In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with Ashley, a 25-year-old from Spokane, Washington, who took her last drink on September 22, 2024. Ashley shares her journey from casual college drinking to recognising the need for change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her story is filled with relatable moments, from sneaking drinks during online classes to hiding her drinking from her partner.

She reflects on how alcohol impacted her life and how she managed to find a path to sobriety. Ashley talks about her coping strategies, such as using the 'I Am Sober' app and seeking therapy, which helped her stay on track. The episode also touches on the importance of community support and finding new ways to enjoy life without alcohol.

You'll hear Ashley's candid thoughts on the challenges and rewards of sobriety, making it a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration and practical advice on their own recovery journey. By the end of the episode, you'll feel motivated to take steps towards a healthier, alcohol-free life.

Ashley shares her journey from college drinking to sobriety, offering relatable insights and practical advice for those on their own recovery path.

Ashley’s Journey: From College Drinking to Sobriety

Episode 518 – Your Idea of Good Evolves   Today we have Ashley. She’s 25 years old from Spokane, WA and took her last drink on September 22nd, 2024.   Sponsor for this episode:   <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/elevator">Better Help</a> – 10% off your first month   This February, we are doing our first ever <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/afsongwriting/"> alcohol-free singer-songwriter course</a>. In this six-week course you’re going to connect with other sober musicians. You’re going to improve your songwriting skills and hear from professional musicians. We will all write our own songs which we will share in the last week.   Registration is open for Recovery Elevator’s first ever <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/costarica2025/"> Men’s Retreat</a> will be April 5th through the 12th in Costa Rica.   [03:17] Thoughts from Paul:   Quoting Yung Pueblo, “Maturity is knowing that endings are a part of life. Jobs change, who you hang out with changes. Your idea of what is ‘good’ evolves. An ending is a sign that you’re opening a new chapter.”   There’s a saying in this space that we stop maturing when our drinking becomes problematic. When alcohol begins to take over every aspect in our lives, our maturation is halted. Our idea of what is good evolves, but it doesn’t evolve when we keep labeling booze as a good time.   Start using your brain to build your alcohol-free life in your mind. Eventually the universe will line up to make this happen, in fact, it’s already happening. Think about the podcast you are listening to and how you got here. You’re probably way further down this journey than you think.   [07:30] Paul introduces Ashley:   Ashley lives in Spokane, WA and works for a cleaning business. She enjoys crafting and journaling. Right now she is working on a scrapbook that looks like a Vision Board for 2025.   Ashley says she didn’t really drink until college. When COVID shut everything down in 2020, Ashley was a junior in college and had just turned 21. She was living alone in a studio apartment and got to drink the way that she wanted to drink. When she noticed her drinking ramp up, she started to cut it back a bit.   After the shutdown was lifted, Ashley started bartending and didn’t want to drink much on the job. That shifted a bit when she changed jobs and was working at a brewery where she and other coworkers would take drinking breaks while on their shift. Over time she recognized she was drinking too much and tried to moderate at least at work.   Ashley began to recognize that she didn’t like that she was becoming very cynical while at this job. She talked to her partner about it, and he encouraged her to leave the job since it was affecting her so negatively. Ashley took the time off after quitting to do whatever she wanted and saw her drinking increase. She would hide her bottles so her partner wouldn’t see how much she was actually drinking.   On the day of her last drink, Ashley and her partner had gone out and bar hopped. Ashley ended up blacking out and when she woke up, her partner was gone. She could not remember most of the night before and wasn’t sure  what was going to happen next but knew she could no longer drink.   Ashley says the first two days were full of anxiety, but she just focused on one day at a time. She distracted herself with movies and video games. At therapy that week, she shared where she was with alcohol for the first time. Her therapist recommended the I Am Sober app which Ashley found very helpful. The cravings have decreased over the last few months and when they do happen, she plays the tape forward. Since quitting Ashley says her depression and anxiety has reduced dramatically. She has more energy, and her routines have become more consistent. Ashley is happy to find she can still socialize even without alcohol.   Ashley’s parting piece of guidance: it is important for you to look inside yourself and see if it’s actually something you want to do or if you’re afraid to do it, maybe look into why you’re afraid to do it.   Recovery Elevator Rule 22, let’s lighten up, not take ourselves too seriously. I love you guys. We can do this.   <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 518: Your Idea of Good Evolves

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 episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with Ashley, a 25-year-old from Spokane, Washington, who took her last drink on September 22, 2024. Ashley shares her journey from casual college drinking to recognising the need for change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her story is filled with relatable moments, from sneaking drinks during online classes to hiding her drinking from her partner.She reflects on how alcohol impacted her life and how she managed to find a path to sobriety. Ashley talks about her coping strategies, such as using the 'I Am Sober' app and seeking therapy, which helped her stay on track. The episode also touches on the importance of community support and finding new ways to enjoy life without alcohol.You'll hear Ashley's candid thoughts on the challenges and rewards of sobriety, making it a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration and practical advice on their own recovery journey. By the end of the episode, you'll feel motivated to take steps towards a healthier, alcohol-free life.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 518: Your Idea of Good Evolves

RE 518: Your Idea of Good Evolves

RE 518: Your Idea of Good Evolves

Monday 20th January 2025

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Ashley’s Journey: From College Drinking to Sobriety

Episode Overview