Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

What does it take to finally quit drinking when your entire life revolves around it? In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Megan shares her powerful sobriety journey , opening up about growing up around addiction, losing her father to alcoholism, and how her own drinking slowly escalated into hidden alcohol dependence . From the outside, everything looked fine — successful career, famil...

If you’re trying to quit drinking or wondering if you have an alcohol problem, this story will hit home. Greg shares how a good childhood and successful career turned into alcohol addiction, denial, psych wards, and jail—and how he finally got sober. In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Greg to talk about the reality of high-functioning alcoholism and how quickly th...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast , Jane shares her powerful alcohol addiction recovery story and how she finally quit drinking after alcohol slowly took over her life. What started as drinking in high school escalated into blackouts, hiding alcohol, drinking in the morning, and living with the chaos of alcoholism . Jane talks about the shame, insecurity, and hopelessness that came w...

Alcohol addiction doesn’t always look like rock bottom. In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast , John shares his story after more than 20 years of drinking and drug use — and the painful realizations that came when he finally got sober. From the outside, his life looked normal. No arrests. No dramatic collapse. But inside, alcohol was shaping decisions, regrets, and memories he would carr...

Jerzey Mike rode the alcohol train all the way to the last stop. A liter of vodka a day, yellowing eyes, a coma, and doctors who weren't sure he'd make it. In this raw and deeply honest conversation, Mike walks us through the earliest warning signs of liver failure, what life looked like at his absolute worst, and the shame that nearly stopped him from getting help. If you've ever wondered how bad...

Jess spent years blacking out from alcohol and convincing herself it was normal. After losing her mom at just 19, drinking became the way she coped — until everything finally caught up with her. In this episode she shares the reality of alcohol blackouts, addiction, relapse, and the moment she finally admitted she needed help. Today Jessica is over 20 months sober and rebuilding a life she once be...

Jon (The Tired Dad) is back with a sobriety update — now 3+ years sober . We talk Dry January to kick things off and why the first year can be the hardest, why moderation didn’t work, parenting as the turning point, and how to build real tools instead of masking emotions. Plus, Jon shares the story behind his upcoming book 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most. Sober Motivation Mobil...

Ashley Jo shares her story of high-functioning alcoholism, grief, shame, and sobriety after years of mommy wine culture and secret binge drinking. A Christian mom, executive, and outwardly successful woman, Ashley struggled privately with addiction and suicidal ideation before choosing sobriety on August 14, 2020. This episode covers: Functional alcoholism, Comparing your drinking to others, Mommy...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Phillip Barbb shares how a DUI at 22 became the turning point that led to 18 years of sobriety. This is a powerful conversation about alcohol addiction, anxiety, grief, and long-term recovery. Phillip opens up about using alcohol to silence anxiety, growing up under pressure, and how ego and perfectionism kept him stuck. What started as drinking to...

From Casual Drinking to Liver Failure: Jacob’s Story of Alcoholic Cirrhosis, Sobriety, and Second Chances In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Jacob shares his powerful journey from a normal upbringing and moderate drinking to developing alcoholic liver cirrhosis after a slow, 10-year descent into alcohol dependency. Growing up in Wisconsin with a loving family, sports, and strong valu...

Alcohol didn’t crash into Antoine’s life — it slowly became normal. In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Antoine shares how drinking started at just 12 years old, was reinforced through culture, school, and social life, and quietly followed him for three decades. From boarding school overseas where alcohol was normalized, to college, hospitality, and years of “functioning” drinking, hi...

Derek shares a raw, unforgettable sobriety story: growing up in a chaotic home, learning early that alcohol was “dangerous,” and still getting pulled into a cycle of binge drinking, DUIs, and arrests. He opens up about the restaurant industry drinking culture, people-pleasing, shame, and how secrecy (“what happens in this house stays in this house”) fueled isolation. Eventually, alcohol dependence...

“How do I get sober?” It’s the most common question people ask when they’re struggling with alcohol — and it’s a fair one. But in this solo episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad challenges the idea that how is the real problem. Instead, he offers a powerful reframe drawn from 16 years of personal recovery and 14 years of supporting people in sobriety: 👉 The real question isn’t how do I ge...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Destiny for a raw and powerful conversation about addiction, recovery, and the moment everything changed. Destiny grew up carrying responsibility far too young, learned early how to survive chaos, and spent years believing she was “different” — that addiction wouldn’t take her where it had taken others in her life. What started a...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Nicole to share a powerful and honest sobriety story. Nicole grew up in California in a home affected by alcoholism, struggled with anxiety and a deep sense of not belonging, and discovered early that alcohol could instantly change the way she felt. What started as weekend drinking eventually became daily drinking, secrecy, relat...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Ashton to talk about sobriety, party culture, and what happens when alcohol becomes tied to identity, confidence, and belonging. Ashton shares how growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa normalized drinking as a “rite of passage,” and how a chaotic childhood shaped his ability to adapt—but also made real attachment and emotional...

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Tanya to talk about what it really looks like to get sober and stay sober when your journey isn’t linear.   Tanya shares how she grew up with a stable home and little exposure to alcohol—but still struggled with insecurity, belonging, and wanting to feel “cool,” which made alcohol feel like the solution. What started as binge dri...

Gray Area Drinking, Binge Drinking, Alcoholism, Alcohol Use Disorder or Problem Drinking? How Do You Know When Alcohol Is the Issue. In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Shaz to share a raw and honest story of alcohol's role, blackouts, secret drinking, and pandemic-era daily drinking. This conversation is for anyone who doesn’t see themselves as fitting with a labe...

In the final episode of 2025, Brad sits down with Brian, who share's a raw and honest sobriety story that spans decades. Brian opens up about growing up in Spokane, Washington surrounded by alcoholism, violence, and instability — and how hockey became his escape. As a teenager, alcohol quickly became more than “weekend fun,” turning into blackout drinking, fights, arrests, and a dangerous spiral t...

Jess is a former Air Force sergeant, mom of three, and survivor who came back from a suicide attempt to build a life she once thought was impossible. After eight years in the military and a medical retirement, she spiraled into prescription pill addiction, Ambien abuse, and untreated trauma. In June 2016, her daughter came home from school with a stomach ache and found her unconscious on the bed....

Chester and Rick Duff share a special friendship, one that was once fuelled by drinking and addiction. They both joined me in the studio to share the full story of the different places addiction took them to and how they have been able to break the cycle. For Chester is was more daily drinking, which triggered a true hatred towards himself and Rick Duff was more of the weekend warrior but sobriety...

This episode of Sober Motivation Holiday features Jess Lopez, Megan, and Nisha, who share their collective experiences and expert insights on maintaining sobriety through the holiday season. Hosted by Brad, the discussion includes practical tips on planning for sobriety at social events, embracing joy and gratitude, handling grief, and supporting loved ones on their recovery journeys. The guests h...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I stop?” or felt trapped by shame, this one hits deep. Brad sits down with Jermaine Dante’ Burse, a Bay Area native (Vallejo, California) whose drinking didn’t start as party chaos; it was quiet, functional, in-house alcoholism that escalated over a decade into withdrawal seizures, pancreatitis, liver failure symptoms, jaundice, a coma, and life support. Today,...

On this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, I talk with Olivia about her sobriety journey, choosing an alcohol-free life, and what it really took to get sober after years of pain. Olivia opens up about growing up with severe OCD (intrusive thoughts/compulsions), trauma, and using alcohol as self-medication to quiet anxiety, feel confident, and fit in. She shares how addiction, BPD, and escala...

Brittany joins the Sober Motivation Podcast to share her powerful story of growing up in Minnesota with a father who struggled with alcoholism, living with clinical depression, and using alcohol to cope with trauma, loneliness, and shame. She talks about becoming a “high-functioning” drinker—doing well at work and school while secretly relying on alcohol every day. Brittany also opens up about get...