Today's episode includes a Q & A session conducted live at Recovery Point, which is a resource center for those who struggle with addiction located in Bozeman, Montana.

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Café RE – THE social app for sober people

Bozeman 2026 – August 12th-16th, 2026

[02:19] Paul introduces Jay, Jennifer, Chris and Linda

Each panel member shares a little about themselves and what drove them to seek recovery.

Question – When did you open up to community?

Jay shares that he started going to AA while in jail and attended a program called Bridging the Gap through treatment court which helped him find connection and community.

Jen was a few months into her recovery when she discovered Café RE and found that others sharing their stories helped her a lot.

Chris said he had made several half-hearted attempts at quitting before finding books and communities. He shares that he was stubborn at first, but now has made many friends in Café RE.

Linda attended treatment court with Jay but was trying to be a lone wolf. She didn't have a driver's license and found herself having to ask others for help. She found community in AA and NA/

Questions – What's your favorite recovery quote? One word to summarize your sobriety?

Linda – "it's only a thing if you make it a thing" and her word is "unbelievable"

Chris – "play the tape forward" and his word is "peaceful"

Jen – "keep it simple" and her word is "content"

Jay – "this too shall pass – the good and the bad" and his word is "serenity"

The panel shares their observations on the stigma around addiction decreasing and the increase of alcohol-free options when they go out. They all agree it is great to see that there are more options for people that don't want to drink and more and more places for opportunities to have mocktails while socializing and living life.

Question – In a life without alcohol, has something surprised you?

Jen shares that she always loved to camp and the first time she went alcohol-free, she felt uncomfortable at first. She sees that she has more time to do the things she loves and try new things.

Chris says he has so much clarity and energy to do things. Having more time, flexibility and extra money has been nice.

Jay says a lot of his hobbies stayed the same, he just enjoys them more now. He realized he doesn't really like fishing after doing it for so many years. He has also found that he enjoys coaching his daughter's softball team.

Question – What advice do you have for the person that may be struggling to quit drinking?

Jay – you don't have to do it alone, you don't have to be ashamed

Jen – you can do it, and reach out

Chris – you don't have to do it alone, reach out and engage in a community

Linda – find one person that you can trust and start there.

[49:39] Thoughts from Paul:

The planet is currently giving out signs of distress, and all have anchoring to humans and what we have done to nature. Addiction may be the answer to this. When we stop poisoning ourselves with alcohol, a connection or reconnection with nature takes place.

Addiction, or the other side of addiction, is what connects our species back to the pulsations of the earth, animals, wind, sea and within our own hearts. Addiction and the healing that follows is what connects us back to ourselves, the planets, and the animals.

Recovery Elevator

You took the elevator down.

You've got to take the stairs back up.

We can do this.

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