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.
Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline
Ep 43 - How Winston Churchill's Bricklaying Habit Can Help Quiet a Racing Mind in Recovery
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Winston Churchill and the Black Dog: What Bricklaying Can Teach Us About a Racing Mind
Winston Churchill helped lead Britain through World War II. He also battled dark moods he called his "black dog." When those moods showed up, he didn't just wait them out. He painted. He wrote. And strangely enough, he laid bricks, one at a time, until he joined an actual bricklayers union.
In this episode, we use Churchill's story to talk about something a lot of people in recovery know well: rumination. That loop where your mind keeps circling the same question. Why did I do that? What if this happens? What does that person think of me? Alcohol may have quieted that noise for a while, but once it's gone, the thoughts are still there, and you need a new way to respond.
We'll talk about the difference between reflection and rumination, why trying to force a thought away often makes it louder, and a simple practice for redirecting your attention when your mind won't let go. Plus, a quick update on where things stand with the first Live Unclouded book.
What's your brick? By the end of this episode, you'll have a plan for finding out.
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.
HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer, check out the links below. I am transitioning the title from Sobriety...Now What? to Live Unclouded, after the book title, I am publishing September 1st.
🌐 Website: www.Liveunclouded.com
🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com
🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com
📧 Email: Liveunclouded@gmail.com
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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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