Episodes
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, we welcome Luke, who shares his compelling journey from growing up in a tight-knit family in Rhode Island, through struggles with early exposure to alcohol, family challenges, and an intense career in the liquor industry. Luke discusses his turning point moments, including his battles with anxiety, multiple DUIs, his divorce, and the profound impact of his brother’s death. Learn how Luke’s path led him to finally embrace sobriety through...
Published 11/15/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, I connect with Meg to explore her journey from a typical suburban upbringing in Chicago to navigating her relationship with alcohol. Meg opens up about her experience growing up with a strong family foundation, her high school and college years, and the influence of social and professional environments on her drinking habits. They discuss the concept of 'gray area drinking' and its widespread impact, the societal pressures associated with...
Published 11/06/24
  In this episode Justin shares his compelling story of growing up amidst domestic violence, struggling with various addictions, and his journey toward sobriety. He discusses his battle with alcohol, heroin, and other substances, the impact of his actions on his personal life, and his eventual path to recovery. Justin reflects on the transformative moments that led him to seek help, the importance of support from loved ones, and the gratitude he now feels for a sober life. This inspiring...
Published 10/30/24
In this episode, I welcome Megan, who shares her powerful sobriety journey. Megan opens up about her struggles with perfectionism, early exposure to alcohol, postpartum anxiety, and the loss of her father. After a life-changing moment on Easter 2019, she embraced spontaneous sobriety and immersed herself in various recovery methods, including therapy, AA, and online support communities. Megan emphasizes the importance of living authentically, finding joy in recovery, and connecting with...
Published 10/23/24
In this compelling episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, John Buckley candidly shares his harrowing yet inspiring journey through alcoholism and his ultimate path to sobriety. Growing up in an Irish immigrant household with a father battling alcohol addiction, John reflects on his early encounters with drinking and the profound impact it had on his identity, education, and relationships. From dealing with high-stress environments on Wall Street to personal crises, including his father's...
Published 10/18/24
In this episode, we have Lisa, who shares her compelling story of sobriety and reclaiming her life. Growing up  Lisa faced a challenging childhood with a mother suffering from MS. Despite her struggles with self-esteem, she discovered sports as an outlet. However, in high school, alcohol became a coping mechanism for fitting in and dealing with uncomfortable feelings. Lisa recounts her college years, marked by risky behavior and other challenges, underscoring the central role alcohol played...
Published 10/08/24
In this episode, we have Mason who shares his profound journey from childhood growing up in a family where alcohol was part of the norm, Mason recounts his experiences with his parents' substance use issues, navigating school life, and coming to terms with his own struggles. He dives into his periods of heavy drinking, the challenges of accepting his sexuality in the ’80s, and the spiral following his HIV diagnosis. Despite multiple setbacks and deep lows, Mason finds the strength to seek...
Published 10/01/24
In this episode, we have Stephanie who discusses her multiple-decade battle with alcohol addiction. As the youngest of five girls, Stephanie grew up in a household heavily exposed to alcohol, leading her to start drinking at a young age. Her journey through high school, college, and her professional life is marked by escalating alcohol use, culminating in a near-death experience and a hospitalization due to alcohol withdrawal seizures in December 2021. This life-changing event prompted...
Published 09/17/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, we have Kelsey, who details her journey from a turbulent childhood to overcoming profound addiction challenges. Raised by her grandparents due to her parents’ substance abuse issues, Kelsey sought connection through drugs and alcohol, leading to a life marked by substance misuse, including cocaine, heroin, alcohol, benzos and DUIs. However, Kelsey’s story is one of transformation and hope. Through immense struggle and court-mandated...
Published 09/11/24
In this episode, I sit down with Chad Caruso to discuss his incredible journey from skateboarding to overcoming addiction. Chad shares candid insights about his upbringing, his passion for skateboarding, and how he gradually fell into the damaging cycle of alcohol. Despite facing challenges like dropping out of school and multiple DWIs, Chad turned his life around, finding sobriety and embarking on ambitious projects such as skating across all 50 states in 50 days and ultimately setting a...
Published 09/06/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, my buddy Ryan joins us to share his sobriety journey. Ryan reflects on his childhood in a tight-knit community, his introduction to alcohol in high school, and how his father's coping mechanisms influenced his own. He describes the progressive nature of his alcohol dependency, the strain it put on his relationships, and his eventual realization of needing change in 2020. After multiple attempts to quit, trying a few different pathways Ryan was...
Published 08/29/24
In this episode we have Dave, who shares his deeply personal and inspirational journey from growing up with an anxious mind and early struggles with guilt and shame, to becoming a defined party guy in high school and college. Despite achieving professional milestones, Dave's life was becoming increasingly unmanageable due to his drinking. He opens up about the physical and emotional toll his addiction took on him and his loved ones. Dave recounts his turning point moment of seeking help, the...
Published 08/20/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation podcast, we have Ashley who shares about her journey from growing up in a single-parent household with attachment anxiety, through her struggles with alcohol addiction from her teenage years into her adult life. Ashley shares her experiences of hiding her addiction, the trauma of losing close family members to addiction-related causes, and the various stages of her drinking habits. She details her turning point, how she reached out for help, and her...
Published 08/15/24
In this episode of the  Podcast, we have Jess, who shares her deeply personal and powerful story of growing up in a seemingly perfect middle-class family in Portland, Oregon, while dealing with an emotionally absent father and a series of traumatic experiences. Jess opens up about her early experimentation with alcohol, the challenging transitions during her school years, and an abusive relationship that drove her further into drinking. She discusses her wake-up call moments, the pivotal...
Published 08/13/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Kari shares her powerful journey from a challenging childhood in an alcoholic environment to achieving sobriety. Despite growing up surrounded by alcohol and undergoing various personal struggles, Kari recounts her battle with alcohol, the impact it had on her life, and how she managed to find the strength to quit drinking. She discusses her multiple relapses, the emotional challenges she faced, and the turning point that led her to dedicate...
Published 08/07/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Nikki recounts her journey of sobriety, beginning from her early experiences with alcohol in Sydney, Australia, where the legal drinking age is 18 and societal pressure to drink is high. She describes her youthful experimentation and eventual reliance on drinking during a difficult breakup, leading to a period of drinking alone. Nikki shares the challenges she faced in the alcohol-centric film industry and how societal expectations made it...
Published 07/31/24
Leanne shares her journey of overcoming addiction to alcohol and cocaine, and the transformations she sees in her life since choosing recovery. She openly discusses her early life experiences, her struggles being adopted, dealing with ADHD, the pressures of a dancing career, and her almost life-ending relationship with substance abuse.  Leanne’s daughter was born with serious health conditions and she struggled to cope and went deeper and deeper into her addiction.  Leanne stresses the...
Published 07/25/24
In this episode of the podcast, we have Shane, who reflects on a loving childhood that took a dark turn due to severe bullying in middle school, leading him to drink alcohol for the first time, from experimenting with alcohol and drugs in his adolescence to facing severe addiction in his adult years, including an impactful self-intervention and multiple arrests. Shane's breaking point came in 2011 when he faced serious legal consequences and ultimately found redemption through a faith-based...
Published 07/24/24
In this heartfelt episode of the Podcast, we have Tiffany, who opens up about her upbringing in a strict Christian home in the Midwest, where she was the eldest of six in a bustling family environment. Sharing her journey from a care-free childhood to battling perfectionism, and the emotional challenges she faced, Tiffany provides an honest recount of how alcohol and substance use became a coping mechanism. Despite several lows, including a stroke scare and a difficult first marriage, she...
Published 07/19/24
In this episode, Dave shares his incredible journey to sobriety. Born into a household of addiction and instability, Dave recounts his childhood experiences and the impact they had on his life choices. Moving from a tumultuous upbringing to struggling with alcohol as an adult, Dave eventually reaches a turning point that leads him to seek help and enter rehab. Dave provides hope and insight for those facing similar battles through candid discussions about his recovery process, the support he...
Published 07/11/24
In this episode of the Sober Motivation podcast, Nisha shares her compelling journey of growing up as a first-generation South Asian-American in a small town, navigating the complexities of fitting in, and eventually finding a connection in sports. As her story unfolds, she details the role of alcohol in her life through high school and college and the realization that it was leading her astray. Through heartfelt support and reflections, Nisha shares how a call for help and the support of her...
Published 07/03/24
In this insightful episode, Brad and four special guests discuss their experiences with sobriety and offer valuable tips for those participating in 'Dry July.' They share personal stories and advice on starting and maintaining a sober lifestyle, emphasize the importance of support systems, and highlight unexpected benefits. With practical mantras and motivational messages, this episode aims to encourage and support listeners on their journey to sobriety. The panel also addresses common...
Published 07/01/24
In this emotional and powerful episode, we welcome Melissa, who courageously shares her journey to sobriety. From struggling with alcohol during her teenage years in Wisconsin to moving to New York to pursue a career in theatre, Melissa's story is filled with ups and downs. She discusses how her alcohol use escalated during her adult life. With insights on the challenges of quitting alcohol, the importance of community support, and her continuous journey toward a healthy life, this episode is...
Published 06/28/24
In this episode, Will shares his powerful story of growing up in a supportive family, his early struggles with alcohol in high school, and the progressive nature of his addiction. At 14 Will had his first drink and recalled the seamless transition as alcohol was normalized all around him. Alcohol would creep into every corner of Will’s life as he went through college and started his career as a teacher. Will never thought alcohol would take his life to where it did. One day his wife mentioned...
Published 06/25/24