Beyond the Gray

About Beyond the Gray

You’ve built something solid. A business. A reputation. A life that looks the part. But somewhere along the way, something started feeling off. Not broken. Not a crisis. Just… not right. Maybe the drinking has become more of a habit than you'd like to admit. Maybe the marriage is stable but not exactly alive. Maybe you're still driven, but the fire feels different. You're functioning at a high level — and wondering why that still isn't enough. Beyond the Gray explores the gray areas of life that successful people rarely talk about — including gray area drinking, midlife identity shifts, relationships, faith, health, and purpose. Host Kari Schwear, founder of GrayTonic, helps business owners, leaders, and high-achievers understand what’s driving their habits, reconnect with what actually matters, and lead their lives with the same intention they bring to their work. This isn’t a sobriety podcast. And there are no labels here. Just clarity, honesty, and conversations most people are too busy performing to have. While many of Kari’s clients are men over 50 navigating these transitions, the ideas explored here resonate with anyone ready to move beyond the gray. New episodes every Tuesday.

Publisher

Kari Schwear

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Feb 2026

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking? The First 90 Days | Ep. 37

   You don't have to hit rock bottom for alcohol to be affecting your health. You can still run a business, show up for your family, and get plenty done while alcohol impacts your sleep, energy, blood pressure, metabolism, and how you feel each morning. So what actually happens when you take a break from drinking? In this episode of Beyond the Gray, Kari Schwear walks through what your body may experience during the first few days, the first week, the first 30 days, and the first 90 days without alcohol. We'll look at what research tells us, what changes you might notice, and why your experience may look different from someone else's. This isn't about promising a dramatic transformation or giving you another reason to feel bad about your drinking. It's about understanding your body, getting curious about your habits, and discovering what might change when you question the drink. In this episode, you'll learn: The first few days: Why you may not feel better immediately, how your sleep can be affected, and what you might discover about your evening routines and cravings. The first week: Why it's important to pay attention to patterns rather than focusing only on the scale. The first 30 days: What research has found about changes in health measures, including blood pressure, insulin resistance, body weight, and liver-related markers. Days 30–90: Why consistency matters, how new routines can take shape, and what you may learn about alcohol's role in managing stress, frustration, or other emotions. Beyond the physical changes: How drinking habits can affect your Body, Being, Balance, and Business, even when the impact isn't immediately obvious. What to measure during a break: How tracking sleep, energy, mood, cravings, workouts, and evening routines can help you learn more about yourself. Here's something worth remembering: You don't have to build a case against alcohol before you're allowed to question your relationship with it. You don't need a crisis to decide that you want better sleep, more energy, stronger relationships, or a different way to handle the end of a stressful day. Your takeaway this week If you're considering taking a break from drinking, start by getting clear on what you want to learn. Choose two or three things to pay attention to, such as your sleep, energy, mood, or evening routine. Observe what changes without turning every day into a pass-or-fail test. And remember, a break isn't a medical test. If you have health concerns, talk with your healthcare provider. If you drink heavily or may be physically dependent on alcohol, seek medical guidance before stopping suddenly, as withdrawal can be dangerous. The goal isn't simply to make it to day 30 or day 90. It's to understand yourself better and build a life you don't constantly need to escape from. Ready to question the drink? If you're wondering how alcohol or other habits may be affecting your life, let's talk. Book a 45-minute call with Kari to explore where you are and what you want to change. Connect with Kari and GrayTonic: Book a 45-minute call: https://calendly.com/karischwear/45min (https://calendly.com/karischwear/45min) GrayTonic: https://www.graytonic.com/ (https://www.graytonic.com/) Take the Gray Area Audit: https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/ (https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/) Listen to Beyond the Gray: https://beyondthegray.transistor.fm/ (https://beyondthegray.transistor.fm/) Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheGrayPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheGrayPodcast) Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karischwear/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karischwear/) Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthegray.podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/beyondthegray.podcast/) If this episode gave you something to think about, follow Beyond the Gray and share it with someone who might need to hear it. Keep questioning what you've always done. Stay curious about what could be different. And remember, you get to decide what comes next. Disclaimer This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Individual experiences and health outcomes vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your health and before making changes to alcohol use, especially if physical dependence or withdrawal may be a concern.

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Tired of Working but Can't Retire Yet? What to Do When You're Exhausted and Stuck | Ep.36

   Burned Out but Can't Quit? How to Find Your Energy Again You're good at what you do. You've spent decades building your career, taking care of your employees, serving your customers, and being the person everyone depends on. But lately, you're tired. The passion isn't what it used to be, and you're wondering how much longer you can keep doing this. Maybe retirement is still years away. Maybe you have financial responsibilities, employees counting on you, or a business you can't simply walk away from. So you keep showing up, even when you're running on empty. But what if quitting isn't your only option? In this episode of Beyond the Gray, Kari Schwear talks about what to do when you're burned out, exhausted, and ready for something to change, but you aren't in a position to walk away from your career just yet. You'll learn practical ways to reclaim your energy, rethink your work, build recovery into your life, and start exploring what your next chapter could look like before you're forced to make a change. We'll also talk about why reaching for alcohol or other ways to numb out at the end of the day isn't the same as actually recovering, and why your worth has never been defined by how much you produce. Because you can be responsible without losing yourself in the process. And you can be tired while still having a purpose. In this episode, you'll learn: Why experienced professionals, business owners, and leaders are especially vulnerable to burnout. How to recognize the subtle signs that you're losing your passion and running out of energy. Why putting your life on hold until retirement can make exhaustion even worse. The difference between checking out at the end of the day and genuinely recovering. How alcohol and other quick fixes can become your go-to response to stress. How to set a retirement target or milestone that gives you something to work toward. How to conduct an energy audit to identify what's draining you and what's fueling you. What job crafting is and how small changes to your responsibilities can make work more satisfying. Why learning something new outside of work can help you regain energy and excitement. How to start testing your next chapter before you're ready to leave your current one. Why rest is a discipline, not a reward you have to earn. How faith can help you reconnect with your purpose and remember that your worth is about more than your productivity. Your challenge this week Identify one thing to take away and one thing to add. Take away: What is one responsibility, activity, or unnecessary drain on your energy that you could reduce, delegate, or let go of? Add: What is one thing that would genuinely restore your energy, bring you joy, or help you explore what comes next? You don't have to figure out your entire next chapter today. Start small. Pay attention to what is draining you, make room for what fuels you, and give yourself permission to explore what life could look like beyond your current responsibilities. And remember: Your worth was never your output. Ready to find your way forward? If you're exhausted by the way things are but aren't sure what needs to change, let's talk. We'll look at what's draining you and build a plan that fits your real life. Book a private 45-minute call with Kari: https://calendly.com/karischwear/45min (https://calendly.com/karischwear/45min) Take the Gray Area Audit: https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/ (https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/) Connect with Kari and Beyond the Gray GrayTonic: https://www.graytonic.com/ (https://www.graytonic.com/) Beyond the Gray Podcast: https://beyondthegray.transistor.fm/ (https://beyondthegray.transistor.fm/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheGrayPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheGrayPodcast) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karischwear/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karischwear/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthegray.podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/beyondthegray.podcast/) If this episode resonated with you, follow Beyond the Gray, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they don't have to keep running on empty. Topics Burnout, career burnout, workplace stress, executive burnout, business owner burnout, midlife career, retirement planning, work-life balance, decision-making, alcohol and stress, healthy habits, personal growth, faith and purpose, finding meaning after 50. #BeyondTheGray #Burnout #CareerBurnout #PersonalGrowth #GrayAreaDrinking

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   How to Stop Lying to Yourself (The Little White Lies That Keep You Stuck) | Ep. 35

   What's the lie you keep telling yourself? "I'll start Monday." "I know I need to." "It's not like I actually did anything." Those little white lies feel harmless, but they add up. Every time you say you'll do something and don't, it dings your identity and you trust yourself a little less. In this episode, Kari gets honest about her own gray areas (yes, including her road rage) and walks through why the small stuff matters more than you think. No finger wagging here, just a real conversation about bringing the truth into the light. In this episode, you'll learn: - The two types of lies we tell, and why both are a way of managing what people see - Why the lies you tell yourself do the most damage to your identity - How "I know" can become a substitute for actually doing the thing - The "who's watching" test for the gray areas in your life - A simple four-step framework to get honest with yourself: Facts, Feelings, Decision, Focus - A one-day Gray Area Audit you can start today Scripture referenced: James 1, Matthew 5, 2 Corinthians 10, Proverbs 4, Philippians 4, Proverbs 28, Psalm 139 Question for the week: If everyone I love could see my week, what would I want to change? CHAPTERS 0:00 The little white lies we tell ourselves 2:40 Welcome to Beyond the Gray 3:25 My confession: road rage and hiding 6:40 Lies of commission vs. lies of omission 8:55 The lies we tell ourselves 10:00 When "I know" replaces doing 11:20 The small gray areas that add up 12:40 The "who's watching" test 13:40 Thoughts, feelings, and which ones get to stay 17:25 The four-step framework: Facts, Feelings, Decision, Focus 20:55 Your Gray Area Audit 22:10 Bringing it into the light 23:35 You don't have to do this alone 24:30 One practice, a prayer, and your question for the week RESOURCES MENTIONED 📞 Book a call with Kari: https://calendly.com/karischwear/45min (https://calendly.com/karischwear/45min) 📝 Take the Gray Area Audit: https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/ (https://www.graytonic.com/gray-area-audit/) 🎧 Episode 27, What You Feed Grows: [https://beyondthegray.transistor.fm/episodes/what-you-feed-grows-what-you-starve-dies-ep-27 (https://beyondthegray.transistor.fm/episodes/what-you-feed-grows-what-you-starve-dies-ep-27)] CONNECT WITH KARI 🌐 GrayTonic: https://www.graytonic.com (https://www.graytonic.com) If this episode helped you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. There is life beyond the gray, and it always starts by telling the truth. #BeyondTheGray #GrayTonic #SelfHonesty #MidlifeMen #FaithAndLeadership

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

18 ratings

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