The Sober Creative Podcast

In my latest episode of Clear Conversations, I sat down with Kaitlyn Ramsay, whose journey from corporate burnout to spiritual guide exemplifies how sobriety transforms not just our health, but our entire creative expression. After quitting her corporate job and buying a one-way ticket to Australia following a devastating breakup, Kaitlyn found herself in Thailand where her relationship with alcohol intensified—until her body literally wouldn't let her continue.

What began as health concerns evolved into a profound awakening. Now sober and based in Thailand, Kaitlyn combines astrology, coaching, and writing to help others rediscover their authentic selves. Her story reveals how removing substances doesn't limit creativity—it actually expands our capacity to create from a place of genuine presence and purpose.

Show Notes

[00:00:00] - Introduction and Welcome

* Introducing Kaitlyn Ramsey and her journey from corporate life to spiritual guide

* How a painful breakup led to quitting her job and booking a one-way ticket to Australia

* Her evolution from escape-seeking to finding authentic purpose

[00:02:23] - The Turning Point: When Health Forces Change

* Kaitlyn shares how her drinking escalated while living in Thailand's tourist culture

* The wake-up call: passing out on a bar floor and subsequent hospital visits

* Being diagnosed with depression, panic disorder, and insomnia—but choosing a different path to healing

[00:10:42] - Discovering Astrology as a Tool for Self-Knowledge

* How sobriety and astrology became intertwined in Kaitlyn's recovery journey

* Using astrology to "shine lights on certain parts of myself that maybe I had ignored"

* Finding purpose in helping others discover themselves through astrological insights

[00:17:31] - The Creative Transformation in Sobriety

* The dramatic difference in creative capacity after getting sober: "Like night and day"

* How sobriety created mental and emotional space to hold ideas and inspiration

* Discovering her true introverted nature after years of alcohol-fueled "extroversion"

[00:22:45] - Daily Practices That Support Sobriety and Creativity

* Morning pages: Starting with small journals and gradually increasing capacity

* Movement practices: Ballet, jazz dance, and Muay Thai training

* The importance of setting yourself up for success with achievable practices

[00:28:08] - Working with Inner Critics and Self-Judgment

* Recognizing that even critical inner voices have positive intentions

* Questioning whether self-criticism is actually keeping us safe

* Learning to have conversations with different parts of ourselves

[00:30:42] - Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places

* Kaitlyn shares a story about how a dead cat taught her about beauty

* How pausing and creating space led to a profound shift in perspective

* Transforming an unpleasant task into a meaningful ritual of honoring life

Key Quotes

"For so long I just ignored every single signal until it was like, 'You're not ignoring this anymore'—you can't." - Kaitlyn Ramsey

"The biggest thing for me has just been the capacity. I feel like I just have so much more capacity and space to hold all of these ideas and things that are filtering through me. Whereas before I was just so overwhelmed." - Kaitlyn Ramsey

"I think setting ourselves up for success is important. I started with a tiny little notebook because there's no way I'm going to do three full-size pages. Now every time I finish a journal, I just get one size bigger." - Kaitlyn Ramsey

"I fully believe that even the critical parts of ourselves do have positive intentions and they just want us to keep us safe. But then it's like, is this actually keeping me safe? Do I need your advice right now?" - Kaitlyn Ramsey

Resources Mentioned

* The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (Morning Pages practice)

* Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course

* Elephant Journal (where Kaitlyn has published work)

* Somatic practices and journaling for recovery support

* Muay Thai training as a physical practice

Where to Find Kaitlyn

* Substack: Follow Kaitlyn's writing and astrological insights

* Website: kaitlynramsay.com for astrology readings and coaching

* Instagram: @kaitlyn.k.r for daily inspiration and updates

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us live for this conversation, and toKaitlyn Ramsay for her extraordinary openness and wisdom. Your presence and engagement make these conversations possible.

What's Next

☀️ The Sober Creative is more than a newsletter.

It’s a movement—and now, a growing community of creatives choosing clarity.

✍️ Read the Essays (free)

Stories and strategies for building a clear, intentional creative life without substances.

🎙️ Join Clear Conversations (free)

Live interviews with artists and entrepreneurs navigating sobriety and deep creative purpose.

🧘 Try a Guided Meditation (free/paid)

Short, powerful practices to reconnect with your creative voice and ground your nervous system.

🌟 Go Premium (paid)

Support this work and unlock full access:

* Extended guided meditations

* Exclusive live meditation sessions

* Priority Q&A and community insights

Become a paid subscriber for $8/month

👥 Founding Members (paid)

Founding members receive lifetime access, a 1:1 coaching session with me, and the opportunity to help shape the experience and future offerings of The Sober Creative—without changing its core mission.

Join as a founding member for $240/year

💬 Let’s connect

Book a free coffee chat if you’re curious about coaching, community, or just want to say hey.

🧭 Feeling ready?

Explore Unfiltered Creation — a 90-day 1:1 coaching experience to align your work, sobriety, and purpose.

Each step forward is an act of creative rebellion.

Thanks for walking this path with me.

Josh

The Sober Creative is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this powerful conversation with former Times picture editor Discover Still By Paul Sanders, we explore the profound connection between sobriety, mindfulness, and authentic creativity. Paul shares his journey from rock bottom to creative rebirth, revealing how eight years of sobriety transformed not just his photography, but his entire relationship with the world around him.

Paul's story is a testament to how clarity of mind can unlock artistic potential that substances often mask. From lying in pouring rain to commune with ferns to finding joy in moments others might overlook, his approach to photography has become a spiritual practice—one that prioritizes presence over perfection and inner validation over external acclaim.

Show Notes

[00:02:00] From High-Pressure Job to Complete Breakdown

* Paul's identity became completely tied to his high-pressure role at The Times

* After burning out and taking time off, he realized he actually hated his job

* After leaving his position in 2011, he lost his sense of self and spiraled into depression and alcoholism

* "I would go to the supermarket and buy food for my son and wine for me... and that went on for three or four years"

[00:10:00] The Turning Point

* A conversation with his parents revealed his son had been putting him to bed when he was too drunk

* March 21st, eight years ago, became his sobriety date – he stopped drinking and went straight to AA

* The journey wasn't easy but completely changed his outlook on who he is

* "I'm not now a spectator. I actively take part. I own my mistakes."

[00:14:00] Mindfulness as a Path to Recovery and Creativity

* Paul threw himself into various projects and practices to avoid distraction

* Incorporated breath exercises, mindful meditation, and journaling into daily life

* These practices, often dismissed as "woo-woo," became powerful tools for transformation

* Living mindfully created vulnerability that allowed for more authentic creative expression

[00:22:00] A New Approach to Creative Process

* Abandoned detailed research and planning in favor of being open to what's present

* "The more you prepare, the more you plan, the more disappointed you are when it doesn't work out"

* Works with whatever conditions are present rather than wishing for "perfect" situations

* Follows a simple process: silence, photograph, gratitude

[00:28:00] The Power of Silence with Subjects

* Sits in silence with subjects to hear what they're trying to communicate

* Most creatives miss this because their ego and desires are "too loud"

* When reviewing photos taken this way, he can see more of himself in them

* This approach creates work that resonates more deeply with viewers who are open to it

[00:30:00] Breaking Free from Comparison Culture

* Modern life forces us into constant comparison in all aspects of life

* Social media has created competition for validation that pushes creators to copy others

* Finding freedom from comparison came directly from sobriety

* Now focuses on supporting others rather than ranking himself against them

Key Quotes

"If you don't like yourself, how can you create any work that is meaningfully authentic and expressive about how you feel about your place in the world?" - Paul Sanders

"For me, the open, authentic Paul is a sober, happy Paul. And finding moments of beauty in the most random, random of places... I don't mind [if people don't like my work] because I found a key that unlocked happiness within me." - Paul Sanders

"It's only by sitting in silence with your subject can you hear what the subject is trying to communicate." - Paul Sanders

"I am 100% now in love with my life. And I can say that over the last eight to 10 years, that journey from absolutely hating everything about my life... to now being in love with my life and every aspect of it, even the bad days." - Paul Sanders

"The path of a recovering addict, there has to be a playfulness within it to allow you to find joy in yourself." - Paul Sanders

Resources Mentioned

* Mindfulness Practices: Daily meditation, journaling, breath exercises

* Discover Still: Paul's platform for mindful photography education

* Retreats: Paul's nature-based photography experiences

Where to Find Paul

* Website: Discover Still

* Instagram: @discoverstill

* Courses & Retreats: Visit his website for information on his mindful photography workshops and luxury retreats

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us live for this conversation, and to Discover Still By Paul Sanders for his extraordinary openness and wisdom. Your presence and engagement make these conversations possible.

What's Next

☀️ The Sober Creative is more than a newsletter.

It’s a movement—and now, a growing community of creatives choosing clarity.

✍️ Read the Essays (free)

Stories and strategies for building a clear, intentional creative life without substances.

🎙️ Join Clear Conversations (free)

Live interviews with artists and entrepreneurs navigating sobriety and deep creative purpose.

🧘 Try a Guided Meditation (free/paid)

Short, powerful practices to reconnect with your creative voice and ground your nervous system.

🌟 Go Premium (paid)

Support this work and unlock full access:

* Extended guided meditations

* Exclusive live meditation sessions

* Priority Q&A and community insights

Become a paid subscriber for $8/month

👥 Founding Members (paid)

Founding members receive lifetime access, a 1:1 coaching session with me, and the opportunity to help shape the experience and future offerings of The Sober Creative—without changing its core mission.

Join as a founding member for $240/year

💬 Let’s connect

Book a free coffee chat if you’re curious about coaching, community, or just want to say hey.

🧭 Feeling ready?

Explore Unfiltered Creation — a 90-day 1:1 coaching experience to align your work, sobriety, and purpose.

Each step forward is an act of creative rebellion.

Thanks for walking this path with me.

Josh

The Sober Creative is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this first episode of Clear Conversations: Creative Minds in Sobriety (title was recently rebranded from Focal Points), I spoke with Ula, a photographer and writer from Vancouver Island, about sustaining creative energy while running a business. The conversation explored:

* Substack as a Creative Platform: We spoke about Substack's effectiveness for building creative community. Ula described how her content evolved from safe, instructional pieces to more personal sharing, resulting in deeper reader connections as people respond, "I saw myself in you." Unlike image-focused platforms, Substack encourages visual creatives to reflect on their process through writing, helping them develop and articulate their creative philosophy.

* Creative routines: Ula prioritizes her most creative morning hours (before 10am) for personal work, reserves afternoons for meetings and admin, and ends work by 5pm to protect her evening downtime.

* Setting boundaries: We discussed the importance of clear communication with clients, including establishing rates upfront, building realistic timeframes, and implementing rush fees when necessary.

* Work-life balance: Ula incorporates regular movement through dog walks every two hours, avoids laptop use after 7pm, and bookends her days with reading.

* Business sustainability: We touched on practical aspects like tracking hours (using Clockify), billing for meetings and travel, and gradually building a network of quality clients.

The conversation highlighted our shared approach to mindfulness in creative work, emphasizing that setting boundaries isn't just self-protection but leads to better creative output and client relationships.

Thank you for being my first guest and to everyone who shared their time with us!

I encourage you to subscribe and learn more from Ula here:

What's Next

☀️ The Sober Creative is more than a newsletter.

It’s a movement—and now, a growing community of creatives choosing clarity.

✍️ Read the Essays (free)

Stories and strategies for building a clear, intentional creative life without substances.

🎙️ Join Clear Conversations (free)

Live interviews with artists and entrepreneurs navigating sobriety and deep creative purpose.

🧘 Try a Guided Meditation (free/paid)

Short, powerful practices to reconnect with your creative voice and ground your nervous system.

🌟 Go Premium (paid)

Support this work and unlock full access:

* Extended guided meditations

* Exclusive live meditation sessions

* Priority Q&A and community insights

Become a paid subscriber for $8/month

👥 Founding Members (paid)

Founding members receive lifetime access, a 1:1 coaching session with me, and the opportunity to help shape the experience and future offerings of The Sober Creative—without changing its core mission.

Join as a founding member for $240/year

💬 Let’s connect

Book a free coffee chat if you’re curious about coaching, community, or just want to say hey.

🧭 Feeling ready?

Explore Unfiltered Creation — a 90-day 1:1 coaching experience to align your work, sobriety, and purpose.

Each step forward is an act of creative rebellion.

Thanks for walking this path with me.

Josh

Thanks for reading The Sober Creative! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.