Sober Friends

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the wine stops working—and you’re left alone with yourself? In this raw and powerful episode, Marcy R. shares how her drinking escalated during the isolation of COVID, and how that stillness forced her to confront the truth. From growing up with addiction in the family, navigating single motherhood, living with undiagnosed ADHD, and surviving a toxic relationship...

Send us Fan Mail It’s Matt, and I’m flying solo this week with a raw and personal episode about stress, burnout, and trying to hold it all together—without picking up a drink. From battling insurance over Wegovy, to my daughter’s knee injury, to the financial hit of back-to-back sports trips, everything has been hitting at once. I’m feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and, honestly, kind of crispy aro...

Send us Fan Mail Summer’s here—and with it comes road trips, cookouts, sports tournaments, and beach vacations. For those of us in recovery, that can mean a lot of triggers packed into a short season. In this episode, we dive into the real-life challenges of staying sober during summer travel, from boozy parents at soccer games to the loneliness of hotel rooms. We share personal stories of what’s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sober Friends Podcast , we’re diving into what it really takes to stay sober during the summer—starting with Memorial Day weekend. From cookouts and weddings to long weekends and family parties, the warm-weather season brings all kinds of drinking triggers. Matt, Steve, and John share personal stories and practical strategies for navigating these challenges...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Sober Friends podcast, we dive deep into the idea that kindness isn’t some fluffy, feel-good concept—it’s a legit recovery tool. We talk about how hard it can be to receive kindness when we first come in, why it’s often toughest to be kind to the people closest to us, and how practicing kindness—especially when it’s not our default—can transform our relation...

Send us Fan Mail Matt and Steve dive into the real-life challenges of maintaining sobriety when life gets busy—from caregiving and family obligations to missed meetings and disrupted routines. They share personal stories about staying grounded in recovery, the importance of asking for help, and learning to let go of control. This candid conversation explores how flexibility, planning, and communit...

Send us Fan Mail Steve and Matt explore why fellowship is a critical "linchpin" in long-term recovery. They share personal stories about how connections with other sober individuals provide essential feedback, guidance, and support when facing life's challenges, like family issues and loss.  Steve and Matt discuss how fellowship complements step work, strategies for newcomers who st...

Send us Fan Mail "'Stop believing in me. I want you to believe in you.' In this powerful episode, we dive into one of recovery's most challenging concepts—finding a higher power. We share our personal spiritual journeys, discuss a thought-provoking reading about a loving, non-judgmental God, and explore how connection with nature and community can form the foundation of spiritu...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we dive deep into one of recovery's most challenging yet transformative principles: acceptance. Why is it so difficult to accept people and situations as they are? From navigating frustrating family dinners to confronting career disappointments, we explore how our inability to accept "life on life's terms" often leads us back to destru...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of Sober Friends, hosts Matt and Steve explore how kindness can be our secret weapon in recovery. In a world where social media algorithms reward outrage and division, they share personal stories about their journeys from being "reformed trolls" to discovering the lasting joy that comes from acts of kindness. Steve opens up about caring for his...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid episode of the Sober Friends Podcast, Matt opens up about his recent decision to start taking prescribed stimulant medication for his ADHD while maintaining his sobriety. He and Steve tackle the complex question many in recovery face: does taking prescribed medication break sobriety? Together, they explore the responsibility that comes with medication management in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt celebrates 11 years of sobriety coinciding with his daughter's birthday, while Steve shares his perspective on marking recovery milestones. The hosts discuss how anniversaries serve as powerful symbols of hope for newcomers while acknowledging that everyone commemorates their sobriety journey differently. They explore the importance of service in recover...

Send us Fan Mail Join Steve and Matt as they dive deep into how self-pity and victim mentality can become energy drains in recovery. Steve vulnerably shares his current struggles at home and how he's navigating difficult emotions without turning to alcohol. The hosts explore how shifting from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What's my next step?" can transform recov...

Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode of Sober Friends, hosts Matt, and Steve tackle a common challenge in recovery: maintaining sobriety while living with partners who still drink. Steve shares his personal journey of negotiating alcohol in the home with his non-alcoholic wife, offering practical insights on establishing boundaries through honest communication. They discuss various s...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring conversation, Katie Campbell, board-certified holistic health coach and founder of Mindful Constitution , shares her journey from binge drinking to sobriety and spiritual awakening. Katie opens up about childhood trauma, her years of self-medication, and the "cognitive dissonance" she experienced while studying health while still drinking. She explains...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, elementary teacher and TikTok creator Colbi (@collect.the.similarities) shares her journey from using alcohol as a social lubricant to finding authentic belonging in recovery. She discusses how postpartum depression accelerated her drinking, the moment she received "the gift of desperation," and why she now uses social media to create solidarity...

Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode of Sober Friends, Matt and Steve engage in a candid conversation about spirituality in recovery following their experience at a Joe and Charlie Big Book study. They thoughtfully examine the suggestion that atheists cannot truly work the AA program, offering nuanced perspectives on what constitutes a "higher power." The discussion explore...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of the Sober Friends podcast, hosts Steve and Matt explore the critical role of change in sustained sobriety and personal growth. Through candid discussion, they examine how resistance to change can impact recovery and why staying static often means sliding backward. The hosts share personal experiences about overcoming the fear of change, from career tr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Sober Friends Podcast, Matt and Steve dive into the heart of what makes the 12-step program so impactful: the people who go above and beyond to help others, even when it's inconvenient. From late-night calls to long drives to meetings, these acts of service not only aid those in need but also enrich the lives of those who give.  Matt and Steve also disc...

Send us Fan Mail In this intimate conversation, the Sober Friends hosts dive deep into one of recovery's most challenging aspects: dealing with things beyond our control. Through personal stories about workplace anxiety, childhood trauma, and finding unexpected joy, they explore how fellowship, therapy, and individual solutions help navigate life's uncertainties. Whether you're wres...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Sober Friends, hosts Matt and Steve dive deep into the critical connection between isolation and addiction. Through personal stories of drinking alone and social anxiety, they explore how isolation can both trigger addiction and become a destructive pattern in recovery. The hosts share their journeys from basement drinking to building meaningful connect...

Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode of the Sober Friends podcast, Steve and Matt dive deep into the changing landscape of recovery programs and what makes an effective support group. The conversation stems from their recent experience with a "Joe and Charlie" study session, leading to an authentic discussion about the evolution of recovery programs over the decades. The ho...

Send us Fan Mail Join Steve and Matt as they dive into the recent Surgeon General's warning about alcohol being a carcinogen, exploring what this means for both drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Drawing from personal experience and scientific insights, they discuss how younger generations are increasingly questioning alcohol use, the rise of mocktail culture, and why "moderate drinking&qu...

Send us Fan Mail Join Matt as he shares a deeply personal exploration of what keeps his sobriety vibrant after 11 years. In this timely episode, released during the holiday season, Matt reveals how connecting with newly sober individuals continues to fuel his recovery journey. Through engaging storytelling and honest reflection, he discusses the unexpected ways social media platforms like TikTok h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt opens up about his decision to return to Joe & Charlie Big Book study sessions—not to learn more about AA's foundational text, but to combat isolation in his recovery journey. As someone working from home with ADHD, Matt shares his struggles with maintaining connections and building friendships in sobriety, despite his success in digital spaces like...