Podcast
Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline
Hosted by Stuart Cline, LPCC, MAC, ATR-BC · EN
Most sobriety podcasts tell you to stay sober. This one helps you figure out what to do with the life you're building.
Sobriety... Now What? is for people who are sober — or trying to be — and ready to go deeper than just not drinking or using. Each episode explores what it actually looks like to build a life worth staying sober for.
I'm your host, Stuart Cline — a licensed therapist, addiction counselor, and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) with over 25 years in clinical practice — from a locked inpatient psychiatric unit early in my career, to leading an intensive outpatient program, to 18 years of hospital-based clinical work alongside a private practice. In New Mexico I hold two active licenses: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC).
I also bring something no credential can give you. I grew up with two alcoholic parents — one who got sober, and one who didn't. The difference between those two paths shaped my life and my purpose. I know what recovery can cost, and I know what it can give back.
Each episode offers practical tools, honest conversations, and real strategies for navigating the emotional terrain of sober life — cravings, stress, relationships, purpose, identity, and everything in between. You'll hear from authors, musicians, teachers, business owners, and recovery experts, alongside solo episodes where I break down what works, why it works, and how to apply it.
There's no single right way to recover. But there are principles that help people thrive — and that's what we explore here.
This podcast exists to help you avoid unnecessary suffering and discover what's possible when sobriety becomes a foundation, not a limitation.
You're not alone — and you don't have to figure this out by yourself.
🌐 www.sobrietynowwhat.com ✉️ sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com
Sobriety Now What? — Let's explore what comes next.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not establish a therapeutic or counseling relationship.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 32: How to Overcome Loneliness and Boredom in Early Sobriety
Jan 3100:07:20Tap to summarizeDId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Ep. 32: How to Overcome Loneliness and Boredom in Early Sobriety Early sobriety can feel surprisingly quiet.You’re doing everything “right”—not drinking, showing up to work, paying bills—but inside, something feels off. Not sad. Not depressed. Just… lonely. Empty. Bored.If you’ve ever found yourself sitting on the couch, scrolling on your phone and wondering, “Is this what sobriety is?”—this episode is for you.In this episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart shares a simple but powerful story about a man who realized that alcohol used to fill more than cravings—it filled time, structure, and connection. When that disappeared, loneliness rushed in.You’ll learn:Why loneliness and boredom are common—and temporary—phases in sobrietyHow isolation quietly increases relapse risk (without you realizing it)Why waiting for motivation doesn’t work—and what doesThe “One Connection Rule”: a gentle, doable way to rebuild meaning and belongingPractical ideas for connection that don’t feel overwhelming or forcedSobriety isn’t just about removing alcohol—it’s about rebuilding a life that feels worth staying sober for.If you’re in that uncomfortable in-between space where the old life is gone and the new one hasn’t fully formed yet, this episode will remind you: this too will pass—and life really does get better.🎧 Listen now and take one small step out of isolation and back into life. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to do this perfectly to 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 showHI! 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.comHave 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 friendDisclaimer 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.
Transcribe →Ep 31: Why Your Mind Won’t Slow Down in Early Sobriety — and What to Do
Jan 2400:12:50Tap to summarizeDId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Ep 31: Why Your Mind Won’t Slow Down in Early Sobriety — and What to DoAre you sober—but your mind still feels loud, critical, or exhausting? You’re not alone—and there’s nothing wrong with you.In this episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart explores how self-talk quietly shapes your entire recovery experience, often without you realizing it. Many people stop drinking or using… yet still feel stuck inside their own head. The overthinking. The self-doubt. The feeling of “Why am I still struggling?”This episode explains what’s really happening.You’ll learn:Why your brain is not sabotaging you—it’s trying to prove you rightHow confirmation bias influences what you notice, remember, and believeWhy negative self-talk feels so convincing (even when it isn’t true)How small, kinder shifts in thinking can rewire your brain over timeSimple phrases and questions that help your mind work with you instead of against youStuart shares a powerful psychological study, real recovery examples, and gentle, practical tools you can start using today—without forcing positive thinking or fake affirmations.This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about changing what your mind is trained to look for.If you’ve ever said, “I’m sober, but my mind won’t slow down,” this episode is for you.👉 Learn more about Stuart’s coaching and resources at evolvingfully.com 🎧 If this episode helped you, share it with someone who might need it.Live freely. Evolve fully. 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 showHI! 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.comHave 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 friendDisclaimer 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.
Transcribe →Ep 30 Your Dream — Closing 2025, Opening What’s Possible
Jan 100:12:36Tap to summarizeDId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Your Dream — Closing 2025, Opening What’s Possible As one year closes and another begins, this episode is an invitation to pause.In this reflective and hopeful New Year’s episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart Cline invites you to look back on 2025—not through what went wrong, but through what went right. The quiet wins. The growth that didn’t always feel dramatic. The moments you showed up, learned something, or kept going when it wasn’t easy.Stuart shares his own journey with the podcast this year—what he hoped for, what surprised him, the fears, the mistakes, and the windows of opportunity that opened by simply saying yes and continuing forward. From thousands of listeners across the world to meaningful conversations that created real impact, this episode honors progress over perfection.You’ll be guided through a gentle reflection using eight key areas that help life thrive in sobriety—relationships, health, work, purpose, spirituality, personal growth, community, and joy—reminding you that you don’t need to win in every area for your year to matter.This episode also looks ahead with hope, sharing how recovery care is evolving: more compassion, more access, more tools, and more humanity than ever before. Whether you’re solid in recovery, questioning your relationship with substances, or simply longing for something more, this episode meets you where you are.Most of all, this is a reminder: You are not behind. You are not broken. Your dream still matters.As we step into a new year, Stuart leaves you with one powerful question: What is the quiet dream inside you—and how long are you willing to wait to act on it?If you’re ready for more than “just okay,” this episode is for you.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 showHI! 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.comHave 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 friendDisclaimer 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.
Transcribe →Ep 29 When Sobriety Opens Doors: How Cat Greenleaf Built a Life Living Out Loud
Dec 2200:39:57Tap to summarizeDId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Episode 29: When Sobriety Opens Doors: How Cat Greenleaf Built a Life Living Out Loud Do you remember the moment when something shifted— when sobriety stopped feeling like a loss and started revealing unexpected gains?In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Cat Greenleaf, host of the podcast Soberness, to explore what opens up when alcohol no longer runs the show.Cat shares how sobriety didn’t shrink her life—it expanded it.Formerly the Emmy Award–winning host of NBC’s Talk Stoop, Cat has spent her career in honest conversation with celebrities and public figures. Today, that same curiosity and presence shape her work in recovery—where the masks come off, the stories get real, and meaning takes center stage.In this episode, we talk about:The moment sobriety begins to feel like freedom instead of deprivationWhy honest, unpolished conversations are often the most healingHow sobriety creates “windows of opportunity” that never existed beforeLetting go of people-pleasing and growing comfortable in your own skinWhy reinvention is not only possible in recovery—but naturalHow spirituality, curiosity, and service can evolve after we stop numbingCat also opens up about how sobriety led her toward unexpected purpose—including working with incarcerated populations and asking the question many of us avoid: How do we continue living meaningful lives after great pain or regret?This is a conversation about awareness, reinvention, and learning to stay human—no matter where you are in your recovery journey.If you’re sober, sober-curious, or wondering what’s possible on the other side of alcohol, this episode offers reassurance, insight, and hope.Check out Cat Greenleaf's podcast Soberness at soberness.comPlease follow, like, and leave a 5-star rating if you're feeling generous. It is the gift that keeps on giving, and I hear you will go to heaven. I mean, not right now, but you know when it's your time. 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 showHI! 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.comHave 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 friendDisclaimer 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.
Transcribe →Ep 28: Beyond Willpower: 4 Essential Supports for Thriving in Sobriety
Dec 1400:13:11Tap to summarizeDId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. 4 Essential Supports for Thriving in Sobriety - Do You Have Them?In this episode of Sobriety Now What, Stuart Cline explores a powerful truth many people in recovery overlook: staying sober and thriving in sobriety isn’t built on willpower alone.Through a real-life story of a woman who stopped using marijuana while working in the cannabis industry, Stuart breaks down what was actually supporting her change. What she called “willpower” turned out to be something much deeper — four internal supports that quietly hold up a thriving sober life.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why willpower works in the moment but can’t carry everything by itselfThe difference between trying to change and actually doing itHow motivation, discipline, and purpose support lasting sobrietyWhy struggling doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means you’re humanHow to recognize the supports you’re already using (and stop selling yourself short)This episode is especially helpful if you’ve ever thought: “Why is this still hard?” “I should be further along by now.” “Am I doing enough?”You are doing more right than you think you are.What helps you thrive in sobriety is already inside you — this episode helps you see it.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 showHI! If you are looking for me - Stuart Cline. You can find me below. I would like to hear from you. 🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com 🎓 Courses & Programs: https://stuartcline.podia.com 🌱 Evolving Fully Institute: www.evolvingfully.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.comHave 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 someone who could benefit. That’s how we grow this message and help more people thrive in sobriety.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.
Transcribe →Ep. 27: From Money Stress to Confidence — A Sobriety Mindset Shift
Nov 3000:19:50Tap to summarizeDId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you. Ep. 27: From Money Stress to Confidence — A Sobriety Mindset ShiftDo you ever feel anxious, confused, or overwhelmed by money? You're not alone. Most people in recovery carry old money beliefs they never chose — they inherited them. And those beliefs quietly shape how safe, confident, or capable we feel with our finances.In this episode, we explore the 10 most common limiting money beliefs that keep people stuck — and transform each one into a healthy, grounded belief that supports your recovery, your stability, and the life you’re building.You’ll learn:Why your relationship with money is actually an emotional pattern from childhoodHow shame, scarcity, or chaos from the past get projected onto your bank accountHow to shift from fear-based money habits to calm, confident stewardshipA guided visualization using $100,000 in your hands to reset your nervous systemTwo new affirmations that help rewire the brain for financial peace and empowermentTiny daily actions that make money feel safer, lighter, and easier to manageThis is not about becoming rich. It’s about becoming resourced, steady, and supported — so you can thrive in your sobriety and build a life that reflects your values.If you’ve ever said “I’m not good with money”… or felt guilt wanting more… or feared you didn’t deserve abundance… this episode is for you.“It is safe for me to receive, hold, and use money in alignment with my values.”Thanks for listening to Sobriety Now What. Live freely, evolve fully, and thrive.I would like to know if this is helping you in any way. If so, please go to sobrietynowwhat.com and leave a text to post, or go to sobrietynowwhat111.comInvitation 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 showHI! If you are looking for me - Stuart Cline. You can find me below. I would like to hear from you. 🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com 🎓 Courses & Programs: https://stuartcline.podia.com 🌱 Evolving Fully Institute: www.evolvingfully.com 🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com 📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.comHave 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 someone who could benefit. That’s how we grow this message and help more people thrive in sobriety.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.
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