Sober entrepreneur Brooke Robichaud is proof that recovery is not the end of life—it is the beginning of it. On this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Brooke shares how growing up around addiction shaped her relationship with alcohol, how sobriety unlocked clarity and confidence, and why she believes so many people in recovery are meant to build something meaningful from their pain.

Brooke grew up in low-income housing surrounded by addiction, instability, and scarcity. Chaos was normal. Survival was expected. Just down the street, however, she saw a family whose life looked peaceful and whole. They ate dinner together, laughed, and lived with consistency.

As a child, Brooke connected the dots in the only way she knew how. She believed their stability came from church, so she began going with them, hoping that if she followed the same rules, she could earn a similar life.

At fourteen, Brooke had her first drink. It wasn’t about intoxication—it was about belonging. Alcohol softened the edges of feeling different. For the first time, she felt like she fit in.

What began as occasional drinking slowly grew. Over time, alcohol took on a larger role, eventually leading to blackout drinking—something Brooke once believed wasn’t even real.

Brooke’s relationship with alcohol followed a familiar cycle. Drinking escalated. Consequences followed. She stopped drinking, life improved, and once stability returned, she started again.

A teenage pregnancy forced her to stop drinking and rebuild her life. She succeeded—temporarily. But the cycle repeated, costing her relationships, opportunities, and self-trust each time.

Eventually, Brooke reached a moment of clarity that felt different. This wasn’t a pause or a break. She was done. No negotiation. No conditions.

When Brooke decided to get sober for good, she told people immediately. She didn’t hide or wait. Almost instantly, life began improving—faster and deeper than before.

Sobriety didn’t quiet her. It amplified her. She felt energized, focused, and hopeful, sharing with anyone who would listen how different life could be without alcohol.

In the first ten months of sobriety, Brooke lost nearly eighty pounds while enrolled in a weight loss program. People noticed the external changes, but the internal shift was even greater.

For the first time, Brooke trusted herself. Sobriety gave her consistency, confidence, and the ability to follow through—something alcohol had never allowed.

As Brooke shared her recovery online, she taught herself podcasting, videography, website building, and branding. People kept asking who handled her marketing.

Her answer was simple. She did.

That question sparked The Sober Biz Collective—a platform designed to help sober entrepreneurs launch podcasts, build websites, and create intentional brands rooted in purpose rather than hustle.

Brooke believes recovery doesn’t just heal individuals—it creates leaders. Through addiction, relapse, and recovery, people emerge with insight, empathy, and something valuable to give.

Sobriety didn’t shrink Brooke’s world. It expanded it.

Belonging drives behavior. Sobriety improves when you fully lean in. Sharing your recovery can inspire others. Lived experience creates purpose. Recovery can be the beginning of meaningful work.

Brooke Robichaud’s story is a reminder that if you feel a pull to do something more with your sobriety, it isn’t random. It may be an invitation to use your voice.

The post Episode 86: Sober Entrepreneur Brooke Robichaud on Recovery, Purpose, and Using Your Voice first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

If you’ve spent time in modern recovery spaces, you’ve likely heard the name emotional sobriety expert Veronica Valli. In this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Veronica shares why stopping drinking is only the beginning—and how emotional healing is what allows sobriety to truly last.

Veronica began drinking to survive. Debilitating anxiety and panic attacks consumed her early adult life, and alcohol quieted the fear when nothing else seemed to work. For a while, it felt like medicine.

Over time, the relief faded. The panic intensified, and the drinking increased. Veronica sought help everywhere—therapists, psychiatrists, hypnotists—but nothing addressed the root. Alcohol, once the solution, became the trap.

At 27, exhausted and out of options, Veronica considered the one thing she believed she could never give up: alcohol. She feared sobriety would make her boring and disconnected, but she was willing to risk it if it meant freedom from fear.

Once the alcohol was removed, everything it had been suppressing surfaced—anxiety, shame, fear, and old wounds. Veronica realized alcohol had never been the problem; it had been the solution to deeper emotional pain.

Veronica teaches that putting down the drink is only ten percent of recovery. Emotional sobriety is the remaining ninety percent—the work of learning to feel emotions without being controlled by them and responding with clarity rather than habit.

Emotional sobriety is a return to essence—the self that existed before drinking, before pain, before survival strategies took over. It is not about perfection. It is about honesty and self-connection.

Veronica explains how early needs for attachment and belonging shape adult behavior. When attachment feels threatened, children learn to hide parts of themselves to stay connected. Those messages often follow us into adulthood.

If authenticity feels unsafe early on, we learn to shrink. Drinking becomes a way to manage the discomfort of not being ourselves. Emotional sobriety allows us to reclaim what we silenced.

Eventually, everyone reaches a choice: continue suffering or claim who you truly are. Emotional sobriety is the path of choosing yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable.

For more than 25 years, Veronica has guided people through this work. Her teachings offer tools to understand triggers, reframe beliefs, and build a sober life that feels expansive instead of restrictive.

Veronica Valli’s story reminds us that sobriety is not the finish line. Emotional sobriety is where healing begins—and where lasting freedom is found.

The post Episode 85: Emotional Sobriety and the Healing That Changes Everything with Veronica Valli first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

Identity-based sobriety coach Nigel Jones is best known for his global movement 9KM by 9AM, but the foundation of his work began with a single decision. On this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Nigel shares how changing his identity—rather than relying on willpower—helped him stop drinking and reclaim clarity, discipline, and purpose.

Nigel grew up in Wales, where alcohol was a normal and unquestioned part of daily life. Drinking wasn’t rebellion or escape—it was simply adulthood. By fifteen, alcohol had become routine, woven seamlessly into social and professional life.

Through decades in high-powered public relations, alcohol was always present. Client dinners, celebrations, and entertainment revolved around drinking. By his fifties, the cycle was relentless—hangovers, sluggish mornings, and drinking simply to keep going.

During a drive home from his son’s first year of college, Nigel experienced a moment of clarity that shifted everything. In that conversation, he made a firm decision to stop drinking—without drama, negotiation, or hesitation.

Previous attempts to quit had felt like climbing a mountain. This time, Nigel decided he was already at the top. He wasn’t trying to become sober—he was a non-drinker. Identity came first. Action followed.

Early in sobriety, Nigel committed to walking nine kilometers every morning before 9AM. The rule was simple and non-negotiable. Over time, the habit reinforced his identity and rebuilt confidence, discipline, and physical health.

Nigel documented his journey through journaling, which later became his book 9KM by 9AM. What began as a personal practice grew into a global movement, inspiring thousands to reshape their mornings and their lives.

Nigel immersed himself in mindset work, studying NLP, hypnotherapy, and coaching. He explains that beliefs about alcohol function like software—installed early and reinforced often. Once recognized, they can be uninstalled and replaced.

Rather than battling cravings or relying on motivation, Nigel focused on identity. When the decision is final, there is no internal negotiation. Behavior naturally aligns with who you believe you are.

You do not need a dramatic bottom to change. Identity creates behavior. Consistency builds confidence. Beliefs can be reprogrammed. When the decision is final, change becomes simpler.

Nigel Jones’ story shows that sobriety is not a climb—it is a decision. By choosing identity-based sobriety, he stepped into a future self that was already waiting.

The post Episode 84: Identity-Based Sobriety and the Power of One Decision: Nigel Jones’ 9KM by 9AM Story first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

Sober energy healing practitioner Brigitta Dau is a woman who listened when her inner voice asked for more. In this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Brigitta shares how sobriety, Reiki, and creativity helped her rebuild her life from the inside out—and finally come home to herself.

Brigitta’s turning point did not come from a dramatic rock bottom. It came during a routine doctor’s visit when bloodwork revealed dangerously elevated liver enzymes. Sitting in that office, she heard herself say words she had never fully allowed before: “I think I need to stop drinking.”

Stopping alcohol felt like losing a coping tool. Brigitta grieved the idea of drinking, feared she would lose joy, fun, and even her marriage. Yet alongside the fear was a quiet knowing—a voice telling her there was more to life than this.

During the pandemic, Brigitta quietly joined a Sober Sis 21-Day Reset after seeing an ad online. Inside the community, she found honesty, laughter, and women speaking openly about behaviors once hidden in shame. On day twenty-two, she took her last drink.

Although Brigitta had studied Reiki while still drinking, sobriety transformed her practice. She explains Reiki as making space for energy—like opening blinds to let sunlight in. The light was always there. Sobriety simply removed the noise blocking it.

Once sober, Brigitta’s intuition sharpened. Her Reiki work deepened, and she eventually became a Reiki Master, weaving energy healing into coaching, workshops, and global group experiences focused on emotional truth and self-connection.

Creativity became another powerful healing tool. Brigitta teaches art as meditation—bypassing the thinking mind and reconnecting people with inner wisdom. She now leads creative healing workshops worldwide, blending art, energy work, and emotional exploration.

Everything Brigitta has built stems from listening—listening to fear, intuition, and truth. Sobriety cleared the space for her authentic self to emerge, revealing a joyful, connected, purpose-filled life.

Grieving alcohol is natural. Community matters more than willpower. Clarity grows when you remove what numbs you. Creativity is a healing practice. Your inner voice is always available.

Brigitta Dau’s story shows that sober energy healing is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering who you already are and allowing the light to come back in.

The post Episode 83: Sober Energy Healing and the Courage to Answer the Inner Call: Brigitta Dau’s Story first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

When you hear the name Susie Streelman, you may think of curated alcohol-free travel experiences, Sober in the City events, or thoughtfully designed sober gatherings around the world. On this episode of Sober Life Rocks, Susie shares the quieter, more introspective story behind the movement—one shaped by curiosity, self-reflection, and a desire to live more lightly.

Susie grew up in a home where alcohol was absent and viewed in black-and-white terms. Drinking was associated with being a “bad person,” and as a result, she didn’t drink in high school or college. When alcohol entered her life later, it did so gently and legally, eventually settling into a steady but unremarkable pattern.

As a health-focused physical therapist, Susie never felt out of control with alcohol. But over time, the consistency of drinking began to feel heavy. It wasn’t chaos—it was fatigue. “It was never out of control,” she shared. “It was just heavy.”

Susie experimented with Dry January, Lenten breaks, and short pauses from alcohol for years. These breaks helped clear her mind temporarily but didn’t change her long-term relationship with drinking. It wasn’t until the COVID years—marked by frequent hosting, wine, and exhaustion—that she recognized a deeper weariness.

This time, Susie didn’t stop drinking to prove anything. She simply wanted life to feel lighter. Cutting back on alcohol, sugar, and hosting opened space for clarity. Finding community through Sober Sis helped sobriety take root naturally.

“I didn’t stop because life was falling apart,” she said. “I stopped because I wanted it to feel better.”

Sobriety brought an unexpected frustration. Restaurants often treated alcohol-free options as an afterthought, offering sugary substitutes rather than thoughtful experiences. Susie didn’t want replacements—she wanted intention, elegance, and inclusion.

In 2022, Susie and friends partnered with an alcohol-free spirits brand and a restaurant to create a curated non-alcoholic cocktail experience. It was thoughtful, elevated, and joyful. From there, small sober trips turned into bigger ideas.

An overnight trip to Sacramento and a weekend in Austin proved something important: alcohol-free travel could be expansive, connecting, and deeply fun. These experiences became the foundation of Sober in the City.

Susie realized avoidance wasn’t sustainable. Sobriety wasn’t about staying home—it was about living. Zero Proof Experiences was created to support sober and sober-curious people who still want to explore, gather, and celebrate without alcohol.

“If this is your lifestyle, you cannot not travel,” she explained. “You can’t not live.”

One of Susie’s most groundbreaking projects was leading the world’s first alcohol-free wine tasting tour in Germany. The experience revealed how far alcohol-free craftsmanship has evolved and strengthened her commitment to creating elevated sober experiences.

Curiosity is enough to begin. You don’t need a rock bottom. Community makes change sustainable. Alcohol-free travel is joyful and expansive. Thoughtful substitution can enhance—not diminish—experience.

Susie Streelman’s story reminds us that sobriety doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic. Sometimes it begins with a whisper: there has to be a lighter way. And there is.

The post Episode 82: Alcohol-Free Travel Experiences and Community: Susie Streelman’s Sober Life Rocks Story first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

In Part 2 of our speaker preview, we spotlight the voices shaping the sober storytelling conference Amplify Sober Voices—writers, creators, podcasters, youth advocates, and coaches who are redefining what sobriety looks like in culture today.

Amplify Sober Voices was intentionally designed to be educational, actionable, and connective. This is not an event about polished perfection—it’s about authenticity, teachability, and real-world impact.

Each speaker was selected not just for reach, but for lived experience and clarity of message. These are people who have done the work, found their voice, and are actively changing conversations around sobriety, belonging, and influence.

Author of the bestselling memoir Lotsaholic, Adam Jablin brings raw honesty to the writing process. His work shows why stories written in the mess—not the polish—are the ones that change lives.

As founder of The Sober Curator, Elise Bryson is redefining sober influence. Through fashion, events, spirituality, and creativity, she’s building a culturally relevant and inclusive sober hub.

Founder of Vibe18, Jake White speaks to thousands of young people each year about prevention, belonging, and connection. His work proves that storytelling reaches people best before they think they need help.

As a podcast coach and producer, Tamara helps creators find clarity and confidence in their message. She supports people in breaking through fear and stigma to build podcasts with purpose.

Author of This Naked Mind, Annie Grace joins Amplify to share insights on choice-based sobriety, neuroscience, and how writing can reshape the cultural narrative around alcohol.

Margy Scholer will guide attendees through identifying and owning the message they’re meant to share, while Laura Nelson will speak on influence, audience clarity, and understanding who you’re really talking to.

Putting yourself in a room like Amplify creates momentum. It unlocks clarity, courage, and unexpected partnerships—especially for those wondering if their sober story is meant to stay private or be shared.

The sober storytelling conference Amplify Sober Voices is about more than content. It’s about community, courage, and building what comes next—together.

The post Episode 81: Inside the Sober Storytelling Conference: Amplify Sober Voices Speaker Preview (Part 2) first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

In this special behind-the-scenes episode of the Sober Life Rocks Podcast, we share the origin story of the sober voices conference Amplify Sober Voices—how it was born, why it had to be in person, and the powerful speakers who are helping normalize alcohol-free choices across industries.

Choosing not to drink—especially at work events, networking nights, or celebrations—can feel isolating. Amplify Sober Voices was created to change that narrative. This conference is about visibility, community, and helping people use their voices to create cultural change.

The idea for Amplify Sober Voices came together at Podfest, where the realization became clear: this event needed to happen in person. Not online. Not someday. Right here, with real people in the room.

The speakers for Amplify were chosen intentionally—not just for their platforms, but for their impact. Each speaker represents one of four core ways people amplify sober voices: podcasting, speaking, writing, and influence.

As the host of That Sober Guy Podcast, Shane Ramer is a pioneer in sober podcasting. His work shows what it takes to sustain momentum and build a platform when you’re carving a path that didn’t exist before.

Andy Ramage brings insight into the mindset shift required for lasting alcohol-free change. His work focuses on identity, belief systems, and why so many people feel stuck even when they aren’t physically addicted.

Singer, broadcaster, TEDx speaker, and entrepreneur Janey Lee Grace is a bold advocate for ending sobriety stigma. Her story highlights the courage required to step into a new chapter and say, “Why not now?”

Toni Will made history as the first and only woman general manager of a professional hockey team. Her presence at Amplify expands what sober influence looks like in male-dominated industries.

Author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar, Lisa Smith took professional risks long before sobriety was openly discussed. Her story shows what becomes possible when you stop hiding and start choosing yourself.

Even though it can feel like “everything has already been said,” this movement is just beginning. Amplify Sober Voices exists to support those who feel called to speak, write, podcast, or lead—especially if they’ve tried Dry January before and want it to stick.

The sober voices conference Amplify Sober Voices is not about perfection or labels. It’s about showing up honestly, building community, and using your voice to make alcohol-free living visible, supported, and celebrated.

The post Episode 80: Behind the Scenes of the Sober Voices Conference: How Amplify Sober Voices Began first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

On this week’s Sober Life Rocks podcast, we spoke with sober women’s empowerment coach Nancy McKay, whose viral writing and lived experience challenge the silence surrounding addiction, trauma, and recovery—especially for women. Nancy’s story is not polished or performative. It is honest, confronting, and deeply human.

Nancy grew up in a household defined by unpredictability. Her father was an alcoholic, and her mother drank to cope with the chaos. Even as a child, Nancy sensed that alcohol was a choice—one that shaped the emotional climate of her family and the trajectory of her life.

As a shy teenager, alcohol gave Nancy a sense of confidence and belonging. By adulthood, drinking was no longer social—it was central to her identity. “When my husband and I arrived at parties, people would cheer,” she shared. Alcohol wasn’t just present. It defined how others experienced her.

Nancy lost her mother to cancer and later her father to suicide. The compounded grief was unbearable. Alcohol became a way to survive the pain, but it only deepened her despair. Eventually, Nancy reached a point where survival itself was at stake, culminating in a suicide attempt that forced a reckoning.

Recovery did not begin as a quest for self-improvement. It began as a necessity. “Those early years weren’t about becoming my best self,” Nancy said. “They were about staying alive.” Sobriety became the foundation that allowed healing to slowly take root.

Today, Nancy has sixteen years of sobriety. Through coaching and writing, she helps others confront trauma, self-abandonment, and the cultural systems that keep women small. Her viral article, “Sixteen Years Sober: What I’ve Learned About Life, Patriarchy, and Not Giving a Damn,” resonated because it named what many women feel but rarely say aloud.

Nancy challenges the idea that drinking is empowering for women. She explains how cultural messaging—from “drinking with the boys” to “wine o’clock”—conditions women to equate alcohol with freedom, when it often functions as control. “When you stop drinking,” she says, “you stop playing along.”

What is marketed as self-care often becomes self-abandonment. Nancy describes carrying wine in water bottles at social events, believing it was connection. Sobriety revealed the truth: alcohol masked exhaustion, grief, and unmet needs rather than healing them.

Nancy speaks openly about surviving suicide, cancer, and the long work of recovery. Vulnerability, she believes, is where healing begins. Sobriety didn’t remove insecurity—it gave her the tools to face it without numbing.

One of Nancy’s strongest messages is a warning against the phrase “I’m fine.” It is often the lie that keeps people disconnected and suffering in silence. Naming the truth, even imperfectly, creates space for real connection.

Alcohol is woven into nearly every social script, but Nancy reminds us that sobriety is not deprivation—it is self-trust. Joy, laughter, and connection become deeper when they are real.

Nancy McKay’s story reminds us that sobriety is not just about abstaining from alcohol. It is about waking up to your life, reclaiming your voice, and choosing truth over pretense—again and again.

The post Episode 79: Sober Women’s Empowerment Coach Nancy McKay on Sobriety, Survival, and Speaking the Truth first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

On this week’s Sober Life Rocks Podcast, we spoke with sober pop artist Ella Collier—a rising independent singer, songwriter, and producer whose story is as raw and powerful as her music. A graduate of USC’s Thornton School of Music and a recipient of the Songwriters Hall of Fame scholarship, Ella is redefining what it means to create art with purpose and presence. Her journey shows that sobriety isn’t about losing your edge—it’s about finding your truth.

Before getting sober, Ella was living under constant pressure—to succeed, to perform, and to be more. “I had these loud voices in my head telling me I had to look a certain way, be famous by eighteen, and fit some impossible version of success,” she shared. Alcohol and drugs seemed to quiet the noise, making her feel creative, confident, and free—or so she thought. But as the illusion of control faded, the chaos grew louder.

Ella’s defining moment came during a week-long recording session with someone who was sober. Watching them create from a clear, grounded space changed everything. “I don’t believe in coincidences anymore,” she said. “That experience showed me that sobriety could enhance creativity, not limit it.” Soon after, she made the choice to stop numbing—over three years ago. “I thought sobriety would take away my edge,” she said. “Instead, it gave me my power.”

The early months of sobriety were disorienting. Without substances to mute her emotions, Ella faced an emotional overload. She stepped back from performing to rebuild her foundation. When she returned, she embraced full honesty. If someone offered her a drink, she simply said, “I’m sober. I don’t do that.” Instead of rejection, she found respect—and even connection. Sobriety, she realized, wasn’t a limitation. It was a filter, removing what didn’t align. “When I stopped abandoning myself, I started creating music that felt like me.”

One of the most powerful expressions of Ella’s recovery is her upcoming single, I Don’t Do Drugs. The track emerged from a painful breakup that forced her to confront old wounds without numbing. “It’s not just about refusing substances—it’s about refusing to abandon myself ever again,” she explained. For Ella, songwriting became a sacred space where pain and healing coexist. “You write from your experience, but it becomes many people’s experiences.”

Sobriety didn’t silence Ella’s emotions—it amplified them. Her forthcoming debut album, DANGEROUS, unfolds over twelve tracks exploring ego, impulse, and identity. From “FIEND,” which dives into obsessive love, to “SLEEPING WITH KARMA” and “BLESS YOU,” which explore surrender and self-grief, every song mirrors a stage of emotional evolution. “All those emotions I used to numb are now my creative superpower,” she said. “You don’t lose your edge when you get sober—you gain clarity.”

Ella Collier’s story reminds us that sobriety isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. Through honesty and self-connection, she turned pain into purpose and found her real voice along the way. Her journey proves that the greatest art doesn’t come from chaos—it comes from clarity.

Stay Connected with Ella:

The post Episode 78: Sober Pop Artist Ella Collier: How Sobriety Gave Her the Power to Find Her True Voice first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.

On this week’s Sober Life Rocks Podcast, we sat down with sober endurance athlete Nick Klingensmith—a four-time cancer survivor, Type 1 diabetic, and accomplished business leader who has turned adversity into endurance and recovery into purpose. His story is proof that courage, honesty, and consistency can transform any obstacle into fuel for growth.

Nick’s childhood was shaped by two contrasting realities—a father in recovery and a mother battling active addiction. This duality gave him both a warning and a roadmap. Even as a young man, he sensed that alcohol would one day be a challenge he’d have to face. The contrast between chaos and healing planted early seeds for self-awareness and resilience.

Nick thrived professionally, eventually becoming a vice president managing more than 500 employees. But behind his success, alcohol became a coping mechanism. “Everyone already knew I drank too much,” he said. “Sobriety was about finally owning what everyone already saw.” His turning point came at a company sales conference—one demoralizing night that marked the beginning of change.

Instead of making a public declaration, Nick quietly committed to sobriety. “Everyone already knew I drank too much, so it was obvious to them when I stopped,” he said. Through consistency, accountability, and humility, he rebuilt trust with his colleagues and family. His openness about sobriety became a bridge for others to talk about their own struggles, creating ripple effects far beyond his office walls.

Not long after getting sober, a coworker invited Nick to run a Spartan race. His first reaction was, “Hell no, that sounds awful!” But he reluctantly agreed—initially just to get back in shape for volleyball. What began as a reluctant challenge turned into a life-changing passion. Today, Nick has completed more than 100 Spartan races, six major marathons, and multiple ultramarathons.

“Physical endurance became a metaphor for recovery,” Nick said. “Small, consistent steps lead to transformation.” His athletic journey became an outward expression of his inner work—a visible testament to persistence and discipline.

Nick’s book, Through the Fire, chronicles his journey through addiction, illness, and personal transformation. It’s not just a memoir—it’s a roadmap for resilience. Blending vulnerability with insight, Nick offers a message to anyone struggling: recovery isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence.

“If I can do it, so can you,” he says. “Every medal, every milestone, every meaningful moment starts with a single choice to do something different.”

Nick Klingensmith reminds us that recovery is more than abstinence—it’s reclaiming your agency and discovering that your greatest challenges can become your greatest strengths. Whether you’re facing addiction, chronic illness, or self-doubt, Nick’s story proves that every breakthrough begins with one small, courageous step forward.

Stay Connected with Nick:

The post Episode 77: Sober Endurance Athlete Nick Klingensmith: Turning Addiction into Strength and Purpose first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.