Recovery Elevator | Stop Drinking, Start Recovering. | Alcohol, Addiction & Life In Sobriety

Today we have Will. He is 32 years old, lives in Allenstown, NH and took his last drink on October 5th, 2019.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   [06:22] Paul introduces Will:   Will is 32 years old, lives in New Hampshire and works for the US Postal Service. Will enjoys writing, watching films, hiking and traveling.    Will grew up in a strict, religious household. From middle school through high school, Will did homeschooling which left him feeling like he didn't really have any friends. By the time he was 15 or 16, he felt like he was missing out on a lot of life experiences. Will moved out of home with his brother when he turned 18 and says this is when his partying began as a way to make up for lost time.   Will began working in the food service industry and says it was his first taste of life outside of the religious bubble he had grown up in. While he had a level of social anxiety

Today's episode includes a Q & A session conducted live at Recovery Point, which is a resource center for those who struggle with addiction located in Bozeman, Montana.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sober Link sign up and claim your $100 enrollment bonus Café RE – THE social app for sober people Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   [02:19] Paul introduces Jay, Jennifer, Chris and Linda   Each panel member shares a little about themselves and what drove them to seek recovery.   Question – When did you open up to community?   Jay shares that he started going to AA while in jail and attended a program called Bridging the Gap through treatment court which helped him find connection and community.   Jen was a few months into her recovery when she discovered Café RE and found that others sharing their stories helped her a lot.   Chris said he had made several half-hearted attempts at quitting before finding books and communities. He shares that he was stubborn at first, but now has made many friend

Today we have Brittany. She is 44 years old, lives in New Braunfels, TX and she had her last drink on May 27th, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   [02:07] Paul introduces Brittany:   Brittany is 44 years old, is originally from Wisconsin, and lives in New Braunfels, TX with her husband of 18 years. Together they have four kids. For fun, Brittany enjoys sporting events and traveling with her family.   Brittany shares she had a great childhood. Her parents were very supportive of her and her older brother. Her father was the child of alcoholics, so he chose not to drink so there was limited exposure to it while Brittany was growing up.   Brittany's first drink was when she was 15 years old. She didn't drink much throughout her teens as she was more into sports that didn't leave much room for it. In Wisconsin, attending sporting events always included drinking. In college, Brittany en

Today we have Chris. He is 55 years old, from Madison, WI, and he took his last drink of alcohol on April 7th, 2015.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   [02:02] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul recently gave an opening talk at a fundraising gala for Yellowstone Alliance Adventures. This is the venue where the annual Bozeman retreat is held. He shared with the guests that he holds an annual sober retreat there but initially hadn't rehearsed sharing that he was also sober. After a few moments of silence, mid-talk, Paul shared that he is also in recovery.   Paul says he knows he didn't have to share that part, but when he did, it felt good to be up there in front of a crowd as his authentic self. In a world that can very fake and shallow, people are craving authenticity. Paul wants to go places where he can be himself.   Listeners, where can you show up as yourself in your life? What curtains, wal

Today we have Aimee. She is 51 years old, from Minneapolis, MN and took her last drink on March 20th, 2022.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people   [02:39] Thoughts from Paul:   AA has been the most popular and widely recognized program to treat alcohol addiction for more than 50 years. And that has pleased Big Alcohol because it has the word "anonymous" in it. Big Alcohol knows they are selling an addictive drug, and it is a gift to them that when people figure out that alcohol lies to them about their product, calming them down or enhancing their lives, they won't say anything.   Paul isn't dogging AA but recognizes that the anonymous part had kept the stigma of addiction going. Paul shares and excerpt from As Bill Sees It from Bill W., the founder of AA.   The way he reads it, he doesn't think that Bill W. ever intended the anonymity component to be a curtain of shame. It is just in reference to what is said in the meetings, s

Today we have Ron. He is 67 years old from Milwaukee, WI and he took his last drink of alcohol on February 19th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Sober Link sign up and claim your $100 enrollment bonus   [02:57] Thoughts from Paul:   The village, the community, the tribe, has been completely destroyed in the last couple hundred years, and this messes with us big time. Okay, the opposite of addiction is connection, but what exactly are we connecting to?   The big one here is yourself. If you're disconnected within, everything in your outside world will be fractured also. The next big one is when you connect with others. But even after that, probably the biggest connection is the one with nature.   There's no coincidence as our war against nature intensifies, so do ailments such as addictions, chronic pain, depression, and anxiety disorders. We are being called home, and it's a beautiful thing. So how do you build this connection with nature or the natural world?

Today we have Lidia. She is 41 years old from Seattle, WA and she took her last drink of alcohol on August 31st, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   [01:40] Thoughts from Paul:   Some of you may have seen the title of today's episode which is The Best Way to Feel Better. And that's why you're tuning in – to feel better. Maybe you're in early sobriety and you're not feeling good.   Paul shares with us how the best way of feeling better has taken place in his life. It comes when he may be having a bad day but has an interview with a new guest scheduled. There have been a few times where he was hoping that they wouldn't show but has discovered that within the first few minutes of talking with them – he feels better.   The best way to feel better is to talk to another human being. Talk to someone you trust, maybe make an unplanned visit to a friend's house. There is a reason they call it the 10,000-pound phone. Because the mind (or addiction) wants you alone. Just k

Today we have Harvey. He is 71 years old, lives in Fort Myers, FL and took his last drink on January 18th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people   Registration for our annual Bozeman retreat begins on Wednesday April 1st. This event takes place August 12th-16th. This retreat is all about fun, laughter, smiles and silent disco. We didn't quit drinking to not have fun!  Musical guest Uprise will be back and it's going to be another awesome year.   [03:54] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us and excerpt from Shannon Alder regarding sensitive people. See if this rings true for you:   "Sensitive people are the most genuine and honest people you will ever meet. There is nothing they won't tell you about themselves if they trust your kindness. However, the moment you betray them, reject them or devalue them, they will end the friendship. They live with guilt and constant pain over unresolved situations and misunderstandings.

Today we have Butch. He is 49 years old and is from Indianapolis, IN and took his last drink on November 1st, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   [02:33] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares and excerpt from an interview with Steve-O, who has 17 years of sobriety.   Steve-O said the worst thing would be to kinda have alcoholism. To kinda have a drinking problem. Because kinda is where people live for 20 years. Kinda is how you blow your 40s. Kinda is how you show up halfway to everything that matters. For your kids, your marriage, your job, your actual life. And then wonder why nothing ever feels real.   And while you're busy deciding whether it's really that bad, the years are passing by. The other side of what Steve-O is saying – he isn't just describing a trap, he's describing a clear escape plan. By being here, you have already made the call. Maybe it's still messy and maybe it's still early and maybe some days you're not sure what you're doing. But you are her

Today we have Jan. She is 75 years old from Winchester, VA and took her last drink on February 1st, 2021.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people   Recovery Elevator is compiling a list of recovery stories and we're going to put them in a book called This is How We Quit. If you want to be part of this book, and submit your story, we'd love to have you. There is no sobriety time requirement so if your saying to yourself, well, I've only been sober 30 days, I can't submit my story, then nonsense. Send an email to [email protected] and you'll get a google form to fill out and submit your story.   **TRIGGER WARNING** this episode references firearms and sexual assault   [02:48] Thoughts from Paul:   A common phrase in the recovery space is "protect your energy". Paul feels it is a solid idea and tries to practice it as well. His goal in life had always been to bring people together and it has been a major pain point for him to

Today we have Kendra. She is 38 years old from Central Minnesota and took her last drink on March 22nd, 2024.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people   Recovery Elevator is compiling a list of recovery stories and we're going to put them in a book called This is How We Quit. If you want to be part of this book, and submit your story, we'd love to have you. There is no sobriety time requirement so if your saying to yourself, well, I've only been sober 30 days, I can't submit my story, then nonsense. Send an email to [email protected] and you'll get a google form to fill out and submit your story.   Recovery Elevator's first ever Sober Ukelele Retreat will be November 7th-14th, 2026. Registration opens May 1st.   [03:42] Thoughts from Paul:   Today Paul unwraps the reason that we drink. It isn't because alcohol is the most addictive drug on the planet or because you like the taste of wood, hops or earthy floral notes. For mi

Today we have Tom. He is 40 years old from New Canaan, CT and took his last drink on July 12th, 2024.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Soberlink – sign up and claim your $100 enrollment bonus   Happy March! The Café RE theme this month is Mindfulness and Awareness. This key topic helps us build awareness and space, which ultimately gives us the freedom to make different choices beyond drinking. Café RE will feature chats focused on mindfulness. It has been said that the most powerful medicine can't match the power of awareness.   Recovery Elevator is compiling a list of recovery stories and we're going to put them in a book called This is How We Quit. If you want to be part of this book, and submit your story, we'd love to have you. There is no sobriety time requirement so if your saying to yourself, well, I've only been sober 30 days, I can't submit my story, then nonsense. Send an email to [email protected] and you'll get a google form to fill out and sub

Today we have Greg. He is 57 years old and from Midlothian, VA. He took his last drink on December 8th, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – the social app for sober people   Recovery Elevator is compiling a list of recovery stories and we're going to put them in a book called This is How We Quit. If you want to be part of this book, please submit your story. There is no sobriety time requirement. Send an email to [email protected] and you'll get a google form to fill out and submit your story.   If you have been thinking about joining Café RE, now is the time. The monthly price is increasing to $29 per month on March 1st. If you're already a member, your price will not increase, this is only for new membership.  Keep in mind that $29 per month is most likely a fraction of what you may have spent on alcohol per month.   [03:55] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us a beautifully written piece someone shared with him a few months ago.   In sum

Today we have Kerri. She is 51 years old from Maine and took her last drink on June 7th, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Soberlink – sign up and claim your $100 enrollment bonus   If you have been thinking about joining Café RE, now is the time. The monthly price is increasing to $29 per month on March 1st. If you're already a member, your price will not increase, this is only for new membership.  Keep in mind that $29 per month is most likely a fraction of what you may have spent on alcohol per month.   [04:09] Thoughts from Paul:   Last week we talked about patience and how preparation is sacred work. This week, we are talking about building your expedition team a.k.a., your sobriety team.   First, there is this podcast. Paul and the RE production team are part of your team. All interviewees are part of your team.   Then you need community. This can be in-person or online with other sober people. You need people who get it, who've been where you are, and who

Today we have Lewis. He is 39 years old from Burlington, VT and he took his last rink of alcohol on June 12th, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   August 12th – 16th: Get ready to elevate your alcohol-free life in Big Sky Country. Join RE in Bozeman, Montana for our annual sober summer retreat. Registration opens April 1st. This isn't your typical retreat. We're talking adventure, laughter and deep bonds with people who get it. This retreat will remind you why choosing freedom over booze was the best decision you ever made.   [01:52] Thoughts from Paul:   This week, Paul talks about something that doesn't get discussed enough in recovery: patience and preparation.   Getting sober takes time. Preparing for your new life takes time. Some people are able to spontaneously quit drinking and never look back, but most have to slowly build momentum before trust falling into an alcohol-free life.   Some of you may have been listening to this podcast for years and feeling

Today we have Jack. He is 45 years old and from Los Angeles, CA. He took his last drink of alcohol on December 31st, 2024.   This episode is brought to you by:   Café RE – THE social app for sober people. Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   [02:47] Thoughts from Paul:   Last week Paul talked about the intentional phase of sobriety: choosing what you want to explore next and how you are going to fill the void left by alcohol.   Looking at Lewis and Clark, we know that no expedition goes according to plan. So this week we will talk about setbacks because they're part of life. Maybe it's relapse (or Field Research as we refer to it in RE). Maybe it's an injury that sidelines your new running routine or an illness that drains your energy for weeks. Or it may just be life being life.   The thing about setbacks – they don't erase your progress; they're just part of the terrain. If you drink again, you have not gone back to zero. You've gathered data. You know more now than you did before – about triggers, patter

Today we have Veronica. She is 52 years old, lives in Alabama and she had her last drink on May 1st, 2000.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Soberlink – claim your $100 enrollment bonus   Upcoming Events with Recovery Elevator   February 21st – 28th we are traveling to Costa Rica. The event is full, but you can email [email protected] to get on the waiting list.   August 12th – 16th we will be having our annual Bozeman retreat. Registration opens on April 1st at 9am Eastern Time.   October 17th – 24th we will host our Sober Ukelele Retreat in Costa Rica   [03:07] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul wants to talk about the exploration he mentioned at the end of last week's intro. When you first quit drinking, things kind of happen to you – sleep improves, your head clears and maybe a hobby resurfaces on it's own. It's passive.   But at some point, you realize that your not just not drinking anymore. You're actually living. And you get to decide what that looks like. Th

Today we have Savanna. She's 32 years old from Minneapolis, MN and took her last drink on May 4th, 2023.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Café RE – THE social app for sober people   Every Sunday on Instagram, we post a roll call graphic and then you guys put your day count on there. It's a space for members to be loud and proud about their recovery as well as being there to support others.   [02:30] Thoughts from Paul:   Last week, Paul talked about how we want to end our relationship with alcohol. This week, he addresses the question "what do I do with all this space where alcohol used to be?".   Boredom can set into the empty space where alcohol used to be. This can trip a lot of folks up in early sobriety when they thought that quitting drinking was supposed to feel like some immediate transformation. Paul reminds us to think of the first gift of sobriety to be not having to negotiate anymore. Additional mental bandwidth is no longer wasted on alcohol where you a

Today we have Sean. He is 33 years old and lives in Phoenix, AZ. He took his last drink on January 22, 2022.   This episode is brought to you by:   Café RE – THE social app for sober people Better Help – 10% off of your first month #sponsored   There is one spot left on our sober travel trip to Costa Rica. This journey is scheduled for February 21st – 28th. Email [email protected] if you would like to join us.   Join us on January 10th for the start of our AF Ukelele Course. This course is sponsored by Kala brand ukelele and if you register, you get a code for 10% off an instrument.   [03:00] Thoughts from Paul:   "Want to change your relationship with alcohol?" is a common question asked in the recovery space.   When somebody says they want to change their relationship with something, it usually implies there's a goal of improvement. Changing a relationship with exercise may look like hitting the gym more. Maybe changing a relationship with your mother-in-law means you're going to try harder at Thank

Today we have Sarah. She is 49 years old and lives in San Diego, CA. Sarah took her last drink on August 6th, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by: Better Help – 10% off of your first month #sponsored   Pick up your copy of Paul's newest book Dolce Vita. You can get it on Amazon, listen to it on Audible or order it at your favorite bookstore today.   Join us on January 10th for the start of our AF Ukelele Course. This course is sponsored by Kala brand ukelele and if you register, you get a code for 10% off an instrument.   [02:00] Thoughts from Paul:   This is the first podcast of the new year and maybe you are a new listener. Paul wants to cover some basics and let you know what we are about.   Recovery Elevator is about quitting drinking. The goal isn't cutting back, moderation or putting the beast back in the cage. It's full send on zero alcohol consumed.   Recovery Elevator is also about embracing that there is no right or wrong way to ditch the booze, just don't do it alone. No explanation needed h