The Stages of Addiction and Sobriety with Michael LoPriore

In this episode of Off the Cuff with Danny LoPriore, I’m joined by my very own brother and co-host of The LoPriore Podcast, Michael LoPriore! We’ve walked through a range of intimate struggles and victories together, in both childhood and adulthood, and today he’s sitting down with me to discuss his struggle with alcoholism, the catalysts that prompted him to make a change, and what it’s like to be in the throes of addiction.  

“You’re always thinking about drinking, and also, it’s just dark. It’s like a weird dark, like, fuckin’ gravity-sucking feeling. It’s weird… I can’t explain it, but when you’re finally done and you take like two months, you just feel smooth. You feel like reborn or something.” – Michael (16:59)

We also explore the reality of sobriety in the early stages, how we each get through the day, Michael’s development as a content creator in the darkest season of his addiction, balancing control and moderation, his hope for the future, and how we’re supporting each other in sobriety. As Michael shares pieces of our early childhood and how those years impacted his perspective on the world, you’ll get intimate insight into the bond we’ve built over the years and how his love for comedy has carried him through difficult moments. 

“I’m thankful it was a little bit easier for me to get through it in the beginning right now because I’ve gone through so much mental anguish as a kid. Like, just not liking myself for my Tourette’s and all of that stuff… It fucked me up, but I was still so confident in myself… Making people laugh has always been the weird savior of all my fuckin’ weird shit that I’ve gone through.” – Michael (46:32) 

The journey to sobriety is a long and winding one, but Michael’s story is a great reminder that there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you can just reach out, ask for help, and take that first step toward changing your life. 

“You have to fuckin’, keep walking and getting through it everyday. There’s always, always hope for light in there somewhere… I have so many good days that I’m thankful that I actually just remember and I always bring up in my head.” – Michael (50:31) 

In This Episode: 

• (1:14) Michael LoPriore’s sober journey and getting back on Twitch  
• (5:22) Michael shares the turning point in his battle with addiction
• (12:45) Unpacking how we understand marijuana abuse 
• (15:25) Why moderation and control can be hard to maintain 
• (17:56) Combatting the stress of everyday life and the peace that can come with sobriety
• (22:22) The ways that we justify our addiction 
• (24:02) How substance abuse influenced who we are today and our experience as content creators 
• (30:32) Acknowledging the good and bad memories 
• (32:38) The physiological changes that come with sobriety 
• (33:34) Michael’s hope for the next few years
• (38:24) Experiencing peace vs. despair
• (46:06) Michael’s mental health struggles as a child
• (49:51) There’s light at the end of the tunnel

Our Guest

Michael LoPriore is a Twitch streamer, comedian, co-host of The LoPriore Podcast, and the brother of Danny LoPriore. After struggling with alcohol addiction while sustaining a career in content creation, he’s two months into his sober journey. As he manages this sober lifestyle, he’s dedicated to growing his platform and bringing even more joy and prosperity to his life in the coming years. 

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

• https://www.offthecuff.fm/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore