Since Right Now

"I spent all the kids’ Christmas money. I got drunk. I took all the money that my wife and I had saved. I was supposed to be picking up some big gifts a couple days before Christmas but instead I went to the bar…" —Robert on SRN

Robert McClellan is a writer, producer and new media expert.

He wrote, produced and appears in the award-winning documentary “Real Sobriety” and has recently released his first full length book, "Boom Baby Boom, Vol. 1: Tales of Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Recovery", and has a drawer full of incomplete film treatments and screenplays.

After several stints in rehabs and a few half-hearted attempts to clean up his act, Robert made the commitment to live a clean, sober, and happy life. Robert will soon mark his 26th year in recovery.

Find out more about Robert and his projects at http://www.intotheplanet.com/real-sobriety/

and follow Robert on Twitter @McClellanRobert

"(The counselor) had me go through the "Are You and Alcoholic?" checklist…and I said 'yes' to just about everything and I think I said, 'But I don't know if I have a problem.' And she was like, why did you come here?" —Laura on SRN

Laura Silverman is the founder of The Sobriety Collective, a resource and blog created to celebrate recovery in all its forms. In 2007, at age 24, Laura pulled a 180 and went from insecure, anxious binge drinker to newly-minted sober 20-something. This scary (but, for her, absolutely necessary) step catapulted her into a journey of long-term recovery. She may not be a card-carrying member of AA, but Laura will always have gratitude for the program that welcomed her with open arms and helps millions of others around the world. She believes in the raw power of storytelling and thanks Koren Zailckas, Sacha Z. Scoblic, Caroline Knapp, Kristen Johnston, and Sarah Hepola for their fantastic memoirs of addiction and recovery.

Laura absolutely loves the #RecoveryFriendlyWeb in all its glory and is super-pumped for the new recovery movement’s UNITE to Face Addiction in Washington, DC this October. Laura also spits fi-yah on a karaoke mic.

You can find out more about Laura at @wearesober on Twitter, TheSobrietyCollective.com and in her story on KLĒN + SŌBR

"There's no reason to wait until you're in a public park with your pants around your ankles to be like, Wait! I should quit drinking!"

—Sacha on SRN

Sacha Zimmerman Scoblic is a writer and editor. She is the author of Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety, which is based on her popular essays for The New York Times‘s “Proof: Alcohol and American Life.”

Currently, Sacha is an MFA candidate at NYU’s low-residency program in Paris, where she is writing a novel. She spends her days at the Watergate as the proud copy-chief for National Journal. Sacha is a former Rosalynn Carter fellow for mental health journalism through the Carter Center in Atlanta. Previously, Sacha worked at The New Republic for 13 years and even spent a few years at Reader’s Digest. She has written about everything from space camp to pulp fiction. Sacha lives with her son, Theo, and terrier, SciFi, in Washington, DC.

Sacha/Unwasted on the Web:

Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety / http://sachazscoblic.com/unwasted/

@sachaZscoblic on Twitter / https://twitter.com/sachaZscoblic

"I would quit for a few weeks or a month and congratulate myself on not being a cocaine addict and then I'd go back to doing it."

—Anna on SRN

Anna, founder of the AfterParty Empire joined us for a super fantastic addiction recovery podcast mashup episode. It was kind of like having Robert Plant sit in with your Led Zeppelin tribute band.

Select References:

The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast / http://mentalpod.com

Chris' Q&A w/ Danielle Stewart on AfterPartyMagazine / http://rehabreviews.com/reader-spotlight-got-sober-chris/

Anna/AfterParty on the Web:

AfterPartyPod / http://rehabreviews.com/category/podcast/

Twitter / https://twitter.com/afterpartysite

Clips:

Intro: Annie Hall (Woody Allen, Diane Keaton) / 1977 / United Artists :: Outro: Modern Problems (Chevy Chase) / 1981 / 20th Century Fox

"I became addicted to heroin when I had just wrapped up a White House internship."—Ivana on SRN

Select References:

Stacie Mathewson / http://staciemathewsonfoundation.org

Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act 2015 / https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/953

Ivana on the Web:

Transforming Youth Recovery / http://www.transformingyouthrecovery.org

Twitter / https://twitter.com/IvanaGrahovac1

"I collapsed on the floor and the last thing I remember is the taste…it was a bitter, gritty taste." — Jason on SRN

Jason on the Web:

http://authorjasonsmith.com

http://therealedition.com

@mrjazone on Twitter

"You get sober and you realize that person you were pretending to be you actually are." —Sarah on SRN

If you've read Sarah's beautifully-crafted memoir of active alcoholism and recovery you're going to want to listen. Sarah's candor and good-humor made for a terrifically insightful and enjoyable episode.

If you haven't read it…WTF? Get it. Read it. Then come back and listen.

Sarah on the Web:

Site / http://sarahhepola.com

Twitter / https://twitter.com/sarahhepola

Clip:

Amy Winehouse / 2006 / Recording session for "Back to Black"

"No one was watching me anymore. Which was what I wanted…but it was terrifying also." — Laura of IFlyatNight.com

Select References:

Earl Hightower "tapes" / Recovery Audio Speaker Series / http://bit.ly/1RUdTba

Why AA Works for Me / Laura @ Hip Sobriety / http://bit.ly/1CdNDH4

#ichooseclean / Instagram / http://bit.ly/1UdgQaG

E.L. Doctorow on writing / @ Brainy Quote / http://bit.ly/1Nzz6G2

Clip: Airplane / 1980 / Paramount Pictures

Men & Gentleladies! The man with the most-read piece to date on KLĒN + SŌBR! Shane Watson!

Shane's Recovery Story: http://www.sincerightnow.com/stories/2015/5/22/shane-since-november-2014

Let's All Go to the Lobby [Trad.]

David After Dentist [SRN Edit]

Image: From the "Oilette" Series [crop/color by K+S] / Raphael Tuck & Sons / 1907 / CC via Roomnoir / Flickr

Donald has over three decades of experience in politics. His work has combined communications, field, electoral, and advocacy experience. He's also in long-term recovery. Donald is now applying his formidable talents to a deeply personal cause as the Communications Director for UNITE to Face Addiction.

This will be one of two appearances by Donald before October 4, 2015. This first appearance will be a more personal visit with Donald—the person in long-term recovery, the second we'll delve more deeply into the ground-breaking event to #EndtheSilence and #RecoverOutLoud on the Mall this October.

Find out more about Unite to Face Addiction @ http://www.facingaddiction.org

Clip: JL-D as President Selena Meyer on HBO's VEEP.