In this episode, we have  MJ who has been sober since 2012 and opens up about his challenging journey from a troubled childhood in New York City, marked by overprotection and bullying, to his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction as an adult. MJ shares how being overprotective instilled a fear in him that led to his inability to socialize without alcohol. MJ struggled to let anyone in on how he was feeling in his life and his ego ran the show for decades. The episode also delves into MJ's...

In this episode of the Podcast, we have Leigh, discussing her journey to sobriety. Leigh shares her upbringing in a traditional household in Missouri, where drinking was not part of the story, her initial encounter with alcohol in college, and her struggles with anxiety, OCD, and social awkwardness. Despite starting drinking at a later age, Leigh talks about her gradual increase in alcohol consumption through college and into her professional life, highlighting the culture of drinking in her...

In this episode, we have Johnny a veteran who shares his transformative journey from growing up amidst the chaos of his brothers' addiction during the South Florida crack epidemic, to falling into his destructive cycle of substance abuse. Despite excelling in school and initially resisting the path of addiction, Johnny's experimentation with alcohol in middle school eventually led to a spiral of drug use, including cocaine, opioids, and heroin. After experiencing homelessness, multiple...

In this episode, we have Anne’s heartfelt story of growing up with a father struggling with addiction, his involvement in the Cornbread Mafia, and her own battles with drinking. Anne discusses the impact of her father's addiction on her childhood, leading to her own struggles with alcohol in an attempt to cope with her anxiety and feelings of unworthiness. She shares her moment of awakening and the decision to pursue sobriety, emphasizing the importance of community, therapy, and the power of...

In this episode we have  Brandi, who openly shares her harrowing journey through a rocky childhood riddled with exposure to alcohol and abuse, leading to her own struggles with alcohol and substance abuse.  Brandi narrates how early childhood traumas, including being raised by her grandparents due to her parents' youth and inability to care for her, normalized the presence of alcohol and chaos from a young age. Her story goes into the depths of her addiction, detailing a cycle of struggling...

In this episode, we are joined by Jenna, who shares her story from childhood as a 4.0 student who excelled in sports. And at 14 everything changed when alcohol became involved in her life.  She discusses the impact of her mother’s hidden struggle with alcohol, and how her pursuit of athletic and academic excellence masked deeper issues of loneliness and the need for acceptance. Jenna's story dives into her spiral into heavier drinking and partying during her teenage years, leading to dropping...

In this episode, we have John, who shares his deeply personal journey through childhood challenges, struggles with self-esteem and self-confidence, his battle with alcohol addiction, and eventually finding sobriety. Growing up in a family grappling with addiction, John's early experiences shaped his relationship with alcohol, which became a coping mechanism during his teenage years that carried into adulthood. Despite early signs of his struggle, the loss of his father and the...

In this episode we have Chris, who shares his compelling story of growing up in East Texas, his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse, and his journey to sobriety. Born in 1972 in Tyler, Texas, Chris grew up witnessing heavy drinking in his community  Despite a supportive extended family, Chris struggled with feeling uncomfortable in his own skin.  After several interventions in which he spent 12 months in a strict rehab center, Chris initially found sobriety at 22. However, after having...

In this episode, we have Suze from England who shares she faced various significant life challenges, including being sent away to boarding school at a young age, facing bullying, the sudden death of her mother, and surviving the terrifying 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. She discusses her struggle with alcohol, which became a coping mechanism following these traumatic events and the subsequent dip in her mental health. Despite initially starting to drink socially in her late teens, Suze's real...

In this episode I share personal insights on sobriety, debunking the notion of a linear process and emphasizing the importance of community, asking for help, and the realization that no external validation is required to quit. The episode also touches on misconceptions about hitting rock bottom, the gradually decreasing challenge of sobriety as one gains more tools, the potential need to walk away from certain relationships, and the significance of prioritizing sobriety in various social...

In this episode, we have Jordan, a listener of the show with a compelling story of struggle, sobriety, and self-discovery. Growing up in a social, drinking-centered environment, Jordan felt like an outsider, which led to experimenting with alcohol and drugs at a young age. Despite attempts to fit in and find a community, Jordan's journey through high school, college, and various jobs in bars only deepened the addiction.  After feeling sick and tired of how she was living always wondering if...

In this episode, we have Brantt Myhres a former NHL player who shares his turbulent journey through addiction, his career in professional hockey, and his path to sobriety. Myers discusses the early roots of his struggles, beginning with a challenging childhood marked by abuse, which led him to find solace in hockey. His career escalated quickly, but so did his drinking and drug use, ultimately leading to multiple suspensions and a lifetime ban from the NHL. The turning point came after...

In this episode of the sober motivation podcast, we talk with Lucy Bruce, who shares her journey of growing up in a household tainted by her father's violent alcoholism and her own struggles with drinking, eating disorders, and trauma. Though initially appearing picture-perfect, Lucy's family life deteriorated when her father began to spiral into violence due to his drinking, affecting everyone around him.  Lucy's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the...

In this episode we have Meg who shares her deeply personal journey from growing up in a culture of appearances and early alcohol exposure to facing significant life challenges and navigating gray area drinking. Meg details her experiences with perfectionism, the pressures of life, early  interactions with alcohol, and traumatic events in college that contributed to her complicated relationship with alcohol. As she left college Meg got sucked into the mommy wine culture. She discusses the...

In this episode we have Josh Connolly, discussing his childhood experiences and the impact of addiction on his life. Josh gives a candid recount of his complicated relationship with his alcoholic father and his struggles with substance use from an early age. After becoming a father at a young age, Josh found himself stuck in a toxic cycle of substance use and dishonesty, leading to making the decision to get sober. Navigating through the challenges of life without the means to escape reality,...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Johnny Lawrence shares his path from an unstable and traumatic childhood to a fulfilling life of sobriety. Born into a mixed-race family subjected to domestic violence, Johnny found comfort in alcohol. However, he felt compelled to give up drinking when he became a father. Johnny discusses the details of sobriety, emphasizing resilience, honesty, and the importance of never giving up. He also shares his concept of 'The Four A's - Awareness,...

In today’s episode, we have Hadley, who speaks about her first drink at 14 and how it would remain complicated until quitting at 41. As life progressed so did the drinking from the binge drinking culture in college to the mommy wine culture that followed. After another night of broken promises to herself about remaining present and aware at a party, she blacked out and the hangover lasted several days and the thoughts of quitting started to become more real. Hadley discusses how it was in a...

In this episode, we have Gregg who opens up about his tragic childhood marked by his father's death in a drunk driving accident and being raised by a single mother.  He talks about his struggle with substance abuse, including dealing drugs, and numerous arrests. Eventually, Gregg relays the turning point in his life – an encounter with a priest who introduced him to a different way of living, which became the foundation of his recovery journey. Gregg highlights the importance of sobriety,...

Nick joins the show; he has been sober for 10 years and shares his journey from substance abuse to sobriety. Nick describes his childhood marked by his parents' separation, their struggle with substance abuse, and his own progression into alcoholism and drug use. He ventures into various attempts at sobriety that he was unable to maintain. Nick hit many bottoms, including losing everything, and after being charged with a felony, he had a choice to make. Along the path, Nick tried many methods...

Michelle Smith (recoveryisthenewblack) who shares openly about her late-onset addiction to alcohol and turbulent journey to sobriety. Growing up in a household filled with alcoholism, she focused on academics and her career before gradually slipping into alcohol dependency due to life's pressures. Following multiple hospital visits, rehab stays and a significant personal realization, she committed to sobriety in 2016. We also explore the societal stigma of addiction, the challenges of early...

In this episode, we have Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, a WWF professional wrestling icon who shares his journey from growing up in a difficult environment to achieving fame in the wrestling world only to fall into addiction. Jake candidly recounts his destructive path, from enduring a damaged childhood to wrestling successes, severe injuries, and the subsequent slide into alcohol and drug addiction. Despite multiple failed attempts at rehab, Jake reveals how fellow wrestling veteran Diamond...

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...

In this episode, I talk to Justin Brien about his life's journey. Starting from his childhood marked by low self-esteem and self-worth, Justin shares his deep dive into substance abuse and the toll it took on his relationships and mental health. However, the heart of the story lies in his road to recovery and self-discovery, marked by his admission of his issues, seeking therapy, and finding motivation in his desired relationship with his son. Despite numerous setbacks, including multiple...

Mailinn Hamre began drinking at the age of 13, and by the time she turned 18, things took a dramatic turn as it became the legal age to purchase beer in Norway. Initially, she started drinking to fit in with her friends, and the consequences of her actions didn't become apparent until some time had passed. She found herself becoming dependent on the escape that alcohol provided. As the years went by, her situation worsened, and she ended up consuming up to 17 litres of beer or 4 litres of...