Ever wondered what life is like after you take your last drink? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with Niko, a 43-year-old from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who took his last drink on September 2nd, 2024. Niko shares his journey from blacking out at 14 to living a vibrant, sober life today.

He opens up about his struggles with alcohol and cocaine, the cultural norms around drinking in Puerto Rico, and how he finally decided to seek help. You'll hear about the turning point that made him quit alcohol for good and how his life has transformed since then. Niko's story is both inspiring and relatable, offering hope to anyone looking to make a change.

From losing 45 pounds to rekindling relationships and finding new passions, Niko's journey shows that it's never too late to turn your life around. So, if you're curious about what life can look like without alcohol or just need a bit of motivation, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear Niko's incredible transformation and get inspired to start your own journey toward a better life.

Niko shares his journey from blacking out at 14 to living a vibrant, sober life today. Tune in for inspiration and hope.

Life After the Last Drink: Niko's Journey

Today we have Niko. He is 43 years old from San Juan, Puerto Rico and took his last drink on September 2nd, 2024.   Sponsors for this episode include: <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> – 10% off of your first month <a href= "https://www.cafe-re.org/">Café RE</a>   Next week registration opens for our flagship retreat in <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/bozeman/">Bozeman</a> which is always a lot of fun. In addition to our lake hangout, breathwork and recovery workshops, we’re also playing laser tag. We also have a few spots left for our alcohol-free trip this October to <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/peru-2025/">Peru</a> which includes travel to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and of course, Machu Picchu.   If you have quit drinking and are looking for new alcohol-free friends, <a href= "https://www.cafe-re.org/">Café RE</a> is the social app for sober people. With 24/7 access to a like-minded community committed to living alcohol-free, you’ll never feel alone on this journey.      [03:25] Thoughts from Paul:   Jackass alumni Stevo-O once said he didn’t experience alcoholism until he quit drinking. In 1958 alcoholism was first classified as a disease. How does one experience this disease after they stop drinking?   Paul shares his thinking that “if you want to find out why you drink, quit drinking and you’ll find out pretty quickly”. And another thought “it’s not an alcohol problem; it’s a sobriety problem”. When you are addicted to alcohol, withdrawals are a huge problem. But another issues presents itself when we are sober and no longer using alcohol to cope or cheat code for dopamine. Our eyes are wide open to the movie of our lives and there is no way to shut it off.   This is why people in recovery attend social circles where people can talk about the baseline state of the human mind, which is restless, irritable and discontent. When we come together, we have a better chance to heal.   [07:25] Paul introduces Niko:   Niko lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is the youngest of three siblings. He enjoys beach tennis, swimming and volleyball, which was something he played a lot in school.   Niko first tried alcohol when he was around 12. By age 14, he had his first blackout. For years Niko never questioned his drinking because he figured if he could tolerate it and wasn’t doing stupid or embarrassing things, he was fine.   Niko was recruited to play volleyball in a college in Pennsylvania. His drinking interfered with his grades, but he never questioned his drinking until recently. Drinking is very embedded in his culture and says it isn’t abnormal for teenagers to be drinking at the table with adults.   In his 30s, Niko says he added cocaine to his drinking, and this continued until last year. Niko knew he had an issue with it, but it wasn’t until his girlfriend presented an ultimatum that it was the drugs or her. He was able to quit cocaine and started therapy where he proclaimed he still had to be able to drink. After a few weeks, he talked with a friend that had recently quit drinking who encouraged him to give it a try.   The first week without alcohol was pretty tough for Niko but he says things turned around in the second week as he entered the pink cloud and started thinking he should keep going.   Niko has dabbled in AA and SMART Recovery. He sees his therapist once a week and also attends group therapy with up to 8 other people. Without alcohol Niko is getting to know himself again and his therapist helps a lot with that. She introduced him to the RE podcast which he says he has listened to a lot while going to the gym and walking the dog. He has lost 45 pounds since quitting drinking and is starting to do more of the sports he loved when he was younger. Since he has been getting to know himself, he is finding the ability to be more present for others as well.   Niko’s parting piece of guidance: if you think you have a problem or maybe you don’t think you have a problem, just give yourself a try. You won’t regret it.     Recovery Elevator You took the elevator down, but you gotta take the stairs back up. I love you guys.   <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 527: Alcoholism After the Last Drink?

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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 what life is like after you take your last drink? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with Niko, a 43-year-old from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who took his last drink on September 2nd, 2024. Niko shares his journey from blacking out at 14 to living a vibrant, sober life today.He opens up about his struggles with alcohol and cocaine, the cultural norms around drinking in Puerto Rico, and how he finally decided to seek help. You'll hear about the turning point that made him quit alcohol for good and how his life has transformed since then. Niko's story is both inspiring and relatable, offering hope to anyone looking to make a change.From losing 45 pounds to rekindling relationships and finding new passions, Niko's journey shows that it's never too late to turn your life around. So, if you're curious about what life can look like without alcohol or just need a bit of motivation, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear Niko's incredible transformation and get inspired to start your own journey toward a better life.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 527: Alcoholism After the Last Drink?

RE 527: Alcoholism After the Last Drink?

RE 527: Alcoholism After the Last Drink?

Monday 24th March 2025

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Recovery Elevator

Life After the Last Drink: Niko's Journey

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