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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: November, 2019
Nov 25, 2019

Lauren took her last drink on November 17, 2018.  This is her story.

Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book!  The book is out!  Pick up your paperback copy on Amazon here!  You can get the Audible version here!

On today’s episode Paul talks about the ‘how’, and says not to worry about the how you are going to quit drinking.  Once you know the ‘why’ you want to quit drinking the how always solves itself. 

If you need help coming up with the why, most likely you have an encyclopedia of evidence behind you.  It could be the intense emotional dips, depression, anxiety, letting yourself or those you love down.  Put that why to work in your favor. 

 

[13:30] Paul introduces Lauren. 

 

Lauren is 38 years old.  She lives in Sharon, Mass, and is adjunct faculty at a university in Boston in their School of Social Work.  Lauren is married and has 3 children.  For fun Lauren enjoys spending time outside, listening to LIVE music and hanging out with friends. 

 

[15:47] Give us a background on your drinking.

 

Lauren says alcohol set up shop in her life while she was attending the University of Mass.  In 2007 while she was finishing up her Masters in Social Work, she came across a binge drinking scale and realized that she had surpassed all female scales and was binge drinking like a man.  This was the first time the Lauren felt, in her gut, that something might be wrong. 

 

Instead of listening to this bodily cue Lauren pushed it away and ignored it. 

 

In 2009 Lauren met her wife and saw a life she wanted and made some changes in terms of her drinking. 

 

[19:00] Talk to me about those changes that you made?

 

Lauren says she just naturally toned it down a little bit.  Her partner had children so they started doing more family things.  In 2011 they were married.  Lauren says that, at this time, her drinking was progressing and taking up more and more space in her life. 

 

In 2013 there was a hard stoop in Lauren’s drinking, during her pregnancy, and she gave birth to their daughter.  Even though there was this break in her drinking things picked up right where she left off. 

 

[20:25] What happens next? 

 

Lauren is a stay at home mom and her drinking escalates.  She wasn’t isolating, she joined a mom’s group, and really didn’t think she had a drinking problem because she wasn’t drinking during the day.  Lauren says that she started using drinking as a reward.  She was blacking out more frequently, her relationships started suffering and Lauren says that, clearly, her addiction had the upper hand. 

 

[21:40] When did you start to realize there was a problem?

 

November 20, 2018, they got a phone call, one that you never hope to receive.  Lauren’s stepson exited his car on a busy roadway and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.  They soon learned that his injuries were far too significant for treatment and had to prepare to say goodbye.  All the emotions and feelings she had been dousing in alcohol over the years came to the surface.       

 

[23:40] What happened on November 20th?

 

Lauren says she somehow allowed all those emotions in fully and was unexplainably present in that hospital room.  As the hours passed, she began to notice that along with all the pain and sadness in that hospital room there was something beautiful happening.  Lauren says she felt gratitude, and felt it in every fiber of her body. 

 

[30:50] What happened after that first AA meeting?

 

Lauren say she stuck it out with AA and is still working the steps and feels that there is great value to the steps. 

 

[31:30] What was life like after that?

 

Lauren says the first weeks were really hard, but that all her relationships improved. 

 

[37:38] Talk to us about your experience with the breathwork session we had at the RE Bozeman Retreat.

 

Lauren says she is glad she didn’t know anything about breathwork prior to the session so she just followed directions and was breathing like they said to.  Lauren experienced her stepson, Michael, visiting and talking to her during the session. 

 

[48:00] What’s on your bucket list in an alcohol-free life? 

 

Travel and showing our daughter the world.

 

[49:00] Rapid Fire Round

 

  1. What’s a lightbulb moment you’ve had on this journey?

 

That it’s not about alcohol anymore. 

 

  1. What is a memorable moment that a life without alcohol has given you?

 

The fact that I have memories.  Everyday with my family is memorable. 

 

  1. What is your favorite alcohol-free drink?

 

Pamplemousse LaCroix

 

  1. What are some of your favorite resources on this journey?

 

Podcasts…Recovery Elevator, Recovery Happy Hour, and I do a lot of reading on The Temper.   

 

  1. And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners?

 

You’re worth it.  You can do it. 

 

You might need to ditch the booze if...

 

You add Tito’s to your spiked seltzer. 

 

Upcoming retreats:

Asia Adventure – January 20-31, 2020

You can find more information about this event here

 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

 

 

Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY for your first month free

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

 

“Recovery Elevator – It All Starts From the Inside Out.  We can do this.”

Nov 18, 2019

Patrick took his last drink on January 1, 2019.  This is his story.

Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book!  The book is out!  Pick up your paperback copy on Amazon here!  You can get the Audible version here!

A new Café RE group will be launching January 1, 2020!  Also, Recovery Elevator Meet-ups in Australia have been scheduled for December!  Be sure to check the events calendar or the weekly email. 

Paul is currently working on a meditation course, that he hopes to have out by early next year…warning, you may just might fall in love with yourself. 

On today’s episode Paul talks about sharing and owning our story.   This can be therapeutic, but also, if done too many times, dangerous.  Why?  Your story becomes your future.  How do we stop this?  We learn to protect us from our thoughts.  When you take your energies and thoughts off your past addictions and traumas they can disappear.  One way to do this is through meditation.

 

[11:15] Paul introduces Patrick. 

 

Patrick was born and raised in Boston.  He is a high school teacher and teaches religion and history.  He is married and has a 6-year-old daughter.  For fun Patrick likes long distance hiking, car camping and road trips.  

 

[14:20] Give us a background on your drinking.

 

Patrick says he accepted that he was an alcoholic at the age of 18 when he entered the seminary.  He got a fake ID at the age of 16 and was going into liquor stores at 16 and buying his own liquor.  At the age of 18 Patrick started going to AA meetings.  Patrick started drinking again, about the age of 29, and only beer. 

 

The next couple of years the beer became scotch, then vodka.  After about 2 weeks of consuming vodka for 2 weeks Patrick contemplated suicide.  When his baby was only 2 weeks old Patrick went to the hospital.  He is 45 years old.  He is checked into the hospital for 9 days to detox.  A year later…picking up his 1-year chip at an AA meeting, he had already had a couple drinks before the meeting. 

 

 

[19:35] What happened next?

 

Patrick and his wife decided they were going to have a baby.  Wasn’t what he planned…but he started hitting the bottle hard.  He started hiding bottles all over.  Patrick wrapped bottles in his hospital bag to get through the birth of his child. 

 

[33:50] What was different this time? 

 

Patrick says he reached a turning point, he could stay on the couch drinking scotch and vodka and have his wife leave him, or live the life he knew he wanted.      

 

[39:45] How’d you do it??

 

Like a bird…worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.  Be fully present in every moment.     

 

[43:50] What are some of the lessons you have learned about yourself along the way?

 

Patrick says he is discovering who he’s always been.   

 

[45:30] Were there cravings?

 

Patrick says he has had cravings in the past but not the past 9 months.    

 

[47:05] How has your life changed without alcohol?

 

Patrick says he is fully present with his wife and with his daughter…and fully present with himself.     

 

[47:50] Rapid Fire Round

 

  1. What’s a lightbulb moment you’ve had on this journey?

 

Honesty.  I lied mostly to myself, and then when I stopped it got better. 

 

  1. What is a gift that sobriety has given you?

 

Camping on the river with my daughter. 

 

  1. What is your favorite alcohol-free drink?

 

Polar Mango Cherry Bliss.  

 

  1. What are some of your favorite resources on this journey?

 

Podcasts…Recovery Elevator, This Naked Mind, Recovery Revolution, I go to AA and volunteer at a detox center. 

 

  1. What is on your bucket list in an alcohol-free life?

 

A cross country trip with my 6-year-old.    

 

  1. And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners?

 

Brutal honesty with self. 

 

You might need to ditch the booze if...

 

You shoot vodka nips on your way to your 1-year AA anniversary. 

 

Upcoming retreats:

Asia Adventure – January 20-31, 2020

You can find more information about this event here

 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

 

 

Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY for your first month free

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

 

“Recovery Elevator – It All Starts From the Inside Out.  We can do this.”

Nov 11, 2019

Jody took her last drink on October 20, 2015.  This is her story.

Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book!  The book is out!  Pick up your paperback copy on Amazon here!  You can get the Audible version here!

On today’s episode Paul shares with the listeners the many (12) steps, and team members, it takes to put a podcast episode together.  And listeners…you are part of the team! 

Paul also covers an article he came across that talks about the relationship between alcohol and antisocial behavior is well documented.  You can find a link to the article here.

 

The question is, can we blame our bad behavior on the alcohol?  The study in this article says no.  Alcohol, according to the study, does not change your personality.  Drunken you has the same moral compass as sober you. 

 

[10:20] Paul introduces Jody. 

 

Jody is 30 years old and lives in Orlando, Florida.  She is a flight attendant and a mindset and transformation coach.  Jody is not married and does not have any kids, yet.  She loves to travel, read, cook, and do yoga. 

 

[13:25] Give us a background on your drinking.

 

Jody was introduced to alcohol her freshman year of college.  She found that alcohol helped her social anxiety.  After graduating from college, she thought she would leave the binge drinking behind.  That didn’t happen.  She continued to drink and smoke and have blackouts, and this frustrated Jody. 

 

[17:15] Can you dive deeper into your frustration?

 

She moved back home and that addiction followed her.  It helped her find people that made her feel normal.   Once she decided she wanted to become a flight attendant she knew she would have to stop smoking because they drug test you.  So, she did, and she got the job.  During this time Jody started drinking more and drinking alone. 

 

[22:40] Get us up to speed, did you try to moderate, was there a rock bottom moment? 

 

When she started drinking alone, she tried to make rules and moderate, always breaking the rules.  The voice inside got really loud and she started to believe that the world would be a better place without her.  She felt her problem was too big.  This is when she started to listen to the Recovery Elevator podcast.  She got a new therapist and at the age of 27 she identified herself as an alcoholic, a word she does not use anymore. 

 

[24:30] Tell me your thinking on not using the word alcoholic anymore?

 

Jody feels very passionate about this…this feels it’s a very dangerous and harmful term to use.  

 

[27:40] Bring us up to October 20, 2015.

 

Jody says she was just sick and tired or being sick and tired.    

 

[28:20] What happened after that?

 

Jody says she’s pretty much did it on her own.   She took it one day at a time.  Jody structured her days and it helped her stay sober and grounded.   

 

[29:15] In the first couple months did you experience cravings, and how’d you get past them?

 

Jody says she made a really firm decision that she didn’t want to drink and she didn’t experience cravings. 

 

[30:20] Share with us your biggest life lessons during the last 4 years. 

 

Jody’s first year was dedicated to loving herself.  Year 2, 3, & 4 was all about mindset.  She changed the way she viewed what had happened and how alcohol was viewed in out society.  This ultimately made her leave AA. 

 

[33:40] Tell us about being a Mindset and Transformation Coach.

 

About a year ago Jody decided she wanted to do something to help others that want to be alcohol free.  There is nothing to be ashamed of. 

 

[38:25] You are loud and proud on social media, what has been the response?

 

Jody says her posts are never about her, they are about the people that need to hear it.  About sharing her story for those that need to hear that message. 

 

[43:30] Where can people get in contact with you? 

 

You can find Jody on Instagram here

 

[44:00] Rapid Fire Round

 

  1. What’s a lightbulb moment you’ve had on this journey?

 

Realizing I am not my addiction, I am not what I have experienced. 

 

  1. What is a gift that sobriety has given you?

 

Being fully present at all times.    

 

  1. What is your favorite alcohol-free drink?

 

Recently I had a spicy AF jalapeno margherita.  

 

  1. What are some of your favorite resources on this journey?

 

Annie Grace’s This Naked Mind, Alan Carr’s The Easy Way to Quit Drinking for Women, this podcast, and anyone that is loud and proud on Instagram. 

 

  1. What is on your bucket list in an alcohol-free life?

 

I want to help as many people as I can through coaching. 

 

  1. And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners?

 

Be open, and committed.  Stay curious. 

 

You might need to ditch the booze if...

 

If you use the layering technique in your recycling bin.    

 

Upcoming retreats:

Asia Adventure – January 20-31, 2020

You can find more information about this event here

 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

 

Connect with Jody via Instagram @jodyventura

 

You Can’t Blame Alcohol for Acting Like an A-hole Anymore, Say Scientists

https://www.inverse.com/article/58809-alcohol-study-does-it-change-your-personality

 

Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY for your first month free

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

 

“Recovery Elevator – It All Starts From the Inside Out.  We can do this.”

Nov 4, 2019

Wendall took his last drink on June 13, 2019.  This is his story.

Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book!  The book is out!  Pick up your paperback copy on Amazon here!  You can get the Audible version here!

On today’s episode Paul talks about the 5 responses you get when you tell people you don’t drink.  He also discusses what you do when you accidently post on social media that you no longer drink. 

The 5 responses: 

70% of the time you hear total support, “Wow that’s so cool, because I want you to be the best version of you.”

 

20% of the time the response will be that the person you told has a family member or close friend that has also quit drinking alcohol. 

 

5% of the time you will get bombarded with questions as to why you don’t drink. 

 

4% of the time they will be supportive but will no longer be a part of your life, drinking was the reason they were. 

 

1% of the time they will not be supportive of your decision to ditch the booze. 

 

[22:30] Paul introduces Wendall. 

 

Wendall lives in Toronto Ontario, Canada.  He is 42 years old and is a director, producer, and cinematographer of documentaries.  Wendall is married and has a 6-year-old son.  For fun Wendall enjoys getting out in nature. 

 

[23:35] Give us a background on your drinking.

 

Wendall says he didn’t really start drinking until he was in university, about 1996.   Up until his late 30’s he was mostly a social drinker.  Things shifted then.  He was working a lot, traveling a lot, was stressed.  Drinking became habitual at this time; it was both a reward and a stress reliever.  With added responsibilities, came anxiety.  Drinking then became a coping mechanism.  In 2018 Wendall realized that all the rules of moderation he had tried to put in place weren’t working. 

 

About 6 months ago binge drinking really started to rear its ugly head.  He finally decided he couldn’t drink anymore. 

 

[34:00] How did it feel after you set the bottle down?

 

It felt like every new beginning comes from some others beginnings end.

 

[35:25] What was it like living life without alcohol the first few days and weeks? 

 

Because his drinking was habitual Wendall realized he would have to create new habits.  He started listening to recovery podcasts.  His first 30 days was done pretty much in solitude.  Instead of having his normal evening drinks he would listen to a podcast and read a few chapters. 

 

[39:20] How long did it take for the new habits to take hold?

 

Wendall says it only took about 14 days because he wanted it so badly. 

 

[43:00] Have you told your film crew or others in your industry?

 

Wendall has told his film crew as the situation came up, he simply tells them he just doesn’t drink. 

 

[48:24] This project, Sober House, showed up on your plate when you were also exploring a life without alcohol?

 

Wendall says it showed up in and around the time he was having some internal conflict with his drinking.  Listening to the kids in this film talk about how much alcohol has impacted their lives was like the hammer hitting the nail square on the head. 

 

[51:52] How can the listeners find out more information about this project? 

 

They can go to www.soberhouse.ca , they can follow us on Instagram and Twitter at soberhousefilm.

 

 

[53:27] Rapid Fire Round

 

  1. What’s a lightbulb moment you’ve had on this journey?

 

Moments with my son are way better without a hangover. 

 

  1. What is a memorable moment that a life without alcohol has given you?

 

While filming in the Yukon and coming out of the tent in the morning, mist rising off the lake, the sun streaming down and the mountain revealing itself. 

 

  1. What is your favorite alcohol-free drink?

 

Does ice cream count?  

 

  1. What are some of your favorite resources on this journey?

 

I really dialed back into my love of reading.  The Recovery Elevator podcast, I binged that pretty hard the first 30 days, same with Recovery Happy Hour. 

 

  1. What is on your bucket list in an alcohol-free life?

 

To really have great experiences with my family.   

 

  1. And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners?

 

I have 2, the first one is to listen to your body.  The second one is listen to your body. 

 

  1. You might need to ditch the booze if...

 

If you know where every liquor store is in every major airport in your country. 

 

Upcoming retreats:

Asia Adventure – January 20-31, 2020

You can find more information about this event here

 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

 

Sober House film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oERDuy1WxgU&t=72s

 

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Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY for your first month free

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

 

“Recovery Elevator – It All Starts From the Inside Out.  We can do this.”

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