Recovery Elevator

In episode 54, Gavin from England shares how he made it too 100 days of sobriety, and his humor in the accountability groups is what gave me the inspiration for this topic. Ideas for this podcast topic came from an article I read on The Fix and the benefits of laughter are from Help Guide.

In this episode Dawn, shares how she has made it to 6 months of sobriety as a mother of three. We also discuss terminal uniqueness which basically is when we focus on the differences and not the similarities. I have been culpable of this many times, and I am working on being cognizant of how to avoid this. Here are some of the key reasons why terminal uniqueness is so dangerous. -It allows people to ignore the likely consequences of their actions -It provides a false sense of security -It divides the world into me and them -It means that the individual will be unwilling to believe that treatments that help other people can help them -It leads to the individual thinking that they are either worse than everyone else, or that they are better than everyone else -It prevents the individual from seeking help for their problems -It can be a barrier to communication -It leads to feelings of loneliness and desperation (isolation)****

What I learned in 1 year of podcast is remarkable. It will help me stay sober and I want to thank everyone who has been a part of Recovery Elevator. I really hope you enjoy this summary because I had a great year compiling them. Value BombsWhat I learned from a year of podcasting about my sobriety.By Paul Churchill (with Elliot P.) Podcasting about your sobriety isn’t exactly the best way to stay anonymous. However, after years of struggling to stay sober I was willing to try anything and nothing seemed more powerful than the accountability I’d create by checking in with “the world” every week. So I bought a few simple pieces of recording equipment, signed up for a podcasting service and started talking. I was terrified to release the first episode – it felt like I was jumping off a cliff. I knew my life would never be the same. I was right. This year has been the best year of my life but strangely, also the hardest. I know what you are thinking, “of course it was the hardest as getting sober isn’t easy” and you’d be right. But there is something especially terrifying about getting sober in front of anyone who wants to watch. I’ve been told that some people thought my podcast would be a train wreck and they were listening for entertainment value. Luckily, so far, I have beaten the odds and probably made this pretty boring for my macabre listeners. My goal is to make this podcast as boring as possible for this demographic of my audience! How is that for a podcasting goal? Really though, I think we have had a lot of fun this year and I’m all for the suspense each week as I sign in, once again, still sober. If I can do it, maybe some of my listeners realize that they can too. Now I don’t claim to be very smart but the most unexpected part of this journey has been meeting hundreds of listeners who can relate to my story. I honestly felt like I was the only one who suffered exactly like I did. It turns out that alcoholism is ironically a communal disease where everyone afflicted feels isolated. Part of the solution involves finding like-minded people who you can get honest with. Little did I know, just by talking openly into the microphone, this group of like-minded people would come to me. Listenership has grown beyond my wildest dreams. I love you guys. I’ve been asked what have been the most impactful lessons I’ve learned over this year of podcasting. The beauty of listening to the stories of those I’ve interviewed is that everyone can relate to the stories differently depending upon their place in their sobriety journey. Below is a list highlighting ideas that have meant the most to me:

Scott, an attorney on the east coast, shares how he has reached 2.5 "great" months of sobriety. Contempt prior to investigation! Today marks the 51st episode of what started almost a year ago as a way for me to simply hold myself accountable. I made the commitment then to do at least 52 episodes and as I approach this number its hard not to be overwhelmed with the impact this podcast has had on myself and also, unexpectedly, on many of you. I mean, first off, 51 episodes later, I’m still sober! (1 year, 4 months and 6 days according to my recovery elevator app) – which is a miracle! But I see an unintended consequence is that many of you are also finding ways to stay sober and find happiness in recovery. It’s amazing to see what happens when we all put our minds together! So for that, and all of you listening, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. There is rarely a day that I don’t get an email from a listener who shares how touched they are by something one of our guests said on the podcast. I mean there have been over 50 guests who have shared their story and these stories have been downloaded over 160,000 times. The impact of us simply, and honestly, sharing our stories is bringing hope to many who might not have otherwise found it. Please keep sending me emails with your story, I never get tired of reading them even if I don’t have time to respond to every one know that I read every one and cherish them all. And because of you and your desire to continue the discussions after each podcast we started the private Facebook recovery elevator accountability group. I remember being amazed when we reached 60 members of the group and as I release today’s podcast we are rapidly approaching 450 members with new members being added every day. Its so amazing to see you all in the group sharing your story, asking questions, sharing wisdom and encouragement, checking in on each other and ultimately helping yourself and others stay sober. And it’s because of the things happening in this group that we are in the final stages of setting up an even better platform for us all to interact outside the podcast which will be several regions accountability groups which feed into the community forum. Its all something I could not have imagined a year ago and it is a testament to the power of what can happen when we get honest and get out of our comfort zone. So, just in case you are wondering, I may get a bit sentimental and maybe even a bit emotional as we approach our 52nd episode but I’m not planning on stopping after our 52nd episode. You guys have stuck with me so I’m staying here and stick’n with you. You know, after doing today’s interview, I was reminded of one of the most devastating things I’ve noticed during this busy year of podcasting, being interviewed by others and speaking at schools. It is the stigma associated with alcoholism. Because most people don’t even know the definition of who an alcoholic really is, they associate it with the worst stereotypes society has with problem drinkers. Bums under a bridge, domestic violence, liver cirrhosis, drunken driving, weak “will power” and the list can go on. The truth is, I don’t even like to talk about this stigma because it seems to only strengthen it. Heck, it is this stigma, and the repulsion we feel about being associated with this stigma that keep many of us from ever getting help! The truth is, this stigma is wrong, dangerous, and it needs to change. I’m thinking of coming up with a name for it, like I did for Gary – my addiction. Maybe I’ll name this stigma Stanley. Sure, like any good lie, there may be an element of truth in this stigma but many of the people I’ve met over the last year have lives that in no way resemble this stereotype. I think today’s guest is another good example of this. Alcoholism, like many of this century’s hot social issues (race relations, women’s rights, gay rights, etc) also suffers from something I like to call “contempt prior to investigation.” For when we really investigate who an alcoholic is we find that there is really only two defining factors: 1) We tend to have a mental obsession that makes it seem impossible to not have that first drink and 2) When we start drinking a physical allergy kicks in and we can’t control our drinking. That’s it. Period. Let me repeat it: 1) We tend to have a mental obsession that makes it seem impossible to not have that first drink and 2) When we start drinking a physical allergy kicks in and we can’t control our drinking. Alcoholism has been defined as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1056 and it does not make person good or bad. Period. Do you guys want to know the crazy thing about this stigma?!... With all the alcoholics I have spoken with over the last year, and all the non-alcoholics, it is BY FAR the “still drinking alcoholic” who has the most negative association with the word alcoholic. Normal drinkers often see it as a medical issue and one with treatment options. Recovering

In this podcast episode Cameron shares how he has successfully navigated nearly 6 months of sobriety. In the early stages of a relationship, I was always terrified of the moment when I had to fess up to why I don't drink. I came up with every answer besides the honest answer which is the simple fact I'm an alcoholic. Below is my Match.com profile summary I created eight days ago. The results of this experiment have been miraculous. 2 years ago I would have been surprised by the results, but knowing my fear was completely irrational, I'm not surprised at all. Hello, my name is Paul and I'm a recovering alcoholic, I'm extremely allergic to horses, at times I struggle with anxiety, and I have been diagnosed ADHD 4 different times by medical professionals. You're probably wondering why I would lead off with this enticing intro, but after reading a couple profiles, I couldn't get a real idea of who the gals really were... so by being upfront, honest and transparent, I am saving both of us time. None of these things truly define me, but this is an honest description of who I am. When I first started writing my profile it contained words like funny, outgoing, motivated, happy, and all the other generic descriptors, which do describe me, but I thought I would tell it straight. You might be an alcoholic if.. - you walk your dog at night with a glass of beer in your hand!!! -Penni .you make a trip to the liquor store for beer but forget the grocery store for the much needed milk. -Angela - You go to pee before bed but realize in horror the next morning that you missed the toilet seat by an entire room. -Jamey -You misplace things..like a decade -Dee - The first thing you do in the morning is check your Facebook, email, and call record to see what you may have done the night before! -Kathy Be sure to join the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Facebook Group. Be sure to expand your recovery network in and Seattle on February 27th and San Francisco on March 5th. Dates for NYC, San Francisco, Denver Costa Rica and Norway are coming soon. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

Colin shares how he has made it to 16 days of sobriety. I'd like to give a special thanks to Maureen for helping me compile this great list of songs about recovery and getting sober. There are some great artists putting recovery on the map. “Hate Me” - Blue October. What alcoholic cannot relate to these lyrics? I know I’ve felt this so many times. When we disappoint our loved ones after a relapse or crisis. It would be so much easier if they would just hate me and go away. The voice of his mother can be heard at the beginning on his answering system. She’s calling to check on him and see if he’s taken his medications. He’s got 90-days sober and wants to thank her. Good song. “You’re Not My God” - Keith Urban. “You’re not my God and you’re not my friend. You’re not the one I will walk with in the end”. I view this as a goodbye letter to alcohol and drugs. It’s got a great message. Urban is public with his recovery as well. “That’s Why I’m Here” - Kenny Chesney. This is a great song and it’s one man’s take on his first AA meeting. It gives the impression I know I’ve felt of wanting what other people had. “They started talkin’ about steps you take. Mistakes you make and the hearts that we break”. There are a lot of 12-step references and I found it so relatable. In the beginning he says “Well I ain’t had nothin’ to drink. I knew that’s probably what you’d think”. I know this hit a chord with me as people would often if I really was sober. Macklemore has a bunch of good songs. “Fallin’” has lyrics, “Another drink at the bar but I’m not drunk enough..”. He goes on to describe his downward spiral in pretty good detail. “Otherside” is a great song about relapse and how low that can make you feel. He describes going back to a meeting after a relapse and a fan tells him how much he’s inspired her with her own recovery. He can’t even look at her as he is so ashamed and feels like a “fake”. It’s a great song for starting all over. Remember, relapse is part of recovery and I know I’ve beaten myself up so bad in the past. “Inhale Deep” has an inspiring message about “...every struggle in life, is there to teach you a lesson...”. “But if you make the end You will never know the beauty of being able to stand up again”. Very powerful lyrics. He has a new song for his next album entitled “Kevin”. He teams up with Leon Bridges and this song talks about the epidemic of doctors prescribing medications and people getting addicted. You can’t buy the single yet but I strongly recommend you watch the YouTube clip of the two of them performing it at an awards show this fall. Leon Bridges is like a throw-back to Sam Cooke and says, “Doctor please, give me a dose of the American Dream. Put down the pen and look in my eyes...we’re overprescribed”. Great song. “Not An Addict” - K’s Choice. This song is clearly about heroin addiction and the denial of being an addict. The song says “We’re so creative, so much more. We’re High but on the floor”. “It’s not a habit, it’s cool. I feel alive”. It’s like they are trying to tell themselves that they can “stop anytime I want to” trying to justify their use. Old 90s song but I think it’s powerful. “Recover” - Natasha Bedingfield. This is a great song and it is so positive. She stresses “It’s now what we’ve done but, how far we’ve come”. The message is: WE WILL RECOVER, the worst is over, now. 10 “God of Wine” - Third Eye Blind. “She takes a drink and then she waits. The alcohol it permeates. And soon the cells give way. And cancel out the day”. Wow, this is so true for me, that feeling that I was wasting my life away when drinking. It also speaks of the frustration of “Where do we begin?” when new to recovery. “The A-Team” - Ed Sheeran penned this one about a drug-addicted girl he met on the streets of London. He befriended her and describes her as a “cool girl, with no phone”. It sends the message of what lengths this girl goes to for her habit. Sound City (Dave Grohl collaboration with Stevie Nicks and some other artists) “You Can’t Fix This” . It’s about dancing with the “devil” (addiction). I know Stevie Nicks is vocal about her recovery. “One Day At A Time” - Joe Walsh “One Day At a Time” Yusaf Islam (the former Cat Stevens “Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace” - Sinead O’Connor. I just like this song as it is the Third Step Prayer. Its kind of somber though but pretty. “Losing My Way” - Justin Timberlake. “I used to be the man in my hometown until I started to lose my way”. It spells out his downward spiral into addiction. “Sober” - Pink “Amazing” - Aerosmith. I think we’ve all known this band has long been in recovery. Steven hit a rough patch in 2006 with painkillers after surgery but checked back into rehab and has since been okay. This song is great as it tells how his life is “amazing” post recovery. How inspiring for all of us struggling! “Leave The Light On” Beth Hart. She says, “I want to love. I want to live. I don’t know much about it. I never did. Seventeen and I’m all messed up ins

James with 8 days of sobriety shares why he wants to quit. There was a period of time from around 2004-2014 where I could not look at myself in the mirror. I didn't want to admit it, but I was disgusted with myself. I didn't recognize the person standing there and I didn't know what to do about it. I thought the problem was others, I thought the problem was stress, I thought the problem was anxiety and depression. I definitely wasn't ready to examine the problem could possibly be my ally alcohol. No way. Not at all. That couldn't be the problem. Nope. It wasn't until I reached emotional sobriety in 2014 when I started to catch glimpses of the real Paul Churchill in the mirror. It didn't happen day one of sobriety. It didn't happen day 30. But like the seasons change, I was eventually able to look myself in the mirror without total disgust. Fast forward to January 18th, 2016. I embrace that man in the mirror. We challenge each other to be better. To make others better and that man in the mirror is my best friend. Here is the poem a football coach read to us in High School. The Guy in the Glass by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934 When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf, And the world makes you King for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that guy has to say. For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife, Who judgement upon you must pass. The feller whose verdict counts most in your life Is the guy staring back from the glass. He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest, For he's with you clear up to the end, And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend. You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum, And think you're a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you're only a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye. You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you've cheated the guy in the glass. Dale Wimbrow 1895-1954 "You might be an alcoholic if" -your spring cleaning meant clearing out the alcohol hiding spots, nooks and crannies to make room for the new ones -Brandy -you know more about what's happening in your bartender's life, than in your best friend's. -Sarje -as the sun rises over the curb, you notice you have one shoe on and aren't sure if you lost a shoe or found one. -Frank -you do your recycling at 2am in the morning so no one will see you. -Claudia -you don't remember leaving a bar with a guy, wake up at 2am and find a note from a guy you swear you've never met. You text him. You confirm your worst fear. Then start drinking again. -Kelly E. "If you can't wait to get home from the corner store, so you start drinking your beer while driving home in the car...you might be an alcoholic." -Alvin Be sure to join the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Facebook Group. Be sure to expand your recovery network in Bozeman and Seattle. Dates for NYC, San Francisco, Denver Costa Rica and Norway are coming soon. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

An article written by the Alaksa Dispatch News titles "Americas are drinking themselves to death at record rates" was recently posted in the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Group on facebook and I was blown away by what I read. Here are some of the bullets that I want to point out from the article. Facts about the booze: Last year more than 30,700 Americans died from alcohol-induced causes In 2014 there were 9.6 deaths from these alcohol-induced causes per 100,000 people, an increase of 37% since 2002. in 2014 28,647 people died of heroin and prescription drug overdoses which is less than the 30,700 from alcohol. The top 10% of American adults consume the lions share of alcohol in this country with close to 74 drinks on average. Line between "moderate use” and “Dangerous use”can be a thin one. A recent study quantified the rise of death associated with the use of a variety of common recreational drugs and they found that at the level of individual use, alcohol was the deadliest substance, followed by heroine and cocaine. Meetup! Bozeman in January 23rd and Seattle February 27th 2016 This is huge Recovery Elevator. The first Recovery Elevator meetup will be taking place in Seattle on Saturday February 27th, 2016. Details to come. Email [email protected] for more info on this meetup. You might be an alcoholic if: - you feel like you have to hide it from anybody at any time. Bill - Interviewee -you swish mouthwash to freshen your breath and you notice you cannot taste or feel it... it's like swishing water -Margaret -at 476 days you are still finding empty beer cans in the garage, workshop, musical equipment cases etc because you were hiding so many empties thinking that you were fooling everyone about how much you were actually drinking. -James P -you carry the tiny wine bottles in your purse and one falls out when you go to pay for your mani pedi at the nail salon. -Larecia -you live in a really small tourist town with 3 liquor stores within walking distance and you go in the liquor store to buy your usual, and the clerk offers you the "locals" (read frequent buyer) discount! -Tyrrell You find a half-empty flask of flavored vodka that you hid under the sink months ago and actually contemplate drinking it, even though you just hit one week sober. -Me This podcast was brought to you by Sober Nation.

Are New Years resolutions really a good thing? In my opinion, if there is anything in life really worth changing, then waiting till a certain day to make that change seems silly to me. However, if the spirit of the New Year is to create goals and accountability, then I am all for it. My new years resolution is to quit the gym. I know that sounds really strange but I have gotten way to comfortable with my routine at the gym to the point where I am in the center of my comfort zone circle. Last night I cancelled my gym membership and will be making an effort to to outdoor activities with my dog and use my own body weight for resistance. I'll let you know how it goes. Here is an outline of what is discussed in today 1) For people thinking of making “stop drinking” a new years resolution: Resolutions are good and its a great time to start something new. However, alcoholics are experts at making promises (even to ourselves) and then letting ourselves down. There are thousands of self help books on reaching goals (i.e. tony robbins) but a true alcohol problem requires more than will power and knowledge. I think we have all made the resolution to stop drinking on new years day - and that is good! But when dealing with addiction, the day doesn’t have much power than the other 364 days a year if we don’t take a few steps to get us on the path to sobriety. If this is you, I encourage you to save yourself a lot of grief and supplement this resolution with some action such as: attending a meeting (maybe your resolution includes attending at least one meeting a week for a year), telling someone close to you, and maybe even join our private Facebook accountability page and post to the group introducing yourself. Its a lot easier to quit drinking when you are part of a community that cares about you. 2) For people well on their way in sobriety that are making new resolutions: We are experts at making promises and failing. We are also experts and trying to do things our own way, only to find ourselves humbled as we constantly "bang our head on a wall” hoping the outcome will somehow “be different this time.” I almost want to save myself (and all of you) the agony of defeat by just skipping resolutions this year. However, not trying something is way worse than not trying and failing! What if we tried something and we actually succeeded! Sobriety can be so fragile in the beginning. Maybe skipping resolutions and just “working your program” is the right move. Without sobriety nothing else in life really matters. However, if you are at a point in your recovery where your program is working and you still have some energy to spare. Improving other areas of your life can actually strengthen your sobriety. The key then, is to skip the standard mode of operation (make a big promise and use willpower to try and fulfill it) and instead use some of the tools we have learned in recovery to help turbo charge our progress. A few ideas: What tools in your “recovery portfolio” can help you achieve your goals. Is the resolution necessary and realistic? Example: quit all sugar vs quit processed sugar. Necessary because regulating or moderating has produced nothing but failure. Is it measurable: Lose weight vs, loose 5 lbs every 3 months for a total of 20 pounds in the year. Can you vision yourself and what it will be like when you achieve the resolution? How good will you feel! Weight loss and how you will look? Pride from being successful. What are you doing to hold yourself accountable? Telling others, scheduled review times, public posting? Have you laid out the steps necessary to get there? i.e. learn to fly…. what steps does that take? This is all good and can really improve our health, happiness and thus sobriety. One thing is for sure, achieving lofty goals were probably not possible when we were drinking! Its okay, its more than okay - its so powerful to do awesome things in sobriety! New years is a good time to expand upon our sobriety by really living. Improving our lives through by achieving resolutions another way we can express gratitude for our sobriety. You might be an alcoholic if: You might be an alcoholic if you get arrested for trying to pump your own gas at a closed gas station while your friend is taking a leak outside your car. -Rob You might be an alcoholic if you teach your kids how to play beer pong, but you are the only one that drinks every cup. -Rob You might be an alcoholic if you go on vacation in the first thing you do is locate the nearest liquor store. -Chris H You might be an alcoholic if you have to replace your debit card once every few weeks, because you black out and lose it on a regular basis. -Amber O. You might be an alcoholic if you have to buy a replacement bottle of wine for special occasions because you drink it before the event. -James M You might be an alcoholic if you are upset by facebook ads relating to alcohol. -Meg You might be an alcoholic if the remedy (alcohol) has become the ailment. -De

Micheal Hilton, with over 10 years of sobriety, discusses his recovery portfolio. Micheal Hilton is a leader in the recovery community and does personal coaching with his company Breakthrough Coaching. 60 minutes recently did a segment on addiction. Micheal Botticelli, the "Drug Czar” is someone who from first hand experience knows the intricacies of alcoholism and addiction. Here are some key points of what I took from this segment. 40 years and a trillion dollars, nation has little to show of the war on drugs. 21 million americans are addicted to drugs and alcohol and nearly 1/2 of federal incarcerations are in for drug crimes. “can’t arrest addiction out of people.” “We have learned that addiction is a brain disease.” “ We can’t expect cancers patients to just stop having cancer.” Addicts should be patients and not prisoners. Michael Botticelli has created a high school for teens in recovery in Massachusetts. Convicts can choose rehab over jail and this actually reduces crime. in 1998 crashed his car and woke up hand cuffed to a gurney. Alcohol free for 27 years. Oversees 26 billion dollar budget across 16 government agencies. Over 1/2 of the money goes to drug enforcement. Says the heroin crisis was created at home. Pain scripts have risen from 76 million in 1991 to 207 million in 2015. More than 120 americans die of drug overdoses each day. Tried an experiment in 2010 with the quincy police department. Officers are armed with Naloxone. A nasal spray for an overdose. Also changed laws called the good samaritan law. Today, 32 states have adopted similar laws and more than 800 police departments carry Naloxone. In Massachussets, Botticelli has made treating addiction routine health care. The affordable care act requires the most of insurance companies to cover addiction treatment. Substance abuse is one of the only disease where we let people reach their most acute point of the disease or “bottom” before we intervene. Botticelli prefers the word disorder instead of addict. Sees a model in the attitude towards the stigma with the gay rights movement. He was more comfortable being a gay man, before saying he was an alcoholic. “We have more work to do.” over 1/2 a million a year are killed by legal drugs. Alcohol and nicotine. Botticelli is not in favor of legalizing marijuana. Grew up as in insecure kid. A very wise judge said you can either get care for your drinking problem or you continue the path of this criminal behavior. You Might be an Alcoholic if... Claire You keep a note pad by the phone so you can take notes about your drunk dialings, but then you can't read your handwriting You're now sober but want to wear a sign on your shirt that says you are enjoying a piece of gum to merely blow bubbles, not to cover up the vodka smell Caleb You buy canned beer so you can hide it in your bag without anybody hearing the glass clinks Simone If you log into MyFitnessPal as soon as you wake up...to log in the calories of the 8 double whiskeys you'll be drinking later...to know how much not to eat today. Shane If after a night of drinking an entire 26er of scotch, the only thing you can think of is "what am I going to drink today?" Brian in KC, MO You might be an alcoholic if it's your turn to be the DD, so before the baseball game you pound beers at the tailgate before the game hoping it carries you through to the end of the game....but then the game gets rained out in the 5th inning and you are still too drunk to drive home. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

In this episode we heard from 33 year old Autumn, explains how she has been a successful student and a mom in sobriety. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, Steve Sarkisian is suing former employer University of California for improper dismissal when he was recently fired as Head Football coach due to his drinking problem. Coach Sarkisian is seeking monies of $30,000,000, which he feels is properly owed to him due to California state laws. Here are this weeks "You Might be an Alcoholic if's" Tommy- You wake up mid black out and you're being arrested. Richard- Indiana If you leave a message at work while blacked out saying you've been up all night throwing up and you won't be in to work the next morning. Only when you wake up, you forgot you called in sick and the first thing the boss says to you is, "Richard, I thought you were vomiting all night and weren't coming in this morning"? Shelly- If you tell your family on Christmas Day that this is your big hurrah before quitting, and then everyday until New Years you sneak beer and pour it into a large mug to hide it. Racheal- If you've gone two weeks sober, and then you decide to have wine at lunch while out with your (sober) husband, and the minute you decide to have that wine you are instantly irritated that the server is taking too long to come back to take your food order. At this moment, you can no longer hear anything your husband is saying, and then you drink your glass in 10 minutes and order a second one while he's in the bathroom so he doesn't judge you. Carrie- You cut the end off the wine bag and drain it out so you don't ware any. This podcast episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

33 year old Autumn, explains how she has been a successful student and a mom in sobriety. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, Steve Sarkisian is suing former employer University of California for improper dismissal when he was recently fired as Head Football coach due to his drinking problem. Coach Sarkisian is seeking monies of $30,000,000, which he feels is properly owed to him due to California state laws.

In this Episode Shannon, who is a high bottom drunk explains how she made it to nearly 80 days sober. She mentions she loves Karaoke and you can check out Jimmy Cliff's "I Can See Clearly Now" on YouTube because that's how we both feel these days! While listening to the Bubble Hour Podcast a few weeks ago on my drive home for Thanksgiving, I heard some great ideas on how to stay sober over the Holidays. One of the segments was how to respond when someone offers you a drink at a Holiday party. I heard from great responses, but none of the answers were the truth. What I have learned in recovery, is the best answer is the truth. The truth is liberating and you will be surprised by the lack of questions you will get after telling someone you don't drink. Most people are happy for you, and encourage your decision to not drink. A small percentage will give you flack, and this is a great way to quickly find out who are not your friends. Another small group will become inquisitive and start asking questions like, how much did you used to drink? Or, why are you not drinking? These people are asking for themselves because they have been questioning their own drinking habit. But here are 77 additional tips on how to stay sober over the Holidays. I do not claim for this to be a full and comprehensive list, and with certainty, I can predict leaving out some very important ones. But here ya go. 63 ways to stay sober over the Holidays Hang out with another alcoholic: That guy Bill was on to something there. Dedicate 5 minutes today, 10 minutes tomorrow, 15 minutes the next day and increase by five minutes each day on a dormant hobby that you used to love so much. This could be the guitar, model trains, knitting, or swimming. Endless possibility of fun things to do. Find conduits to your higher power: Forest, Snow, Trans Siberian Orchestra in a Starbucks coffee shop, painting and so much more. Music: Listen to music. Have you heard flamenco? It’s incredible. Write a letter to a friend. Not an email, but place a stamp on an envelope and send it out. Write down 5 things you are thankful for each day. My first sponsor requested this of me, and after 16 days, I had 8 things listed in my gratitude list. Not because I wasn’t thankful for things in life, but because sometimes these small, seemingly infinitesimal tasks were very had. Have a sit down chat with your addiction: Hey Gary, as you know the Holidays are approaching… Call a family member that isn’t immediate family and tell them how much you appreciate them. This could be a cousin, uncle, etc. When in a drive through (preferably not fast food), pay for the person behind you. Cartwheels: 94% of cartwheels result in laughter and a great time. The other 6% are broken coffee tables. Go to a 12-step meeting. Buy paint, a canvas, and start painting Go on a 3-mile walk/hike where there is no cell service. Or make it a point to leave your phone at home. Write down the goal of not drinking over the holidays. And then place this goal in a place you will see everyday like on your bathroom mirror or inside your gym locker (if you work out everyday). Volunteer your time at the animal shelter and walk some dogs. In Montana, you may even be able to walk a pig or goat. Dogs are service animals for a reason. Their company is therapeutic and they also don’t judge. You’re simply the “bees knees” since your taking them on a walk. Affirmation: Remind yourself daily that you will not be drinking because you have an allergy to alcohol. Read a book. More specifically, “A Drinking Story” by Caroline Knapp When someone asks if you want a drink at his or her Christmas Party, you respond with “is your snowmobile insured”? Stay a minimum of 300 feet away from Burger King, McDonalds, Arby’s Wendy’s and other fast food chains at all times. Actually the chili at Wendy’s is okay. But that’s it! Pray Say the serenity prayer out loud while looking into the mirror. Learn the serenity prayer in a different language. Make it a point to get outside of your comfort zone. Be okay with uncomfortable feelings. Take 10 minutes and feel your uncomfortable feelings. Embrace them. Get REal with yourself. Hot tea. Hot Tea Hot Tea. Tea that is not injected full of caffeine if possible. Listen to recovery podcasts. Read: Read and be a sponge. Go through your cabinets and remove anything with over 10grams of sugar on the carton. Also look for bags of sugar, powdered sugar, and stashes of Reece’s pieces. Cook brussel sprouts When someone asks if you would like a drink at his or her holiday party, tell them you don’t drink. When that person asks why you don’t drink, answer their question unequivocally. Ask siri to set the timer to 5 minutes. For the first minute, while in a calm still place, sit down, keep your eyes and just focus on sounds. Minute two, breath in for 5 seconds, and exhale for five seconds. Minutes three, close eyes and tell yourself what you are thankful for. Minute four, pump yourself up with affirmations

Ferril from Party Sober clothing, with over 5 years of sobriety shares how has been successful sober entrepreneur.

In Episode 41, I talk about emotional sobriety which is a topic breached with trepidation because fully understanding emotional sobriety is near impossible and I have so much more to learn about it. Also in this episode, I interview Erik from Massachusetts who is doing a great job in recovery working with other alcoholics. He mentioned in his interview that it isn't a requirement to hit rock bottom in recovery, a concept I wasn't familiar with in 2014 when I hit my bottom. The bulk of the content for this episode comes from Elliot P who just reached 2 years of sobriety earlier this month. Way to go Elliot!

Felicia shares how she reached nearly 60 days of sobriety and we check back in with Robert who has been interviewed twice on the podcast.

Paul Joins Shane Ramer from that Sober Guy Podcast, Micheal from the UK and Omar the Shair Podcast and talk about why they got sober.

Douglas Lail with the "Hello My Name Is" project, uses painting to help him stay sober.

Jessica Shares how she made it to 141 days of sobriety!

Anthony from Rise Together, with nearly 3 years of sobriety joins the Podcast.

Robert with 5 days of sobriety joins the podcast again. Robert was previously on episode 17 and he is determined to achieve sobriety.

Jason, with 4 years of Sobriety, climbs a 14,000 + foot peak each year on his sobriety date.

Omar from the Shair Podcast joins the show.

Matthew shares the Smart Recovery program and how counting years of sobriety isn't the best motivation to stay sober.

Tim explains about how Smart Recovery has helped him stay sober

Also in this podcast episode Lindsey shares how she made it out of her first 30 days of sobriety which she was in for over 4 years.

Also in this episode, Jon shares how he reached 103 days of sobriety without AA or a 12 step program. He does however, have his own program in place.

Jeff has been sober since 2013 and he shares how he made that dream a reality.

27 year old Hollie shares her story in sobriety

Lisa, 39 and a mother of 3, explains how she has made it to 18 months sobriety.

This is the 4th part of the 4 part series called the other side where Paul interviews a non alcoholic who has been directly affected by an alcoholic. Diane is the the daughter of two alcoholics, the sister of an alcoholic who passed away earlier this year and a mother of a 19 year old alcoholic. In this episode, we also hear from Ian, who shares how he has successfully made it to 18 months of sobriety. Paul discusses how he made it 3 days in Las Vegas Sober through his fantasy football draft. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

47 year old Claire, from Michigan explains how she reached 9 years of sobriety!

Jim shares how surrendering is vital to his sobriety.

Shelly from Hawaii, who has nearly 3 months of sobriety, shares how she plans to be successful in recovery.

Brigder decides to call it quits with alcohol after he wakes up in his car passed out covered in his own urine.

Simone from South Africa tells how she made it 8 months of Sobriety

Dez, with 18 months of sobriety shares her experience

Robert, with 5 days of sobriety, shares his journey.

Also in the episode, Paul discusses the must see The Anonymous People, which is a documentary about recovery.

Leleah, from Mission Canada, reaches 30 days of sobriety and shares how she did it

Lee Pepper from Foundations Recovery Network explains how rehab works.

Shane Ramer from That Sober Guy Podcast tells us how he has successfully navigated sobriety and addiction.

Randy Raphael has 8.5 years of sobriety and he tells how getting sober doesn't have to be such a struggle.

Eric finds himself in a wheelchair at 6 months of sobriety and doesn’t drink. He talks about what he thought sobriety was going to be like and what to expect.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease and Paul, with 34 years of sobriety explains how he has made it this long with out a drink. Below are the key points Paul discusses. Drinking destroys the intelligence After 34 years is still taking it one day at a time Drinking destroys in this order: Spiritual, Mind then body. Healing is in reverse order This disease is beautiful (the solution, continuing to be of service to the community and others) ISM – incredibly short memory Wants to be reminded on a daily basis that is doesn’t get any better Gets gooder and gooder and gooder Sick and tired of being sick and tired

Moira has 9 months of sobriety, has lost 55 pounds and explains how her life is so much better without alcohol. A dry drunk is someone who: 1. Has made no emotional or behavioral changes. 2. Someone who simply doesn't drink and does not work a programs or invest time into their recovery 7 Characteristics of a Dry Drunk: 1. Selfish a. Alcoholics are all extremely selfish and we think we are in total control at all times. We think we have beat the system 2. My Way or the Highway – Tom Cochrane "Life is a highway" a. Spontaneous decisions with only one person in mind 3. The Blah…… a. Things are getting boring. You’ve quit drinking, you're riding the pink cloud, but soon things start to get mundane and boring 4. We start to forget a. The magic of how our brains are wired to forget the past 5. Sunsets aren’t quite as magnificent a. Interesting things in life have lost their allure 6. Negativity a. A continuous trend in negativity 7. You’re still bat shit crazy a. Drinking is a thinking disease and not a drinking disease b. Our drinking is but a symptom of our disease

Maggie who has 14 days of sobriety in her early recovery explains how she made it this far and what gave her the motivation to stop drinking alcohol. Here are some of the resources discussed in Episode 10 AA on Air Wellington Hello Sunday Morning Foundations Recovery Network And of course, the battle with the iPhone

In this episode, I interview Tom, who has 4 more days of sobriety than myself, and I hope that never changes! Tom you are officially my new accountability partner. In this episode I discuss 6 ways you can take action before really taking action. 1. Wake up - set a routine 2. Pray, say something positive to yourself and meditate 3. Make healthy meals 4. Clean - organize the space you live in 5. Exercise - walk, jog, run, stretch 6. Get busy - keep your mind off alcohol with healthy time consuming tasks DIY Pete has a great website that walks viewers through building great projects STEP BY STEP. This is a great resource and healthy activity in early sobriety!

Paul climbed Machu Picchu in 2014 while sobering up and the trek mentally and physically kicked my butt. In 2015, he dominated the trek becuase sobriety was with my every step of the way. In this Episode Paul talks about speaking to the girls in the Peruvian Promises program, which is part of the non profit Peruvian Hearts about the topic of alcoholism. Although none of the girls in the orphanages and the Peruvian Promise program are alcoholics, several of their parents are. Portions of the donations submitted through the website and mobile app will be given to the Peruvian Hearts program in addition Paul will be organizing a trip in 2016 to the volunteer again. Paul speaking to the girls of the Peruvian Promise program Paul and Nate hitch hiking in El Salvador in sobriety! You can tell it's a little warm at the time this photo was taken!

I was headed to Cusco, Peru as a chaperone for a group of highschool students around this same time last year, and when I started drinking on the first flight I kept drinking all night and up until moments before meeting the students. It was insane, which is exactly what this disease is.