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Recovery Elevator 🌴

It isn't a NO to alcohol, but a YES to a better life! Best selling author Paul Churchill, along with Kristopher Oyen interview people who have stepped away from alcohol in their own lives. Each week this podcast does a deep dive into an exploration of what a booze free life might look like from various perspectives and opinions.  If you are sick and tired of alcohol making you sick and tired, we invite you to listen to Recovery Elevator. Check out what an alcohol free life can look like as others share their own stories of sobriety. If you are sober curious, newly sober, supporting a loved one or living your best life already in recovery, then you are in the right place. This podcast addresses what to do if you’re addicted to alcohol, or if you think you’re an alcoholic. Other topics include, does moderate drinking work, does addiction serve a purpose, what happens to the brain when we quit drinking, should you track sobriety time, is A.A. right for you, spirituality, and more. Similar to other recovery podcasts like This Naked Mind, the Shair Podcast, and the Recovered Podcast, Paul and Kris discuss a topic and then interview someone who has ditched the booze.
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Now displaying: May, 2016
May 30, 2016

Buddy, with 7 years of sobriety, bounced in an out of AA for from 2002-2008 before something finally stuck and ironically, he explains how drinking actually saved his life.

 

Don’t forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/

 

I read the following line out of an AA Grapevine, August 2013 issue, while on a tumultuous ride over a high altitude Andean pass in Chile. It didn’t help that I was only 2 days sober (relapsed shortly after reading that line and ended up vomiting on myself and the bus) and I thought a relationship would solve my problems.

 

Page 53 in the 12&12:

The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being.

May 23, 2016

James with over 2.5 years of sobriety shares how we earned his family's trust back.

Being sober has huge advantages at the workplace and this should be marketed as such.

Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum.

Support the podcast and make your Amazon purchases through the Recovery Elevator affiliate link. 1/2 of all revenues will go to recovery non-profits.

This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

May 16, 2016

In this episode Angela, with nearly 10 months of sobriety, shares how she did it.

Here are some great movies about alcohol, sobriety, recovery, drunkenness, and getting sober!

 

Thank you to Marueen from Cafe RE who helped put this list together!

  1. Burnt (2015) Bradley Cooper 1 hour, 40 minutes Comedy/Drama

    Synopsis:
    Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
    Director: John Wells
    Writers: Steven Knight (screenplay), Michael Kalesniko (story)
    Stars: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl | See full cast & crew »

    2.  Smashed (2012) Aaron Paul 1 hour, 21 minutes Drama

    Synopsis:

    A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.
    Director: James Ponsoldt
    Writers: Susan Burke, James Ponsoldt
    Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman | See full cast & crew »

    3.  Everything Must Go (2010) Will Farrell
    Comedy/Drama

    Synopsis:

    When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. A new neighbor might be the key to his return to form.
    Director: Dan Rush
    Writers: Dan Rush, Raymond Carver (short story "Why Don't You Dance")
    Stars: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace | See full cast & crew »

    4.  Shakes The Clown (1991) Bobcat Goldthwait Drama/Comedy/Murder

    Synopsis:

    Shakes plods about his duties as party clown, and uses all of his free time getting seriously drunk. Binky, another clown, wins the spot on a local kiddie show, which depresses Shakes even more, and his boss threatens him with unemployment if he can't get his act under control. When someone murders Shakes' boss and makes it look like Shakes did it, he goes undercover, posing as a hated mime, and tries to find information that will clear his name.
    - Written by Ed Sutton <

    5.  My Name Is Bill W. (1989) James Woods
    Drama (TV Movie)

    Synopsis:
    Based on the true story of Bill W. (James Woods), a successful stock broker whose life falls apart after the stock crash of the 20's and how he comes to grips with his alcoholism. Along with a fellow alcoholic (James Garner) he forms a support group that would eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous.
    - Written by Humberto Amador

    6.  Barfly (1987) Mickey Rourke
    Drama  1 hour, 40 minutes

    Synopsis:
    Based on the life of successful poet Charles Bukowski and his exploits in Hollywood during the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
    Director: Barbet Schroeder
    Writer: Charles Bukowski
    Stars: Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige | See full cast & crew »

    7.  Crazy Heart (2009) Jeff Bridges,
    Drama/Music/ Romance  1 hour, 52 minutes

    Synopsis:
    A faded country music musician is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him.
    Director: Scott Cooper
    Writers: Scott Cooper, Thomas Cobb (novel)
    Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell | See full cast & crew »

    8.  Days of Wine And Roses (1962) Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick
    Drama/ Romance

    Synopsis:
    An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his "passion" together.
    Director: Blake Edwards
    Writer: J.P. Miller (as JP Miller)
    Stars: Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford | See full cast & crew »

    9.  Drunks (1995) Richard Lewis, Liza Harris    Drama

    Synopsis:
    At the beginning of a nightly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Jim seems particularly troubled. His sponsor encourages him to talk that night, the first time in seven months, so he does - and leaves the meeting right after. As Jim wanders the night, searching for some solace in his old stomping grounds, bars and parks where he bought drugs, the meeting goes on, and we hear the stories of survivors and addicts - some, like Louis, who claim to have wandered in looking for choir practice, who don't call themselves alcoholic, and others, like Joseph, whose drinking almost caused the death of his child - as they talk about their lives at the meeting.
    - Written by Gary Dickerson <slug@mail.utexas.edu>
    10.  Rachel Getting Married (2008) Anne Hathaway
    Drama 1 hour, 53 minutes

    Synopsis:
    A young woman who has been in and out of rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.
    Director: Jonathan Demme
    Writer: Jenny Lumet
    Stars: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger | See full cast & crew »

    11.  Unguarded - The Chris Herren Story (2013) Chris Herren
    Drama

    Synopsis:
    Chris Herren was a "can't miss" basketball superstar until drug addiction eventually destroyed his career. With the support of his wife and family, Herren struggles to conquer his demons and reclaim his life.
    Director: Jonathan Hock
    Stars: Chris Herren, Rick Pitino, Bill Reynolds |See full cast & crew »

    12.  28 Days - Sandra Bullock (2000) Drama/Comedy 1 hour, 43 minutes

    Synopsis:
    A big-city newspaper columnist is forced to enter a drug and alcohol rehab center after ruining her sister's wedding and crashing a stolen limousine.
    Director: Betty Thomas
    Writer: Susannah Grant
    Stars: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West | See full cast & crew »

    13.  When A Man Loves A Woman - Meg Ryan,  Andy Garcia (1994)
    Drama 2 hours, 6 minutes

    Synopsis:
    An airline pilot and his wife are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While the woman enters detox, her husband must face the truth of his enabling behavior.
    Director: Luis Mandoki
    Writers: Ronald Bass, Al Franken
    Stars: Meg Ryan, Andy Garcia, Ellen Burstyn | See full cast & crew »

    14.  Leaving Las Vegas - Nic Cage,  Elizabeth Shue (1995)
    Drama 1 hour, 51 minutes

    Synopsis:
    Nicolas Cage garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his hauntingly disturbing "Leaving Las Vegas" is a dark and tragic film that shows you how low you can fall and just how bad things can get. It portrays a dead-on picture of alcoholism and what exactly one goes through when they've hit rock bottom. As tragic as it is, this is a very beautiful and well-done film that keeps your attention to the bitter end.
    Ben Sanderson (Nicholas Cage) is an alcoholic who has nothing left to live for but the very booze that seems to be the only happiness he can find. His friends want nothing to do with him and women are disgusted by him. After being let go from his job, Ben burns all of his possessions and moves to Las Vegas, where his only plan is to drink himself to death. In a short amount of time he meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a lonely hooker who has been through it all. An unexpected bond is formed between the two and love falls upon them that can only end in tragedy.
    Boy, was this a hard movie to watch, but it was so well-done and executed. You are able to sympathize with both Ben and Sera, despite the paths they have chosen. Nicholas Cage was amazing and brilliant. No wonder why he won an Academy Award for his performance. You really buy into the fact that he is this sad character who wants nothing more but to destroy himself by the only thing that can bring him some sense of false happiness. Shue is also terrific in her role and should be applauded as well. The two are explosive as a team and can really bring the house down.
    The DVD is fair; nothing too special. You can have your choice of either watching the movie in widescreen or full screen. The picture for the most part looks good; not the best, but good. The main special feature this DVD offers is a trailer for the film and a bonus secret page.Read more ›

    15.  Clean And Sober - Michael Keaton  (1988)
    Drama 1 hour, 51 minutes

    Synopsis:
    Nicolas Cage garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his hauntingly disturbing
    A hustling drug addict checks himself into rehab to escape trouble with the law, and realizes that it's exactly what he needs.
    Director: Glenn Gordon Caron
    Writer: Tod Carroll
    Stars: Michael Keaton, Kathy Baker, Morgan Freeman | See full cast & crew »

    16.  The Basketball Diaries - Leonardo DiCaprio   (1995)
    Drama/Biography 1 hour, 42 minutes

    Synopsis:
    Nicolas Cage garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his hauntingly disturbing
    A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
    Director: Scott Kalvert
    Writers: Jim Carroll (novel), Bryan Goluboff (screenplay)
    Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol |

    17.   The Lost Weekend (1945) Drama 1 hour, 41 minutes

    Synopsis:
    The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four day drinking bout.
    Director: Billy Wilder
    Writers: Charles R. Jackson (from the novel by), Charles Brackett (screen play) |1 more credit »
    Stars: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry | See full cast & crew

    18.   Shame (2011) Drama 1 hour, 41 minutes

    Synopsis:
    In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
    Director: Steve McQueen
    Writers: Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan | 1 more credit »
    Stars: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale | See full cast & crew »

    19. Postcards From The Edge   (1990) Drama 1 hour, 41 minutes

    Synopsis:
    A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.
    Director: Mike Nichols
    Writers: Carrie Fisher (book), Carrie Fisher (screenplay)
    Stars: Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid | See full cast & crew

    20. Flight   (2012) Drama
    2 hours, 10 minutes

    Synopsis:
    An airline pilot saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling.
    Director: Robert Zemeckis
    Writer: John Gatins
    Stars: Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez, Don Cheadle | See full cast & crew

    21. Thanks For Sharing  (2013) Drama/Comedy 2 hours, 10 minutes

    Synopsis:
    A romantic comedy that brings together three disparate characters who are learning to face a challenging and often confusing world as they struggle together against a common demon: sex addiction.
    Director: Stuart Blumberg
    Writers: Stuart Blumberg, Matt Winston
    Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow | See full cast & crew

    22. Suck It Up Buttercup  (2014) Drama 1 hours, 27 minutes

    Synopsis:
    Drug addiction's collateral damage is starkly revealed when a former honor student, newly addicted to prescription pills, triggers a chain of events that devastates her friends and threatens to tear her family apart.
    Director: Malindi Fickle
    Writers: Malindi Fickle, Kris Lienert
    Stars: Lacy Marie Meyer, Robyn Ross, Gregory Konow | See full cast & crew

    23. Half Nelson (2006) Drama 1 hours, 46 minutes

    Synopsis:
    An inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.
    Director: Ryan Fleck
    Writers: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
    Stars: Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Shareeka Epps | See full cast & crew

    24. Amy (2015) Documentary 2 hours, 8 minutes

    Synopsis:
    The story of Amy Winehouse in her own words, featuring unseen archival footage and unheard tracks.
    Director: Asif Kapadia
    Stars: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson | See full cast & crew

    25. The Anonymous People (2013) Documentary 1 hour, 28 minutes

    Synopsis:
    Recovery is OUT - to change the addiction conversation from problems to SOLUTIONS. An independent feature documentary about the over 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions.
    Director: Greg D. Williams
    Writers: Aaron Cohen, Bud Mikhitarian | 2 more credits »
    Stars: Tom Coderre, Tara Conner, Laurie Dhue | See full cast & crew »

 

Here are some movie titles I recommend to shy away from in sobriety!

Beer Fest, American Pie 1-11, PCU, Teen Wolf, Mean Girls, Rules of Attraction, Dazed and Confused, Boogie Nights, Trainspotting, Eurotrip, Weird Science, Clueless, Superbad, Sixteen Candles, Old School, House Party, Bachelor Party, Roadtrip, Revenge of the Nerds, Can't Hardly Wait, Animal House, 21 and Over, Project X, Great Gatsby, This is the End, 21/22 Jump Street and Wolf on Wall Street.

 

Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum.

Support the podcast and make your Amazon purchases through the Recovery Elevator affiliate link. 1/2 of all revenues will go to recovery non-profits.

This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

May 9, 2016

In this episode Rachael, with 2.5 years of sobriety, shares how she did it.

I got the idea for today's topic from an article I read by Sarah A Benton called: Why some phase out of college binge drinking and others are alcoholic. It piggy backs perfectly off last weeks episode with Johnny Manziel. Manziel appears not to be growing out of this phase and it's becoming apparent he has a real problem with alcohol.

Why do some people simply not "grow out" of this phase? Here are some reasons the article states:

• The Surgeon General's 2007 "Call to Action" report indicates that genetics account for 50% of the risk of developing alcoholism, therefore, family history is one of the strongest determinations of who may be alcoholic. In addition, the drinking culture of the individual's family and the role that alcohol plays.

• The age that he or she began drinking is another key factor. Specifically, research by the NIAAA indicates that teens who begin drinking before the age of 15 have a 40% greater chance of becoming alcoholic with or without a family history of alcoholism.

• Certain work or graduate school environments tend to incorporate alcohol into their social events such as going out after work or class for drinks or drinking while networking (ie, law, business). These cultures may normalize heavy drinking and also breed a "work hard, play hard" mentality that enables alcoholic drinking patterns.

• The drinking patterns of the group of friends that he or she lives with or socializes with. Heavy drinkers tend to migrate towards spending time with others who drink like they do and this often allows them to justify and minimize their excessive drinking.

• The individual's predispositions toward mental illness (such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety) or a trauma history (PTSD) may lead he or she to self-medicate with alcohol.

• Impulse-control issues that include thrill-seeking behaviors and a need for immediate gratification.

• Certain drinking patterns are "red flags" for alcoholism including: blacking out (ie, memory loss when drinking),inability to have just 1-2 drinks, obsessing about alcohol, rotating their social life around alcohol, drinking daily or frequently, behaving in shameful ways while drunk, always needing to drink excessively before going to a party (ie, "pre-partying") and surrounding themselves with peers who drink heavily.

Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum.

Support the podcast and make your Amazon purchases through the Recovery Elevator affiliate link. 1/2 of all revenues will go to recovery non-profits.

This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

May 2, 2016

Kelly, with 9.5 months sobriety shares how she did it!

 

Johnny Manziel is an alcoholic who isn't having any fun. We has drafted 22nd overall in the 2014 NFL draft and the wheels have been coming off since. The media seem to wonder why he hasn't simply grown out of his crazy party lifestyle and realized his potential a an NFL quarterback. It was refreshing to see an article in written in the Bleacher Report about how Johnny's problem isn't a maturity one, but a clinical one.

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