Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

Brad McLeod
  • 4.9 (642)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. 19h ago

    He Drank Until His Liver Failed | Aaron’s Sobriety Story

    Aaron never believed alcohol would nearly cost him his life. Like many people, drinking started as a way to fit in, cope with anxiety, and numb painful experiences. After losing his father at a young age, finding his brother after a fatal overdose, and carrying years of grief and trauma, alcohol slowly became his answer to everything. By his early 40s, he was drinking from the moment he woke up just to stop the withdrawals. His skin turned yellow, his body began shutting down, and after collapsing at home he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors weren’t sure he would survive. Today, Aaron is living with liver cirrhosis and waiting for a liver transplant. In this episode, we discuss: • Growing up around alcoholism and loss • How denial keeps alcohol addiction alive • The progression from social drinking to physical dependence • Living through liver failure and a coma • What it’s like waiting for a liver transplant • The guilt, shame, and hope that come with recovery • Why it’s never too early to ask for help If you’ve ever wondered whether your drinking is becoming dangerous—or you know someone who is struggling—this conversation is one you won’t forget. If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Recovery is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  2. 2d ago

    Alcohol Addiction, Blackouts and Relapse: How Jess Finally Got Sober

    Jess never imagined alcohol would take her here. After years of trying to stop drinking, repeated relapses, multiple detoxes, inpatient treatment, and three-day blackouts, she found herself waking up to police after her truck became stranded on train tracks. She thought she had destroyed her life—and that she would never be able to stay sober. In this powerful episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Jess shares how alcohol slowly took over, the shame of living a double life while working alongside law enforcement, how addiction impacted her relationship with her son, and what finally helped her break free after 17 relapses. We talk about: • Growing up with trauma, rejection, and people-pleasing • How alcohol went from occasional drinking to physical dependence • Blackouts, detox, rehab, and repeated relapse • The hidden shame of alcohol addiction • Why recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about not giving up • The role of faith, discipline, structure, and community in lasting sobriety • Rebuilding trust, purpose, and a meaningful life in recovery If you’re struggling with alcohol, have relapsed, or feel like you’ve tried everything, Jess’s story is proof that your next attempt could be the one that changes everything. 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly conversations with people who have overcome alcohol addiction and built fulfilling sober lives. Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  3. Jul 3

    Do You Really Need Rock Bottom to Quit Drinking? | Matt’s Sober Story

    Many people believe they have to lose everything before they quit drinking. Matt’s story proves otherwise. From the outside, he looked like he had it all—a successful career, a loving wife, three boys, and a normal suburban life. But behind the scenes, alcohol slowly became the center of everything. Weekend binge drinking turned into nightly drinking, blackouts became more common, and he found himself living at only 40% of the husband and father he wanted to be. In this conversation, Matt shares how anxiety, social drinking, parenting, and years of justifying alcohol kept him stuck until he realized he didn’t need a dramatic rock bottom to change his life. In this episode we discuss: • Gray area drinking • Binge drinking and blackout drinking • Anxiety and alcohol • Drinking culture and parenthood • Why many people never hit a traditional rock bottom • Dry January and failed attempts to quit • Therapy and emotional sobriety • Life after alcohol • Building a meaningful sober life Whether you’re sober, sober curious, or questioning your relationship with alcohol, this episode offers hope that change is possible before everything falls apart. Matt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darthsober/ Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  4. Jun 30

    How Alcohol Almost Killed Me Before I Got Sober | Marty's Story

    Alcohol didn’t almost take Marty’s life overnight—it happened one drink at a time. What started as partying with friends slowly became drinking alone, daily alcohol use, multiple ER visits, and eventually liver damage so severe his skin turned yellow. Doctors warned him that another drink could send him back into liver failure. In this powerful conversation, Marty shares: Why drinking alone was the turning pointThe warning signs he ignored for yearsLiving with liver damage caused by alcoholWhy he quit drinking without rehabWhat early sobriety really felt likeBuilding a new identity after addictionThe mindset that keeps him sober todayWhether you’re questioning your own drinking, supporting someone in recovery, or looking for hope, Marty’s story is a reminder that change is possible—even when it feels impossible. If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Marty on Instagram: Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  5. Jun 26

    The Hidden Cost of Alcohol | Mike’s Sobriety Story

    What is alcohol really costing you? In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Mike shares how alcohol slowly became part of his daily life without obvious warning signs. He kept his job, raised a family, and looked successful on the outside—but after quitting drinking, he realized alcohol had quietly taken far more from him than he ever imagined. We talk about growing up as a preacher’s kid, chasing acceptance, becoming a functioning daily drinker, and why you don’t have to hit rock bottom to question your relationship with alcohol. Mike also opens up about the moment he finally stopped drinking, what surprised him most about sobriety, and why being fully present with his family is worth more than any drink. If you’ve ever wondered whether alcohol is holding you back, if you’re exploring sobriety, or if you’re trying to quit drinking, this conversation is for you. In this episode: Why functioning drinking can be hard to recognizeThe hidden cost of alcoholWhy people drink beyond just having funGray area drinking and daily alcohol useWhat changes after quitting alcoholLiving fully present in sobrietyWhether you’re sober, sober curious, in early recovery, or supporting someone with an alcohol problem, we hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to lose everything before choosing a different path. Mike On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekinnebrew/ Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  6. Jun 24

    She Drank 4 Liters of Vodka a Day | Mailinn’s Sobriety Story

    At 28 years old, Mailinn was preparing to die. She was drinking up to 4 liters of vodka a day, vomiting blood daily, and losing the ability to walk. Doctors had run out of answers. Her family was bracing for the worst. Then her body shut down. In 2020, Mailinn was placed into a coma with multi-organ failure and given little chance of survival. What happened next would completely change the course of her life. Today, Mailinn is six years sober. In this episode of Sober Motivation, Mailinn shares her powerful recovery story, from early drinking and alcohol addiction to waking up from a coma, learning to walk again, and discovering a life she never thought was possible. Whether you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol, struggling with addiction, or supporting someone in recovery, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no one is ever too far gone. In this episode: • Starting to drink at 12 years old • The early warning signs of alcoholism • Drinking up to 4 liters of vodka a day • Hiding alcohol use from family and friends • Vomiting blood and severe health complications • Multi-organ failure and a medically induced coma • Learning to walk again • Life after alcohol • Recovery, gratitude, and finding purpose Recovery is possible. Mailinn’s story is proof. Mailinn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soyli91/ Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  7. Jun 19

    How I Got Sober After Drinking Alcohol for 30 Years | Elisa’s Sober Story

    Elisa drank alcohol for 30 years. What started as relief from childhood trauma slowly turned into alcohol addiction, DUIs, broken relationships, and a life she says she barely remembers. At eight years old, Elisa testified in court against someone in her own family. Growing up afraid and feeling like she didn’t belong, alcohol became the thing that finally quieted the fear. In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Elisa shares her recovery story—how childhood trauma shaped her addiction, why alcohol felt like the answer, her struggles with alcoholism, and the spiritual and emotional healing that helped her get sober. We also discuss recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), EMDR therapy, relapse, grief, and what it means to build a life worth staying sober for. If you’re struggling with alcohol, questioning your drinking, or looking for hope in recovery, this episode is for you. Elisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisansaunders/ Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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.

  8. Jun 17

    He Thought Addiction Had Won | Gio’s Sobriety Story

    “I genuinely thought I was a hopeless alcoholic addict with no chance of return.” That’s where Gio found himself. After years of success as a hockey player—including a Division I scholarship and a professional career—addiction slowly took over. What started as drinking and partying became something much darker, leading Gio to a gas station parking lot where he finally called his dad and admitted: “I can’t stop using.” In this episode, Gio shares his journey through hockey culture, addiction, opiates, losing his identity after hockey, multiple treatment stays, relapse, and how he found hope after believing he was too far gone. If you’ve ever wondered whether recovery is possible, or felt like you’ve gone too far to change, this episode is for you. Gio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gflamminio/ Sober Motivation Mobile App: https://apps.apple.com/app/sober-motivation-app/id6759266291 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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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 at www.sobermotivation.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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