DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Most people think a liver transplant is the finish line.

But for many transplant recipients, it's actually the beginning of a completely new journey.

In this follow-up conversation, Tia Bean returns to Sobriety Now What? to share what life has really been like nearly three years after receiving a life-saving liver transplant.

From unexpected fatigue and medication side effects to navigating relationships, rebuilding confidence, and learning how to dream again, Tia offers an honest and inspiring look at recovery beyond the hospital. She also shares valuable insights for family members, friends, and anyone facing a transplant journey of their own.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What recovery really looks like 1–3 years after transplant
• The hidden challenges of fatigue and brain fog
• Medication side effects and long-term health concerns
• Why family and friends often misunderstand life after transplant
• The "Spoon Theory" and managing limited energy
• Returning to work, college, and rebuilding a future
• The emotional and spiritual impact of surviving a life-threatening illness
• Advice for people waiting for or considering a transplant
• How loved ones can provide meaningful support

Tia's message is simple but powerful:

Don't give up. There is life on the other side.

Whether you are recovering from a transplant, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a story of resilience and hope, this conversation will leave you encouraged.

Thanks for listening to Sobriety Now What? Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

What keeps someone sober when cravings hit, motivation fades, or life gets difficult?

In this powerful episode of Sobriety… Now What?, Stuart Cline explores one of the most important foundations of lasting recovery: discovering your “why.”

Why do some people relapse even after treatment, therapy, books, and support? Why do others find the strength to keep going through the hardest moments of sobriety?

The answer often comes down to emotional connection, purpose, and meaning.

In this episode, Stuart shares:
• Why information alone rarely creates lasting change
• The powerful difference between head knowledge and heart-level motivation
• A moving parable about passion, persistence, and emotional investment
• How addiction itself operates through goal, plan, and emotional energy
• Viktor Frankl’s insights on meaning and survival
• The “Five Whys” exercise to help you uncover your deeper reason for staying sober
• Why you do not need to hit rock bottom to want a better life
• How to stop merely escaping life and start building one you truly want to live

This episode is for anyone who:
• Wants to strengthen their recovery motivation
• Feels stuck, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted
• Is sober curious or early in recovery
• Has relapsed and wants to reconnect with purpose
• Wants more than just “not drinking” — and is ready to thrive

Stuart also gives listeners an early preview of his upcoming book:

Unclouded: 100 Strategies to Clear Your Mind, Break Free from Alcohol, and Build a Happier Life

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who may need encouragement today.

Website: StuartCline.com

Thanks for listening to Sobriety… Now What?
Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

EP 39 Do the AA Promises Really Come True? | 72 Years of Sobriety at the Round Table

In this powerful round-table conversation, Stuart sits down in the studio with Mike and Colm — two men with over 70 years of combined sobriety — to talk about one of the most well-known parts of Alcoholics Anonymous: the AA promises.

Do the promises really come true?
Can people truly find peace, freedom, happiness, and purpose in sobriety?

Together, the three share honest stories and reflections about recovery, fear, spirituality, friendship, service, emotional healing, and what life actually looks like after decades of sobriety.

This episode is not about perfection. It is about hope.

Whether you are new to recovery, struggling to stay sober, curious about AA, or simply looking for encouragement, this conversation offers real-life experience from people who have lived it.

Topics include:
• The AA promises explained in real life
• Fear, shame, and emotional healing
• Spirituality vs. religion in recovery
• Self-seeking, service, and friendship
• Learning to live without alcohol
• Why connection and community matter
• Finding peace and purpose in sobriety

If you’ve ever wondered whether life truly gets better sober, this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening to Sobriety Now What. Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

In this short bonus episode of Sobriety… Now What?, Stuart Cline guides you through a simple, calming kindness practice you can use anytime to help calm your mind, reduce stress, and reset your mood.

This guided practice is inspired by the long-standing tradition of loving-kindness (also known as metta), adapted into a practical, real-life tool you can use while driving, walking, or taking a moment to pause during your day.

You’ll be guided through a series of gentle phrases to help you:

• calm your thoughts
• reduce stress and emotional reactivity
• practice kindness toward yourself and others
• create a small but meaningful shift in your state of mind

This episode builds on Episode 37 and gives you something simple you can actually do—not just think about.

Use this practice in the morning, at night, or anytime you feel overwhelmed.

Even a small reset can make a big difference.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

You’re sober… but still feeling stressed?

The to-do list doesn’t stop. Life feels heavy. And some days, just getting through feels like enough.

In this episode, I sit down with returning guest Francesca Donlan — my most downloaded guest — to explore a simple, powerful tool that can shift your mood, calm your mind, and improve your day without substances.

Francesca spent the entire year of 2025 doing one intentional act each day to improve connection and well-being — and what she discovered, backed by research, might surprise you.

We talk about a simple way to reduce stress and feel better fast, how small daily actions can improve mood and mental health, the “helper’s high” and why it works, how to reset your mindset when life feels overwhelming, practical ways to feel more connected in sobriety, and why self-compassion is a key part of lasting recovery.

This episode isn’t about being perfect. It’s about having a tool you can use on real days, in real life.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just off lately, this conversation can help you reset and move forward.

About My Guest
Francesca Donlan is a university educator and researcher focused on human connection and well-being. She has taught the science behind positive social behavior and is the organizer of the K20 Global Kindness Summit, bringing together leaders from around the world to explore how small actions can create meaningful change.

Key Takeaway
You don’t need to change everything to feel better. Sometimes one small action can shift your entire day.

Connect + Learn More
Learn more about the K20 Global Kindness Summit:
https://k20kindness.com

If This Helped You
Follow the podcast and share this episode with someone who could use a reset today.

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life

In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart sits down with Ian Fee to explore what recovery really looks like beyond just quitting drinking.

After decades of alcohol use, Ian shares the moment he could no longer lie to himself—and how that became the turning point in his life. He opens up about his unique experience with aversion therapy, a rarely discussed approach that helped change his relationship with alcohol.

But this conversation goes deeper than how he stopped.

It’s about what happens next.

You’ll hear what early recovery really feels like, how to face the emotions that come up, and what it takes to rebuild your life with honesty, accountability, and support.

This episode will help you:

• Understand the difference between stopping drinking and real recovery
• Feel less alone in the emotional challenges of early sobriety
• Learn how accountability and support can change everything
• Begin thinking about how to build a better life in sobriety

If you’re in early recovery—or starting to question your relationship with alcohol—this episode offers a new perspective and real hope.

To learn more about:

• Ian Fee: Ianfee.com

Stuart Cline:

• Coaching: EvolvingFully.com, stuartcline.podia.com
• Counseling: nmcounseling.com
• Podcast: www.sobrietynowwhat.com

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Ep 35 Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery

Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery

What did it take for David Hanley to finally stop drinking? The answer includes years of alcohol dependency, pacing outside a liquor store at 6:45 in the morning, multiple ICU visits, a wheelchair on a runway, and a rehabilitation center he'd never heard of in a town he'd never been to. But what happened next is what makes David's story unlike anything you've heard before — six weeks sober, raw and uncertain, he picked up a pen and started writing.

In this episode David shares the journey that led to his memoir The Streetlight Chronicles — written in real time during his own recovery in a raw, unfiltered style called Gonzo journalism, think Anthony Bourdain telling the truth about addiction with zero fluff and zero filter. You'll hear how David translated the 12 steps into street-level language that finally made sense to him, guided by a character he created called the Barstool Prophet. Host Stuart Cline reads powerful passages from the book aloud, and together they explore one of the most compelling concepts in the book — the idea that you don't need a yes and you don't need a no to start your recovery. You just need a maybe.

Whether you're newly sober or years into your journey, this conversation will remind you of something worth holding onto — how far you've already come, and how much is still possible.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How COVID on the island of Maui took David's drinking from social to life threatening
• What finally made recovery click after multiple attempts
• The story behind the Barstool Prophet and what he represents
• How writing in the moment of vulnerability changed everything
• The power of approaching recovery with maybe instead of certainty

Resources mentioned:

• The Streetlight Chronicles by David Hanley — available on Amazon
• Amazon- Streetlight Chronicles
• www.streettalk.live
• Find David at Streetlight Live on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

Ep 34: Why People Still Don’t Trust You in Early Sobriety (And How to Rebuild It)

Why People Still Don’t Trust You in Early Sobriety (And How to Rebuild It)

You’re sober.
You’re trying.
So why does trust still feel shaky?

In this honest and practical episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart Cline explores one of the most frustrating experiences in recovery: doing the work… yet still feeling like people are watching and waiting.

Through a relatable real-life story, Stuart breaks down:

• Why trust often lags behind sobriety
• The hidden habit that quietly damages credibility
• The difference between discomfort and self-betrayal
• How small promises shape big perceptions
• A simple phrase that can begin rebuilding trust immediately

You’ll learn why rebuilding trust isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being consistent, clear, and honest with both yourself and others.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Why don’t they believe me yet?”
• “Why do I still feel pressure to prove myself?”
• “How do I actually rebuild trust step by step?”

…this episode will give you a grounded path forward.

Key takeaway:
Be honest because it builds trust — with yourself and with others.

And remember the phrase to carry with you:

Say it. Then do it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share to help more people thrive in their sobriety.

Website: www.sobrietynowwhat.com

Email: sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com

website for counseling: www.nmcounseling.com

Website for coaching: Evolvingfully.com

Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

Support the show

HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

If this episode helped you:
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.