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

Today we have Amy. She is 43 years old, lives in Santa Ynez, CA and took her last drink of alcohol on May 25th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   [01:52] Thoughts from Paul:   Everyone struggles with something and for you that may be alcohol. Paul's message for today isn't how to lessen that struggle. Instead, he wants you to accept it, own it and embrace it.   Unlike many other ailments, where the ideal outcome is to get back where you were, an alcohol addiction allows us to blow past that. We can not only heal from it, but we can be catapulted into a much healthier way of living. This time can be an intense chapter of growth, where you'll emerge with more depth and understanding of yourself and others when you hit the other side.   Be patient, trust the process, own it and befriend it. Turn your struggle into your greatest strength. Not many get to do that with their problems.     [05:30] Paul introduces Amy:   Amy is 43 years old, lives in Santa Ynez, CA, h

Today we have Shane. He is 45 years old, lives in Northern California, and he took his last drink on September 12th, 2013.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   It's not too late to join us in Bozeman, MT. The retreat is August 12th-16th. We have cabin and camping spots still available.   [01:08] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares that he is having trouble moving on after his loss of Ben. There is still a pile of poop in his yard that he is not going to pick up. He reflects that over time; he knows it will eventually disappear as life moves on and so will he eventually.   Moving on from alcohol is hard too. Yes, there were fun times, great memories, but it turned and it's no longer serving us. As a community, we are all moving on.   As Odette said in episode 282 – you can miss drinking even though you don't want to drink anymore. Don't sweep the pain of losing alcohol under a rug, it needs to be grieved as it is the loss of a major life companion. But…we are moving on.

Today we have Becca. She is 35 years old, lives in Delaware County, PA, and she took her last drink of alcohol on August 7th, 2024.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   Check out this free guide to your first seven days without alcohol.   Registration for our sober travel trip to Morocco is open! This trip will take place March 3rd – 13th, 2027.   [02:25] Thoughts from Paul:   The most important thing that someone has to achieve or overcome if they are to quit drinking is denial. The very convincing inner voice that keeps telling you on repeat that you do not have a problem.   This is hard because we build our lives around alcohol and usually this is done unconsciously. The problem is often hiding in plain sight, and you just can't or choose not to see it. It's also hard because marketing is powerful and smart people are paid a lot of money to make you feel like it's a required sidecar to life.   So even though the addiction is hiding in plain sight, you also know it

Today we have Rich. He is from Sacramento, CA, he is 60 years old and took his last drink on August 8th, 2025.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   Registration opens on July 15th, 2026, for our sober travel trip to Morocco which is March 3rd – 13th, 2027.   [02:14] Thoughts from Paul:   If you are in early sobriety or find yourself on day one, your only job right now is to not drink. It isn't time to fix your whole life or worry about being productive and having it all figured out.   By staying honest with your #1 job of not drinking, the body will become incredibly productive in terms of healing. Your dopamine begins to rewire; your sleep system starts to re-balance. All while you are resting.   Even though we sometimes know that not drinking is our #1 job, we can still struggle to keep it this simple. The good news is that every day is a new opportunity to perfect the job and by doing so, everything else will fall into place. Trust the process.   [06:05] Paul introd

Today we have Eric. He is 55 years old, lives in Columbus, OH and took his last drink on February 14th, 2008.   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   Check out our upcoming Recovery Elevator Events. We have Bozeman next month, Morocco in March 2027 followed by a sober Camino de Santiago in October 2027.   [04:52] Thoughts from Paul:   The most important person in the rooms of recovery is not the person with 40 years of sobriety spouting off all the wisdom compiled over the years. It is the newcomer. The person in the room who shares the most truth, is the person who has the least amount of time from their last drink. To the new listener, the newcomer, we want to hear from you. Paul shares a personal experience where a newcomer gave him some of the best motivation he ever received.   The newcomer is also the most important person in the room because a core foundation of recovery is helping others. People in recovery w

Today we have Camille. She is 36 years old, lives in Montreal, Canada and she took her last drink on April 20th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   If you're wondering what you can expect in your first seven days alcohol free, check out our FREE 7-day guide.   [03:19] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us that his beloved dog Ben has passed away. He credits Ben with not only being a major catalyst for his recovery, but also for saving his life. Ben was a member of the staff at Recovery Elevator retreats and touched many people over the 12 years he was Paul's companion.   Paul says his thinking mind has tried to figure out where Ben is now, and after countless thoughts and tears, he always lands in a place of gratitude for the 12 incredible years he was able to share with his dog.   The opposite of addiction is connection, and we generally think of other humans when we hear this. But the quote is infinite and definitely includes our connection with animals.

Today we have Lauren. She is 39 years old from Chicago, IL and took her last drink on November 22nd, 2019.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   Stay tuned here for some upcoming travel opportunities in 2027-2028   If you're wondering what you can expect in your first seven days alcohol free, check out our FREE 7-day guide.   [02:58] Thoughts from Paul:   This week, Paul talks about GLP-1s and the growing evidence that these medications can help with cravings for opioids, cigarettes and alcohol in addition to their effectiveness' in assisting with weight loss and diabetes.     The research is in the initial phases, but there have been studies showing that GLP-1s can lower alcohol cravings. Researchers found that GLP-1 plus therapy can reduce heavy drinking. And a clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry found that GLP-1s significantly reduced weekly alcohol cravings compared to placebo.   This may not be the magical cure for

Today we have Meg. She is 36 years old, lives in Houston, TX and she took her last drink on October 11th, 2020.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   Soberlink – claim your $100 enrollment bonus   Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   If you're wondering what you can expect in your first seven days alcohol free, check out our new FREE 7-day guide.   [02:26] Thoughts from Paul:   You've heard the opposite of addiction is connection. Alcohol wants you turning away from people into a more isolated life. Paul encourages us to find small moments in the day when you can open up towards life and shares some examples of how we can engage with other people and nature throughout our lives.   [07:21] Paul introduces Meg:   Meg is 36 years old and lives in Houston, TX with her two cats Fred and George. She works as an HR coordinator for Meow Wolf and for fun, Meg enjoys walking, puzzling and writing.   Meg didn't have her first drink until she was 18 years old but instantly kne

Today we have Stef. She is 39 years old, lives in Truckee, CA, and took her last drink on March 24th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026   If you're wondering what you can expect in your first seven days alcohol free, well, we just created a FREE 7-day guide for your first seven days.    [02:00] Thoughts from Paul:   Yes, we are all broken. Not because of a drinking problem, but because all 8 billion humans on the planet are perfectly imperfect.   While a drinking problem breaks you, it can be alchemized or transformed into your greatest strength. The transformation that someone makes when stepping into an alcohol-free life is hard to describe. Imperfection, brokenness, and flaws are not failures, but rather essential openings for growth, understanding, and hope.   "There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." – Leonard Cohen   "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places..

Today we have Brooke. She is 55 years old, lives in Denver, CO and she took her last drink on February 17th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   If you're wondering what you can expect in your first seven days alcohol free, well, we just created a FREE 7-day guide for your first seven days.    [02:39] Thoughts from Paul:   In the upcoming book, This is How We Quit, we are currently narrowing down the submissions from 66 to around 20. While reviewing these all, Paul shares with us a snippet from one of them by Kristi, who was the guest on episode 492.   [07:45] Paul introduces Brooke:   Brookes lives in Denver, CO, has been married for 25 years and they have two sons. She has a background in education and for fun she enjoys being outside. They enjoy hiking, skiing, walking and playing tennis.   Growing up, Brooke believed that alcohol was necessary part of living. She saw her parents drink casually and was in a lot of environments where drinking was a given. Br

Today we have Anita. She is 49 years old from Bend, OR and she took her last drink on January 4th, 2026.   This episode is brought to you by:   Sign up and get 10% off: Better Help   [03:14] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us that in the upcoming interview, he and the guest talk about religion. While he knows this can be a triggering topic for some, including him, he encourages us to be open minded to both the interview and religion in general.   [12:38] Paul introduces Anita:   Anita is 49 years old, lives in Bend, OR she is single and works as a family doctor. Much of her family also lives in the area. Anita enjoys hiking, cold plunges, dancing and frequently travels to Esalen in Big Sur.   Anita was raised in a Christian cult called but went to public schools which left her feeling anxious and nervous all the time. She says the didn't have a TV at home, so Anita would find herself reading comics and snacking. This later developed into an eating disorder as she grew into adolescence.   Anita graduate

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