Ever wondered if you can still enjoy concerts without a drink in hand? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with James, a 40-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, who has been sober since November 20th, 2023. James shares his journey of recovery, the ups and downs, and how he's found new joy in life without alcohol.

From attending concerts sober to dealing with life's challenges, James opens up about his experiences and the lessons he's learned along the way. Paul also touches on the decision by the Paris Olympic Committee to not sell alcohol at the Games, highlighting a shift in societal attitudes towards alcohol. This episode is filled with honest reflections and practical advice for anyone considering an alcohol-free life.

Whether you're on day one or day 10,000 of your sobriety journey, you'll find something relatable and inspiring in James's story. Tune in to hear how saying 'yes' to a better life can lead to unexpected joys and deeper connections.

Join James from Melbourne as he shares his journey to sobriety and the unexpected joys of living alcohol-free.

Finding Joy in Sobriety: James's Journey

Episode 496 – One Way Street   Today we have James. He is 40 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia. He took his last drink on November 20th, 2023.   Sponsors for this episode:   Visit <a href= "https://www.betterhelp.com/elevator" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Better Help </a>today to get 10% off your first month   Visit <a href="https://exactnature.com">Exact</a> Nature use code RE20 to save 20% off of your order   [04:16] Thoughts from Paul:   The Paris Olympic Committee opted to not sell alcohol. They were confident that they could have successfully applied to sell alcohol but still decided not to. In <a href= "https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/americans-paris-olympics-dumbfounded-no-alcohol-sporting-events-rcna164290"> an article from NBC News</a>, it mentioned the following: “While many people enjoy a casual drink, that’s not always the case. According to estimates by the French Public Health Society, 49,000 people are killed a year by alcohol consumption, which also causes 120 billion euros in damages.” Them choosing not to sell alcohol proves that things are changing around the globe regarding alcohol consumption.   Expanding on the topic of staying the course from last week’s episode, Paul shares that sobriety is a one-way street. He has yet to hear a story where someone with alcohol-free has gone back to drinking and was happy with the decision.   The common theme when it comes to what drove them back to alcohol was that they drifted from the AF community and attended less meetings or stopped altogether. They second part of this is they all said it was not a pleasant experience and many ended up right back where they were.   Do not beat yourself if you do some field research. We often need those reminders to reinforce internally that you made the right decision. Paul says he hasn’t met a single person who said they made the wrong choice when they decided to choose an alcohol-free life.   [11:03] Kris introduces James:   James lives in a rural area south of Melbourne, Australia. He is married with two kids, enjoys going to the gym and recently started playing football again.   James says he had a normal upbringing. He put a lot of pressure on himself and felt like he was always being watched. Alcohol entered his life when he was around 14 and drinking helped him turn things off as an escape and he felt freedom.   At 18, James moved out of his parent’s home with some older friends and was drinking on extended weekends but still very functional. When he was 20, he ended up moving to London where he felt complete freedom to do whatever he wanted, including living in a pub. James continued the weekend binge drinking with very little consequence.   After moving back to Australia in his late 20’s, James started a successful business and met the woman who is now his wife. Over time his feelings of not being “good enough” in many areas of his life were very stressful and found James drinking more to self-medicate and disconnect.   Towards the end of his drinking, James says he and his wife were very disconnected. He was acting out and taking a lot of risks. After confronting him one day, James told her his life was a mess and she told him it was either rehab or leaving. James opted for the easier option of leaving and chose an Airbnb close to a pub where he could drink and gamble. After a few days of this bender, his wife showed up and lovingly took him home. He started doing research but was scared to commit to inpatient care due to running his business.   James eventually found an outpatient treatment that would suit him. He has been alcohol-free ever since. Working on his connections with his family is something James is really proud of. He looks forward to doing the step work with his sponsor in AA and growing stronger spiritually.   James’ biggest fear around quitting: feeling his feelings and having to digest them.   James’ favorite resources in recovery: Recovery Elevator podcast and a book with spiritual principles for each day that he can meditate on.   James’ parting piece of guidance: Stick to it, keep showing up day by day and the magic happens down the track.   We are the only ones that can do this RE, but we don’t have to do it alone. I love you guys.   <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWac9dxkn3J93xJOka3L2g"> Recovery Elevator YouTube</a> <a href= "https://appsto.re/us/z8w_5.i">Sobriety Tracker iTunes </a>

RE 496: One Way Street

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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.

Recovery Elevator

Ever wondered if you can still enjoy concerts without a drink in hand? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with James, a 40-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, who has been sober since November 20th, 2023. James shares his journey of recovery, the ups and downs, and how he's found new joy in life without alcohol.From attending concerts sober to dealing with life's challenges, James opens up about his experiences and the lessons he's learned along the way. Paul also touches on the decision by the Paris Olympic Committee to not sell alcohol at the Games, highlighting a shift in societal attitudes towards alcohol. This episode is filled with honest reflections and practical advice for anyone considering an alcohol-free life.Whether you're on day one or day 10,000 of your sobriety journey, you'll find something relatable and inspiring in James's story. Tune in to hear how saying 'yes' to a better life can lead to unexpected joys and deeper connections.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 496: One Way Street

RE 496: One Way Street

RE 496: One Way Street

Monday 19th August 2024

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Recovery Elevator

Finding Joy in Sobriety: James's Journey

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