Addiction Unlimited Podcast

You’re Not Doing the Work — You’re Just Watching Other People Do It


Listen Later

Reading about sobriety isn’t the same as doing the work to get sober.

If you feel like you’re doing everything for your sobriety—but nothing is actually changing—this episode is for you.

And trust me, there’s a huge difference!

Here’s the thing: when I got sober, the landscape looked completely different.

There were no podcasts, no endless library of quit lit books, no free challenges.

But today? You can fill every spare moment with sobriety content.

And while that’s amazing in so many ways, it’s also created something I see over and over: people who mistake presence for participation.

They’re reading books, listening to podcasts, signing up for challenges, even showing up to meetings – but they’re not actually engaging.

They’re just… there.

And that’s how people stay stuck for years—busy, informed, and still drinking.

So in this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what it means to shift from passive presence to active participation.

Because that shift?

That’s where real transformation happens.

I dive into:

3:48 – Why passive sobriety feels like progress but quietly keeps you stuck
8:30 – The false comfort of other people’s stories vs. doing your own work
13:12 – How to tell if you’re participating… or just observing
17:36 – Why only showing up for celebration hurts your recovery (this one stings)
19:56 – What real participation looks like—and why the same people succeed
21:49 – Simple ways to start participating today, even if you’re uncomfortable

Tune in and get ready to shift from being present in your recovery to actually participating in it.

Because that’s where the magic happens, my friend.

And I promise you’re capable of it – right now, exactly as you are.

If you’re done consuming recovery content and ready to actually change, Sober Society is where that happens.

Join us in Sober Society for just $27/month! We’ve got meetings throughout the week (and we’re adding more in February, including a meditation meeting!).

This is a place where people actually show up, support each other, and do the work together.

Find all the details at addictionunlimited.com/society

Schedule a call to work with me at addictionunlimited.com/call

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Addiction Unlimited PodcastBy Angela Pugh

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

480 ratings


More shows like Addiction Unlimited Podcast

View all
The Recovery Show » Finding serenity through 12 step recovery in Al-Anon – a podcast by The Recovery Show

The Recovery Show » Finding serenity through 12 step recovery in Al-Anon – a podcast

1,602 Listeners

Recovery Elevator by Paul Churchill

Recovery Elevator

1,738 Listeners

The Addicted Mind Podcast by Duane Osterlind, LMFT

The Addicted Mind Podcast

641 Listeners

This Naked Mind Podcast by Annie Grace

This Naked Mind Podcast

2,562 Listeners

A Sober Girls Guide Podcast by A Sober Girls Guide

A Sober Girls Guide Podcast

438 Listeners

You Are Not Broken by Kelly Casperson, MD

You Are Not Broken

1,119 Listeners

The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women by Casey McGuire Davidson

The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women

732 Listeners

Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober by Gillian Tietz, MS, CPRC

Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober

1,255 Listeners

How I quit alcohol by Danni Carr

How I quit alcohol

191 Listeners

Adult Child by Andrea Ashley

Adult Child

1,860 Listeners

Sober Awkward by soberawkward

Sober Awkward

361 Listeners

The Sober Mom Life by Suzanne Warye

The Sober Mom Life

1,097 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

21,307 Listeners

Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories by Brad McLeod

Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

612 Listeners

Happiest Sober Podcast by Madeline Forrest

Happiest Sober Podcast

222 Listeners