Best Dan Orcese Podcasts (2025)

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Time please gentlemen: Who are the big award winners in the final Upper Bottom episode? 57:21

Play Pause

5M ago57:21

57:21

After almost exactly a year of podcasting – spanning 51 episodes – co-hosts Ollie and Cess raise a glass to their favourite episodes, best interviewees, top personal stories, the most fervent supporters and more. There is a cathartic close to the podcast, as Clare and Clara, wives of Ollie and Cess, respectively, answer puzzlers on what their spous…

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Key learnings from 50 episodes of Upper Bottom: Which one is your favourite? 50:24

5M ago50:24

50:24

With Upper Bottom hitting a half-century of episodes – woo hoo!! – Ollie and Cess list their top 50 learnings from their sobriety journey. These are listed below – with links to relevant episodes. (Booze News and Just the Tonic return next week.) 1. "Upper Bottom" may raise eyebrows as a podcast name, but it a conversation starter that perfectly ca…

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Last orders: Are you an Upper Bottom waiting for a crisis to stop drinking? 44:15

5M ago44:15

44:15

Cess and Ollie welcome local south-east London friend Boo Darlison – who is Matron for Personal Cancer Care, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust – to share her wisdom about how people should invest in their future selves by making good decisions with drink and food before a health disaster strikes. The interview with Boo comes just as America's top do…

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From rock bottom to mountain top: Can ultra runner James Gwinnett's 100-mile inspirational sobriety story change your life? 56:13

6M ago56:13

56:13

In the first episode of 2025, Ollie and Cess invite James Gwinnett to discuss his fascinating and insightful story of overcoming depression and alcoholism – he is nearly nine years sober – after a serious rugby injury, and going on to take part in Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins and run a series of ultramarathons. He’s recently released a book – RE…

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Waving goodbye to the year – and to booze: How do you ensure a successful Dry January, and beyond? 35:45

6M ago35:45

35:45

After a one-week break for the festive holiday, co-hosts Cess and Ollie return to discuss how their sober Christmas Days went – Botivo was a big hit for Cess! Ollie, meanwhile, shares a story about being sozzled in front of Princess Catherine. Oops! And, with the news that a record 15.5 million Britons (29% of the adult population in the UK) are pl…

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Festive party season: How to deal with ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future? 45:11

6M ago45:11

45:11

In the final episode before Christmas – the hosts will take a break on December 24 – Cess and Ollie consider embarrassing drinking tales from work dos in the past. They also contemplate how to ensure a sober person can enjoy themselves during the especially boozy party season, and offer some tips and tricks. Given the time of year, there is also a …

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Merry Christmas: How is society’s relationship with booze during the festive period changing? 51:37

6M ago51:37

51:37

With the festive season in full swing, Cess – now a marathon runner – and Ollie explore how norms are changing regarding Christmas drinking. And it seems that really boring lot, Gen Zzz, is to blame (according to the Daily Mail). A new trend for "Dry Christmas" is gathering pace, quicker than a behind-schdule Rudolph. This movement is being helped …

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Setting the ‘right’ example: How does a parent’s drinking habit influence their offspring’s relationship with alcohol? 51:24

7M ago51:24

51:24

What was your relationship with alcohol like when growing up? To what extent did how your parents' drinking habits shape your own? And what do today's youngsters think about boozing? Ollie and Cess – who both gave up alcohol at least in part to set a better example for their children – try to answer these big questions. And to assist with the last …

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Steps to sobriety: What’s Alcoholics Anonymous like, and do Upper Bottoms need it to kick booze? 48:05

7M ago48:05

48:05

To answer this massive question, Ollie and Cess draw upon their own insights and the straight-talking wisdom of interviewee Gary Mairs – aka sobernsound ("sweary sobriety mentor") on Instagram. Gary's catchphrase for his 33,000+ followers is "get to midnight and go again". He attended AA in April 2014, but struggled with the idea of supplicating to…

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S1: E26: To Stop The Demon Mind Flayer... 36:36

7M ago36:36

36:36

The party, tricked by an imposter, now stand on one side of a door in a basement all too familiar for Fodinis with Varkidar on the other side... prepared for a final fight... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Avoiding rock bottom: What do drinkers hope to find at the bottom of the glass? 51:11

7M ago51:11

51:11

Dr Fiona Dowman, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist, joins Cess and Ollie and shares many illuminating insights for Upper Bottoms – and those who have dropped lower. What are the signs of addiction? Are some people more predisposed to addiction than others? What are drinkers hoping to gain from boozing hard? And what are the tools and…

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S1: E25: The Canville Port Manor House Revisited... 51:25

7M ago51:25

51:25

Safely back from the Blight, the party assumes a rest will be in order before they stock up and return to the Blight... but... fate has another path... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Rock (bottom) and roll: Is there an indelible link between music and drinking? 45:23

7M ago45:23

45:23

Is a rock-and-roll lifestyle a shortcut to hitting rock bottom? Cess invites his musical pals Louis Brennan and Tom Bowen, who both stopped drinking during the pandemic, to explore the dangerous dance between sonic creativity and intoxicants. It's a wild jig – and a level lower than usual for Upper Bottom listeners. Indeed, Tom reveals that he was …

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S1: E24: A rest and then... we finish this! 49:12

7M ago49:12

49:12

Having settled the volcano and the giants, the party begins making their way back to Pathilius but runs into a bit of interference... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Rising from Upper Bottom: What have we learnt from our podcast journey? 1:01:22

8M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

To mark episode 40, co-hosts Ollie and Cess have a heart-to-heart about the progress of the podcast, which began in February. They've packed a lot in the last nine months, spoken about their troubles and interviewed the great and the good in this space – but has it all been a form of therapy, albeit in a public forum? The soul-searching comes as li…

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S1: E23: Sometimes things are not what they seem... 45:59

8M ago45:59

45:59

The party confronted the fire giant and takes him on full force along with his fiery minions... but, in the aftermath of the battle, they discover disturbing secrets... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Trick or treat: Is Halloween and the run-up to Christmas your sobriety nightmare? 39:46

8M ago39:46

39:46

When Ollie was drinking, "October 31 sounded the starting pistol to a one-person race for which there were no winners – apart from the venues where I would jollily buy outrageous Yuletide rounds," he writes in his latest Low No Drinker Magazine column. "I can now detect, while scrolling back through my phone to revisit nightmares of past Hallowe’en…

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S1: E22: Into the fire, no holds barred... 45:03

8M ago45:03

45:03

Having been ensconced in the discoveries of the ancient giant temple, the party faces the decision of what to do about the three threats in their midst... the volcano, the fire elemental, and the fire giant... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Spirit level: Can we have a grin and tonic without the booze? 54:46

8M ago54:46

54:46

Of no-or-low beer, wine, and spirits, the latter sub-category has most underwhelmed Cess since he started his sobriety journey on January 1, 2023 – can this week's guests change his mind? The co-hosts are joined by Michael Allen, Co-Founder of Scotland-based Naesip, producer of a non-alcoholic gin, called Munroe (much to Cess's excitement), and Cas…

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S1: E21: Ruin upon ruin without end... 48:24

8M ago48:24

48:24

Having made their way to Sayne and discovered a large new volcano is present, the party continues to explore the caverns and tunnels of ancient cities at the base of the volcano... but they are in for a surprise they didn't expect. Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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S1: E20: Beneath Eons of Dust and Grime... 51:16

8M ago51:16

51:16

The party adventures down the first of the three passages at the bottom of the Sayne volcano only to discover it is not empty and not friendly... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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From booze to CBD: Are 'functional drinks' redefining sobriety? 1:01:14

8M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Cannabinoid (CBD) drinks and "functional" drinking are on the rise – indeed, the latter is enjoying a 38% year-on-year increase in the UK, according to Eoin Keegan, Co-Founder & CEO at Goodrays. His drinks are even available as part of the Waitrose meal deal at the moment. For this week's episode, Ollie and Cess dive into the CBD space with a fasci…

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Running away with the alcohol-free-beer market: How is Lucky Saint leading the pack – and what's next? 57:05

9M ago57:05

57:05

Ollie and Cess join Lou Pollitt, Category and Insights Director at Lucky Saint, for a 5-kilometre run around Regent's Park in London. This is a regular community-building event for the leading alcohol-free beer brand, which has rocketed since its establishment in 2018. The trio meets at the Lucky Saint pub, the company's headquarters, to discuss dr…

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S1: E19: Mind Games in the Ancient City.... 51:03

9M ago51:03

51:03

The party begins their exploration in earnest of the three entrances of the ancient city... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Drinkaware research indicates a sobering trend: But are UK drinkers binning the booze? 51:47

9M ago51:47

51:47

Over 5,000 adults were surveyed for the annual Drinkaware Monitor – since 2009, the UK’s only national survey that provides an insight into the country’s drinking habits, according to the official bumph. The 2024 Monitor, published on Sept 26, shows: Nine in ten UK drinkers moderate their drinking – up from 87% in 2023 and 84% in 2018 Yet in five (…

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S1: E18: New Friends and Painful Goodbyes... 45:37

9M ago45:37

45:37

Having downed the green dragon quickly, the party decides what to do with the kobolds and, more importantly, how they will proceed to the next city of ruins... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Smarter sipping: How can the growing "light" alcohol category help Upper Bottom drinkers? 1:01:48

9M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Cess and Ollie invite Cami Vidal, Founder of La Maison Wellness, and Gaby Lamb, Co-Founder (with her husband) of 6PERCENT, to discuss a new alcohol-free subcategory: light. The interview – which takes place in Ollie's kitchen (as everyone is based in south-east London) – covers drinking trends, how long it takes to develop a 6% wine that people are…

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S1: E17: The Best Laid Plans... 47:34

9M ago47:34

47:34

The party meets with new friends in the depths of the Hespa mines and formulates a plan to save the lost dragon... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Growing pains: What is needed to help the no- and low-alcohol drinks category come of age? 59:30

9M ago59:30

59:30

Ollie and Dan have been busy attending various no- and low-alcohol events, and they are wearing Upper-bottom t-shirts, of course. Here, they capture some of the main takeaways from Drink It In and the Club Soda Low, Light & Alcohol-Free Summit. So, where is the category right now? And what needs to happen to help it grow? Plus, what is the future o…

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S1: E16: Stoney cave, dark wizard, and... a dragon! 49:27

9M ago49:27

49:27

Having found Hespa and it's great mysterious tree, the party maps the ruins only to find a large gaping hole below the tree... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Kicking the cans: What can Upper Bottoms learn from 'ex problematic binge drinker' Jack’s year of sobriety? 43:17

9M ago43:17

43:17

The hosts catch up with Jack, aka Kickingthecans on Instagram. He previously featured in one of Upper Bottom's most popular episodes, Final whistle: Why is watching football so boozy, and what's it like sober? Now Jack has reached the milestone of a year sober. And, although he won't be celebrating as such, life is good – and much better than it wa…

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S1: E15: The Enchanting Forest of Hespa... 51:49

9M ago51:49

51:49

Returning to the Blight, the party finds the ruins of Hespa and some surprising vegetation and life... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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S1:E14: The Complicated Next Steps for the Kingdom of Pathilia... 51:45

10M ago51:45

51:45

In the depths of Filla, the party finds a crypt which exploration reveals some unsavory history. Back in Pathilius, the king gives them a new mission for which they must prepare... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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Post-summer reset: Is September the best time to reboot – and quit booze? 37:52

10M ago37:52

37:52

For many, September ushers in the end of summer and a halt to holiday indulgence. It's the second reset month of the year after January, and that means reflection, positive change, detoxification, and possibly action. Cess and Ollie have both been active, with the former bagging a couple of Munros in the Highlands and the latter bettering Dame Kell…

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Dry destinations: Which countries are leading the sobriety trend? 50:26

10M ago50:26

50:26

In this week's episode, just before schools reopen their doors for the new term, Ollie and Cess reflect on recent overseas holidays and how sobriety and drinking cultures vary in different countries – and how they have evolved. Special attention is paid to Ollie's experiences at a much-loved family retreat on the grape-growing slopes in Perpignan. …

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Laughter and rhythm without the booze: Can sober events redefine nightlife? 55:11

10M ago55:11

55:11

Refreshed after a summer break, Cess and Ollie speak with Martyn Davies, organiser of Sober is Fun (https://www.soberisfun.co.uk/), the UK's first regular sober comedy event, and Ben Jolliffe, who runs Feed the Fire (https://feedthefire.me/dancing), a no-drink or drugs rhythmic dance focused on freedom and connection. Both interviewees stopped drin…

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Season 1: Mid-Season Recap (SPOILER ALERT!) - Ep 1 to 13 10:53

10M ago10:53

10:53

At the halfway point in the season, we will take a break for two weeks and return on September 2, 2024 with Episode 14. In the meantime, enjoy this recap of the first 13 episodes!! Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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S1:E13: The Vast Riches of the Ruins of Filla... 53:32

10M ago53:32

53:32

Having surveyed the ruins of Filla, the party goes in for a closer look... Support the showBy Angedrian Dungeon Master

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S1:E12 The Lonely Lady 47:41

11M ago47:41

47:41

Back together and ready for the king's mission, the party takes to the air in the Lonely Lady... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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Munich's sober revolution: Can alcohol-free beer gardens change drinking culture? 49:37

11M ago49:37

49:37

Before taking a well-earned summer break, the podcast hosts Ollie and Cess interview Sean Halpin, a 24-year old who divides his time between Munich and Manchester. He has also just hit one year of sobriety, too. Congratulations, Sean! Sean is an aficionado of Bavarian beer and enthusiastic about the trend for sober curiosity in Germany and plenty o…

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S1: E11: Homecomings... 48:22

11M ago48:22

48:22

Having closed the eruptions and tunnels with the help of the drow, the party makes its way back to Pathilia... and the king... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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S1: E10: Many above, many below, together we fight, defeat the foe... 48:51

11M ago48:51

48:51

Still reveling in the delights of Narvandor, the party makes a bargain to solve the problem of the eruptions... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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From office hours to happy hours: Is workplace drinking a recipe for disaster (part three)? 48:56

11M ago48:56

48:56

In the third and final episode of the three-part mini-series about work and drinking, Cess and Ollie chat about times when they have been boozing on the job – or at least felt the effects the day after a night on the sauce. Cess mentions how a clothes shop colleague was once sent to the stock room because he was feeling worse for wear and proceeded…

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S1:E9: The Hall of Narvandor 48:35

11M ago48:35

48:35

Having discovered the source of the tunneling, the party now faces the challenge of what to do about it and how... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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S1:E8: The Mysterious Tunnel of the Underdark... 52:22

11M ago52:22

52:22

Far below ground, the party faces some immediate challenges and explores the source of another intrusion... this time, an intrusion into the Underdark itself... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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From office hours to happy hours: Is workplace drinking a recipe for disaster (part two)? 46:50

11M ago46:50

46:50

For the second instalment of work drinking, Cess and Ollie speak with Liam McNulty – aka Whiskey Richard – who is based in Tokyo. He explains all about nomikai, basically Japanese work parties. There are several layers and dos and don'ts to navigate. Notably, the sober curious movement doesn't seem to have travelled that far east – if people aren't…

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S1:E7: Decisions, decisions, diecisions... 47:23

11M ago47:23

47:23

After everyone, except the druid and the ranger, have a somewhat relaxing week in Pathilia, the party discusses their options, makes some inquiries, and then must come to some tough decisions... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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S1:E6: Underdark Intrusions... 43:07

11M ago43:07

43:07

While the druid and the ranger investigate the woods, everyone else waits... nervously... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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S1:E5: Schemes and Machinations 49:42

11M ago49:42

49:42

After some strange encounters on the road to see the king, the party decides to divide and conquer with one envoy heading to see the a colony of mindflayers... Support the showBy Dan Milner

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From office hours to happy hours: Is workplace drinking a recipe for disaster (part one)? 53:12

11M ago53:12

53:12

Boozing on the job is certainly not advised, but what if drinking is ingrained in work – or at least after-work - culture? To help answer this puzzler, Ollie and Cess welcome Tabbin Almond to the pod to discuss her forthcoming book, Bottling Up Trouble. The statistics are shocking: up to 5% of work absenteeism is due to alcohol; and presenteeism du…