Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

“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

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/

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/

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

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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