and swigs in workplace toilets.
Greg shares how a brutal moment of emotional collapse led him to ask his wife to call a detox centre, saying the idea of detox "feels less exhausting to me than doing what I'm doing now." From there, he talks about burning the ships by telling friends and family, returning to work quickly for structure, and leaning on support, movement, and mindfulness to get through tricky evenings.
If you're curious about how culture around alcohol is shifting and what the very start of sobriety can really look like, this conversation might be exactly what you need today. Where might your own "I'm ready" moment be hiding?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.