Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

After more than seven years sober, Anthony never imagined he would find himself back in active addiction.In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Anthony shares his powerful story of drug addiction, cocaine addiction, sobriety, relapse, and addiction recovery. He opens up about his early struggles with cocaine, going to treatment, getting sober, and eventually building a life he was proud of in long-term sobriety.But as life got better, Anthony began letting go of some of the things that had helped him stay sober. Secrets, ego, and small justifications eventually opened the door to relapse and a return to active addiction.Anthony shares what happened next, the impact his addiction had on his marriage and family, and what it took to find recovery again. His story is a powerful reminder that getting sober is only the beginning—and staying sober requires honesty, connection, and continued action.If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, drug addiction, quitting drinking, getting sober, relapse, or staying sober, Anthony’s recovery story offers an important look at how addiction can return and what it takes to rebuild.Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveringoutloudpod

Will returns for Part 2 of his story.After 125 days sober, Will returned to drinking. His alcohol addiction progressed until he was facing end-stage liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and doctors telling his family he could have just weeks left to live.Will shares what it was like receiving a liver transplant, nearly dying again after his colon ruptured and his family was given a 4% chance that he would survive the night, and eventually receiving a kidney transplant as well.But this story is about much more than survival. Will talks about relapse, shame, self-forgiveness, losing his father, finding purpose, and what finally made sobriety different this time.Today, Will is sober and working in the substance use disorder field, using what he survived to help others find recovery.Listen to Part 1 of Will’s story before this episode to hear how his relationship with alcohol began and what eventually brought him to the hospital. Episode 300 on the Podcast.

David Wilson, better known as Sober Dave, spent decades drinking before alcohol slowly took over nearly every part of his life. What began with drinking socially eventually progressed from beer to cider, wine and finally vodka — at his worst, Dave was drinking around a litre of vodka every night.He would wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning still drunk, go to work hours later, spend entire weekends drinking alone and regularly black out. Looking back, Dave says he remembers very little of his 40s.But on January 7, 2019, something changed.A friend reached out and simply asked Dave if he wanted to stop drinking with him for three months. There was no judgment or lecture — just an offer of support. Dave said yes, and he hasn’t had a drink since.In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Dave talks openly about the progression of his drinking, isolation, shame, the childhood experiences he never dealt with, losing his identity to alcohol, and why getting sober eventually required much more than simply removing the drink.Dave and Brad also discuss connection, self-compassion, relapse and setbacks, nervous-system regulation, changing your relationship with alcohol, and why you don’t need to wait for a devastating rock bottom before deciding to change.If you’ve ever wondered whether your drinking is “bad enough,” or you’re struggling to imagine a life without alcohol, Dave’s story is a powerful reminder of how much can change when you’re willing to start with one day.Connect with Dave: https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/

Will Gordon’s alcohol addiction progressed to drinking as much as 1.75 liters of vodka every two days. His health deteriorated, he was diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, and eventually his organs began shutting down.In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Will shares the reality of alcohol addiction, secret drinking, blackouts, trying to quit drinking, liver failure, transplant, and the moment doctors told him he may have only weeks to live.Now more than 1,200 days sober, Will reflects on what finally changed, the fight to survive, and what recovery and sobriety look like today.If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol, Will’s story is a powerful look at alcohol addiction, quitting drinking, liver disease, and finding a new life in sobriety.Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewillpowerpodcast/

Chelsea was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cirrhosis after nearly a decade of heavy alcohol use, but even being told she could die wasn’t enough to immediately make her stop drinking. She shares the progression of her alcohol addiction, liver failure, ascites and the moment she finally got sober on September 29, 2024. Chelsea eventually received a liver transplant and today shares what recovery, sobriety and a second chance at life look like.Chelsea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseablake_85/

Have you ever promised yourself you would stop drinking tomorrow, only to find yourself doing the exact same thing the next day?For Shelby, weekend drinking eventually progressed into daily vodka, blackouts, hidden bottles, and trying desperately to control her relationship with alcohol. She knew she needed to quit drinking, but even after getting months of sobriety, she found herself returning to alcohol and quickly ending up back where she started.In this episode, Shelby shares the experiences that shaped her relationship with alcohol, the reality of being a mom struggling with drinking, and why accepting that she could no longer drink normally became a turning point in her recovery.She also shares how listening to sober stories, finding community, and finally asking for help changed everything.Now more than one year sober, Shelby’s story is a powerful reminder that struggling to quit drinking doesn’t mean you stop trying. Recovery is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.Connect with Shelby Here: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyyy.cook/

At 29 years old, Christine’s alcohol addiction led to liver and kidney failure. Her brain was swelling, she had lost the ability to walk, and doctors told her family she may have only 48 hours to live.Christine survived, but that still wasn’t the end of her drinking.In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Christine shares how drinking progressed from teenage experimentation to physical alcohol dependence, withdrawal and eventually drinking nearly a bottle of vodka a day. She opens up about the denial that kept her stuck, the devastating health consequences of alcohol addiction, her relapse after nearly dying and the mental health crisis that followed.Christine eventually reached a point where she knew something had to change. On December 15, 2021, she decided to give sobriety another chance.Today, she shares how community, self-compassion and doing the deeper work helped her build a life in recovery that she once couldn’t imagine.If you are struggling to quit drinking, have experienced relapse, or are wondering if it’s possible to rebuild your life after alcohol addiction, Christine’s story is a powerful reminder to keep going.Connect with Christine: https://www.instagram.com/she_thrived/

Mike never thought he had a drinking problem. He was working, providing for his family, and convinced himself he was still functioning. But behind closed doors, alcohol was quietly changing everything.In this powerful quit drinking story, Mike and his wife Kristen share both sides of their journey through alcohol addiction, denial, marriage struggles, and recovery. You’ll hear how daily drinking slowly took over their lives, the difficult decisions that followed, and how they rebuilt trust after choosing sobriety.If you’ve ever questioned your own drinking, wondered whether you’re a “functional alcoholic,” or you’re looking for hope in recovery, this honest conversation is for you.In this episode we discuss:• Functional alcoholism• Daily drinking and denial• Alcohol addiction recovery• Marriage and addiction• Choosing sobriety• Rebuilding trust after addiction• Life after quitting alcoholWhether you’re trying to quit drinking, supporting someone you love, or have years of sobriety, we hope Mike and Kristen’s story reminds you that recovery is possible.Mike and Kristen on IG: The Book: Everyone Gets a Seat