Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

By Brad McLeodAlternative Health Health & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement

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Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories episodes

June 24 She Drank 4 Liters of Vodka a Day | Mailinn’s Sobriety Story
At 28 years old, Mailinn was preparing to die.

She was drinking up to 4 liters of vodka a day, vomiting blood daily, and losing the ability to walk. Doctors had run out of answers. Her family was bracing for the worst.

Then her body shut down.

In 2020, Mailinn was placed into a coma with multi-organ failure and given little chance of survival. What happened next would completely change the course of her life.

Today, Mailinn is six years sober.

In this episode of Sober Motivation, Mailinn shares her powerful recovery story, from early drinking and alcohol addiction to waking up from a coma, learning to walk again, and discovering a life she never thought was possible.

Whether you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol, struggling with addiction, or supporting someone in recovery, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no one is ever too far gone.

In this episode:

• Starting to drink at 12 years old
• The early warning signs of alcoholism
• Drinking up to 4 liters of vodka a day
• Hiding alcohol use from family and friends
• Vomiting blood and severe health complications
• Multi-organ failure and a medically induced coma
• Learning to walk again
• Life after alcohol
• Recovery, gratitude, and finding purpose

Recovery is possible. Mailinn’s story is proof.

Mailinn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soyli91/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
47 min
June 19 How I Got Sober After Drinking Alcohol for 30 Years | Elisa’s Sober Story
Elisa drank alcohol for 30 years.

What started as relief from childhood trauma slowly turned into alcohol addiction, DUIs, broken relationships, and a life she says she barely remembers.

At eight years old, Elisa testified in court against someone in her own family. Growing up afraid and feeling like she didn’t belong, alcohol became the thing that finally quieted the fear.

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Elisa shares her recovery story—how childhood trauma shaped her addiction, why alcohol felt like the answer, her struggles with alcoholism, and the spiritual and emotional healing that helped her get sober.

We also discuss recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), EMDR therapy, relapse, grief, and what it means to build a life worth staying sober for.

If you’re struggling with alcohol, questioning your drinking, or looking for hope in recovery, this episode is for you.

Elisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisansaunders/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 3 min
June 17 He Thought Addiction Had Won | Gio’s Sobriety Story
“I genuinely thought I was a hopeless alcoholic addict with no chance of return.”

That’s where Gio found himself.

After years of success as a hockey player—including a Division I scholarship and a professional career—addiction slowly took over. What started as drinking and partying became something much darker, leading Gio to a gas station parking lot where he finally called his dad and admitted:

“I can’t stop using.”

In this episode, Gio shares his journey through hockey culture, addiction, opiates, losing his identity after hockey, multiple treatment stays, relapse, and how he found hope after believing he was too far gone.

If you’ve ever wondered whether recovery is possible, or felt like you’ve gone too far to change, this episode is for you.

Gio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gflamminio/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
57 min
June 12 High-Functioning Alcoholism Almost Destroyed Him: Manny’s Road to Sobriety
Manny grew up in New Orleans surrounded by alcohol, but after watching the damage drinking caused in his own family, he wanted nothing to do with it.

That changed later in life.

After marriage, business success, cocaine, alcohol, Hurricane Katrina, divorce, depression, day drinking, and eventually drinking four to five bottles of wine a day, Manny found himself isolated, physically broken, and barely able to walk. What started as social drinking became full-blown alcohol addiction.

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Manny shares his powerful story of addiction, rehab, relapse, recovery, forgiveness, and what it really takes to quit drinking and rebuild your life.

We talk about high-functioning alcoholism, losing everything after Katrina, the fear of who you are without alcohol, relapse after years sober, repairing family relationships, and why sobriety has to become more than just not drinking.

If you are questioning your drinking, trying to quit alcohol, sober curious, in early recovery, or coming back after a relapse, Manny’s story is a reminder that it is never too late to change.
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 9 min
June 10 I Was Drinking at 7 A.M. and Hating My Life | Gary's Sobriety Story
He had a loving family, a private school education, great friends, and every opportunity in front of him. Yet by age 33, Gary was drinking in 7 a.m. bars in Spain, waking up in hostels with no money, and wondering how his life had fallen apart.

In this episode of Sober Motivation, Gary Mairs shares how alcohol slowly took over despite what many would consider the perfect childhood. From teenage binge drinking in England to years of anxiety, financial chaos, broken relationships, and undiagnosed ADHD, Gary opens up about the reality of alcohol addiction and the moment he finally decided enough was enough.

In this episode:

• Growing up in England and early binge drinking culture
• When alcohol started feeling different
• Living with undiagnosed ADHD
• Alcohol addiction and self-medication
• University drinking and drug use
• Financial struggles caused by alcohol
• Moving to Spain and taking the problem with him
• Drinking at 7 a.m. bars
• The emotional rock bottom that changed everything
• Finding recovery through AA and daily habits
• Rebuilding confidence, purpose, and self-respect
• Why sobriety became the foundation for everything else

If you’re struggling with alcohol, questioning your relationship with drinking, or searching for hope in recovery, this conversation is a powerful reminder that change is possible.

Download the Sober Motivation App: www.sobermotivation.com
Gary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobernsound/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 5 min
June 04I Wasn’t Drinking Every Day, But Alcohol Controlled My Life | Todd's Sober Story
Todd looked like he had it all together. He had a good job, a family, a home, and no major public consequences from drinking. But inside, alcohol was taking up more space than he wanted to admit.
In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Todd shares how weekend drinking, binge drinking, hangxiety, shame, and constantly thinking about the next drink made him question his relationship with alcohol. He talks about trying to moderate, why quitting felt extreme at first, and the moment his son asked if they needed an Uber home from a baseball game.
That question changed everything.
Todd opens up about what it was like to stop drinking as a dad, why life without alcohol did not become boring, and how sobriety helped him become calmer, more present, and more connected with his family.
If you are sober curious, trying to quit drinking, questioning your alcohol use, or wondering if your drinking is “bad enough” to stop, this conversation will hit home.

In this episode:
Questioning your relationship with alcohol
Weekend drinking and binge drinking
Hangxiety and the shame cycle
Trying to moderate drinking
Sobriety as a parent
Quitting drinking before rock bottom
Why alcohol steals time, energy, and connection
Learning how to have fun without alcohol

Todd is the author of I Didn’t Believe It Either: One Dad’s Discovery That Everything Is Better Without Alcohol.

Connect with Todd on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tkinney111/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
42 min
June 02 I Never Hit Rock Bottom, But I Knew I Had to Quit Drinking | Mateja's Story
“I never got a DUI. I never got arrested. I never lost my job. So how could I possibly have a problem with alcohol?”

Mateja didn’t drink until she was 21. She had a successful career, a good family, and from the outside looked like someone who had it all together. But behind the scenes, alcohol was becoming harder to ignore.

In this episode, Mateja shares her journey through college drinking, restaurant culture, blackouts, anxiety, and the realization that you don’t have to hit rock bottom to quit drinking.

We discuss high-functioning alcoholism, sober curiosity, recovery, AA, social pressure, anxiety, and what life looks like after alcohol.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your drinking is “bad enough” to quit, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and discover what’s possible when alcohol is no longer running the show.

Mateja on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mateja_violinist
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 4 min
May 26 I Was Drinking Every Day — How Alcohol Took Over My Life | JB’s Sobriety Story
For years, JB thought he could manage his drinking.

What started as binge drinking slowly turned into drinking every day, hiding alcohol, drinking on the way home, anxiety, shame, and feeling completely trapped inside the cycle.

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, JB shares his full sobriety story — growing up in chaos, starting alcohol and cigarettes at a young age, struggling with addiction, daily drinking, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and what finally pushed him to quit drinking alcohol for good.

This is an honest conversation about alcohol addiction, recovery, sober living, mental health, anxiety, shame, fatherhood, and learning how to live life without alcohol.

If you’re sober curious, struggling with daily drinking, trying to stop drinking alcohol, or looking for recovery motivation, this episode is for you.

Topics covered:
• daily drinking
• alcohol addiction
• sober motivation
• quitting alcohol
• sobriety journey
• recovery community
• anxiety and alcohol
• shame and addiction
• sober podcast
• getting sober
• alcohol recovery story

Download the Sober Motivation app for daily meetings, community support, sober tracking, journaling, and connection with others living alcohol-free.

JB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodworthey/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 7 min
May 22 I Was Drinking 3 Bottles Of Wine A Night | Jessica’s Sobriety Story
From the outside, Jessica looked like she had it all together. But behind closed doors, she was drinking 3 bottles of wine every night, blacking out, throwing up before work, and quietly falling apart while trying to convince herself everything was fine.

In this episode of The Sober Motivation Podcast, Jessica shares her journey through hidden alcoholism, mommy wine culture, trauma, undiagnosed ADHD, addiction in motherhood, and the moment she finally realized she couldn’t keep living that way anymore.

We talk about:
• using alcohol to finally feel accepted
• the loneliness behind addiction
• high tolerance and hidden drinking
• blackouts and trying to moderate
• postpartum depression and emotional isolation
• recovery, connection, and rebuilding life without alcohol

If you’ve ever felt trapped in the cycle, exhausted from hiding your drinking, or wondered whether life without alcohol could actually get better, this episode is for you.

Sobriety gave Jessica something alcohol never could:
peace, presence, and connection.

🎙️ The Sober Motivation Podcast shares real stories from people who have quit drinking alcohol and rebuilt their lives in recovery.

Jessica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaguerrieriauthor/
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 6 min
May 20 Luke Didn’t Know Who He Was Without Alcohol to 7 Years Sober
Luke spent 14 years selling alcohol while it was slowly killing him. Three rounds of rehab. Hospital visits. Drinking in the morning. On December 30, 2018, he had his last drink.
In this follow-up, Luke walks Brad through what changed in the seven years since. The scene with his daughter screaming "Dad, don't go" as he drove away in tears.

The AA foundation that carried him through year three. The therapist who leaned in and asked the one question nobody had ever asked him: what about you?

You'll hear about: working in the liquor industry while drinking yourself to death; getting sober as a divorced dad; outgrowing AA without losing the gratitude; the daily self-care pillars that hold long-term sobriety together; what 7 years alcohol-free actually feels like.

Connect with Luke on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dadonthemock
Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE
Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE
Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com
Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
Contact me anytime: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 min