Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline

Stuart Cline, LPCC, MAC, ATR-BC
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Most sobriety podcasts tell you to stay sober. This one helps you figure out what to do with the life you're building. Sobriety... Now What? is for people who are sober — or trying to be — and ready to go deeper than just not drinking or using. Each episode explores what it actually looks like to build a life worth staying sober for. I'm your host, Stuart Cline — a licensed therapist, addiction counselor, and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) with over 25 years in clinical practice — from a locked inpatient psychiatric unit early in my career, to leading an intensive outpatient program, to 18 years of hospital-based clinical work alongside a private practice. In New Mexico I hold two active licenses: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC). I also bring something no credential can give you. I grew up with two alcoholic parents — one who got sober, and one who didn't. The difference between those two paths shaped my life and my purpose. I know what recovery can cost, and I know what it can give back. Each episode offers practical tools, honest conversations, and real strategies for navigating the emotional terrain of sober life — cravings, stress, relationships, purpose, identity, and everything in between. You'll hear from authors, musicians, teachers, business owners, and recovery experts, alongside solo episodes where I break down what works, why it works, and how to apply it. There's no single right way to recover. But there are principles that help people thrive — and that's what we explore here. This podcast exists to help you avoid unnecessary suffering and discover what's possible when sobriety becomes a foundation, not a limitation. You're not alone — and you don't have to figure this out by yourself. 🌐 www.sobrietynowwhat.com ✉️ sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com Sobriety Now What? — Let's explore what comes next. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not establish a therapeutic or counseling relationship.

  1. 1h ago

    Ep 42: The Unclouded Life Philosophy: You Are Not Lost, You Are Disconnected

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Something is shifting. After 18 months and listeners in 81 countries, Sobriety… Now What? is becoming Live Unclouded — and this episode is where that transition begins. But before the rebrand announcement, Stuart shares something personal: a season of burnout so complete he had nothing left to give. No job. No relationship. Sleeping on family members' couches. A back injury that left his leg atrophying. Days when he genuinely believed everyone would be better off without him. What pulled him back wasn't a dramatic breakthrough. It was small choices, one conversation at a time. That experience, combined with 25 years of sitting with people in recovery, quietly shaped what Stuart is now calling the Unclouded Life Philosophy — three ideas that change everything about how you see where you are right now: You are not lost. You are disconnected.The path ahead still belongs to you.You are not finished becoming.This episode also includes the story of a man in his seventies who entered treatment to get his grandchildren back — and discovered something about his marriage that broke his heart open in the best possible way. If you've been feeling stuck, questioning your direction, or wondering whether it's too late — this one is for you. 🎙️ Visit liveunclouded.com to get on the list for the book dropping September 1st — and grab the first 60 pages free when you sign up. Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    17 min

  2. Jun 2

    Ep 41 Life After a Liver Transplant: Recovery, Fatigue, Medication Side Effects, and Finding Hope Again | Tia

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Most people think a liver transplant is the finish line. But for many transplant recipients, it's actually the beginning of a completely new journey. In this follow-up conversation, Tia Bean returns to Sobriety Now What? to share what life has really been like nearly three years after receiving a life-saving liver transplant. From unexpected fatigue and medication side effects to navigating relationships, rebuilding confidence, and learning how to dream again, Tia offers an honest and inspiring look at recovery beyond the hospital. She also shares valuable insights for family members, friends, and anyone facing a transplant journey of their own. In this episode, we discuss: • What recovery really looks like 1–3 years after transplant • The hidden challenges of fatigue and brain fog • Medication side effects and long-term health concerns • Why family and friends often misunderstand life after transplant • The "Spoon Theory" and managing limited energy • Returning to work, college, and rebuilding a future • The emotional and spiritual impact of surviving a life-threatening illness • Advice for people waiting for or considering a transplant • How loved ones can provide meaningful support Tia's message is simple but powerful: Don't give up. There is life on the other side. Whether you are recovering from a transplant, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a story of resilience and hope, this conversation will leave you encouraged. Thanks for listening to Sobriety Now What? Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive. Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    27 min

  3. May 21

    Ep 40 Why Your “Why” Matters in Sobriety | Finding Purpose, Motivation, and Lasting Recovery

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. What keeps someone sober when cravings hit, motivation fades, or life gets difficult? In this powerful episode of Sobriety… Now What?, Stuart Cline explores one of the most important foundations of lasting recovery: discovering your “why.” Why do some people relapse even after treatment, therapy, books, and support? Why do others find the strength to keep going through the hardest moments of sobriety? The answer often comes down to emotional connection, purpose, and meaning. In this episode, Stuart shares: • Why information alone rarely creates lasting change • The powerful difference between head knowledge and heart-level motivation • A moving parable about passion, persistence, and emotional investment • How addiction itself operates through goal, plan, and emotional energy • Viktor Frankl’s insights on meaning and survival • The “Five Whys” exercise to help you uncover your deeper reason for staying sober • Why you do not need to hit rock bottom to want a better life • How to stop merely escaping life and start building one you truly want to live This episode is for anyone who: • Wants to strengthen their recovery motivation • Feels stuck, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted • Is sober curious or early in recovery • Has relapsed and wants to reconnect with purpose • Wants more than just “not drinking” — and is ready to thrive Stuart also gives listeners an early preview of his upcoming book: Unclouded: 100 Strategies to Clear Your Mind, Break Free from Alcohol, and Build a Happier Life If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who may need encouragement today. Website: StuartCline.com Thanks for listening to Sobriety… Now What? Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive. Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    26 min

  4. May 12

    EP 39 Do the AA Promises Really Come True? | 72 Years of Sobriety at the Round Table

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. EP 39 Do the AA Promises Really Come True? | 72 Years of Sobriety at the Round Table In this powerful round-table conversation, Stuart sits down in the studio with Mike and Colm — two men with over 70 years of combined sobriety — to talk about one of the most well-known parts of Alcoholics Anonymous: the AA promises. Do the promises really come true?  Can people truly find peace, freedom, happiness, and purpose in sobriety? Together, the three share honest stories and reflections about recovery, fear, spirituality, friendship, service, emotional healing, and what life actually looks like after decades of sobriety. This episode is not about perfection. It is about hope. Whether you are new to recovery, struggling to stay sober, curious about AA, or simply looking for encouragement, this conversation offers real-life experience from people who have lived it. Topics include:  • The AA promises explained in real life  • Fear, shame, and emotional healing  • Spirituality vs. religion in recovery  • Self-seeking, service, and friendship  • Learning to live without alcohol  • Why connection and community matter  • Finding peace and purpose in sobriety If you’ve ever wondered whether life truly gets better sober, this episode is for you. Thanks for listening to Sobriety Now What. Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive. Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    1h 7m

  5. Apr 19

    Ep. 38: A Kindness Practice to Calm Your Mind & Reduce Stress (Bonus Episode)

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. In this short bonus episode of Sobriety… Now What?, Stuart Cline guides you through a simple, calming kindness practice you can use anytime to help calm your mind, reduce stress, and reset your mood. This guided practice is inspired by the long-standing tradition of loving-kindness (also known as metta), adapted into a practical, real-life tool you can use while driving, walking, or taking a moment to pause during your day. You’ll be guided through a series of gentle phrases to help you:  calm your thoughts  reduce stress and emotional reactivity  practice kindness toward yourself and others  create a small but meaningful shift in your state of mind This episode builds on Episode 37 and gives you something simple you can actually do—not just think about. Use this practice in the morning, at night, or anytime you feel overwhelmed. Even a small reset can make a big difference. Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    7 min

  6. Apr 18

    Ep 37 - Francesca Donlan on Kindness, Recovery & the K20 Summit

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. You’re sober… but still feeling stressed? The to-do list doesn’t stop. Life feels heavy. And some days, just getting through feels like enough. In this episode, I sit down with returning guest Francesca Donlan — my most downloaded guest — to explore a simple, powerful tool that can shift your mood, calm your mind, and improve your day without substances. Francesca spent the entire year of 2025 doing one intentional act each day to improve connection and well-being — and what she discovered, backed by research, might surprise you. We talk about a simple way to reduce stress and feel better fast, how small daily actions can improve mood and mental health, the “helper’s high” and why it works, how to reset your mindset when life feels overwhelming, practical ways to feel more connected in sobriety, and why self-compassion is a key part of lasting recovery. This episode isn’t about being perfect. It’s about having a tool you can use on real days, in real life. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just off lately, this conversation can help you reset and move forward. About My Guest  Francesca Donlan is a university educator and researcher focused on human connection and well-being. She has taught the science behind positive social behavior and is the organizer of the K20 Global Kindness Summit, bringing together leaders from around the world to explore how small actions can create meaningful change. Key Takeaway  You don’t need to change everything to feel better. Sometimes one small action can shift your entire day. Connect + Learn More  Learn more about the K20 Global Kindness Summit:  https://k20kindness.com If This Helped You  Follow the podcast and share this episode with someone who could use a reset today. Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    37 min

  7. Mar 24

    Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart sits down with Ian Fee to explore what recovery really looks like beyond just quitting drinking. After decades of alcohol use, Ian shares the moment he could no longer lie to himself—and how that became the turning point in his life. He opens up about his unique experience with aversion therapy, a rarely discussed approach that helped change his relationship with alcohol. But this conversation goes deeper than how he stopped. It’s about what happens next. You’ll hear what early recovery really feels like, how to face the emotions that come up, and what it takes to rebuild your life with honesty, accountability, and support. This episode will help you:  Understand the difference between stopping drinking and real recovery  Feel less alone in the emotional challenges of early sobriety  Learn how accountability and support can change everything  Begin thinking about how to build a better life in sobriety If you’re in early recovery—or starting to question your relationship with alcohol—this episode offers a new perspective and real hope. To learn more about:  Ian Fee: Ianfee.com  Stuart Cline:  Coaching: EvolvingFully.com, stuartcline.podia.comCounseling: nmcounseling.comPodcast: www.sobrietynowwhat.comInvitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    39 min

  8. Mar 16

    Ep 35: Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Ep 35 Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery What did it take for David Hanley to finally stop drinking? The answer includes years of alcohol dependency, pacing outside a liquor store at 6:45 in the morning, multiple ICU visits, a wheelchair on a runway, and a rehabilitation center he'd never heard of in a town he'd never been to. But what happened next is what makes David's story unlike anything you've heard before — six weeks sober, raw and uncertain, he picked up a pen and started writing. In this episode David shares the journey that led to his memoir The Streetlight Chronicles — written in real time during his own recovery in a raw, unfiltered style called Gonzo journalism, think Anthony Bourdain telling the truth about addiction with zero fluff and zero filter. You'll hear how David translated the 12 steps into street-level language that finally made sense to him, guided by a character he created called the Barstool Prophet. Host Stuart Cline reads powerful passages from the book aloud, and together they explore one of the most compelling concepts in the book — the idea that you don't need a yes and you don't need a no to start your recovery. You just need a maybe. Whether you're newly sober or years into your journey, this conversation will remind you of something worth holding onto — how far you've already come, and how much is still possible. In this episode you'll hear: How COVID on the island of Maui took David's drinking from social to life threateningWhat finally made recovery click after multiple attemptsThe story behind the Barstool Prophet and what he representsHow writing in the moment of vulnerability changed everythingThe power of approaching recovery with maybe instead of certaintyResources mentioned: The Streetlight Chronicles by David Hanley — available on AmazonAmazon- Streetlight Chronicleswww.streettalk.liveFind David at Streetlight Live on Instagram, TikTok and FacebookInvitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.  Support the show HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.  🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com 🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com Have a topic you’d like me to cover? Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you. If this episode helped you: Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    56 min
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About

Most sobriety podcasts tell you to stay sober. This one helps you figure out what to do with the life you're building. Sobriety... Now What? is for people who are sober — or trying to be — and ready to go deeper than just not drinking or using. Each episode explores what it actually looks like to build a life worth staying sober for. I'm your host, Stuart Cline — a licensed therapist, addiction counselor, and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) with over 25 years in clinical practice — from a locked inpatient psychiatric unit early in my career, to leading an intensive outpatient program, to 18 years of hospital-based clinical work alongside a private practice. In New Mexico I hold two active licenses: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC). I also bring something no credential can give you. I grew up with two alcoholic parents — one who got sober, and one who didn't. The difference between those two paths shaped my life and my purpose. I know what recovery can cost, and I know what it can give back. Each episode offers practical tools, honest conversations, and real strategies for navigating the emotional terrain of sober life — cravings, stress, relationships, purpose, identity, and everything in between. You'll hear from authors, musicians, teachers, business owners, and recovery experts, alongside solo episodes where I break down what works, why it works, and how to apply it. There's no single right way to recover. But there are principles that help people thrive — and that's what we explore here. This podcast exists to help you avoid unnecessary suffering and discover what's possible when sobriety becomes a foundation, not a limitation. You're not alone — and you don't have to figure this out by yourself. 🌐 www.sobrietynowwhat.com ✉️ sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com Sobriety Now What? — Let's explore what comes next. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not establish a therapeutic or counseling relationship.

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