Keep Coming Back: Real Stories of Sobriety & Recovery

It took James two-stints in rehab, and then sober living to finally get a grasp on his painkiller addiction. In today's conversation we discuss how his relationship with his wife was able to withstand the time away, and how relationships and work-life are today. (note this interview was recorded in 2019)

Barbara P. hit the 20-year mark in sobriety and became scared by what she saw. Friends she'd known in sobriety for years were leaving the program. She said at that point it was necessary to re-double her efforts and today considers her program stronger then it's ever been.

Anne V. was born in Holland, and moved to NYC at 18. We discuss her early life and family, road from self described "party-girl" to a life of sobriety and the altering of one's social life in early recovery.

David and I discuss what it was like getting sober in college, relapsing, and then recovering once more. Additional topics include: How close to the vest do we keep our anonymity, the value of the 4th step, and the topic of a "quiet mind"

"They wheel out this black and white video, starring a guy named Father Martin. He was a Catholic priest, and this must've been from the 1950's. I thought "what are we watching here???" But he proceeded to explain alcoholism, what it was, and he gave examples. When I left that weekend of classes, I knew deep down that I was probably an alcoholic."

"I came to around 7am. No phone. No cash. My friends hadn't seen me for 12 hours. I was talking with my first sponsor at this point....he suggested I dive in head first into AA."

"It was around the time of Hurricane Sandy, I'm snorting cocaine around the clock. I would sit in my studio, playing solitaire, hoping I didn't wake up the next morning, fine if i died."

Drug tested 3x a week. Multiple therapists. Rehab. Sarah's story is one of recovery and relapse followed by more recovery. Today she is a recovery coach herself living in New York. Anyone interested in contacting her can write saramosk@gmail.com

"And when I drove back...I'll never forget this, I walk right up to my mom and say "I have a drug problem."" She goes "what??!!...can we talk about this?" "No I'm going out to watch the Giants/Eagles game." "And I went and drank at a bar, 10 minutes after telling my mom I had a drug problem. That is how clueless I was to the disease of addiction back then"

"They gave me an ultimatum ...come in or we're done with you." Topics discussed: The evolution of a spiritual program, and the "alcoholic" mind

Back from quarantine episode 1: In today's first episode back, we discuss our last 3 months in quarantine, zoom meetings, celebrating my four year sobriety anniversary and much more

"I was going through hell...and I knew I was gonna drink....I was going to relapse. I drank the whole bottle in about 10 minutes, and the sad part is for about 10 minutes it gave me what i wanted. Once it was over, the addiction just started up again....like that!"

Here are the instructions to join the virtual meeting I'm starting this Monday, March 16th at 7pm EST. Hope to see you all there. Only the first 100 people will be able to fit in this first meeting. You'll need to download the Ringcentral app when prompted and enable all video/audio when prompted Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1480218717 Or iPhone one-...

"No one picked up the phone that day. Not my friends, not my sister, not my mother. Look where i am?! I'm in a hospital bed, and it's my birthday!"

Aaron C. was born in Mexico and migrated at age 8. He moved all over the country, eventually becoming a veterinary technician at age 16, gaining access to a plethora of pet-meds. We discussed the arc of his story, self harm, recovery, and the role "machismo" can play in a Latin man's life.

"I looked in the mirror....I looked into my eyes....and I saw nothing. I'd lost self control, a sense of self, and I didn't want to live that way anymore."

Melissa S is a trans woman, sober nearly thirty years, and transitioned three decades ago. We spoke about being a trans woman in recovery, what her bottom looked like, and her appreciation of sobriety a recovery.

"I lost total control. I really could not handle myself. I was doing drugs before work, at work, and that went on for about 3 years when I then had a very public blackout. Literally everybody that I didn't to see me that way saw me blacked out, and it was the first time I realize I could lose everything I worked so hard for"

"I had far crazier things, and by that i mean giant red warning signs saying "YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKING" long before i walked in the room of AA" "I've been divorced, bankrupt in three countries, I've been in trouble with the law.......but my rock bottom was purely emotional...i was exhausted.""

"I was so isolated. I was shackled to the bad things that has happened in my life, and I didn't know how to NOT talk about it.

They suggest you don't date in your first year of sobriety... "But what if I meet the girl of my dreams?! Technically I could miss out!" Ben R. has never had a legal drink, and we discuss the trials and tribulations of college, dating, and family when a person gets sober before turning 21.

"I had one roommate who was brutally honest with me. He told me "you smell terrible. You smell like the homeless guy on the train that everyone moves away from" The first episode of 2020 discussed the recent Op-ed in the NYT entitled "The Patriarchy of Alcoholics Anonymous" and then discusses Steven's journey, including his views on why Asian-culture seems to be underrepresented in 12-step recover...

What's it like being the only sober guy in your college fraternity? What's it like living in not 1 but 2 halfway houses before the age of 22? Harrison and I discuss how a young man navigates socially, romantically and professionally during the course of our interview.

Last we left off Julia M was starting day 1 in her recovery. Over the next 30 minutes she describes her initial impressions of recovery rooms and describes how she stays sober today.