DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life

In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart sits down with Ian Fee to explore what recovery really looks like beyond just quitting drinking.

After decades of alcohol use, Ian shares the moment he could no longer lie to himself—and how that became the turning point in his life. He opens up about his unique experience with aversion therapy, a rarely discussed approach that helped change his relationship with alcohol.

But this conversation goes deeper than how he stopped.

It’s about what happens next.

You’ll hear what early recovery really feels like, how to face the emotions that come up, and what it takes to rebuild your life with honesty, accountability, and support.

This episode will help you:

• Understand the difference between stopping drinking and real recovery
• Feel less alone in the emotional challenges of early sobriety
• Learn how accountability and support can change everything
• Begin thinking about how to build a better life in sobriety

If you’re in early recovery—or starting to question your relationship with alcohol—this episode offers a new perspective and real hope.

To learn more about:

• Ian Fee: Ianfee.com

Stuart Cline:

• Coaching: EvolvingFully.com, stuartcline.podia.com
• Counseling: nmcounseling.com
• Podcast: www.sobrietynowwhat.com

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you are looking for me - Stuart Cline. You can find me below. I would like to hear from you.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🎓 Courses & Programs: https://stuartcline.podia.com

🌱 Evolving Fully Institute: www.evolvingfully.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit.
That’s how we grow this message and help more people thrive in sobriety.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery

What did it take for David Hanley to finally stop drinking? The answer includes years of alcohol dependency, pacing outside a liquor store at 6:45 in the morning, multiple ICU visits, a wheelchair on a runway, and a rehabilitation center he'd never heard of in a town he'd never been to. But what happened next is what makes David's story unlike anything you've heard before — six weeks sober, raw and uncertain, he picked up a pen and started writing.

In this episode David shares the journey that led to his memoir The Streetlight Chronicles — written in real time during his own recovery in a raw, unfiltered style called Gonzo journalism, think Anthony Bourdain telling the truth about addiction with zero fluff and zero filter. You'll hear how David translated the 12 steps into street-level language that finally made sense to him, guided by a character he created called the Barstool Prophet. Host Stuart Cline reads powerful passages from the book aloud, and together they explore one of the most compelling concepts in the book — the idea that you don't need a yes and you don't need a no to start your recovery. You just need a maybe.

Whether you're newly sober or years into your journey, this conversation will remind you of something worth holding onto — how far you've already come, and how much is still possible.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How COVID on the island of Maui took David's drinking from social to life threatening
• What finally made recovery click after multiple attempts
• The story behind the Barstool Prophet and what he represents
• How writing in the moment of vulnerability changed everything
• The power of approaching recovery with maybe instead of certainty

Resources mentioned:

• The Streetlight Chronicles by David Hanley — available on Amazon
• Amazon- Streetlight Chronicles
• www.streettalk.live
• Find David at Streetlight Live on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

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Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Why People Still Don’t Trust You in Early Sobriety (And How to Rebuild It)

You’re sober.
You’re trying.
So why does trust still feel shaky?

In this honest and practical episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart Cline explores one of the most frustrating experiences in recovery: doing the work… yet still feeling like people are watching and waiting.

Through a relatable real-life story, Stuart breaks down:

• Why trust often lags behind sobriety
• The hidden habit that quietly damages credibility
• The difference between discomfort and self-betrayal
• How small promises shape big perceptions
• A simple phrase that can begin rebuilding trust immediately

You’ll learn why rebuilding trust isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being consistent, clear, and honest with both yourself and others.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Why don’t they believe me yet?”
• “Why do I still feel pressure to prove myself?”
• “How do I actually rebuild trust step by step?”

…this episode will give you a grounded path forward.

Key takeaway:
Be honest because it builds trust — with yourself and with others.

And remember the phrase to carry with you:

Say it. Then do it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people thrive in their sobriety.

Website: www.sobrietynowwhat.com

Email: sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com

website for counseling: www.nmcounseling.com

Website for coaching: Evolvingfully.com

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

I would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

What would you do if you were told you needed a new liver to survive?

In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart Cline talks with Tia about her journey through cirrhosis, alcohol addiction, sobriety, and a life-saving liver transplant. Tia shares what it was like to stop drinking when her life depended on it, endure the long wait on the transplant list, and rebuild her life after receiving a new liver.

This honest conversation explores the physical, emotional, and mental realities of liver disease, including fatigue, survivor’s guilt, faith, resilience, and the challenges of recovery after transplant. Tia also discusses life after surgery—what people don’t understand about living with a transplant, ongoing medication, and learning how to pace life in sobriety.

If you or someone you love is dealing with cirrhosis, liver failure, alcohol use disorder, or recovery after a liver transplant, this episode offers hope, clarity, and real-world perspective from someone who has lived it.

Check out TransplantLyfe.com- https://www.transplantlyfe.com/

In this episode, we discuss:

• Cirrhosis and the warning signs of liver disease
• Alcohol addiction and stopping drinking to survive
• Waiting for a liver transplant and organ donation
• Life after a liver transplant and long-term recovery
• Finding meaning and purpose after getting sober

I’m really grateful you’re here—no matter where you are on your sober journey.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

I would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Early sobriety can feel surprisingly quiet.

You’re doing everything “right”—not drinking, showing up to work, paying bills—but inside, something feels off. Not sad. Not depressed. Just… lonely. Empty. Bored.

If you’ve ever found yourself sitting on the couch, scrolling on your phone and wondering, “Is this what sobriety is?”—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart shares a simple but powerful story about a man who realized that alcohol used to fill more than cravings—it filled time, structure, and connection. When that disappeared, loneliness rushed in.

You’ll learn:

• Why loneliness and boredom are common—and temporary—phases in sobriety
• How isolation quietly increases relapse risk (without you realizing it)
• Why waiting for motivation doesn’t work—and what does
• The “One Connection Rule”: a gentle, doable way to rebuild meaning and belonging
• Practical ideas for connection that don’t feel overwhelming or forced

Sobriety isn’t just about removing alcohol—it’s about rebuilding a life that feels worth staying sober for.

If you’re in that uncomfortable in-between space where the old life is gone and the new one hasn’t fully formed yet, this episode will remind you: this too will pass—and life really does get better.

🎧 Listen now and take one small step out of isolation and back into life.
You’re not alone—and you don’t have to do this perfectly to thrive.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

I would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Are you sober—but your mind still feels loud, critical, or exhausting?
You’re not alone—and there’s nothing wrong with you.

In this episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart explores how self-talk quietly shapes your entire recovery experience, often without you realizing it. Many people stop drinking or using… yet still feel stuck inside their own head. The overthinking. The self-doubt. The feeling of “Why am I still struggling?”

This episode explains what’s really happening.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain is not sabotaging you—it’s trying to prove you right
• How confirmation bias influences what you notice, remember, and believe
• Why negative self-talk feels so convincing (even when it isn’t true)
• How small, kinder shifts in thinking can rewire your brain over time
• Simple phrases and questions that help your mind work with you instead of against you

Stuart shares a powerful psychological study, real recovery examples, and gentle, practical tools you can start using today—without forcing positive thinking or fake affirmations.

This isn’t about fixing yourself.
It’s about changing what your mind is trained to look for.

If you’ve ever said, “I’m sober, but my mind won’t slow down,” this episode is for you.

👉 Learn more about Stuart’s coaching and resources at evolvingfully.com
🎧 If this episode helped you, share it with someone who might need it.

Live freely. Evolve fully. Thrive.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

I would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Your Dream — Closing 2025, Opening What’s Possible

As one year closes and another begins, this episode is an invitation to pause.

In this reflective and hopeful New Year’s episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart Cline invites you to look back on 2025—not through what went wrong, but through what went right. The quiet wins. The growth that didn’t always feel dramatic. The moments you showed up, learned something, or kept going when it wasn’t easy.

Stuart shares his own journey with the podcast this year—what he hoped for, what surprised him, the fears, the mistakes, and the windows of opportunity that opened by simply saying yes and continuing forward. From thousands of listeners across the world to meaningful conversations that created real impact, this episode honors progress over perfection.

You’ll be guided through a gentle reflection using eight key areas that help life thrive in sobriety—relationships, health, work, purpose, spirituality, personal growth, community, and joy—reminding you that you don’t need to win in every area for your year to matter.

This episode also looks ahead with hope, sharing how recovery care is evolving: more compassion, more access, more tools, and more humanity than ever before. Whether you’re solid in recovery, questioning your relationship with substances, or simply longing for something more, this episode meets you where you are.

Most of all, this is a reminder:
You are not behind.
You are not broken.
Your dream still matters.

As we step into a new year, Stuart leaves you with one powerful question:
What is the quiet dream inside you—and how long are you willing to wait to act on it?

If you’re ready for more than “just okay,” this episode is for you.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

I would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Episode 29: When Sobriety Opens Doors: How Cat Greenleaf Built a Life Living Out Loud

Do you remember the moment when something shifted—
when sobriety stopped feeling like a loss and started revealing unexpected gains?

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Cat Greenleaf, host of the podcast Soberness, to explore what opens up when alcohol no longer runs the show.

Cat shares how sobriety didn’t shrink her life—it expanded it.

Formerly the Emmy Award–winning host of NBC’s Talk Stoop, Cat has spent her career in honest conversation with celebrities and public figures. Today, that same curiosity and presence shape her work in recovery—where the masks come off, the stories get real, and meaning takes center stage.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The moment sobriety begins to feel like freedom instead of deprivation
• Why honest, unpolished conversations are often the most healing
• How sobriety creates “windows of opportunity” that never existed before
• Letting go of people-pleasing and growing comfortable in your own skin
• Why reinvention is not only possible in recovery—but natural
• How spirituality, curiosity, and service can evolve after we stop numbing

Cat also opens up about how sobriety led her toward unexpected purpose—including working with incarcerated populations and asking the question many of us avoid:
How do we continue living meaningful lives after great pain or regret?

This is a conversation about awareness, reinvention, and learning to stay human—no matter where you are in your recovery journey.

If you’re sober, sober-curious, or wondering what’s possible on the other side of alcohol, this episode offers reassurance, insight, and hope.

Check out Cat Greenleaf's podcast Soberness at soberness.com

Please follow, like, and leave a 5-star rating if you're feeling generous. It is the gift that keeps on giving, and I hear you will go to heaven. I mean, not right now, but you know when it's your time.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

Website:
www.Sobrietynowwhat.com

Also, check out my blog at:
www.Boostyourspirit.com

Please EMAIL me topics that you would like to learn more about at:
Sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com -

Please Like, Follow, and Share
Please help me get the word out about sobriety now what and share it with 3 or more people.

I would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
This podcast does not replace the services of a mental health counselor or doctor. Tools, techniques, and strategies differ with each person, and I can not guarantee they will work for you. Any information given in this podcast is only for educational purposes and is not therapy. Even though I am a licensed therapist. This podcast does not constitute therapy or life coaching and this podcast does not make me your therapist or coach.