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Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

The Sober Motivation Podcast – Real Stories. Real Change.

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 on the Sober Motivation Website

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Copyright: © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Three DUIs, Two Seizures, One Last Chance At Sobriety with Derek Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Derek shares a raw, unforgettable sobriety story: growing up in a chaotic home, learning early that alcohol was “dangerous,” and still getting pulled into a cycle of binge drinking, DUIs, and arrests. He opens up about the restaurant industry drinking culture, people-pleasing, shame, and how secrecy (“what happens in this house stays in this house”) fueled isolation.

Eventually, alcohol dependence escalated to 25–30 beers per day, severe withdrawal, grand mal seizures, and DTs, leading to hospitalization and a medically critical turning point. Learn how he turns it all around.

We also talk about Derek’s book The Dog Bowl—a fictional story built from real addiction pain and real recovery truth.

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Derek On IG: https://www.instagram.com/dpaquette1/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

How to Get Sober - Exploring the Missing Question. Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

“How do I get sober?”

It’s the most common question people ask when they’re struggling with alcohol — and it’s a fair one. But in this solo episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad challenges the idea that how is the real problem.

Instead, he offers a powerful reframe drawn from 16 years of personal recovery and 14 years of supporting people in sobriety:

👉 The real question isn’t how do I get sober — it’s what are you willing to do to get sober and stay sober?

In this honest and reflective episode, Brad explores why so many people feel stuck when trying to quit drinking, even after trying rehab, meetings, therapy, books, podcasts, and recovery programs. He explains how the search for the “right way” to get sober often becomes a form of avoidance, and why willingness — not information — is what actually leads to lasting change.

This episode covers:

Why asking how to get sober can keep people stuck
The role willingness plays in quitting alcohol and staying sober
Why many people believe they’re “different” — and how that belief blocks recovery
The fear of discomfort and change in early sobriety
Why alcohol feels like it “worked” for so long
The importance of changing routines, environments, and relationships
Why doing sobriety alone rarely works
How shame and ego prevent people from asking for help
Why support and connection matter more than willpower

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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How Addiction Escalates: Destiny's Story of Getting Sober Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Destiny for a raw and powerful conversation about addiction, recovery, and the moment everything changed.

Destiny grew up carrying responsibility far too young, learned early how to survive chaos, and spent years believing she was “different” — that addiction wouldn’t take her where it had taken others in her life. What started as partying slowly escalated into something much darker, affecting her relationships, her identity, and her ability to show up as a mother.

A near-fatal overdose became a turning point — not because someone forced her to change, but because she was finally ready. Destiny shares what didn’t work for years, what finally did, and why community and belonging became the foundation of her recovery.

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Destiny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xo_des97/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

Nicole’s Sobriety Story: Anxiety, Alcoholism, Rehab, and Rebuilding After Rock Bottom Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Nicole to share a powerful and honest sobriety story. Nicole grew up in California in a home affected by alcoholism, struggled with anxiety and a deep sense of not belonging, and discovered early that alcohol could instantly change the way she felt. What started as weekend drinking eventually became daily drinking, secrecy, relationship chaos, and escalating consequences.

Nicole opens up about how she used alcohol for energy, confidence, and relief—until it stopped working and her life hit a devastating turning point in July 2022. She shares what finally created true willingness, why her first rehab stay didn’t stick, and how treatment, sober living, meetings, sponsorship, and rebuilding trust helped her stay sober. Today, Nicole is approaching four years sober, has rebuilt her relationship with her family, and is focused on living a life rooted in connection, service, and self-respect.

If you’ve ever wondered how to get sober, how to stop secret drinking, or how to rebuild after relapse, this episode will hit home.

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Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cargonicole/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

Ashton from Below Deck, Drinking Culture, and Rebuilding Your Life Without Alcohol Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Ashton to talk about sobriety, party culture, and what happens when alcohol becomes tied to identity, confidence, and belonging.

Ashton shares how growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa normalized drinking as a “rite of passage,” and how a chaotic childhood shaped his ability to adapt—but also made real attachment and emotional safety difficult. He opens up about using alcohol and cocaine to socialize, manage anxiety, and feel confident—until the consequences caught up.

This conversation goes deep into shame, anger, trauma, public backlash, mental health, and the moment Ashton realized alcohol wasn’t the real problem—it was the tool he used to avoid what needed healing. He also explains the recovery shift that made sobriety stick: rebuilding discipline, changing environments, and addressing the physiology of recovery (dopamine, nervous system regulation, gut health, blood sugar, genetics, brain fog).

If you’re sober curious, trying to stop drinking, stuck in “weekend-only” drinking, or rebuilding after regret—this episode is a real blueprint for growth.

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Links:

Ashton on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ashtonpienaar/

Support The Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

“Moderation Was Torture” — Tanya’s Sobriety Story Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Tanya to talk about what it really looks like to get sober and stay sober when your journey isn’t linear.

Tanya shares how she grew up with a stable home and little exposure to alcohol—but still struggled with insecurity, belonging, and wanting to feel “cool,” which made alcohol feel like the solution. What started as binge drinking and partying progressed into DUIs, escalating consequences, and the painful truth many people discover: once the addiction wiring is there, moderation feels like torture.

This conversation goes deep into relapse, grief, identity, relationships, resentment, and recovery—plus the power of community, AA, faith, service work, and learning to build self-worth from the inside out. Tanya also shares how she stayed sober through devastating loss and what helped her reach one year sober.

If you’re sober curious, trying to quit drinking, rebuilding after relapse, or looking for real tools to protect your sobriety long-term, this episode will hit home.

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Just Between Us Podcast Sign Up: app.helloaudio.fm/feed/07bfba32-e173-41c6-973e-ceee488187c7/signup

Sober Motivation 30 Day Free Trial: https://sobermotivation.mn.co

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

I Almost Left My Family to Keep Drinking | How I Finally Quit Alcohol Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

Gray Area Drinking, Binge Drinking, Alcoholism, Alcohol Use Disorder or Problem Drinking? How Do You Know When Alcohol Is the Issue.

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Shaz to share a raw and honest story of alcohol's role, blackouts, secret drinking, and pandemic-era daily drinking. This conversation is for anyone who doesn’t see themselves as fitting with a label, but still feels uneasy about their relationship with alcohol.

Shaz walks through how alcohol shifted from social use to binge drinking, how gray area drinking quietly escalated, and how secrecy, rationalization, and comparison kept him stuck for years. You’ll hear why waiting for a diagnosis or label delayed real change—and how sobriety, connection, and community support became the turning point.

If you’re sober curious, questioning your drinking, or wondering whether life would feel better without alcohol, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and a path forward—without shame or judgment.

Contact Shaz on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shazman07/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

From Alcohol Blackouts To 34 Years Sober: Brian's Story. Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

In the final episode of 2025, Brad sits down with Brian, who share's a raw and honest sobriety story that spans decades.

Brian opens up about growing up in Spokane, Washington surrounded by alcoholism, violence, and instability — and how hockey became his escape. As a teenager, alcohol quickly became more than “weekend fun,” turning into blackout drinking, fights, arrests, and a dangerous spiral that ended in a moment that forced everything to change.

Brian shares what finally made him ask for help, why leaving his environment was a key part of getting sober, and what it took to rebuild identity, friendships, and confidence without alcohol. Brian’s last drink was December 28th, 1991 — and today he reflects on 34 years sober, life in Germany, and the mindset that helped him protect his recovery for the long haul.

In this episode, we cover:

•Childhood trauma, absent father, and growing up around addiction

•Hockey as an outlet for anger, pain, and survival

•Early drinking, escalation, blackouts, and legal consequences

•The turning point that forced Brian to choose recovery

•Treatment, relocating, and why “new environment” mattered

•Rebuilding identity without alcohol (social life, confidence, dating)

•Long-term sobriety tools: honesty, boundaries, and an exit plan

•What 34 years sober has taught Brian about freedom and control

Join the Sober Motivation Community: Click here for 30 Days free

Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrbrianpiper/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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9 Years Sober: How Jess Quit Pills, Ambien, And Alcohol Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

Jess is a former Air Force sergeant, mom of three, and survivor who came back from a suicide attempt to build a life she once thought was impossible. After eight years in the military and a medical retirement, she spiraled into prescription pill addiction, Ambien abuse, and untreated trauma. In June 2016, her daughter came home from school with a stomach ache and found her unconscious on the bed.

This is the exact story of how a stay-at-home mom with no friends and a 400 credit score ended up in a recovery house in York, Pennsylvania, lost custody of her kids, lost her marriage, and rebuilt everything from the ground up. She now has 9 years sober and is five months from finishing her PhD in psychology.

You'll hear about: childhood trauma, hidden assaults, Ambien addiction, prescription opiates, a near-fatal overdose, the doctor who believed in her first, and what it took to forgive herself.

If you've been through more than the people in your life know, this one's for you.

Jess On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessosborn0824/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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How To Get Sober? When Drinking Is All You Know with Chester and Rick Duff. Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Chester and Rick Duff share a special friendship, one that was once fuelled by drinking and addiction. They both joined me in the studio to share the full story of the different places addiction took them to and how they have been able to break the cycle. For Chester is was more daily drinking, which triggered a true hatred towards himself and Rick Duff was more of the weekend warrior but sobriety has changed things completely. We go over many "Rock Bottoms" and failed attempts at sobriety to Chester reaching 9 months sober on the date this episode goes live.

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Chester on IG: https://www.instagram.com/chester_alarie/

Rick Duff on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rickduffmusic/

Sober Motivation App on Apple App Store HERE

Sober Motivation App on Google Play Store HERE

Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.com

Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation

Contact me anytime: brad@sobermotivation.com

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

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