Ever felt like you're stuck in a pickle with your drinking habits? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, host Paul Churchill and guest Kurtis from Seattle dive into the ups and downs of alcohol recovery. Kurtis, a 32-year-old musician, shares his journey of quitting alcohol on October 12th, 2023. He opens up about how ditching the booze has transformed his life, making him feel happier and more in control.

You'll hear about Kurtis's creative struggles and triumphs, especially how he redefined his relationship with music after quitting drinking. The episode also touches on the surprising connection between trees and recovery. Paul explains how nature, particularly the resilient Douglas fir, can be a powerful tool in healing and finding wholeness. Kurtis's story is raw and honest, filled with relatable moments that anyone on a similar path will appreciate.

Whether you're curious about living an alcohol-free life or looking for inspiration to keep going, this episode offers a mix of humour, personal stories, and practical advice. So, why not give it a listen and see how you can grow into the tallest tree in your own life?

Join Kurtis as he shares his journey to sobriety, redefining his life and creativity without alcohol. Discover the surprising role of nature in recovery.

Finding Strength in Sobriety: Kurtis's Journey

Episode 502 – The Tallest Tree in the World   Today we have Kurtis. He is 32 from Seattle, WA and took his last drink on October 12th, 2023.   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   <a href= "https://www.athleticgreens.com/recovery">AG1</a>   Paul loves pickles but doesn’t love to be in them. When it comes to drinking, this quote shows up often: “When I controlled my drinking, I didn’t enjoy it. When I enjoyed my drinking, I couldn’t control it.” That is a good example of what it is like to be in a pickle with your drinking.   DTB Mindfulness course starts Monday October 7th for 5 weeks. This course is for Café RE members only, and we would love for you to join us!  Visit <a href= "https://www.cafe-re.org/alcohol-free-community/"> Café RE</a> to sign up if you aren’t already a member.   [03:32] Thoughts from Paul:   While the tallest tree on the planet currently is a redwood but it would be the Douglas Fir if we stopped cutting them down. Scientists theorize the highest a tree can pull water up it’s roots is 480 feet and that’s how big the Douglas Fir trees were back in the early 1800’s before we began harvesting them.   Paul shares with us his love of trees and how they have helped him on his recovery journey. He also shares some facts about how indigenous people around the world are healthier than we are and how many of them use trees as a source of wholeness that cure physical ailments and mental health conditions.   When looking for connection, don’t overlook the trees in your back yard that are holding the soil in place. Nature should 100% be part of your recovery portfolio.   [10:07] Paul introduces Kurtis:   Kurtis currently lives in Seattle, WA and is originally from Detroit. He has two cats and is a musician and a mixing engineer. He says he used to use drinking as a way to be creative and says it has been interesting to figure out his relationship with music without drinking.   Kurtis says he didn’t drink much in his younger years. He took his first drink at age 21. He was in a lot of bands after moving to Seattle. He would bring beer to practice which quelled his anxiety.   After Kurtis was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020, he started taking medication that helped him focus. He admits he took more than prescribed and would then utilize alcohol to help him go to sleep. When waking up with a hangover, his medication would help him combat it. It was a vicious cycle, Kurtis says.   Kurtis knew he had issues but couldn’t determine whether it the pills or the drinking that was causing the problem. He was having a hard time going more than a few days without drinking and often found himself drinking in the morning. After failed moderation attempts, he ended up having to quit both the alcohol and the medication at the same time in October of 2023.   When he made the decision to quit, Kurtis says there were a lot of small rock-bottom moments that led him to it. Kurtis shared that it was tough quitting both things at the same time. He was worried that his productivity would decrease when he had to stop taking the medication. The drinking was slightly easier, however. Without taking the stimulant he wasn’t feeling so much anxiety at the end of the day which diminished his desire to drink.   Kurtis started finding other activities to fill his time and began to see great results. He was walking a lot, began to lose weight, and started feeling really good. He was able to recognize that quitting drinking opened up a lot of doors for him to feel better. He is more present with others and feels more confident in general.   Kurtis shares that the RE podcast has been helpful along with the Reddit Stop Drinking group. Talking about his journey with others has also helped a lot.   Kurtis’ parting piece of guidance: moderation, research and failing is all part of the process. It’s important to be kind to yourself and not feel like you have to match what others are doing.   Recovery Elevator You took the elevator down, you got to take the stairs back up. We can do this.   <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/recoveryelevator/?hl=en"> RE on Instagram</a> <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/merch/">RE merch</a> <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 502: The Tallest Tree in the World

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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 felt like you're stuck in a pickle with your drinking habits? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, host Paul Churchill and guest Kurtis from Seattle dive into the ups and downs of alcohol recovery. Kurtis, a 32-year-old musician, shares his journey of quitting alcohol on October 12th, 2023. He opens up about how ditching the booze has transformed his life, making him feel happier and more in control.You'll hear about Kurtis's creative struggles and triumphs, especially how he redefined his relationship with music after quitting drinking. The episode also touches on the surprising connection between trees and recovery. Paul explains how nature, particularly the resilient Douglas fir, can be a powerful tool in healing and finding wholeness. Kurtis's story is raw and honest, filled with relatable moments that anyone on a similar path will appreciate.Whether you're curious about living an alcohol-free life or looking for inspiration to keep going, this episode offers a mix of humour, personal stories, and practical advice. So, why not give it a listen and see how you can grow into the tallest tree in your own life?

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 502: The Tallest Tree in the World

RE 502: The Tallest Tree in the World

RE 502: The Tallest Tree in the World

Monday 30th September 2024

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Finding Strength in Sobriety: Kurtis's Journey

Episode Overview