In this milestone episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill welcomes Brady, a 43-year-old from Denver, Colorado, who took his last drink on July 18th, 2023. Brady shares his journey from battling anxiety and panic attacks to finding strength and mental clarity through sobriety. The conversation is filled with relatable anecdotes, including Brady's realisation that his drinking habits were negatively impacting his life and relationships.

He recounts a pivotal moment at a pool party that led to a life-changing panic attack, prompting him to reassess his relationship with alcohol. Brady's story is a testament to the power of community and support in overcoming addiction. Paul also shares updates on the Recovery Elevator community, including new developments with CafeRE and upcoming sober travel trips.

With a mix of humour and heartfelt moments, this episode is both inspiring and informative, offering valuable insights for anyone on their own journey to sobriety. Tune in to hear Brady's candid reflections and Paul's unwavering support as they discuss the ups and downs of living an alcohol-free life. Don't miss this chance to connect with a story that might just mirror your own struggles and triumphs. So, why not take the first step towards a better life today?

Join Paul Churchill and Brady as they discuss the transformative journey from alcohol dependency to a fulfilling, sober life in Recovery Elevator's 500th episode.

Brady's Journey: From Panic Attacks to Sobriety

Episode 500 – I Am Here, I Am Whole   Today we have Brady. He is 43 years old from Denver, CO and took his last drink on July 18th, 2023.   Whatever day you are on, we want to hear it, see it and support you. On Sundays, head on over to <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/recoveryelevator/?hl=en"> RE on Instagram</a> and post on our Roll Call. Let the world know where you are at.   There are still a few spots open on our next Alcohol-Free travel trip to <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/vietnam/">Vietnam</a>. This upcoming January 9th-20th, 2025, we’re heading to this incredible Southeast Asia paradise for 10 days and 11 nights with 25 travelers who are done nursing hangovers.   Starting Monday September 16th, all new registration for <a href= "https://www.cafe-re.org/mighty-networks/">Café RE</a> will be added to our community, which is no longer on Facebook. We have found a place that allows us to make these connections better. Beginning October 1st, all current members will start shifting over there as well.   Sponsors mentioned in this episode:   <a href= "https://www.betterhelp.com/get-started/?go=true&slug=elevator&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=2687&utm_term=elevator&promo_code=elevator&landing_page_img=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqYHezjI.jpg&aff_channel=podcast&discount_rate=10&discount_period=P1M&date_interval=P1M&percentage_off=10&amount=1&amount_spelled_out=one&unit=month&gor=start"> Better Help</a>  - code ELEVATOR   [03:57] Thoughts from Paul:   For 500 straight Mondays, Recovery Elevator has released an episode with someone sharing how they quit drinking. We do this to help, to serve, and also selfishly since Paul and all members of the team are also on this AF journey.   Paul started this podcast in 2015 and just celebrated 10 years since his last drink. He shares how he started the <a href= "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sobriety-tracker-counter/id972910361?mt=8"> Recovery Elevator Sobriety Tracker</a>. He also shares that since starting, we now have Café RE, have done five international sober travel trips, have had 15 official RE retreats, and over 1500 people have signed up for our courses. Paul shares what he is most happy about are the gains in his personal life. He is married and has a three-month-old son and is well into a creating a life that no longer requires alcohol.   The lyrics to the new intro song: “I am here, I am whole” remind us that there is nothing wrong with us, we are not fractured, and we can correct the imbalance in our lives. And we don’t have to do it alone.   [11:00] Paul introduces Brady:   At the time of recording, Brady just celebrated one year alcohol free!   Paul and Brady have been friends for a very long time, and both acknowledge that it’s good be on the other side of their drinking times to now sharing sobriety with one another.   Brady and lives in the suburbs of Denver, he is 43 years old and is a realtor and formerly a high school teacher. Brady is married and they have a five-year-old son.   Brady says he drank more than the average high school student. He thinks his drinking in college was on par with normal for that time of life. It wasn’t until his late thirties that he started to realize that his relationship with alcohol wasn’t good. He feels that the time during COVID just normalized drinking at home for him. It became an everyday thing, and he slowly stopped having any interest in anything other than drinking.   An acute panic attack one night found him feeling empty. When he talked to his mom about it, she asked if he had been drinking. It was then that he started to connect the dots and was on the road to exploring the role alcohol had in his life. He never considered himself an alcoholic, but knew he was not living the life he wanted to.   Since quitting drinking, Brady has lost 20 pounds, is says he is more aware of what he is doing and it’s more purposeful. Brady has discovered that everything is clearer now. He mentions listening to The <a href= "https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/what-alcohol-does-to-your-body-brain-health"> Huberman Lab podcast about alcohol</a> really helped him in addition to Alan Carr’s book about quitting drinking. Learning what alcohol really does to us has been an important tool for Brady. He has not attended AA but had a lot of support from people around him and was comfortable sharing with them. Brady has shifted his identity to no longer being a dude that drinks.   Brady’s parting piece of guidance: just do it, find those resources that will help you.     Recovery Elevator You took the elevator down, you got to take the stairs back up. We can do this.

RE 500: I am Here, I am Whole

Recovery

Sobriety

Alcohol

Personal Recovery Stories

Relationships

Self-Help

Mental Health

Society and Culture

Interviews

Faith-Based Recovery

Alcohol, Addiction & Recovery

Creativity & Innovation

Sexual Health & Wellbeing

Substance Abuse & Drug Recovery

Health & Wellness

Financial Empowerment

Family & Relationships

Comedy & Culture

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

In this milestone episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill welcomes Brady, a 43-year-old from Denver, Colorado, who took his last drink on July 18th, 2023. Brady shares his journey from battling anxiety and panic attacks to finding strength and mental clarity through sobriety. The conversation is filled with relatable anecdotes, including Brady's realisation that his drinking habits were negatively impacting his life and relationships.He recounts a pivotal moment at a pool party that led to a life-changing panic attack, prompting him to reassess his relationship with alcohol. Brady's story is a testament to the power of community and support in overcoming addiction. Paul also shares updates on the Recovery Elevator community, including new developments with CafeRE and upcoming sober travel trips.With a mix of humour and heartfelt moments, this episode is both inspiring and informative, offering valuable insights for anyone on their own journey to sobriety. Tune in to hear Brady's candid reflections and Paul's unwavering support as they discuss the ups and downs of living an alcohol-free life. Don't miss this chance to connect with a story that might just mirror your own struggles and triumphs. So, why not take the first step towards a better life today?

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 500: I am Here, I am Whole

RE 500: I am Here, I am Whole

RE 500: I am Here, I am Whole

Monday 16th September 2024

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Brady's Journey: From Panic Attacks to Sobriety

Episode Overview