You Can Quit Smoking

EP31: He Turned Quitting Smoking into a Game… And Won - Gareth King

You Can Quit Smoking

Show Notes

Gareth always paired smoking with a good time: being out with friends and enjoying a drink. He did not see himself as a typical smoker or as someone who was addicted, but he realized something was amiss when he could never make it through a weekend without smoking. Because the habit was so closely entwined with his social life and drinking, Gareth unsuccessfully attempted to quit many times. That changed when he tried a different approach that provided the exact incentive he needed to stay on track.

About Gareth: Gareth King is a Melbourne, Australia-based Creative Director in the world of marketing, always seeking new ideas, experiences, learnings and stories from anywhere. He is also a (so far successfully) ex-smoker of over 8 years, and host of the podcast Ruined By The Internet?, focused on exploring the technology shaping society, culture and modern life, to find the true casualties of the web - and those we're just looking at wrong.

✨You can find Gareth at: www.ruinedbytheinternet.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-king-09497225/

💛 Ready to go deeper? My book, Honor Your Heart, shares the mindset shifts and inner work that helped me finally quit smoking for good. You’ll also find free tools and ways to connect with me right here: 👉 https://www.honoryourheart.net/link-in-bio-podcast *Use code PODCAST at checkout for 15% off.

More from You Can Quit Smoking

Oct 14, 2026

Leigh knew she was ready to move on from smoking as a young adult, and she managed to quit through sheer discipline. Later on, however, she found herself relying on alcohol to quiet the harsh inner critic in her mind. Through deep self-reflection, curiosity, and hope, Leigh transformed her life by learning to put trust in herself rather than her critic.

Oct 6, 2026

Jani didn’t like being addicted to smoking, but found herself trapped in a cycle with it due to many contributing factors of her childhood, neurodivergence, and navigating adulthood in a new country. She struggled to quit, going as long as eight months at time before falling back into the habit from “just having a couple pulls.” Jani finally found her way out by following her heart’s wisdom and soothing her busy mind and hands with artistic expression.

Sep 15, 2026

Originally trying to be cool by smoking, Jeannie came to see the habit as anything but. She felt it kept others at a distance and carried deep shame around both the habit and her struggle to quit for good. Though she disliked it, she leaned on smoking as an emotional crutch for years. After a life crisis, Jeannie turned inward and realized the direct link between her self-esteem and smoking. Given the right opportunity, she quit in a deeply meaningful way that ultimately expanded her joy, connection, and presence in life.

Sep 8, 2026

Cathy never wanted to think of herself as a smoker yet smoking was a major part of her life. The cognitive dissonance became overwhelming as she joined the composting community and grew increasingly passionate about environmentalism. Realizing it was time to extend that same care to herself, Cathy finally left the habit behind after 30 years. Today, she enjoys life fully completely free from the baggage and shame of being a closet smoker.

Sep 1, 2026

Starting young, smoking controlled a significant portion of Adrien’s life. Even after recognizing her struggle, she found it difficult to let go until a pregnancy caused a natural aversion. Yet despite quitting, smoking still held a grip on her freedom, surfacing in distressing nightmares about returning to the habit. It was not until Adrien made an unusual decision that she was finally able to reclaim her power and step fully into her choice to remain smoke-free. Today, she shares her emotional healing abilities with others, supporting them on their own journeys to quit smoking for good.

See all episodes →