Paul Churchill

Recovery Elevator

Health EN ↓ 599 episodes

It's not a NO to alcohol — it's a YES to a better life! Bestselling author Paul Churchill interviews people who have successfully quit drinking, offering an honest, uplifting look at what an alcohol-free life can really look like. Each week, Recovery Elevator explores sobriety from fresh perspectives — no judgment, no lectures, just real stories from real people. Whether you're sober curious, newly sober, supporting a loved one, or already thriving in recovery, you've found your community. Topics include: how to stop drinking alcohol, alcohol addiction and dependency, whether moderate drinking...

Author

Paul Churchill

Episodes

RE 445: Keep on Dancing 28.08.2023 47:19

Today we have Cindy. She is 54 from Kure Beach, NC and took her last drink on March 2 nd , 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [03:23] Highlights from Paul: After recently watching a social media video featuring a sober influencer dancing, Paul decided to challenge this individual to a breakdancing battle. Mea...

RE 444: Alcohol Consumption by State 21.08.2023 1:05:55

Today we have Chad. He is 51 from Southern Indiana and took his last drink on March 25 th , 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. Follow Recovery Elevator on Instagram! We're starting to put more video content on the platform so check it out. [02:47] Highlights from Paul: Something heard often while interviewing...

RE 443: A Different Type of Alcoholic 14.08.2023 57:13

Today we have Kelly, she is 46 from Minneapolis, MN and took her last drink on June 18 th , 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:57] Highlights from Paul: When saying the word "alcoholic", these images, and thoughts commonly come to mind: Living under a Bridge. Brown paper bag. Homeless. Hopeless. Unemploye...

RE 442: Time to Breathe 07.08.2023 56:35

Today we have Jeff, he is 35 from Salt Lake City, UT and had his last drink on April 6 th , 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [03:46] Highlights from Kris: Kris finds sober anniversaries a good opportunity to reflect on where he was and where he is today. He asks himself questions such as "What have I gone thr...

RE 441: Connection With a Molecule 31.07.2023 44:07

Today we have Shane, he is 39 from Birmingham, AL and took his last drink on December 25 th , 2021. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [00:58] Highlights from Paul: Many of us share the same response to our first drink. It's a firework show internally that connects the missing dots. We finally feel connected. Alcohol...

RE 440: How to Undo Trauma 24.07.2023 1:02:01

Today we have Kathy. She is 31 from Dillworth, MN and has been clean since June 13 th , 2016. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:06] Highlights from Paul: Before we get started, how is your summer going? How is sobriety going? How is your AF clock going? How is your life going? Regardless of your answer to all thos...

RE 439: Developing a Spiritual Practice 17.07.2023 49:59

Today we have Liz, she's 38 from LaVale, MD and took her last drink on December 31 st , 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:22] Highlights from Paul: This is not a religious podcast. Paul feels that religion and spirituality are not two sides of the same coin. When we drink alcohol, spiritually, our elec...

RE 438: Expectations 10.07.2023 1:12:17

Today we've got a panel of sober rockstars who have been kicking ass and taking names in this field for a while now. You're going to love it. [02:33] Highlights from Paul: We are full of expectations. Both for ourselves and other people. Top of that list is we expect happiness in a world where nothing is guaranteed. We have been conditioned throughout our life that any discomfort represents...

RE 437: Inner Conflict 03.07.2023 54:31

Today we have Mark who is 45 from Connecticut and took his last drank on January 15, 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. Thank you to all of the Café RE chat hosts. You all do a great job! [01:55] Highlights from Paul: It is impossible to avoid conflict in a human life. All attempts to avoid it, will only res...

RE 436: Our Road Ahead 26.06.2023 55:30

Today we have Lacey. She's 34 from Illinois and has been sober since May 15, 2020. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:16] Highlights from Kris: We feel it is important to use these first few episodes of Season Five to set a foundation for the upcoming year. Kris shares the RE mission statement and talks about what...

RE 435: What We Believe In 19.06.2023 48:47

Today we have Alex, he is 35, from Lincoln, NE and took his last drink on January 20, 2023 Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [03:35] Highlights from Paul: Welcome to Season 5! Episode 1 of this podcast dropped on February 25 th , 2015. Paul recalls the date and how he felt. He was worried he was going to crash a...

RE 434: Don't Lose Yourself In It 12.06.2023 1:03:13

Today we have Gary, he is 44, from Toledo, OH and took his last drink on January 30, 2023 Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [01:42] Thoughts from Paul: Today we are going to cover one of Paul's favorite tools and practice. But before we cover it, he asks us who is our go to person that we look to when life starts...

RE 433: The Comfort Crisis 05.06.2023 43:42

Today we have Daniel, he is 43 from Orange County, he took his last drink on December 31 st , 2014. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [01:42] Thoughts from Paul: The discomforts of quitting drinking will make you a stronger person down the road. And not far down the road. Although humans are hardwired to seek comfo...

RE 432: Is Alcohol Good for You? 29.05.2023 1:00:33

Today we have Julie, she is 49, from Grand Junction, CO and took her last drink on February 6 th , 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:05] Thoughts from Paul: For most of the 20 th century and well into the 2000's, there was a pushed narrative that said a daily drink or two is good for you. Although ther...

RE 431: Transformation 22.05.2023 48:40

Today we have Katy, she is 40, from Olympia, WA and took her last drink on February 12 th , 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:26] Thoughts from Paul: One of the best parts of doing the Recovery Elevator podcast is seeing the transformations people make. Many of the travelers on this year's Costa Rica t...

RE 430: Walking Into Summer 15.05.2023 54:52

Today we have Joss, she's 34 from the Bay Area and took her last drink on December 21 st , 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:21] Thoughts from Kris: Spring has finally arrived in North Dakota! With the changing seasons, it's not uncommon to experience some different emotions surrounding our recovery. M...

RE 429: The Connection Between Alcohol and Anxiety 08.05.2023 55:24

Today we have Dale, he is 55, from Roanoke, VA and he has been alcohol free since March 23, 2019 [02:34] Paul's thoughts: Paul knows now that there is a connection between his drinking and his anxiety but while actively drinking, he could not. We are told that alcohol relaxes us – which it does by shutting down important parts of our brain. According to Dr. Sheila Shilati,"Alcohol ultimately...

RE 428: Do I have a Drinking Problem? 01.05.2023 58:06

Today we have Lauren, she is 54 from Rochester NY, and took her last drink on November 19, 2022. Shout out to Ty with 15 YEARS alcohol free! Thank you for all you do for RE! Shout out to Bradley from south Denver with 3 days alcohol free! Great job! Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [03:23] Intro summary: In...

RE 427: But a Symptom 24.04.2023 46:57

Today we have Ian, he is 24, from Baltimore, MD and he has been alcohol free since December 26, 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:15] Thoughts from Paul: If alcohol isn't the primary problem, and it's a symptom of something else, what does that mean, and what course of action do we take? None of us are able...

RE 426: It Gets Easier 17.04.2023 56:50

Today we have Jeffrey, he is 35, from Monument, CO and he took his last drink on July 23, 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:16] Thoughts from Paul: Paul shares that he recently attended an AA meeting where a member celebrated 40 years of sobriety. One thing he took away from this is that it will naturall...

RE 425: What Recovery Pathway is Right for Me? 10.04.2023 52:46

Today we have Doug. He is 59, from Buena Vista, CO and he took his last drink on July 28, 1982. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [2:30] Thoughts from Paul: When building your recovery portfolio, a good goal is 50% external and 50% internal. At first, the internal work may be too big of an ask, but as your nervous s...

RE 424: Caring for You 03.04.2023 53:37

Today we have Abby. She is 49, from Phoenix, AZ, and took her last drink on 9/25/2020. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [03:23] Thoughts from Kris: In an effort to escape the long North Dakota winter, Kris and his wife took a short vacation to Dallas. They had a fantastic time enjoying the city and the company of...

RE 423: Some Phoneless Fool 27.03.2023 56:08

Today we have Laura. She is 45, from Boston, MA, and took her last drink on September 27, 2014. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [02:07] Highlights from Paul: Paul feels that addictions are adaptations to unhealthy environments. Rates of addiction, disease, inflammations, and cancers are all on the rise. In recov...

RE 422: The Pursuit of Happiness 20.03.2023 1:03:13

Today we have Susannah. She is 42 from Hampshire, England, and took her last drink on 4/29/2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. [03:09] Highlights from Paul: Paul shares a blog post created by Odette regarding happiness in sobriety. He also shares his thoughts that sobriety does not equal happiness or solve all of...

RE 421: Keep it Simple 13.03.2023 48:56

Today we have Stephanie. She is 44 from Georgetown, MA and took her last drink on September 6, 2020. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE. Recovery Elevator podcast just surpassed 10 million downloads! Thank you to our guests, all the team members, Café RE members, and especially our listeners! [2:49] Highlights from Pa...