In this powerful episode of Sober as Fck*, Ryan and Jess sit down with Michelle to unpack her raw, unfiltered journey through childhood trauma, addiction, and recovery. Michelle shares how early exposure to substance use, unresolved trauma, and environmental influences shaped her addiction—and what finally led her to say, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Michelle opens up about hitting rock bottom, entering recovery, and learning how honesty, community support, and personal accountability became the foundation of her sobriety. She speaks candidly about the realities of parenting in recovery, rebuilding a sense of self, and navigating life without numbing or escaping. Along the way, she highlights the power of gratitude, celebrating small wins, and using humor as a tool for resilience rather than avoidance.

This episode is a reminder that recovery isn’t linear, sobriety is an ongoing journey, and healing requires both support and self-awareness. Michelle’s story will resonate deeply with anyone impacted by addiction, childhood trauma, or mental health struggles—and with anyone searching for hope, connection, and a way forward.

• Sobriety and addiction recovery

• Childhood trauma and its long-term impact

• Substance abuse and early exposure

• Hitting rock bottom and choosing recovery

• Community support and accountability

• Mental health and personal growth

• Parenting while in recovery

• Gratitude, resilience, and humor in healing

“I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“I get to go to work today.”
“I’m an addict in everything I do.”

00:00 – Introduction and meeting Michelle
03:47 – Childhood trauma and early life experiences
10:33 – Substance use and environmental influence
19:21 – Hitting rock bottom and entering recovery
37:24 – Finding hope and community in sobriety
54:34 – Rebuilding work, relationships, and self-worth
01:01:00 – Gratitude and perspective in recovery
01:15:19 – Humor as a healing tool

Key Topics CoveredMemorable QuotesEpisode Chapters

Episode Description

Season Three begins with reflection, intention, and momentum. In this episode of Sober As Fck*, Ryan and Jess celebrate the launch of their third season by looking back on their sobriety journey, sober holiday traditions, and the personal growth that comes from choosing intention over autopilot.

They reflect on their first sober holiday season, including meaningful travels to Boston and Salem, Massachusetts, where connection, community, and curiosity shaped the experience. From meeting fellow sober individuals to bonding with strangers over shared recovery stories, the trip reinforced the unexpected depth that comes from living openly and authentically.

Ryan and Jess share how they rang in the New Year with a quiet, fulfilling night in, highlighting how sobriety has shifted their perspective on celebration, presence, and rest. They discuss the difference between resolutions and intentions, with Ryan choosing “growth” as his word for the year and Jess reflecting on the lasting impact of balance, listening, and restraint in relationships.

The conversation also explores the importance of listening without fixing, honoring personal rhythms, and allowing growth to include rest—not just constant motion. Along the way, they touch on Salem’s history, symbolism, and their tradition of collecting memories through mugs, hats, and tattoos as markers of shared experiences and transformation.

This episode sets the tone for Season Three—grounded, honest, and deeply human. Sobriety here isn’t framed as restriction, but as expansion: deeper connection, clearer communication, and the freedom to create a life that actually fits.

Keywords: sobriety, sober podcast, sober living, recovery conversations, sobriety community, personal growth, intentional living, New Year intentions, healthy relationships, listening skills, sober holidays, sober travel, Boston sober community, Salem Massachusetts, alcohol-free lifestyle, wellness podcast, mindset growth, recovery journey

This episode closes out Season 2 of Sober as Fck* and marks the end of 2025 with a curated compilation of the most impactful moments from every Season 2 episode.

This recap brings together honest conversations centered on sobriety, mental health, recovery, relationships, identity, boundaries, fitness, and personal growth. These moments reflect the vulnerability, truth, and real-life experiences that defined Season 2.

In this episode:
• Highlights from every Season 2 guest
• Conversations about sobriety and mental health
• Lessons learned, patterns broken, and growth achieved
• The importance of community, connection, and accountability
• A reflection on the themes that shaped Season 2 and 2025

We extend our sincere thanks to every guest who trusted us with their story and every listener who supported Season 2 by listening, sharing, and showing up. Your support is the reason this podcast continues.

Season 2 was about progress over perfection, choosing honesty, and doing the work. We are grateful to everyone who made this season meaningful.

From vineyard manager to marathon runner, Tim Taylor shares his powerful journey of stepping away from alcohol and stepping into purpose.

In this episode, Tim opens up about working in the alcohol industry, choosing sobriety, and how that decision transformed his mental health, discipline, and identity. What started as a personal commitment has grown into a public mission: running one marathon every month while raising money and awareness for Alcohol Change UK, an organization working to challenge alcohol culture and support healthier relationships with drinking.

This conversation goes beyond sobriety. We dive into resilience, radical accountability, and how physical endurance can become a powerful tool for mental and emotional growth. Tim shares what it really takes to stay consistent, redefine success, and turn personal change into meaningful community impact.

In this episode, we cover:

• Life after alcohol and rebuilding identity

• Mental toughness, discipline, and consistency

• Endurance sports as a tool for mental health

• Challenging alcohol culture and social norms

• Turning personal growth into real-world impact

Tim is actively fundraising to support Alcohol Change UK. Every donation helps fund education, awareness, and support for people questioning their relationship with alcohol.

Support Tim’s fundraiser:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/tim-taylor-1

This episode is for the sober-curious, newly sober, long-term sober, and anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol and looking for proof that change is possible.

In this powerful episode of Sober as F*ck, Ryan and Jess sit down with Abby Calabrese to unpack her journey to an alcohol-free life after years of struggling with drinking and the quiet pressure of mommy wine culture.

Abby shares what it was like growing up with an alcoholic parent, how normalized drinking shaped her identity as a mother, and why early sobriety forced her to confront self-worth, resilience, and emotional honesty. The conversation dives into the realities of getting sober in a culture that glorifies alcohol, the discomfort of early recovery, and the role community, gratitude, and self-love play in lasting change.

This episode challenges the myth that sobriety means losing fun, connection, or joy—and instead reframes it as a path to clarity, confidence, and genuine fulfillment. If you’re sober, sober-curious, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or navigating mental health and personal growth, this conversation will hit home.

• Sobriety and living alcohol-free

• Mommy wine culture and its hidden impact

• Early sobriety and emotional resilience

• Self-love, gratitude, and mindset shifts

• Mental health and personal growth

• The importance of community in recovery

• “I didn’t like myself.”

• “I can handle it.”

• “Sobriety didn’t take my life away—it gave it back.”

00:00 – Introduction and milestones
05:09 – Abby’s sobriety journey
17:06 – The impact of mommy wine culture
29:45 – Navigating early sobriety
41:49 – Building resilience and self-love
49:16 – Purpose, balance, and what’s next

Key Topics CoveredNotable QuotesChapters

• Sobriety and living alcohol-free

• Mommy wine culture and its hidden impact

• Early sobriety and emotional resilience

• Self-love, gratitude, and mindset shifts

• Mental health and personal growth

• The importance of community in recovery

• “I didn’t like myself.”

• “I can handle it.”

• “Sobriety didn’t take my life away—it gave it back.”

00:00 – Introduction and milestones
05:09 – Abby’s sobriety journey
17:06 – The impact of mommy wine culture
29:45 – Navigating early sobriety
41:49 – Building resilience and self-love
49:16 – Purpose, balance, and what’s next

In this powerful episode of Sober as F*ck, Ryan and Jess sit down with Krista Martinez, a resilient mother, domestic-violence survivor, and the creator of the lifestyle brand Always Improving. Krista opens up about her raw and remarkable journey through addiction, recovery, self-worth, mental health, and the fight to rebuild her life from the ground up.

Krista shares the truth behind her early relationship with alcohol, the trauma of surviving abusive relationships, and the devastating health consequences that nearly took everything from her—including a battle with pancreatitis. She speaks candidly about relapse, shame, and the complicated role motherhood played in reshaping her identity and purpose.

Her story is a masterclass in resilience, personal growth, and reclaiming self-worth after years of addiction and domestic violence. Krista emphasizes how reconnecting with a higher power anchored her recovery, and how vulnerability became her strongest tool for healing.

Today, Krista channels her pain into purpose through her brand Always Improving, inspiring others in sobriety and reminding us that recovery isn’t a destination—it’s a lifestyle.

If you’re navigating addiction, healing from trauma, rebuilding your confidence, or redefining your identity in sobriety, this episode hits hard in all the right ways.

• Feeling pressured to drink in high school shaped the early stages of Krista’s addiction.

• She survived domestic violence and carried deep wounds into adulthood.

• Her drinking escalated to serious medical issues, including pancreatitis.

• Recovery requires developing a personal relationship with a higher power.

• Motherhood shifted Krista’s motivation for long-term sobriety.

• Relapse is not failure—it's data and an opportunity to rebuild.

• Self-worth is foundational when breaking cycles of abuse.

• Turning her story into a lifestyle brand helped her reclaim her power.

• Vulnerability is essential in recovery, connection, and personal growth.

• Healing is not linear—it's a continuous journey of choosing yourself.

• “I am a domestic violence survivor.”

• “I was so connected to that design.”

• “I think you should write a book.”

00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome
03:04 Early Drinking & Fitting In
05:58 Abusive Relationships & Lasting Impact
09:51 Beginning the Sobriety Journey
14:45 Relapse & Consequences
19:00 Rebuilding Strength After Setbacks
24:04 Faith, Higher Power & Recovery
28:02 Healing, Mental Health & Growth
31:57 Supporting the Next Generation
34:09 Final Reflections
36:31 Understanding Self-Worth
40:59 Recognizing the Cycle of Abuse
42:52 Healthy Relationships After Trauma
48:53 Creating a Lifestyle Brand in Recovery
52:29 Resilience, Reinvention & Transformation
01:01:18 Finding Humor in the Darkness

Major TakeawaysSuggested TitlesFeatured QuotesChapters

• Feeling pressured to drink in high school shaped the early stages of Krista’s addiction.

• She survived domestic violence and carried deep wounds into adulthood.

• Her drinking escalated to serious medical issues, including pancreatitis.

• Recovery requires developing a personal relationship with a higher power.

• Motherhood shifted Krista’s motivation for long-term sobriety.

• Relapse is not failure—it's data and an opportunity to rebuild.

• Self-worth is foundational when breaking cycles of abuse.

• Turning her story into a lifestyle brand helped her reclaim her power.

• Vulnerability is essential in recovery, connection, and personal growth.

• Healing is not linear. It's a continuous journey of choosing yourself.

Keywords

sobriety, recovery, addiction, memoir, personal growth, community support, resilience, mental health, alcohol, transformation

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Beth McDonough shares her remarkable journey from a successful career in TV news to facing the consequences of her addiction. After two DUIs, she found herself in jail, which marked the beginning of her path to recovery. Beth discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned along the way. Her story emphasizes the power of vulnerability, the significance of sharing experiences, and how sobriety can transform lives. With humor and honesty, Beth inspires others to embrace their journeys and find strength in their struggles. TakeawaysBeth's journey in TV news spanned 30 years, covering major events. She faced two DUIs that led to her realization of her addiction. The importance of community support in recovery is emphasized.Beth's first book, 'Stand By', details her fall and recovery journey. She learned to replace drinking with healthier activities. Sobriety is viewed as a superpower that can transform lives. Beth's experiences in jail provided valuable lessons about addiction. The role of vulnerability in sharing one's story is crucial. Recovery is a process that moves at its own pace. Beth's journey highlights the importance of accountability and self-reflection.

Sound bites

"I was given a hug by the judge."

"Sobriety can become your superpower."

"I had to dig deep to get my life back."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:58 Beth's Journey in TV News

06:03 The Fall: DUIs and Consequences

09:09 The Road to Recovery

12:01 Building a New Life

14:53 The Role of Community in Recovery

17:59 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

21:01 The Power of Sharing Stories

24:10 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

SummaryIn this episode, Ryan and Jess welcome Ashley Kalar-Miller, who shares her inspiring journey of sobriety and personal growth. Ashley discusses her turning point that led her to quit drinking, the impact of sobriety on her relationships, and how she navigated life after making this significant change. She also reflects on her professional growth, the importance of community support, and her future aspirations. The conversation is filled with humor, insights, and a hilarious drunken story that highlights the challenges and triumphs of living a sober life.Takeaways:Ashley had a turning point on a Tuesday when she was hungover.She realized she was sick of her own behavior and wanted to change.Surrounding herself with the right people was crucial for her sobriety.Ashley’s relationships changed significantly after she quit drinking.She found clarity and authenticity in her life post-sobriety.Her professional life improved after she left the service industry.Ashley emphasizes the importance of community and support in recovery.She is excited about trying new experiences and adventures.Telling her story has empowered her and others around her.Ashley’s humorous drunken story illustrates the chaos of her past. Sound bites"I thought I was doing great.""I can stand up for myself.""I peed my pants in a onesie."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview03:01 Guest Introduction: Ashley Kalar-Miller06:02 Ashley’s Journey to Sobriety08:59 Reflections on Rock Bottom Moments12:08 Changing Relationships and Social Circles14:57 Impact on Personal Relationships17:59 Professional Growth and Career Changes21:02 Financial Transformation Post-Sobriety24:09 Authenticity and Genuine Connections26:47 Family Dynamics and Childhood Influences30:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts31:24 The Birth of a Retreat32:49 Rediscovering Emotions33:44 Navigating Social Situations Sober38:18 Future Aspirations and Growth43:03 A Hilarious Vegas Story