Sober Banter

Rachel & Colin Casey
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Sober Banter is a sobriety podcast hosted by Rachel and Colin, a married couple who got sober together in November 2021. The show explores life after alcohol in real time, covering relationships, relapse, identity shifts, family, stigma, and the daily work of staying sober. Honest conversation. Sharp humor. No preaching. New episodes every Thursday.

  1. Sobriety, Identity, and Rebuilding Life Beyond Alcohol with Heather Trumpfheller

    FEB 8

    Sobriety, Identity, and Rebuilding Life Beyond Alcohol with Heather Trumpfheller

    In this episode of Sober Banter, host Rachel sits down with Heather Trumpfheller, a tech startup professional and world traveler, for an honest conversation about modern sobriety, identity shifts, and reclaiming life without alcohol. Heather shares how quitting drinking led her to also walk away from busyness, a decade long career that no longer aligned with her values, and patterns rooted in anxiety, people pleasing, and burnout. The conversation explores early sobriety, grief and loss, dating and traveling alcohol free, resentment, stigma, and why community is essential in recovery. This episode is a powerful reminder that sobriety is not a punishment. It is freedom. And it is never too late to choose yourself. Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in July 2025 when Heather was 18 months sober. She is now over 2 years sober as her sobriety date is November 13, 2023. (00:00) - Welcome + Heather’s Sobriety Story (03:44) - Finding Community and Support (08:04) - Early Sobriety and Identity Shifts (12:28) - Celebrating Sobriety Milestones (24:13) - Grief, Loss, and Staying Sober (27:57) - Traveling and Dating Without Alcohol (35:34) - Labels, Stigma, and Recovery Culture (55:53) - Rest, Growth, and Final Reflections Connect with Heather 📸 Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/htrumpfheller 💼 LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertrumpfheller/ 📧 Emailhtrumpfheller@gmail.com Stay Connected: Listen, Subscribe, and Share 🎧🎙️Listen to Sober Banter Available wherever you get podcasts  🌐 Visit the Sober Banter Website Following the show or leaving a review helps more people find these conversations. 💌 Join Our Email List Get new episodes, updates, and bonus content delivered straight to your inbox. 🤝 Support the Show Help us keep Sober Banter independent and listener supported. 📚 Alcoholics Anonymous Explore AA as one possible recovery resource. 📩 Email us! podcast@soberbanter.com 📱 Follow Sober Banter on Social Media Instagram:  Facebook:  TikTok:  X:  Apple Podcasts Spotify Disclaimer Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource. ★ Support this podcast ★

    58 min
  2. Modern Sobriety & Parenting: Relapse, Labels, and AA Tradition 11 | Kristen Crocker

    JAN 29

    Modern Sobriety & Parenting: Relapse, Labels, and AA Tradition 11 | Kristen Crocker

    In this episode, hosts Colin Casey and Rachel Casey sit down with writer and recovery advocate Kristen Crocker for an honest conversation about parenting, sobriety, and modern recovery. Together, they talk about quitting drinking, navigating sobriety while raising kids, and how stigma, labels, and recovery culture shape the way parents seek support. (00:00) - Meet Kristen Crocker (03:54) - Struggles, relapses, and trying again (06:30) - Changing perceptions of alcoholism (10:39) - Navigating sobriety with family (16:42) - Pregnancy and sobriety (31:44) - AA Tradition 11 and social media (34:53) - Relapse and recovery insights (41:26) - Evolving AA literature and recovery culture Connect with Kristen Kristen writes Recoverettes, a Substack focused on normalizing recovery from alcoholism among strong, smart women. Her work explores motherhood, step-motherhood, staying sober through hard seasons, twelve-step recovery, neuroscience, and anything that actually works. Substack: https://recoverettes.substack.comProfile: https://substack.com/@kblantoncrocker 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Sober BanterApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sober-banter/id1805475969Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A51zCDyW8K927va0adaby 💌 Join Our Email Listhttps://mailchi.mp/soberbanter.com/2026 🤝 Support the Showhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberbanter 📚 Alcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.org 📱 Follow Sober BanterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/soberbanterpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sober.banterTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soberbanterX: https://twitter.com/soberbanter Disclaimer Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource. ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 5m
  3. Gambling Addiction: The Lie of Control with Adam Lyons (The Modern Meeting)

    JAN 22

    Gambling Addiction: The Lie of Control with Adam Lyons (The Modern Meeting)

    What happens when the bet stops being about money and starts being about control?When does gambling shift from entertainment to survival mode? In this episode of Sober Banter, Rachel and Colin sit down with Adam Lyons, host of The Modern Meeting, for a direct conversation about compulsive gambling and long term recovery. Adam shares nearly twenty years of chasing losses, normalizing chaos, and living inside the illusion of control. Together, they unpack how gambling culture, online platforms, and social media quietly glorify risk, and how that normalization fuels addiction. This episode explores what desperation really looks like, how enabling can hide as support, and why recovery requires structure, accountability, and humility. In this episode, you will hear: • How early poker shaped the illusion of control• When gambling crosses the line into addiction• Why chasing losses becomes the trap• The impact of YouTube and gambling influencers• The reality of living with addiction• What real recovery looks like beyond willpower If you are questioning your relationship with betting, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand gambling addiction in today’s culture, this conversation is honest and grounded. We are not clinicians. We are two people in recovery sharing lived experience. This podcast is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek qualified professional support. (00:00) - Early Gambling and the Illusion of Control (00:55) - A Spiritual Awakening in Oklahoma (07:30) - Living Dirty and Normalized Chaos (08:37) - When Gambling Became a Problem (14:27) - Chasing Losses and the Addiction Cycle (20:00) - Desperation and Survival Mode (25:17) - The Glorification of Gambling Online (31:08) - The Reality of 1-800-GAMBLER (44:52) - Living With Addiction (54:01) - Final Thoughts and Resources Connect with Adam 🎙 The Modern Meeting PodcastAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts 📧 modernmeetingpod@gmail.com🔗 https://linktr.ee/modernmeetingpod📱 https://www.instagram.com/modernmeeting Recovery Resources Learn about Gamblers Anonymous https://www.gamblersanonymous.org Learn about Alcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.org 🎧 Listen to Sober BanterApple Podcasts:  Spotify:  💌 Join Our Email List 🤝 Support the Show 📚 Alcoholics Anonymous 📱 Follow Sober BanterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/soberbanterpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sober.banterTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soberbanterX: https://twitter.com/soberbanter You can also email questions or topic ideas to podcast@soberbanter.com. We read every message. ★ Support this podcast ★

    55 min
  4. Managing Expectations during Sober October (Re-release)

    09/30/2025

    Managing Expectations during Sober October (Re-release)

    Episode Summary (Re-Released episode)Sober Banter hosts offer advice for Sober October, emphasizing realistic expectations, support systems, and self-compassion. Chapters00:00 Managing Expectations and Social Pressure01:21 Finding Support and Accountability03:32 Health Benefits and Personal Growth07:19 Tips for a Successful Sober October This episode is a re-release and goes back to our early catalog, before most people even knew Sober Banter existed. We are bringing it back because the advice still matters. Sober October is not about perfection, it is about managing expectations, leaning on accountability, and giving yourself compassion along the way. Please give us grace on any audio hiccups. I (Rachel) touched it up as best I could, but wanted to share it for the message, not polish it into perfection. Between college, parenting, and chronic illness, I overworked myself and had to step away. It was the right choice for my sobriety and emotional health. I also have a backlog of unreleased interviews. If one of those is yours, it will be out as soon as possible. I am pacing myself this time and will send updates by email. Thank you for your patience. The good news is that Colin and I are still sober, and we plan to record a new episode soon to share how we have stayed grounded. For now, enjoy this short audio-only throwback about Sober October. Let us know what you think, and remember to take it one day at a time. Stay Connected💌 Subscribe at soberbanter.com💬 Leave a review or comment to help others find us Leave a comment 🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it Share 📱 Follow on Instagram: @soberbanterpodcast☕ Support the show: Buy us a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/soberbanter or Venmo at venmo.com/u/Soberbanter🌐 Questions or feedback? Visit soberbanter.com or email Rachel at rachel@soberbanter.com (00:00) - Managing Expectations and Social Pressure (01:21) - Finding Support and Accountability (03:32) - Health Benefits and Personal Growth (07:19) - Tips for a Successful Sober October ★ Support this podcast ★

    13 min
  5. Navigating Sober October From the Vault

    09/29/2025

    Navigating Sober October From the Vault

    This is an early Sober Banter episode brought back for Sober October. We were new at this, so you may hear a few hiccups. The lessons still land. We cover the hardest parts of Sober October and the simple habits that kept us steady. Think of this as day one support with honest talk and practical steps. It also shows how far we have come as hosts and as people in recovery. If you are here to start strong or find your footing again, press play. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Sober Banter00:43 Personal Sobriety Stories03:33 Challenges of Sober October06:36 Daily Check-ins and Support08:58 Reflections and Rationalizations15:07 Cultural Perspectives on Drinking16:06 Conclusion and Wrap-Up 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Let’s stay connected! 💌 Subscribe to Sober Banter so you never miss an episode. 💬 Leave a review or a comment because your thoughts mean the world and help others find us. 🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it. 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @soberbanterpodcast ☕️ Support the show:  ·       Buy us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberbanter  ·       Make a donation at https://www.venmo.com/u/Soberbanter Do you have questions or feedback? Contact us at soberbanter.com or email Rachel at rachel@soberbanter.com (00:00) - Introduction to Sober Banter (03:33) - Challenges of Sober October (06:36) - Daily Check-ins and Support (08:58) - Reflections and Rationalizations (15:07) - Cultural Perspectives on Drinking (16:06) - Conclusion and Wrap-Up ★ Support this podcast ★

    17 min
  6. 41 Years Sober: David McMenimen on AA Meetings, Sobriety, and Understanding Alcoholism as a Threefold Disease

    07/07/2025

    41 Years Sober: David McMenimen on AA Meetings, Sobriety, and Understanding Alcoholism as a Threefold Disease

    In this inspiring episode of Sober Banter, Rachel welcomes David McMenimen, who shares his remarkable 41-year journey of sobriety. David discusses pivotal moments that led him to AA meetings, including DUIs and a life-changing car accident. He candidly shares the challenges of early sobriety, the transformative impact of consistent attendance, and how the 12 steps provided spiritual and practical tools for recovery. David explores alcoholism as a threefold disease—physical, mental, and spiritual—and how this understanding reshaped his approach to addiction and recovery. He reflects on how sobriety strengthened his relationships, shifted his outlook, and connected him to a supportive community. This episode delivers powerful wisdom and hope for those in recovery, sober curious, or supporting someone on their journey. (00:00) - – Introduction and Guest Welcome: David M. (02:04) - – The Turning Point: Legal Consequences (04:38) - – Embracing Sobriety and Working the 12 Steps (13:20) - – The Importance of Consistent AA Meetings (24:30) - – Growth Through Sharing and Learning in AA (38:56) - – Understanding Alcoholism as a Threefold Disease (45:35) - – How AA Has Evolved Over the Decades (58:29) - – The Legacy of Bill Wilson (01:07:14) - – Final Reflections and Gratitude Resources & Links:🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Sober Banter:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sober-banter/id1805475969Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A51zCDyW8K927va0adaby?si=f43451ae0fa44ef2 💌 Join our email list:https://soberbanter.com/subscribe 🤝 Support the show:Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberbanter 📚 Learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous:https://www.aa.org 📱 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soberbanterpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sober.banterTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soberbanterX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/soberbanter Disclaimer Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource. ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 8m
  7. Dr. Robb Kelly on Trauma, Sobriety, and Healing Addiction with Neuroscience

    07/01/2025

    Dr. Robb Kelly on Trauma, Sobriety, and Healing Addiction with Neuroscience

    What if addiction is not about alcohol at all?What if the real root is trauma wired into the brain long before the first drink? In this episode of Sober Banter, Rachel and Colin sit down with Dr. Robb Kelly for a direct conversation about neuroscience, childhood trauma, identity, and what permanent recovery actually requires. Episode 46 | Originally Released July 1, 2025 Dr. Kelly shares how he went from homelessness to becoming an internationally recognized addiction expert, and why he believes most treatment models miss the real issue. With a reported 98 percent success rate, his 90 day recovery program goes beyond traditional talk therapy, using brainspotting, 9D breathwork, subliminal messaging, and structured behavioral change to help rewire the brain for long term sobriety. With a 98% success rate, his 90-day recovery program goes far beyond talk therapy, using brainspotting, 9D breathwork, subliminal messaging, and more to rewire the brain for long-term sobriety. This conversation breaks down the connection between unresolved childhood trauma and chronic relapse, the difference between white knuckling sobriety and true transformation, and what it actually means to heal the addicted brain. In this episode, you will hear: • Why trauma is often the real gateway drug• What a structured 90 day recovery program looks like• How breathwork and brain based interventions support healing• The myth of being “one drink away”• Whether alcoholics are born and addicts are made• What long term recovery demands beyond motivation If you keep starting over, feel stuck in relapse cycles, or want to understand the science behind addiction in plain language, this episode will meet you there. We are not clinicians. We are two people in recovery sharing lived experience. This podcast is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, trauma, or a mental health crisis, please reach out to a qualified professional. (00:00) - – Dr. Robb Kelly: From Homelessness to Addiction Neuroscientist (02:00) - – The 90 Day Addiction Recovery Program and 98% Success Rate (05:00) - – Trauma and Addiction: The Real Gateway Drug (09:30) - – Rewiring the Brain for Sobriety: Breathwork and Brainspotting (17:00) - – Addiction Mindset and the Myth of One Drink Away (27:00) - – Chronic Relapse and Childhood Trauma in Recovery (36:00) - – Are Alcoholics Born or Made? The Science of Addiction (43:00) - – Alcoholics Anonymous, the Original 12 Steps, and Long Term Sobriety (59:00) - – Final Thoughts on Trauma Healing and Permanent Recovery About Dr. Robb Kelly Dr. Robb Kelly is an internationally recognized addiction expert known for blending neuroscience, trauma recovery, and structured behavioral change. His work focuses on addressing root causes rather than surface behaviors, helping individuals build sustainable recovery from the inside out. 🌐 Website: https://robbkelly.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrobbkelly🌬 Breathwork & Healing: https://breathbox.studio Listen to Sober Banter Website: https://soberbanter.com📩 Join the email list: https://soberbanter.com/subscribe Follow Sober Banter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soberbanterpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sober.banterX: https://x.com/Sober_banterTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soberbanter 💛 Keep This Going Sober Banter runs on real stories and listener support. If this conversation helped you, share it. Text it to someone who needs it. Leave a review. That is how these stories reach the next person who is quietly struggling. ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 3m
  8. "Just Because I Don’t Drink Alcohol Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Deserve a Damn Good Drink" -Eryka V. Namari

    06/19/2025

    "Just Because I Don’t Drink Alcohol Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Deserve a Damn Good Drink" -Eryka V. Namari

    Eryka V. is a queer, sober, first-generation founder and the co-creator of Namari—a non-alcoholic digestif rooted in intention, ritual, and bold flavor. In this episode, we talk about what happens when you quit alcohol, meat, and caffeine all at once—and how that radical choice led to clarity, creativity, and the launch of something revolutionary. From finding community to letting go of ego, Eryka shares wisdom on building a brand (and a life) that actually feels good. We dig into identity, connection, the power of ritual, and what it means to create something that tastes like love and intention—not just trend. If you’re craving depth, joy, or just a better non-alcoholic drink—this episode delivers. 1:21 – How Eryka Got Sober (Dry January… Plus No Meat, No Caffeine) 4:52 – The Band-Aid Rip: Goodbye Booze, Meat, and Coffee 7:46 – Building Namari: A Drink With Intention 11:52 – You Can Taste the Love (Like a Lemonade Stand in Summer) 17:19 – Finding Your People in Sobriety 22:12 – Saying “I Don’t Drink” Without Apology 29:16 – Choosing What Serves You (and Letting Go of the Rest) 33:58 – The Best Way to Drink Namari (Spoiler: Pineapple, Lime or Neat) Namari Website: https://drinknamari.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/drinknamari More Sober Banter: https://soberbanterpodcast.transistor.fmJoin Our Community: https://soberbanter.mn.co Love What You Heard?here’s how you can support Sober Banter: 💬 Leave a review on Apple or Spotify—it seriously helps new folks find us. Just one or two sentences makes a difference. 💌 Subscribe soberbanter.com so you never miss an episode. 🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it. 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @soberbanterpodcast ☕️ Support the show:Buy Me a Coffee or Venmo Thanks for being part of the Sober Banter fam. We’re here, we’re laughing, and we’re doing recovery our way. 💛 (01:21) - – How Eryka stopped drinking (04:52) - – The Band-Aid Rip: Goodbye Booze, Meat, and Coffee (07:46) - – Building Namari: A Drink With Intention (11:52) - – You Can Taste the Love (Like a Lemonade Stand in Summer) (17:19) - – Finding Your People in Sobriety (22:12) - – Saying “I Don’t Drink” Without Apology (29:16) - – Choosing What Serves You (and Letting Go of the Rest) (33:58) - – The Best Way to Drink Namari (Spoiler: Pineapple, Lime or Neat) ★ Support this podcast ★

    42 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Sober Banter is a sobriety podcast hosted by Rachel and Colin, a married couple who got sober together in November 2021. The show explores life after alcohol in real time, covering relationships, relapse, identity shifts, family, stigma, and the daily work of staying sober. Honest conversation. Sharp humor. No preaching. New episodes every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel & Colin Casey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sober Banter
  • Show Website
    Sober Banter