Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Phillip Barbb shares how a DUI at 22 became the turning point that led to 18 years of sobriety. This is a powerful conversation about alcohol addiction, anxiety, grief, and long-term recovery.

Phillip opens up about using alcohol to silence anxiety, growing up under pressure, and how ego and perfectionism kept him stuck. What started as drinking to cope ev...

From Casual Drinking to Liver Failure: Jacob’s Story of Alcoholic Cirrhosis, Sobriety, and Second Chances

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Jacob shares his powerful journey from a normal upbringing and moderate drinking to developing alcoholic liver cirrhosis after a slow, 10-year descent into alcohol dependency.

Growing up in Wisconsin with a loving family, sports, and stro...

Alcohol didn’t crash into Antoine’s life — it slowly became normal.

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Antoine shares how drinking started at just 12 years old, was reinforced through culture, school, and social life, and quietly followed him for three decades. From boarding school overseas where alcohol was normalized, to college, hospitality, and years of “functioning” drinking, his story...

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 escala...

“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 quest...

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 party...

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 es...

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...

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 bi...

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 ...

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 end...

In this powerful episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Brad sits down with Jess, who shares her raw and honest sobriety story. Jess opens up about childhood trauma, sexual assault, military service in the Air Force, prescription drug addiction, Ambien misuse, alcohol dependence, and the moment that nearly ended her life.

Jess also shares what it took to rebuild from the ground up — treatment, sober li...

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 ...

This episode of Sober Motivation Holiday features Jess Lopez, Megan, and Nisha, who share their collective experiences and expert insights on maintaining sobriety through the holiday season. Hosted by Brad, the discussion includes practical tips on planning for sobriety at social events, embracing joy and gratitude, handling grief, and supporting loved ones on their recovery journeys. The guests highlight the importan...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I stop?” or felt trapped by shame, this one hits deep. Brad sits down with Jermaine Dante’ Burse, a Bay Area native (Vallejo, California) whose drinking didn’t start as party chaos; it was quiet, functional, in-house alcoholism that escalated over a decade into withdrawal seizures, pancreatitis, liver failure symptoms, jaundice, a coma, and life support. Today, Jermaine is 12 years ...

On this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, I talk with Olivia about her sobriety journey, choosing an alcohol-free life, and what it really took to get sober after years of pain. Olivia opens up about growing up with severe OCD (intrusive thoughts/compulsions), trauma, and using alcohol as self-medication to quiet anxiety, feel confident, and fit in. She shares how addiction, BPD, and escalating alcohol + cocain...

Brittany joins the Sober Motivation Podcast to share her powerful story of growing up in Minnesota with a father who struggled with alcoholism, living with clinical depression, and using alcohol to cope with trauma, loneliness, and shame. She talks about becoming a “high-functioning” drinker—doing well at work and school while secretly relying on alcohol every day. Brittany also opens up about getting trapped in an abusive relation...

In this episode, Josh shares his heart-wrenching journey from a childhood impacted by abuse and perfectionism to the depths that alcohol took him. Throughout the years of struggling, Josh had a DWI, rehab stays, but he never wanted to make changes for himself.  He recounts hitting rock bottom with a near-death experience in Italy, which became the catalyst for his transformation. Through resilience, therapy, and uncon...

Join Brad in another powerful episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast as he chats with Mike, a Canadian tradesman who opens up about his journey from a childhood surrounded by alcohol to finding sobriety and changing his life. With candid insight, Mike shares the turning point during a trip to Barbados and the challenges of navigating sobriety in a world filled with social pressures. As Mike reflects on his past, ther...