This week on Sober Champs, Pete and Aidan sit down with Jason Vickers, whose story spans recovery, relapse, and the painful truth of what happens when you drift from the work that once saved you.

Jason shares how a tight-knit recovery group and a powerful spiritual experience helped him rebuild his life. But over time, life got louder and recovery got quieter. He talks openly about the slow unraveling — a beer to take the edge off a toothache, a hidden bottle under the floorboards, and the deep fear of being found out.

What follows is a raw account of living a double life. Jason describes the emotional isolation, the lies, and the mental gymnastics of trying to hold it all together while quietly falling apart. Eventually, the relapse deepened into the very addictions he had grown up watching destroy his family.

This episode is about more than slipping up. It’s about shame, identity, and the illusion of control. It’s about what it really means to get honest — not just with others, but with yourself.

👉 Listen now to hear Jason’s full story.

More about Jason:

Nantoncks Metsu

https://www.natoncksmetsu.com

This week on Sober Champs, we're switching it up. No guest, no table — just Pete and Aidan in a laid-back, unscripted conversation about life, recovery, and everything in between.

They open up about what it’s been like creating this podcast, how far it’s come, and why it’s more than just a space for stories of struggle — it's also about connection, humor, growth, and building something real. From reflecting on their own sober dates to speaking candidly about mental health, relapse, working in recovery, and even social media addiction, this episode pulls back the curtain and lets listeners see the heart behind the mic.

It’s funny. It’s honest. It’s personal.

Whether you’re deep in recovery, just getting curious, or have been riding with us since episode one — this one’s for you.

This week on Sober Champs, Pete and Aidan sit down with Allison, who opens up about her journey from a seemingly "normal" childhood in North Seattle to full-blown addiction by her teens. Despite coming from a supportive home and academic-focused parents, Allison shares how her restless energy and untreated ADHD led her to chase chaos at an early age.

From acting out in middle school to introducing harder substances into her friend group in high school, Allison paints an honest picture of how addiction doesn’t always stem from trauma. It can also grow quietly in the spaces where we feel unseen or misunderstood.

The conversation dives into early recovery, the illusion of “figuring it out” after rehab, and the dangers of relying on self-knowledge alone. Now over a decade sober, Allison reflects on the importance of community, humility, and the power of learning from others’ experiences before having to hit every wall yourself.

This episode is for anyone who thought they could outsmart addiction… and learned the hard way that healing requires more than just understanding. It requires surrender.