Sober Friends

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In this episode of The Sober Friends Podcast, Matt and Steve get real about something that challenges many of us in sobriety—asking for help and, even harder, accepting it. Whether it’s a neighbor offering to help with yard work or a sponsor helping you through a relapse, support doesn’t always show up the way we expect. And sometimes pride, fear, or shame can keep us from accepting what we truly need.

From stories of burnout and Cadillac problems to lessons learned through therapy, meetings, and humble pie, this conversation dives into how asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s strength. We also talk about what makes an offer of help actually useful—and why “Let me know if you need anything” usually falls flat.

Whether you’re new to sobriety or have been around for decades, this episode reminds us all: you don’t have to do it alone.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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Getting out of your comfort zone is hard — especially in sobriety. In this episode, Matt and Steve dive into the real-life anxiety of leaving the safe routines of recovery to go on vacation. From travel stress to the fear of asking for help, they unpack how discomfort shows up, how to plan ahead, and why pushing through it can actually strengthen your sobriety. Matt’s heading to Orlando with his family, and spoiler alert: he really doesn’t want to go — but he’s doing it sober.

Whether you’re new to recovery or have a few years under your belt, this one’s for anyone who’s ever said, “I don’t want to do this… but I know I need to.”

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

Send us Fan Mail

In early sobriety, everything feels possible. You’re sleeping better, your skin looks great, and the world seems full of hope—that’s the “pink cloud.” But what happens when that high starts to fade?

In this episode of the Sober Friends podcast, Matt and Steve dive into the emotional crash that can come after the early euphoria wears off. We talk about why it happens (hello, brain chemistry), how to prepare for it, and what tools you’ll need to stay sober when life gets messy again. From getting a sponsor to finding a community, this conversation is full of real-life experience and practical advice to help you navigate the hard parts—and keep your recovery strong when the cloud lifts.

Whether you’re on the pink cloud or watching it drift away, this episode is for you.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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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—Marcy opens up about the moment it all clicked: “I’m not in the wrong 12-step room. I’m an alcoholic.”

We talk about recovery on Zoom, the courage to get a sponsor, making amends even when everyone else said not to, and what it means to finally feel like yourself—sober. If you’ve ever wondered what recovery looks like when everything else falls away, this conversation will hit home.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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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 around the edges.

But here’s the thing: I’m still sober. And that’s a miracle.

This episode is about how I’m using the tools of recovery to stay grounded—meetings, connection, letting go of control (even when I really don’t want to), and the reminder that I don’t have to walk through any of this alone.

If you’re dealing with stress or burnout, I hope this one reminds you: you’re not alone. There’s a way through this. And you don’t have to drink today.

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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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 worked, what hasn’t, and why having a plan (and a backup plan) can make all the difference. Whether you’re newly sober or years into recovery, this one’s for anyone navigating a summer without alcohol.

We also talk about the tools that help us stay grounded—meetings, podcasts, community, and remembering to be our “best selves.” Plus, how to deal with FOMO, find connection on the road, and why Zoom meetings are a secret weapon for staying sober anywhere.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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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 alcohol-free.

Whether you’re newly sober or have a few summers under your belt, this conversation covers:

• Why early sobriety and social events can feel overwhelming
• How to make a plan and stick to it
• The power of “No” and the importance of exit strategies
• How sponsors and sober friends help you stay grounded
• Reframing fun: finding joy without alcohol
• Where to find sober support during the holidays (yes, meetings still happen!)

This one’s for anyone worried about staying sober when everyone else is reaching for a drink. Spoiler: it’s totally doable—and you’re not alone.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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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 relationships and our sobriety. There’s honesty, laughter, and a few tough-love truths in here, plus stories about caring for loved ones, being of service, and learning to meet people where they are without losing ourselves in the process. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress, grace, and finding strength in being gentle.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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 community support keep them sober through life’s toughest stretches.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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 struggle to connect, and why even long-timers need their "pack" to stay sober. Its a vulnerable episode, as they all are and they reveal that nobody has "perfect recovery" and how reaching out to others, whether through meetings, service work, or simple check-ins and how that creates the safety net that makes sobriety possible. Looking to strengthen your recovery community feel isolated on your journey?  You'll find a lot of strength from this episode.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.