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

Episode 487 – How Would You Walk?  Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  Today we have Sarah. She is 45 and lives in Indiana. She took her last drink on December 31st, 2022.   Let's talk AF International travel with Recovery Elevator. We've got some incredible trips in the works. We're going to Vietnam for 12 days in January 2025. Then Back to Costa Rica for our 4th trip to the Blue Zone in April 2025, and then, we're going back to Peru in October 2025 where we're going to the Inca Trail and work with Non-profit Peruvian Hearts again.   [02:42] Thoughts from Paul:   The World Heart Federation published a policy brief in 2022 staying there is "no level of alcohol consumption that is safe for health." There was and still is a collective belief that alcohol is good for you. This is especially prominent in the wine culture.   The paradigm is slowly cracking which is a huge step in the right direction. When Paul started Recovery Elevator in 2

Episode 486 - The Most Dangerous Thing on the Planet   Today we have Adam. He is 46 from Flowermound, TX and took his last drink on December 31st, 2022.   Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [03:00] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares many things that are dangerous but concludes that the most dangerous thing on the planet is the Ego. The reason why it is so dangerous is because it is never fully satisfied, it's always hungry, lives in constant state of lack and is always seeking more, more, more.   Alcohol is but a symptom of the most dangerous thing on the planet. Addiction gets a bad rap, but it does serve a purpose. It forces you to split from the thinking mind. As the author of The Untethered Soul, Michael Singer says you are the one hearing or witnessing the thoughts, but you are not your thoughts.   Some of the humblest people Paul has met have been people in recovery. The addiction is the equalizer and forces us to seek a better way no longer guided by

Episode 485 – The Social Cost of Alcohol Café RE: Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  Today we have Jennifer. She is 41 from Hamilton, OT Canada and took her last drink on January 18th, 2024.   [02:09] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares some information from an article he saw on the Instagram page recoveryroadmap.me. It discusses how in Canada, despite bringing in $13 billion in tax revenue, the net social costs in 2020 was $19 billion. And it is even worse in the US.   The bright side of all of this is that we are becoming aware of this major deficit, and change is taking place. The demand for alcohol is lowering as people are becoming more aware that alcohol is not good for you. Two years ago, The Huberman Lab did a podcast called What Alcohol Does to Your Body and he debunked the myth that alcohol is good for you.   Paul also shares that thanks to an initiative called Sounds Right, musicians who use natural sounds can list "Nature" as a featured artist and

Episode 484 – Recovery is a Sandwich Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    Today we have Brian. He is 59 from Eastern Iowa. He took his last drink on May 23rd, 2023.   Recovery Elevator is going to Vietnam January 9th-20th, 2025. Registration for our newest alcohol-free travel trip opens July 1st and we've got room for 25 passengers. Who's up for seeing the world with a group of travelers who have ditched the booze?   [02:24] Thoughts from Kris:   Kris' topic today is one of the foundational themes in recovery which is telling our story or burning the ships as we refer to it at Recovery Elevator.   Burning the Ships refers to when Hernan Cortez sailed across the ocean and ordered his men to burn their ships when they landed. There was no turning back, no retreat. When we share our story, we can no longer hide from it and are faced to move forward with others having knowledge of our journey.   This isn't a black and white situation so i

Episode 483: NA Beers   Today we have Tyler. He is 37 and lives in Phoenix, AZ. He took his last drink on November 28th, 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.   Recovery Elevator welcomes Danielle Marr to the team! She now writes the bi-monthly newsletter for RE which always has journalling prompts at the end. She taught our DTB writing course this last fall and does Instagram posts a couple days a week. She was also interviewed on episode 464.   To subscribe to the Recovery Elevator newsletter, click here and wait for the box to pop up.    [03:35] Thoughts from Paul   Paul shares with us the history of NA beers and how they were created to pacify the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers campaign back in the 90's. The companies had zero intention of scaling this segment of their business and it has been said that the purposefully made the beer tasteless and bland.   Those days are gone. Non-alcoholic beer sales have been growing every yea

Today we have Anna. She is 49 from North Georgia and took her last drink on December 22nd, 2017. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  [02:09] Thoughts from Paul:   A few weeks ago, Paul made a post on the Recovery Elevator Instagram pages asking people what advice they would give to somebody who was about to quit drinking.   Thank you to everyone that commented on the video, there were well over 100 comments.   In this episode, he shares some of the comments and be sure to follow Recovery Elevator on Instagram if you don't already.   The most common advice was don't do this alone, reach out for help, and join a community.   We have partnered with Sober Link.  You can find some tips and can sign up for a $50 off promo code.   [11:16] Kris introduces Anna:   Anna lives in North Georgia and is a custodian at a middle school. For fun she enjoys hiking, camping and all things outdoors.   Anna first started drinking when she was 18 in college

Today we have Susie. She is 52 and lives in Lubbock, TX and took her last drink on February 10th, 2024. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [02:18] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul's goal with the introductions each week is to find a topic that we can collectively resonate with. His goal is for as many of us as possible to say "yep" or to nod our heads while listening.   There are many different types of listeners to the podcast. Some had already ditched the booze, some long ago and some more recently. Another group is still in the process of quitting drinking. We also have another group of listeners who are here to support a loved one who is struggling with alcohol. We are so glad you are here with us.   Paul lists the many reasons why people listen and what they are looking for by doing so. Ultimately, we are all here to grow.   [09:58] Paul introduces Susie:   Susie is 52 and lives in Lubbock, TX with her husband of two years. She has b

Today we have Emily. She is 31 and lives in Raleigh, NC. She has been sober since March 17th, 2019. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [02:26] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us a list of his favorite AF (Alcohol Free) legends.   Included in the list is a man named Barry he met on the Gold Coast of Australia who taught him it's the little things in life that create the most beautiful textures in life.   Another AF legend is Bill Wilson who together with Dr. Bob would become founders of Alcoholics Anonymous.   Paul also includes the 480 rock stars wo have shared their story on this podcast. Our interviewees have realized that for them to be successful, they have to help others. Thank you to all of the interviewees on the podcast.   Included in the list is Paul's dog Ben. He taught him unconditional love.   And above all else, Paul feels the number one AF legend is the universe. It has provided everything he has needed for whol

Today we have Destiny. She is 29 and lives in South Houston, TX. She took her last drink on December 30th, 2023. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  Café RE just submitted its application to become a 501c3 non-profit organization. The team has been working on the application for about 8 months and we have been told, in another 4-6 months, Café RE will become a nonprofit.   We are going to be able to take our yearly service project to the next level, in which we can receive donations, then use those funds to make this planet a better place for all. Click the link below if you would like to check out Café RE.    [03:12] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us that nothing is static, and everything is constantly changing. The roles we play in life are no exception. You are always changing. There was a time when your identity was an infant, then a child. Paul shares the many identities that he has had over the years and that he no longer

Today we have Cyndi. She is 54 and lives in Denver, Colorado. She took her last drink on December 10th, 2023.   Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [02:08] Thoughts from Kris:   Kris shares how recovery has ignited his curiosity. While drinking, he didn't step out of his comfort zone very much and feels he was perfection driven to offset the dumpster fire that was happening with his drinking. He didn't feel safe not being good at things, so he never tried.   Since in recovery, Kris has taken up a plethora of hobbies, most recently welding. His garage now houses evidence of his hobbies and creating new things rather than the massive amount of empties from when he isolated in there with alcohol.   Kris now embraces his curiosity and lets himself fail as he learns new things.   When asked what they like to do for fun, many interviewees respond that they are still trying to figure that out and that's normal as we can become immersed in t

Today we have Jim. He is 44 and lives in Silicon Valley, CA. He took his last drink on February 20th, 2024.   Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  [02:27] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul is coming up on ten years without a drink. He has attended many social situations without consuming any alcohol. When he told people he wasn't drinking, the question he got was "Wait, you're not drinking?" said as more of a statement of astonishment than anything. As in the impossible was happening right before their eyes and they were surprised someone could still have a good time without drinking.   A major factor of why ditching the booze can be so hard is that the thinking mind will tell you it can't be done. The biggest reason for this is that an alcohol-free life lies in the unknown. The mind and the ego crave the known.   But it can be done. If you are on day one, a series of day ones, Paul reminds us that yes, it can be done. But for how long? A morn

Today we have Tonya. She is 50 and lives in St Paul, MN. She took his last drink on August 21st, 2021.   Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    Registration opens today for our annual retreat in the beautiful Rocky Mountains located outside of Bozeman, MT. This retreat is from Wednesday August 14th through Sunday August 18th, and it is going to be a blast! Click here for the full itinerary and to get pricing info.   [02:30] Thoughts from Paul:   Is quitting drinking hard? It can be, yes but if you have a drinking problem, quitting drinking is way easier than riding alcohol off into the sunset of self-destruction.    Here are some reasons why it can be a challenge:   1)    Your body has to detoxify itself form the chemical alcohol. 2)    You are going to have to learn some new routines and make new habits. 3)    You need to start building friendships where alcohol isn't the foundation. 4)    Accept that boredom is a normal and health

Today we have Shari. She is 60 and lives in Santa Barbara, CA. She took his last drink on December 31st, 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    Check out our RE merch. We have hats, sweatshirts, tank tops, t-shirts and more. [02:56] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us how the idea of Sober Travel first came to him. After a trip of a lifetime that went sideways for him, he knew the only way that he could do alcohol-free travel in the future was with alcohol-free travelers.   On the most recent sober trip to Costa Rica, Paul and other members of the cohort traveled to see a Ceiba tree that is at least 350-400 years old. He shares with us the history of the Ceiba tree and what they mean to the people that live around them. They also got to witness live sea turtles hatching and were able to release them into the surf. Quitting drinking is like the release of the sea turtle. Your new life awaits, and anything is possible.   [09:4

Today we have Nick. He is 36 years old from Grand Rapids, MI. He took his last drink on January 19th, 2021.   Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [02:41] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul likes Instagram because it's a platform for artists, for teachers, for musicians, for dancers, and more to showcase their talents.   Paul shares with us audio from a video he found while on Instagram. Here's the scene: It's a busy city street at nightfall, when a gentlemen comes to a skidding halt on his electric motorbike wearing a microwave as a helmet. When his motorbike comes to a stop, he pushes the open microwave door button, and begins to speak. Check out the video here.   If you are serious about change, there will be shitty times, but trust the process because in the long run you're going to be a better person.   The biggest gift Paul gets while doing Recovery Elevator podcast is witnessing the change made daily. This change, added up over many d

Today we have Lee. He is 43 and lives in the United Kingdom. He took his last drink on August 17th, 2020.  Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  If you have found the Recovery Elevator podcast helpful to you, please take a moment to leave a review in either iTunes or Spotify. This helps you shred the shame and helps our show reach more listeners.   [03:41] Thoughts from Paul:   There are a million reasons why people drink. One reason is relief. Now thank you alcohol for providing myself relief when I needed it most. Then there came a time, and it wasn't overnight when the source of relief became less effective. Alcohol then provided no relief at all. Then it became a source of discomfort itself.   Now the most excruciating part of a drinking problem is when we reach for alcohol to seek harmony, but it only brings pain. Now the conscious mind knows the outcome, it knows it won't work. But in the unconscious, it is still inscribed like a c

Today we have Erin. She is 45 and lives outside of Boston. She took her last drink on December 26th, 2021. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.   [01:52] Thoughts from Kris:   The transition out of winter is one of Kris' favorites. He sees it as an awakening. He took the cue from Mother Nature and paused this season. No big decisions or changes. Just time to reflect on things. Now that nature is starting to wake back up, he feels it's time for him to do the same.   Kris reflects on his first spring in recovery and how the nice weather worried him. He started connecting with multiple recovery groups, discovering his triggers, digging into his whys and was able to feel connected to something bigger than himself. Being a part of a recovery community is cool that way... we see the reward in our own growth, but we're contributing to the growth of the whole as well.   Wherever you are this spring, that's right where you're supposed to be. Wher

Today we have Carl. He is 52 years old and lives in California. He took his last drink on August 22nd, 2014. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [03:08] Thoughts from Paul:   Arriving at a perfect balance with progress and perfection is ungodly hard, and we all struggle with it.   No one is perfect and if you're telling yourself, you should be doing more of ABC and less of XYZ, welcome to the party, welcome to the human condition. There is progress though, you are self-aware which is more than 1/2 the battle.   We have to have dualities, for example, tall to know short, you need silence to know sound. You have to have imperfection to know perfection. They are both equally important and you can't have one without the other.   So, with progress not perfection, most of us are using someone else's version of perfection to define ourselves. While your soul is remarkably perfect, this is no perfection in this perfectly imperfect world. Go

Today we have Lara. She is 40 years old and lives in Northwest Arkansas. She took her last drink on August 8th, 2019. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  [04:12] Thoughts from Paul:   There was a great question during our Dry January class that asked "Why don't alcoholics get hangovers?" Paul did a YouTube video about this but wanted to share more here.   Truth is, they do get hangovers, but they usually begin drinking before the full amount of alcohol can be metabolized in their system that they drank the day or night before. As tolerance develops with alcohol, the hangover gets pushed back later in the day the next day. A chronic drinker who drinks 10-15 drinks daily, won't begin the hangover cycle at 8am the next morning, but more likely, they will experience the worst of the withdrawal effects later that day or evening.   Chronic drinkers are almost always experiencing a low to mid-grade hangover. In other words, they feel like sh

Today we have Lisa. She is 66 years old and lives in Atlanta, GA. She took her last drink on November 16th, 2022. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    [02:51] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us ten facts about Americans and their drinking habits that he found in an article from the Pew Research Center.   The article shares with us statistics regarding what people are drinking and where alcohol consumption is the highest, along with statistics about age and income ranges.   The biggest takeaway from this article is the first stat that says, "Only 62% of U.S. adults say they drink" while 38% abstain completely. Not everyone is kung fu fighting. There is a voice inside the head that says, "Everybody drinks", but right there we just debunked that myth. A lot of people don't drink because they don't want to. Many people don't drink because their forced to. Whatever the reason is, about 40% of Americans don't drink.   And although a

Today we have Amber. She is 41 years old and lives in San Luis Obispo. She took her last drink on May 26th, 2020. Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.    "First it is an intention; then a behavior; then a practice; then a habit; then second nature; then it is simply who you are".     [03:04] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares with us what a typical day in sobriety looks like for him.   He starts his days with hydration, breathwork and/or stretching, reading and coffee. He takes time to connect with the universe and asks for guidance throughout the day.   Paul likes to reflect on what he is thankful for either in a journal or he sits in a comfortable location outside facing the sun while he closes his eyes and gives thanks. Even on shit days, he makes a point to thank the universe.   Reminding himself that the present moment is all that matters, spending time in nature, doing things that he enjoys, connecting with fellow sober peeps, and b