Episode 34 – Pondoff's Anonymous Who this episode is for:

• Anyone deep in the bottle and lying to themselves
• The “functioning” alcoholics hiding bottles in the garage
• Friends or family watching someone drink themselves to death
• People in recovery who still white-knuckle their way through a gas station
• Anyone who’s ever told themselves “I’ve got it under control”
• People who don’t think they have a drinking problem—but maybe do

🎙️ Episode 34 – Breathalyzers, 99 Bananas, and One Man’s Relentless Fight to Stay Sober

Sean Keeley joins Chris and Jeff (Jakob’s out for a month—he’s off getting married, congrats you beautiful bastard) to drop a quiet bomb of a story—the kind that doesn’t come with sirens and flashing lights, just slow, silent self-destruction. No DUIs. No arrests. No bar fights. Just airplane bottles hidden in gloveboxes, vodka disguised as water, and a growing sense of dread that everything was about to fall apart.

Sean lays out how he went from managing people and showing up to work every day to drinking 15 mini bottles of 99 Bananas before checking into rehab. Twice. And when the second round didn’t stick, he didn’t quit. He built his own system. Breathalyzers at home and in the car. Daily accountability to his wife and coworkers. A plan with no wiggle room.

This episode isn’t about hitting bottom. It’s about what happens when you’re about to and decide to turn the wheel.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 – Introduction and Sponsorships
  McKelvey Insurance (https://www.mckelveyins.com/) and LightSource Psychotherapy (https://findyourlightsource.com/)
• 02:25 – Golfing Experiences and Personal Stories
  Cold brews, bad golf, hipster confessions, and rake-stepping laughs.
• 12:12 – Introducing Sean and His Unique Story
  Quiet alcoholism that didn’t look chaotic—until it was.
• 24:00 – The Journey to Acknowledging Alcoholism
  Sharpie bottle lines. Hidden Jameson. Growing denial.
• 26:24 – The Journey to Recovery Begins
  First stint in rehab. Detox. Relapse after 45 days.
• 30:30 – The Struggles of Sobriety
  The 99 Bananas episode. Hiding the drinking better. Medical red flags.
• 39:48 – Finding Accountability in Recovery
  Breathalyzers at home and work. No escape hatch.
• 46:49 – The Role of Medication in Sobriety
  From Trazodone to Naltrexone to nothing.
• 54:42 – Building a Support System
  Wife, coworkers, radical honesty—not AA this time.
• 55:15 – Facing the Consequences of Addiction
  Liver failure warnings. Watching others die from it.
• 01:01:14 – The Journey to Sobriety: Finding What Works
  No sponsors. Just systems. Brutal self-honesty.
• 01:10:04 – Building a New Life: Recovery and Personal Growth
  No meds. No excuses. Just better health and clearer living.
• 01:17:43 – Strength in Adversity: Overcoming Life's Challenges
  Christmas Eve becomes Sean’s sober date. One day at a time.
• 01:25:44 – The Ripple Effect: Inspiring Change in Others
  Sean starts giving back, pushing for change, helping others see the signs.

☕ Mentioned in This Episode:

• Wagon Coffee Roasters (Denver-based Recovery Café): https://wagoncoffeeroasters.com
• Il Bel Lago Italian Restaurant (Where Sean celebrated Year 1): https://www.bellagostl.com

🛡️ Sponsored by:

• McKelvey Insurance
  https://www.mckelveyins.com
  Quick solutions to real-life insurance bullsh*t.
• LightSource Psychotherapy
  https://findyourlightsource.com
  If you’re f*cked up mentally or emotionally—this is where you start digging out.