When Chris Marshall was five years old, his dad was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and he was thrust into a role as ‘man of the house’, kicking off a multi-decade odyssey to figure out what ‘being a man’ really looked like, including using alcohol as a substitute for belonging. Now, he uses social media and live events to spread a message of sobriety and self-acceptance around North America. In this interview with Chris, we discuss:

• Early life trauma
• Becoming the ‘man of the house’ as a child
• Alcohol as a vehicle for belonging
• Creating sober spaces
• The science of self discovery
• Normalizing expression of emotion for men

Follow Chris at @sans_bar or learn more at thesansbar.com.

Chris Marshall is an event curator, mental health advocate, co-founder of Sober by Southwest, and owner of Sans Bar, a sober bar community based in Austin Texas. In addition to his award winning bar in Austin, Marshall has produced alcohol-free social events in over 15 cities across the United States and Canada which offer elevated connection centered experiences sans alcohol. He has been featured in USA Today, Rachel Ray Magazine, Time Magazine, and NPR’s Morning Edition.

Show Notes:

Note: nothing in this podcast is intended to be a replacement for medical or professional advice. If you, or someone you care about, is suffering from addiction or substance abuse, visit one of the confidential, non-judgmental resources below:

The Recovery Village Hotline

Health Canada Substance Use Resources

The Alcohol Addiction Center Resource Page