The time trade-off: Why I traded alcohol for clarity

Loading player...
What resource is so scarce that you would give up a social pleasure to protect it?
In this deeply personal reflection, our host shares the quiet, non-dramatic watershed moment three years ago when he decided to stop drinking. This wasn't a story of abuse or intervention - it was a simple, personal calculus: weighing the momentary social pleasure against the time cost.
Discover why the mornings after, and the feeling that time "sped up" during a few drinks, led to a deliberate act of protecting his most finite resource.
This episode is a powerful reminder that we must assert the hegemony of our goals over anything that steals our time or compromises our perspective.
20 Nov 2025 4AM English South Africa Society & Culture · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

The arterial route to independence: Lessons from a MyCiti bus

In a "super coddled world," how do we give our children the tools to navigate life on their own? This week, I’m reflecting on my 1998 gap year in the UK - a time of living on a six-pence and discovering the true meaning of independence through a red double-decker…
14 Jan 11PM 2 min

The tyranny of "Daily": Why we’re dropping the millstone

What happens when a hobby starts to feel like a "social contract" you can’t keep? In this first episode of 2026, we’re looking at the power of names and the weight of expectations. After 24 episodes, I sought out some expert "tough love" from Gavin Kennedy at Solid Gold Podcasts…
11 Jan 11PM 2 min

The sibling shadow: When your youngest wants a new school

What do you do when your Grade Two child insists on changing schools, but can't articulate why? In this personal episode, our host shares a central parenting conundrum: accommodating his youngest son’s persistent, yet unexplained, request to move schools - a decision that throws a wrench into the family's dual-school…
10 Dec 2025 11PM 2 min

From late fees to $400 billion: The power of a 'dare to dream' idea

Who can forget the pain of Blockbuster's late fees? In this motivational episode, we explore the incredible journey of Netflix, which began as a simple snail mail DVD service focused on solving a single customer problem, and today boasts a market capitalisation of over $400 billion with 300 million subscribers…
9 Dec 2025 11PM 1 min

Building calm: Puzzles, Lego, and surviving the school holidays

The school holidays are here, and the struggle for parental sanity is real. This episode dives into the family’s secret weapons for surviving the break - from a 1000-piece Batman puzzle and the lure of an F1 Lego set (congrats, Lando Norris) to backgammon and chess. We’re asking: What’s your…
8 Dec 2025 11PM 1 min