Sober Psychology

Here is a hard truth that might make you want to click away: You might be in love with your own pain . In this episode of Sober Psychology, we aren't sugarcoating anything. I’m pulling back the curtain on the Victim Mentality—the psychological state where we define ourselves by what happened to us, rather than what we can do about it. As a psychologist in training, I see this pattern constantl...

Why can't you sit still? Why does silence feel terrifying? In this episode of Sober Psychology, I'll dive deep into the neuroscience of addiction, the "Dopamine Cartel," and why your phone is making you clinically anhedonic. We break down Dr. Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation, the famous "Rat Park" experiment, and the Biblical theology of idolatry and stillness. If you...

Ever find yourself on the cusp of success—in recovery, your career, or a relationship—and then BAM! You completely derail it? You are not alone. It's called self-sabotage , and it's one of the most frustrating things we do as humans. In this raw, real, and hard-hitting episode of Sober Psychology , I (Michael, your host and psychologist-in-training) break down the powerful psychological an...

Hey Sober Psychology fam! It’s Michael, your psychologist-in-training, going all in on Men’s Mental Health—the silent crisis we’re finally breaking open. 🧠 💥 We’re exposing why men are 4x more likely to die by suicide, how “man up” culture is killing us, and what the Bible actually says about David’s tears and Jesus’ sorrow. From Fight Club to Andrew Tate, pop culture lies get roasted with dark...

Hey Sober Psychology fam! It's Michael, your psychologist-in-training, hitting you with a eye-opening episode on "The Problem with Snapchat." 📱 Ever feel like that little ghost app is ghosting your mental health and relationships? We're breaking down the psychological traps—like addiction and dopamine hooks—that make Snapchat a sneaky temptation, especially for those in committe...

Hey Sober Psychology fam! It's Michael, your psychologist-in-training, back with a raw, no-filter episode on "Cheating & Adultery." 💔 Ever wonder why people risk it all for a fleeting thrill? We’re diving into the psychological traps (dopamine highs, attachment issues) behind infidelity, backed by studies like Buss’s work on desire. Plus, for my faith-driven crew, we’re exposing...

Hey Sober Psychology fam! It's Michael, your psychologist-in-training, diving deep into the gritty truth about "Success & Winning" in this week's episode. 🏆 Ever wonder why chasing wins can feel like a high but leave you empty? We’re unpacking the psychological highs (dopamine hits!) and lows (burnout, loneliness) of success, backed by studies like the Harvard Grant Study. P...

Hello legends! In this episode, "The Division of Politics: How We're Being Torn Apart and Why It Benefits the Shadows," I’m diving deep into the mess of political division. Why are we at each other’s throats? From Civil War scars to today’s meme wars, I unpack the history, the psych science behind our outrage addiction, and how the Deep State and media fat cats profit off our bickeri...

Hey, folks! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, diving into the chaos with our latest episode, " Everything Will Be Ok: Finding Hope in the Chaos of 2025 ." With Charlie Kirk’s assassination tearing open our political and cultural divides, it feels like the world’s on fire—but I’m here to tell you it’ll work out. We’re breaking down biblical hope, psychological resilience, and hist...

Hey, you desperate lovers! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, dropping truth bombs in our latest episode, "Relationships: Navigating the Modern Mess to Build Real Bonds." We're tearing into the chaos of 2025 dating culture—think apps turning love into a swipe-right scam, situationships leaving everyone empty, and red pill nonsense poisoning the vibe. I’m laying out biblical pr...

Hey, you lovely legends! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, diving into the firestorm of "The Masculinity Issue: Reviving the Suppressed Man for a Stronger Society." In this episode, we’re tearing apart how politics, feminism, society, and even modern Christianity have tried to tame masculinity into submission, and why we need to bring it back to save our families and society. Bac...

Hey, you beautiful people! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, back with a gut-punch episode, "Enabling: The Toxic 'Help' That's Hurting Your Loved One's Recovery." We’re diving deep into what enabling really is—spoiler: it’s not love, it’s letting bad behavior slide, especially for alcoholics and addicts. From covering up their messes to bailing them out, I’m expos...

Hey, you beautiful fighters! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, tackling a big question everyone’s whispering about in this episode: "Is AA a Cult? Unpacking the Stigma and Truth of Alcoholics Anonymous." We’re diving into the rumors, the history from Carl Jung’s influence to the basement beginnings, how AA might’ve gotten a bit softer over time, and the real-deal benefits backed...

Hey, you beautiful disasters! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, back with another episode that’s gonna hit you harder than a sobriety checkpoint. We’re diving into why scribbling your thoughts isn’t just for angsty teens—it’s a game-changer for your mental health and recovery. I’m breaking down the science, from Alcoholics Anonymous wisdom to legit studies, showing how journaling can tame...

Hey, you beautiful chaos machines! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, diving headfirst into the messy, mind-bending world of imposter syndrome. Ever feel like you’re faking it—at work, in recovery, or just in life? Yeah, that’s your brain pulling a prank, and we’re here to call it out. With insights from the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book and hard-hitting psychological research, I’m breaking...

Join Michael, your host and psychologist-in-training, on Sober Psychology as we dive deep into the raw truth about relapse in drug and alcohol addiction. In this episode, we unpack why relapse happens, drawing from the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book and cutting-edge psychological research. Expect hard-hitting insights, practical tips, and a dose of dark humor to keep you hooked. Whether you’re in r...

Hey, you beautiful decision-dodgers! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host—psychologist in training, sober dad, and a guy who’s stalled on enough choices to know they’re heavier than a bad breakup. In this episode, I’m tackling the burden of choice—that overwhelming moment when you’re paralyzed by 47 Netflix shows, a dating app full of maybes, or a menu that feels like a life-or-death decision....

Hey there, you beautiful chaos magnets! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host—psychologist in training, sober dad, and a guy who’s tripped over his own ego more times than he’d like to admit. In this episode, I’m diving into the messy, maddening world of self-sabotage. You know, that annoying habit of torching your own dreams—like skipping that big interview, derailing your diet, or starting a...

What’s up, you glorious chaos agents? It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host—psychologist in training, sober dad, and the guy who’s done with the scams. In this episode, I’m ripping into therapy like it’s a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. Is it the lifeline that pulled me out of addiction’s grip, or a fancy con where you pay $200 to cry while someone nods? I’m diving deep into therapy’s wild history—...

Hey, you beautiful survivors! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host—psychologist in training, sober dad, and the guy who’s been through enough crap to know suffering isn’t just a phase, it’s a professor. In this episode, I’m diving headfirst into the raw, messy truth about suffering—why it’s inevitable, why you’re probably making it worse, and how to use it to become tougher than a biker in a b...

What’s up, you glorious chaos agents? It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host—psychologist in training, sober warrior, and the guy who’s done with your excuses. In this episode, I’m tearing into accountability like a Pitbull on a rawhide bone. Tired of your life feeling like a bad reboot of a ‘90s sitcom? That’s because you’re dodging responsibility harder than a politician at a lie detector test...

Hey, you beautiful disasters! It’s Michael, your host of Sober Psychology, psychologist in training, sober dad, and the guy who’s not afraid to call out your so-called “friends” for being emotional vampires. In this episode, I’m ripping the Band-Aid off the messy, complicated, and sometimes straight-up toxic world of friendship. Think your BFF is ride-or-die? Think again—they might just be riding...

Hey Sober Psychology fam! It’s Michael, your psychologist-in-training, and Episode 34 is about to hit you with some hard truths about The Art of Conversation . Ever wonder why your chats fizzle out or why people ghost you mid-convo? Spoiler: you’re probably screwing it up. In this raw, no-BS episode, I’m diving into the psychology of why most of us suck at talking, backed by studies from the Journ...

In this unhinged episode, we’re tackling oversharing —that cringeworthy habit of dumping your life story on strangers or social media for clout. With psychological science and hard-won sobriety wisdom, I'll rip into why we overshare, how it sabotages relationships, and its sneaky role in addiction recovery. Expect aggressively average-level intensity, dark humor that hits like a shot of realit...

Buckle up for a no-BS dive into the abyss of depression with Michael, a psychologist-in-training who’s wrestled demons and whiskey bottles to bring you this raw, unfiltered podcast episode. Depression isn’t just “feeling sad”—it’s a neurochemical liar that affects 280 million people worldwide, and it’s got a nasty habit of tagging along in addiction recovery. With psychological science and hard-ea...