Podcasts · Health & Fitness

Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

Brad McLeod

300 episodes · Explicit

The Sober Motivation Podcast – Real Stories. Real Change.

More about the show

Welcome to The Sober Motivation Podcast, the top-rated recovery podcast inspiring people to quit drinking, stay sober, and build a life they’re proud of. Hosted by Brad McLeod, founder of the Sober Motivation Community, each episode features real sobriety stories, life-changing conversations, and actionable tools to help you overcome addiction and rediscover purpose.

Whether you’re new to recovery, sober-curious, or years alcohol-free, this show will help you find the motivation and mindset to keep going—one day at a time. With millions of downloads and a growing global community, Sober Motivation is where hope meets action.

Topics include: quitting alcohol, relapse prevention, mindset shifts, personal growth, mental health, community connection, and rebuilding your life after addiction.

If you’re ready to live alcohol-free and create real change, follow The Sober Motivation Podcast today—because sobriety isn’t the end of your story, it’s the beginning.

Contact me anytime at www.sobermotivation.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. 3 Days Left to Live: Evan’s Battle With Alcohol Addiction and Liver Failure

    · 1 h 08 min · S6 E315

    Evan spent years drinking heavily, often going through a fifth of liquor every other day. But without hangovers, withdrawals, or many of the warning signs he expected, he convinced himself his drinking wasn’t a…

  2. 3 Years Sober Until One Night of Drinking Changed Everything | Chris's Alcohol Addiction Story

    · 59 min · S6 E314

    After three years of sobriety, Chris thought he had finally put his struggles with alcohol behind him. He was married, raising a family, and building successful businesses. From the outside, life looked good. But…

  3. Alcohol Addiction, Blackouts, and 8 Arrests: Jen’s Road to Sobriety

    · 55 min · S6 E313

    Jen started drinking alcohol at just 12 years old and began experiencing blackouts almost immediately. Growing up with an alcoholic mother, childhood trauma, and years of instability, she turned to alcohol as a way to…

  4. She Almost Lost Her 3 Children Before She Finally Quit Drinking | Anne’s Story

    · 1 h 23 min · S6 E312

    How does a mother of three go from being a social drinker to struggling with alcohol addiction so severe that she nearly loses everything? In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Anne shares her powerful…

  5. From Successful Lawyer to 6 Bottles of Wine a Day: Les’s Alcohol Addiction and Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 02 min · S6 E311

    How does a successful attorney go from building a thriving career to drinking six bottles of wine before 3 PM and wondering if she’ll ever be able to stop? In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Les shares…

  6. He Was Dying From Alcohol but Still Couldn’t Stop Drinking | Alcohol Addiction Story

    · 1 h 12 min · S6 E310

    What happens when you’re told you might only have weeks to live, but you’re still not ready to stop drinking? For Tom, what started as weekend partying eventually became a daily dependence on nearly 30 ounces of…

  7. I Blacked Out, Woke Up in an Ambulance, and Still Didn’t Quit Drinking

    · 53 min · S6 E309

    Have you ever promised yourself you’d never drink like that again, only to find yourself doing the exact same thing a few weeks later? For years, Sam struggled with binge drinking, alcohol blackouts, and the anxiety…

  8. Staying Sober: Why the Small Wins Matter Most

    · 12 min · S6 E308

    What really changes when you stop drinking, and what are some of the biggest benefits of sobriety that nobody talks about? When we think about quitting alcohol and getting sober, we often focus on the big milestones:…

  9. Robyn Ottolini on Sobriety, Creativity & Finding Her Spark Again

    · 56 min · S6 E307

    Country artist Robyn Ottolini didn’t lose everything because of alcohol. She had a career she loved, close friends, a supportive family, and plenty to be grateful for. But behind the scenes, drinking was contributing…

  10. Alcohol Addiction Cost Him Everything. Why Couldn’t He Stay Sober?

    · 1 h 19 min · S6 E306

    Feel like you’ll never get sober? Maybe you’ve tried again and again, but nothing seems to stick. Mike knows that feeling well. Mike’s alcohol addiction eventually cost him his marriage, his business, his relationship…

  11. Amanda Thought Getting Sober Would Cost Her Everything. She Was Wrong

    · 1 h 12 min · S6 E305

    Amanda built much of her identity around partying. Drinking, drugs, festivals, relationships, and a large social circle weren’t just things she did—they had become part of who she believed she was. Even when a doctor…

  12. She Looked Like She Had It All Together While Secretly Struggling With Alcohol | Kori’s Sober Story

    · 1 h 20 min · S6 E304

    No one knew how much Kori was really drinking. From the outside, she was a wife, mom, and hard worker who seemed to have everything together. Behind the scenes, she was secretly taking shots, hiding her alcohol use,…

  13. After 7 Years Sober, Anthony Relapsed and Found Himself Back in Addiction

    · 1 h 35 min · S6 E303

    After more than seven years sober, Anthony never imagined he would find himself back in active addiction. In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Anthony shares his powerful story of drug addiction, cocaine…

  14. Alcohol Addiction Led to Liver Failure at 35 | Will’s Story Part 2

    · 1 h 08 min · S6 E302

    Will returns for Part 2 of his story. After 125 days sober, Will returned to drinking. His alcohol addiction progressed until he was facing end-stage liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and doctors telling his family he…

  15. He Thought He Would Die Drinking: Sober Dave’s Story of Alcohol Addiction and Recovery

    · 1 h 21 min · S6 E301

    David Wilson, better known as Sober Dave, spent decades drinking before alcohol slowly took over nearly every part of his life. What began with drinking socially eventually progressed from beer to cider, wine and…

  16. From Alcohol Addiction and Liver Failure to Sobriety: Will's Sober Story

    · 1 h 14 min · S6 E300

    Will Gordon’s alcohol addiction progressed to drinking as much as 1.75 liters of vodka every two days. His health deteriorated, he was diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, and eventually his organs began…

  17. Stage 4 Cirrhosis From Alcohol: Chelsea’s Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 22 min · S6 E299

    Chelsea was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cirrhosis after nearly a decade of heavy alcohol use, but even being told she could die wasn’t enough to immediately make her stop drinking. She shares the progression of her…

  18. From Daily Vodka to Sobriety: How Shelby Quit Drinking

    · 1 h 38 min · S6 E298

    Have you ever promised yourself you would stop drinking tomorrow, only to find yourself doing the exact same thing the next day? For Shelby, weekend drinking eventually progressed into daily vodka, blackouts, hidden…

  19. 10 Years of Trying to Quit Drinking: Andy’s Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 05 min · S6 E297

    What happens when you know alcohol is hurting your family, but you still can’t stop drinking? Andy returns to the Sober Motivation Podcast to share his journey from years of secret drinking and failed attempts to quit…

  20. Alcohol Addiction Led to Liver and Kidney Failure at 29. Christine’s Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 10 min · S6 E296

    At 29 years old, Christine’s alcohol addiction led to liver and kidney failure. Her brain was swelling, she had lost the ability to walk, and doctors told her family she may have only 48 hours to live. Christine…

  21. The Drinking Problem He Couldn’t See | Mike & Kristen’s Quit Drinking Story

    · S5 E295

    Mike never thought he had a drinking problem. He was working, providing for his family, and convinced himself he was still functioning. But behind closed doors, alcohol was quietly changing everything. In this…

  22. From World Cup Success to Alcohol Addiction | David Correy's Story

    · 1 h 12 min · S5 E294

    David Correy had reached the kind of success most people only dream about. He was performing around the world, creating music, and achieving goals he had worked toward for years. But behind the scenes, he was carrying…

  23. She Thought She Was Stronger Than Alcohol | From Relapse to Recovery

    · 52 min · S5 E293

    Trisha never thought alcohol would take over her life. She survived three brain surgeries, built a successful barber shop, and raised two daughters as a single mom. When life became overwhelming, alcohol started as a…

  24. The Hidden Cost of Shame | Jason’s Quit Drinking Story

    · 1 h 20 min · S5 E292

    Jason spent decades believing he had everything under control. He built a successful career, became known as the guy who could outdrink almost anyone, and convinced himself that because he was still functioning, he…

  25. I Interviewed 280 People About Sobriety. These 12 Lessons Changed Everything.

    · 15 min · S5 E291

    For the past several years, I’ve had one of the greatest privileges imaginable—sitting across from hundreds of people willing to tell the truth about addiction and recovery. As we approach 300 episodes of Sober…

  26. He Drank Until His Liver Failed | Aaron’s Sobriety Story

    · 52 min · S5 E290

    Aaron never believed alcohol would nearly cost him his life. Like many people, drinking started as a way to fit in, cope with anxiety, and numb painful experiences. After losing his father at a young age, finding his…

  27. Alcohol Addiction, Blackouts and Relapse: How Jess Finally Got Sober

    · 1 h 04 min · S5 E289

    Jess never imagined alcohol would take her here. After years of trying to stop drinking, repeated relapses, multiple detoxes, inpatient treatment, and three-day blackouts, she found herself waking up to police after…

  28. Do You Really Need Rock Bottom to Quit Drinking? | Matt’s Sober Story

    · 1 h 01 min · S5 E288

    Many people believe they have to lose everything before they quit drinking. Matt’s story proves otherwise. From the outside, he looked like he had it all—a successful career, a loving wife, three boys, and a normal…

  29. How Alcohol Almost Killed Me Before I Got Sober | Marty's Story

    · 1 h 07 min · S5 E287

    Alcohol didn’t almost take Marty’s life overnight—it happened one drink at a time. What started as partying with friends slowly became drinking alone, daily alcohol use, multiple ER visits, and eventually liver damage…

  30. The Hidden Cost of Alcohol | Mike’s Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 01 min · S5 E286

    What is alcohol really costing you? In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Mike shares how alcohol slowly became part of his daily life without obvious warning signs. He kept his job, raised a family, and…

  31. She Drank 4 Liters of Vodka a Day | Mailinn’s Sobriety Story

    · 46 min · S5 E285

    At 28 years old, Mailinn was preparing to die. She was drinking up to 4 liters of vodka a day, vomiting blood daily, and losing the ability to walk. Doctors had run out of answers. Her family was bracing for the…

  32. How I Got Sober After Drinking Alcohol for 30 Years | Elisa’s Sober Story

    · 1 h 02 min · S5 E284

    Elisa drank alcohol for 30 years. What started as relief from childhood trauma slowly turned into alcohol addiction, DUIs, broken relationships, and a life she says she barely remembers. At eight years old, Elisa…

  33. He Thought Addiction Had Won | Gio’s Sobriety Story

    · 56 min · S5 E283

    “I genuinely thought I was a hopeless alcoholic addict with no chance of return.” That’s where Gio found himself. After years of success as a hockey player—including a Division I scholarship and a professional…

  34. High-Functioning Alcoholism Almost Destroyed Him: Manny’s Road to Sobriety

    · 1 h 08 min · S5 E282

    Manny grew up in New Orleans surrounded by alcohol, but after watching the damage drinking caused in his own family, he wanted nothing to do with it. That changed later in life. After marriage, business success,…

  35. I Was Drinking at 7 A.M. and Hating My Life | Gary's Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 04 min · S5 E281

    He had a loving family, a private school education, great friends, and every opportunity in front of him. Yet by age 33, Gary was drinking in 7 a.m. bars in Spain, waking up in hostels with no money, and wondering how…

  36. I Wasn’t Drinking Every Day, But Alcohol Controlled My Life | Todd's Sober Story

    · 41 min · S5 E280

    Todd looked like he had it all together. He had a good job, a family, a home, and no major public consequences from drinking. But inside, alcohol was taking up more space than he wanted to admit. In this episode of…

  37. I Never Hit Rock Bottom, But I Knew I Had to Quit Drinking | Mateja's Story

    · 1 h 03 min · S5 E279

    “I never got a DUI. I never got arrested. I never lost my job. So how could I possibly have a problem with alcohol?” Mateja didn’t drink until she was 21. She had a successful career, a good family, and from the…

  38. I Was Drinking Every Day — How Alcohol Took Over My Life | JB’s Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 06 min · S5 E278

    For years, JB thought he could manage his drinking. What started as binge drinking slowly turned into drinking every day, hiding alcohol, drinking on the way home, anxiety, shame, and feeling completely trapped inside…

  39. I Was Drinking 3 Bottles Of Wine A Night | Jessica’s Sobriety Story

    · 1 h 05 min · S5 E277

    From the outside, Jessica looked like she had it all together. But behind closed doors, she was drinking 3 bottles of wine every night, blacking out, throwing up before work, and quietly falling apart while trying to…

  40. Luke Didn’t Know Who He Was Without Alcohol to 7 Years Sober

    · 49 min · S5 E276

    Luke spent 14 years selling alcohol while it was slowly killing him. Three rounds of rehab. Hospital visits. Drinking in the morning. On December 30, 2018, he had his last drink. In this follow-up, Luke walks Brad…

  41. From Hiding Vodka in the Bathroom to 6 Years Sober: Jimmy's Story

    · 1 h 12 min · S5 E275

    Jimmy used to drive his car around the corner, sit alone, and drink vodka all day instead of going to work. At home, he hid bottles behind the sink and inside the toilet cistern, sneaking off mid conversation to top…

  42. Quitting Drinking Saved My Life | Stephanie’s Sobriety Story

    · 51 min · S5 E274

    Stephanie never thought she had a serious drinking problem. She was successful, working in healthcare, maintaining relationships, and doing everything she could to keep life together on the outside. But behind closed…

  43. From Alcohol Addiction to Sobriety | Ian Madsen’s Story

    · 1 h 00 min · S5 E273

    Ian Madsen grew up in Australia around heavy drinking and alcoholism, Ian shares how alcohol became normalized early in life after losing his mother and how that pattern followed him into professional sprint car racing…

  44. Quitting Drinking Without a "Rock Bottom": Paula's Story

    · 1 h 00 min · S5 E272

    You don't need a rock bottom to quit drinking. No DUI. No lost job. No moment where everything blows up. For Paula, life looked great from the outside, a beautiful home in South Florida, two kids, a marriage built in…

  45. Quit Drinking Then Got Hooked on Kratom | What No One Talks About

    · 1 h 03 min · S5 E271 · Explicit

    From the outside everything looked perfect. Behind the scenes alcohol addiction was taking over and one night it nearly ended everything. In this episode Lauren shares her sobriety story from having her first drink at…

  46. Quitting Drinking After So Many Day Ones: Bri's Story

    · 59 min · S5 E270

    Bri is almost one year sober. For the year before that she tried to quit drinking over and over, racking up day ones nobody knew about. Two months sober, then a slip. Two months again, another slip. From the outside…

  47. 27 Years Sober: How Dr. Donald Crowe Quit Drinking

    · 1 h 05 min · S5 E269 · Explicit

    Dr. Donald Crowe was telling patients they needed to stop drinking. Then he'd go home, open two bottles of wine, and pass out. Every single night. A physician with 40 years in medicine, Donald started drinking in…

  48. From DUI Manslaughter To 22 Years Sober — Martin's Story

    · 53 min · S5 E268

    On New Year's Eve 2003, Martin Lockett ran a red light drunk and killed two women, and severely injured a third. They where all long-time members of Portland's recovery community, one 16 years sober, one 17. They were…

  49. He Drank for 25 Years… And Didn’t Recognize Himself Anymore

    · 1 h 04 min · S5 E267 · Explicit

    Quit drinking is not about willpower. It is about the moment you realize you cannot keep living like this anymore. For over 25 years, alcohol was part of Paul’s life. From the outside, everything looked fine. But…

  50. You Don’t Have to Lose Everything to Quit Drinking - Ash Butterss

    · 24 min · Bonus

    You don’t have to lose everything to question your drinking. In this episode, I sit down with Ash Butterss to talk about the moment she realized something needed to change—and why you don’t need a traditional “rock…

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