Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline
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.
Episodes
41 episodes
Ep. 38: A Kindness Practice to Calm Your Mind & Reduce Stress (Bonus Episode)
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 pra...
Ep 37 The Helper's High Without the Hangover — Francesca Donlan on Kindness, Recovery & the K20 Summit
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 g...
Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life
Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His LifeIn this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart sits down with Ian Fee to explore what recovery really looks like beyond just quitting drinking.After...
Ep 35: Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through Recovery
Ep 35 Getting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through RecoveryGetting Sober and Thriving: How David Hanley Wrote His Way Through RecoveryWhat did it take for David Hanley to finally stop drinking? The ans...
Ep 34: Why People Still Don’t Trust You in Early Sobriety (And How to Rebuild It)
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...
Ep. 33: Alcohol Cirrhosis and Liver Transplant: One Woman’s Sobriety Story
What would you do if you were told you needed a new liver to survive?In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart Cline talks with Tia about her journey through cirrhosis, alcohol addiction, sobriety, and a life-savin...
Ep. 32: How to Overcome Loneliness and Boredom in Early Sobriety
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 s...
Ep 31: Why Your Mind Won’t Slow Down in Early Sobriety — and What to Do
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 So...
Ep 30 Your Dream — Closing 2025, Opening What’s Possible
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 Cl...
Ep 29 When Sobriety Opens Doors: How Cat Greenleaf Built a Life Living Out Loud
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...
Ep 28: Beyond Willpower: 4 Essential Supports for Thriving in Sobriety
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 o...
Ep. 27: From Money Stress to Confidence — A Sobriety Mindset Shift
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 ...
Ep 26 - How to Stay Calm and Sober in an Angry World.
If the world feels loud, angry, or overwhelming lately, you’re not imagining it. In this episode of Sobriety Now What? we talk about how to stay calm, grounded, and steady in your sobriety even when everything around you feels chaotic....
Ep 25 Welcome to Holland: Finding Beauty in the Life You Didn't Expect.
🎙️ Episode Title: Welcome to Holland: Finding Beauty in the Life You Didn’t ExpectWhat happens when life doesn’t go as planned?In this heartfelt episode of Sobriety Now What?, host Stuart Cline, a m...
Ep 24 - How to Stay Calm in Sobriety: Perspective Shifts That Reduce Anxiety
🎙️ Episode 24 — Perspective, Peace, and CoffeeSobriety Now What? with Stuart ClineSometimes, peace begins with something as simple as a cup of coffee. ☕In this episode, Stuart invites you to slow down and lo...
Ep 23 - How to Reignite Your Motivation in Sobriety: 3 Practical Steps
Feeling flat in your sobriety? You’re not alone. In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart Cline — mental health counselor and recovery success coach — shares three practical steps to reignite your motivation when the spark f...
Ep 22: Sober Songs - Michael Levin's Off-Broadway Musical on Addiction and Recovery
Episode 22: Sober Songs – Michael Levin’s Off-Broadway Musical on Addiction and RecoveryHave you ever felt like you were catching lightning in a bottle—only to lose it in an instant? That’s exactly what happened when I interview...
Ep 20 Serena Palmer: Author of My Two Brains and Me. (Part 1)
In this first part of my conversation with Serena Palmer—writer, speaker, and author of My Two Brains and Me—we explore her journey through ADHD, addiction, and the shame that nearly silenced her. Serena’s mantra, recover loudly so...
Ep 21 Serena Palmer: Author of My Two Brains and Me (part 2)
Ep 21 Serena Palmer: Author of My Two Brains and Me (part 2)This is part two of my conversation with Serena Palmer, author of My Two Brains and Me. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to listen to part one first, where Ser...
Ep 19: The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous Explained (With 70+ Years of Sobriety)
Episode Description: In this episode of Sobriety Now What? Stuart continues the conversation with Colm and Mike, two men with over 70 years of combined sobriety. Together, they walk step by step through all 12 Steps of Alcoh...
Ep 18 - Colm & Mike: 35 years Sober - Candid Conversation on AA, Recovery, and Life.
Colm & Mike: 35 years Sober - Candid Conversation on AA, Recovery, and Life. What happens when a retired hostage negotiator, a retired businessman, and a counselor walk past a bar? It might sound like the start of a joke, but...
Ep 16 – Part 1: Colette Streicher on MAP — A New Way to Heal Old Wounds Without Relapsing
Ep 16 – Part 1: Colette Streicher on MAP — A New Way to Heal Old Wounds Without RelapsingGuest: Colette Streicher, Founder of MAP Coaching InstituteWhat if the pain from your past didn’t have to define your future? W...
Ep 17 – Part 2: Colette Streicher on MAP — A New Way to Heal Old Wounds Without Relapsing
Episode 17 – Part 2: Colette Streicher on MAP — A New Way to Heal Old Wounds Without RelapsingHow to rewire your brain, stop the sabotage, and shift your life—without reliving the pain.If you've ever felt like talkin...
Ep 15: Dedee Pfeiffer on Alcohol Sobriety, Spiritual Awakening, and Her Supernatural Journey
Ep 14: Dedee Pfeiffer From Friends and ER to Big Sky, actress Dedee Pfeiffer has lit up screens across America. But in this deeply honest and empowering episode, she shares the story behind th...
Ep 14 Jam Alker - Rock Star Highs to Rock Bottom Lows, Now Thriving in Sobriety
🎙️ Ep 14: Jam Alker – From Rockstar Highs to Rock Bottom Lows, Now Thriving in SobrietyWhat happens when the dream life crashes hard—and leaves you with nothing but a guitar, a gut infection, and a choice to heal?In this po...