Addiction recovery podcast from Real Sobriety filmmaker and sobriety coach, Robert McClellan. Down to earth, humorous, inspirational and sometimes irreverent - always a good listen to help you in your recovery journey.
After 232 episodes I simply don't have much else to say on the subject of addiction recovery. Like a lot of you, getting sober was the best decision I've ever made. I am certain that if I did not get into recovery I'd be dead today. Instead, I am living the life of my dreams. And I've always said - okay, sometimes preached - that just quitting drinking or drugging should never be the goal, but living a happy, successful life in recovery was the best possible outcome
If you attend traditional 12 step meetings at groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, you have probably noticed the overwhelming presence of the Christian God in the room.
I hope I never get to the point where I think I'm the smartest person in recovery and I can't learn from a newcomer or someone with less time than me. It is a fairly well known practice for oldtimers around 12 step meetings to tell newcomers to “shut their mouths and open their ears.” That's what my first sponsor told me all those years ago. I can't think of anything more disrespectful and potentially damaging to say to someone who is brand new in recovery. The newcomer is fresh off the playing field, maybe better described as fresh off the battlefield of addiction. Their perspective is raw and their need for connection and acceptance from the group is acute. We can't proclaim that we are praying for the alcoholic or addict who still suffers and then, when they show up in our rooms, tell them to sit down and shut up.
Our sobriety is about a lot more than stopping our drinking and drugging. It is about improving our quality of life one day at a time. When I first stopped drinking the last thing I could imagine was my life improving in every way possible. The only thing I could think of, through the fog of my detox was - When will I stop feeling like crap? When will all the guilt and shame and self loathing stop? How will I ever piece my life back together? RealSobriety.com
Welcome Back to the NEW Real Sobriety Podcast! Ep. 228 Real Sobriety started during a series of conversations with my wife, the acclaimed Canadian underwater explorer Jill Heinerth. We were just beginning our lives together and Jill was interested in, and very supportive of my recovery. We each had been married before, and lived extremely different lives. We held no secrets and promised to accept each other for the people we are today, not the messes we were in the past. As a documentary filmmaker, Jill suggested that I share my recovery journey with the world. The result is the award-winning documentary film “Real Sobriety.” Expanding on the purpose of the film, I decided to continue the conversation with the Recovery Community through this podcast. You can find examples recent episodes posted below, and over 200 past episodes at the side bar link - or just click here. Going forward, I plan to post a new episode each week, and occasionally invite special guests to share their stories with you as well. Thanks for being here for me and remember - Go out there and Love One Another!
New! Reading From Sober Bob's Bathroom Book and new video podcast announcement! Real Sobriety podcast now on video at Youtube!
Just published my newest book: "Sober Bob's Bathroom Book" - Advice to help you stay sober. And I traveled to the U.S. for the first time in two years! I almost didn't make it back across the Canadian border because of the Covid-19 protocols!
Is celebrating our sobriety anniversaries a good practice? Or should we stick to the One Day At A Time formula? Robert shares some personal news and talks about the dog days of a sober summer.
June is Pride month and I share how things have not always been smooth for our LGBTQ+ cousins in the recovery fellowships like Alcoholics Anonymous.
I found the first script I ever wrote for a 15 year old podcast! It is amazing how simple the program of recovery can be if we just do some simple things - Don't Drink, Go to Meetings, Pray, Talk to Sponsors, and Repeat. I share that first ever podcast idea with you and hope it applies to your successful recovery!
Robert shares thoughts on the past history and the technology and innovation driven future of the recovery community.
From polarized political ideologies to racism, classism, sexism and homophobia, it sometimes seems like the fragile threads that hold a society together are near the breaking point. It is almost enough to make a happy person in recovery relapse. Except - that at the heart of most recovery programs is a philosophy of tolerance, empathy, and service to others. It begins with us. In recovery we learn to get out of our own heads and reach out to help others. Besides the obvious benefits of abstaining from drugs and alcohol, we receive the gifts of empathy and tolerance - even when we don’t agree politically, socially, or culturally, we serve ourselves and the world at large by accepting others and not just tolerating - but embracing our differences.
The drug and alcohol detox experience is a tough challenge in the short-term, but the long-term benefits of getting clean and sober are worth it. Robert shares his own experience with detox.
There is a well publicized and somewhat controversial situation involving a newcomer to sobriety who has been speaking out on TV and Radio. We live in a 21st century technological 24/7 connected world, where a newcomer can leverage the Internet and broadcasts to reach audiences of millions - we shouldn’t condemn them - we should encourage and admire their bravery to speak out and inspire others to find a path to recovery.
Can we use cannabis in recovery? Some people in AA are being shunned and criticized for using cannabis even as they have abstained from alcohol and are working the 12 Step program.
What is the number one thing we can do to stay clean and sober? Stay connected with other people - those people who lift us up and empower our sobriety.
Can alcoholics with time in recovery ever drink like normal people again? Robert shares his views and experience with this timeless question.
Robert shares his early emotional story of poverty, loss, grief, and resentment that he had to overcome to get into addiction recovery. We get addicted to our story and think that we can't change it - but we can flip the script in recovery.
During these stressful times, many of us are relapsing. The emotional and mental health challenges of living through the Covid-19 pandemic must be considered in the addiction recovery community.
Weird times, these. A Covid Pandemic leading to lockdowns, illness and grief but still we must find a way to work our addiction recovery programs and be connected to the recovery community. Plus, lots of updates about the podcast and a new website!
Racism in the recovery community. It is up to those of us who have been around for a while to call it out.
Three months into our Covid-19 pandemic and some of our addiction recovery and sober community have gone back out.
In this special episode Jill and Robert team up to present a combination Into The Planet and Real Sobriety Podcast discussing the pandemic, relationships, isolation, recovery, and what the world may look like once we are all able to join each other again outside.
The addiction recovery journey continues. Robert shares a few bite-sized snippets of how to be happy in successful recovery and where the podcast has been.
Is addiction a disease? A moral failing? A choice? Who cares?!! Robert shares his thoughts on this controversial subject that often comes up in discussions of alcoholism and drug addiction.
Claire Rudy Foster AKA "Foster" joins Robert. A fun, lively conversation about addiction recovery, writing and publishing, and early punk rock influences.
Join Robert with guest Jeffrey Munn, author of Getting Sober Without God - The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism and Addiction. Jeffrey's book is leading to remarkable conversations about the Higher Power concept in 12 Step addiction recovery programs.
Susan Dlouhy is a professional who works with the "Developmentally Different" community. Susan joins Robert McClellan in a cheerful, positive conversation about what it is like to be in successful long term addiction recovery, and what responsibilities we all have to serve others.
Recovery coach, author, and professional chef Paul Silva joins Robert McClellan for an insightful conversation about addiction recovery, social media and living a happy successful life in sobriety. Paul is the author of the popular recovery book, Longing for the Spirit and an acclaimed life coach who specializes in helping people find a path to successful addiction recovery.
The recovery community is present on all social media platforms from Instagram to Facebook to Twitter. When I got sober in 1989 we had much more face-to-face connection. But this is not to say that the past was better. Today, addicts and alcoholics in recovery can reach out from a smart-phone and reach thousands of others in recovery, anywhere in the world. With podcasts, blogs, and videos, people in recovery are more connected than ever.
The Real Sobriety film was framed around a sober motorcycle club. Filmmaker and Robert's wife, Jill Heinerth shares her insight into working with and learning from hardcore sober bikers.
Lots of cool stuff happening! Real Sobriety reaches 101 episodes. Robert McClellan updates the audience with plans for the future of the podcast, books, and other creative projects.
Yes, this is episode 100! Time to do a re-introduction and ponder the question: Do we ever recover from drug and alcohol addiction?
Can we please stop saying relapse is a part of recovery? My friend and fellow blogger/podcaster Paul Silva over at Buzzkill Pod tweeted a very profound message about relapse. It is part of our addiction, not our recovery.
Living in the sober world. Many of us when new to addiction recovery find it really hard to adjust to life in the sober world. It takes courage and trust to move forward.
People in addiction recovery need help and support but we are often too timid to ask for it. Robert McClellan of RealSobriety.com shares his insight in this short podcast about finding a support team, even after 29 years sober.
Our first ever guest - my wife Jill Heinerth joins me and shares what life is like as the partner of a person in addiction recovery. From our early dating days to the present - where Jill shares life with an occasionally crazy person, this is an insightful look at a couple's happy marriage with recovery playing a big role in their success.
Overwhelmed in addiction recovery? Make time to care for yourself.
Do you really need to go to addiction or alcoholism treatment? Tech issues fixed.
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