Keep Coming Back: Real Stories of Sobriety & Recovery
Mike S
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Experience, strength, and hope:
Welcome to “Keep Coming Back” a series of inspiring and powerful conversations focused around the paths to sobriety and recovery. Each episode explores an individual’s unique story, their relationship with drugs and alcohol, and explains how each navigates life today without a drink, a powder, or a pill.
Email: keepcomingbackpodcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @kcbpodcast
Hosted by Mike S
Sobriety Date 7/5/16
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Feb 18, 2022
Michael L. Age 57 Sober: 6/6/98
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Feb 11, 2022
Alex R. Age 21 Sober: 9/15/20
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Feb 4, 2022
Scarlett B. Age 37 Sober : 8/20/17
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Jan 27, 2022
Pat M. Age 30 Sober since 8/11/20
The links between mental illness, medication, sobriety and recovery
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Jan 19, 2022
Ruthie R. Age 34 Sober: 5/1/18
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Sep 23, 2021
Reggie R. 46 years old sober: 11/29/04
Reggie's father passed in the mid 90's due to AIDS. We discuss the resentment and amends process that followed.
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Sep 16, 2021
Neta M. Age 26 Sober since: 5/1/21
After getting 4 months, Neta relapsed. In today's interview she discusses what lead her there, and how her attitude towards her program and recovery changed afterwards.
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Aug 31, 2021
Paul H. Age 29 Sober since: 10/1/20
AA at 16, rehab at 17. Paul H. discusses his journey in and out of sobriety, and what lead to his 21-month relapse. White-light moments in rehab, being a part of "sober seal team 6" and why "this time is different" highlight this week's episode.
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Aug 17, 2021
Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, MD Psychiatrist in Chief at Columbia University Medical Center
There's methods outside of a 12-step recovery room to get sober. For several decades, Dr. Lieberman has successfully treated patients with addiction with a combination of prescribed medicine and "faith-based healing." In today's interview we explore and debate the merits of both, and additionally discuss why he's an advocate for the use of psilocybin (lsd) in the treatment of alcoholism.
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Dec 15, 2020
Danielle L. Age. 27 Sober: 1/22/20
Stories of smuggling cocaine into foreign countries, nitrous-oxide addiction to the point of minor paralysis, and of course recovery are the headlines for episode 18. Danielle recounts her friend's intervention for her, sober living, and early experiences in AA
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Nov 17, 2020
Jake G. Age 29 Sober: 7/13/17
Jake G. didn't latch on to sobriety to the first time around. However, after an intervention from his parents, a trip to the psych ward, and several near-misses at work, he believed the writing was on the wall. This conversation discusses the shift from "I need to take a break from drinking" to "I need to be sober"
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Oct 30, 2020
James D. Age 41 Sober: 2/23/16
It took James two-stints in rehab, and then sober living to finally get a grasp on his painkiller addiction. In today's conversation we discuss how his relationship with his wife was able to withstand the time away, and how relationships and work-life are today.
(note this interview was recorded in 2019)
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Oct 21, 2020
Barbara P. Age. 63 Sober: 4/10/94
Barbara P. hit the 20-year mark in sobriety and became scared by what she saw. Friends she'd known in sobriety for years were leaving the program. She said at that point it was necessary to re-double her efforts and today considers her program stronger then it's ever been.
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Oct 15, 2020
Anne V. Age. 27 Sober: 2/20/17
Anne V. was born in Holland, and moved to NYC at 18. We discuss her early life and family, road from self described "party-girl" to a life of sobriety and the altering of one's social life in early recovery.
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Oct 6, 2020
David P. Age. 27 Sober: 1/8/17
David and I discuss what it was like getting sober in college, relapsing, and then recovering once more. Additional topics include: How close to the vest do we keep our anonymity, the value of the 4th step, and the topic of a "quiet mind"
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Sep 1, 2020
Robert M. Age 39 Sober: 4/15/12
"They wheel out this black and white video, starring a guy named Father Martin. He was a Catholic priest, and this must've been from the 1950's. I thought "what are we watching here???" But he proceeded to explain alcoholism, what it was, and he gave examples. When I left that weekend of classes, I knew deep down that I was probably an alcoholic."
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Aug 18, 2020
Ricardo D. Age 38 Sober: 11/12/17
"I came to around 7am. No phone. No cash. My friends hadn't seen me for 12 hours. I was talking with my first sponsor at this point....he suggested I dive in head first into AA."
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Aug 5, 2020
John N. Age 29 Sober : 12/23/12
"It was around the time of Hurricane Sandy, I'm snorting cocaine around the clock. I would sit in my studio, playing solitaire, hoping I didn't wake up the next morning, fine if i died."
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Jul 28, 2020
Sarah M. Age 29 Sober since 4/8/17
Drug tested 3x a week. Multiple therapists. Rehab.
Sarah's story is one of recovery and relapse followed by more recovery. Today she is a recovery coach herself living in New York. Anyone interested in contacting her can write saramosk@gmail.com
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Jul 21, 2020
Brett B. Age 31 Sober since: 11/22/19
"And when I drove back...I'll never forget this, I walk right up to my mom and say "I have a drug problem."" She goes "what??!!...can we talk about this?"
"No I'm going out to watch the Giants/Eagles game."
"And I went and drank at a bar, 10 minutes after telling my mom I had a drug problem. That is how clueless I was to the disease of addiction back then"
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Jul 14, 2020
Tom P. Age 39 Sober since 12/12/12
"They gave me an ultimatum ...come in or we're done with you."
Topics discussed: The evolution of a spiritual program, and the "alcoholic" mind
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Jul 7, 2020
Lyra N. Age 30 Sober since 2/20/15
Back from quarantine episode 1:
In today's first episode back, we discuss our last 3 months in quarantine, zoom meetings, celebrating my four year sobriety anniversary and much more
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Mar 24, 2020
Jed A. Age 37 Sober since: 5/14/13
"I was going through hell...and I knew I was gonna drink....I was going to relapse.
I drank the whole bottle in about 10 minutes, and the sad part is for about 10 minutes it gave me what i wanted. Once it was over, the addiction just started up again....like that!"
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Mar 14, 2020
New Virtual Meeting Details
Here are the instructions to join the virtual meeting I'm starting this Monday, March 16th at 7pm EST. Hope to see you all there. Only the first 100 people will be able to fit in this first meeting. You'll need to download the Ringcentral app when prompted and enable all video/audio when prompted
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1480218717
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +1(773)2319226 meeting ID: 1480218717#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1(773)2319226
Meeting ID: 148 021 8717
International numbers available: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/teleconference
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Mar 9, 2020
Alexis G. Age 36 Sober since: 3/13/09
"No one picked up the phone that day. Not my friends, not my sister, not my mother. Look where i am?! I'm in a hospital bed, and it's my birthday!"
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Feb 29, 2020
Keep Coming Back Season 2 Trailer
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Feb 29, 2020
Aaron C. Age 31 Sober since: 9/24/10
Aaron C. was born in Mexico and migrated at age 8. He moved all over the country, eventually becoming a veterinary technician at age 16, gaining access to a plethora of pet-meds. We discussed the arc of his story, self harm, recovery, and the role "machismo" can play in a Latin man's life.
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Feb 21, 2020
Bobby R. Age 68 Sober since: 10/26/00
"I looked in the mirror....I looked into my eyes....and I saw nothing. I'd lost self control, a sense of self, and I didn't want to live that way anymore."
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Feb 13, 2020
Melissa S. Age. 69 Sober since: 11/7/90
Melissa S is a trans woman, sober nearly thirty years, and transitioned three decades ago. We spoke about being a trans woman in recovery, what her bottom looked like, and her appreciation of sobriety a recovery.
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Feb 7, 2020
Lauren L. Age 34 Sober since: 2/7/17
"I lost total control. I really could not handle myself. I was doing drugs before work, at work, and that went on for about 3 years when I then had a very public blackout.
Literally everybody that I didn't to see me that way saw me blacked out, and it was the first time I realize I could lose everything I worked so hard for"
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Jan 31, 2020
Tom H. Age 34 Sober since: 9/6/17
"I had far crazier things, and by that i mean giant red warning signs saying "YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKING" long before i walked in the room of AA"
"I've been divorced, bankrupt in three countries, I've been in trouble with the law.......but my rock bottom was purely emotional...i was exhausted.""
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Jan 15, 2020
Laura N. Age. 31 Sober since: 7/28/18
"I was so isolated. I was shackled to the bad things that has happened in my life, and I didn't know how to NOT talk about it.
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Jan 8, 2020
Ben R. Age 25 Sober since: 5/17/15
They suggest you don't date in your first year of sobriety...
"But what if I meet the girl of my dreams?! Technically I could miss out!"
Ben R. has never had a legal drink, and we discuss the trials and tribulations of college, dating, and family when a person gets sober before turning 21.
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Jan 1, 2020
Steven Y. Age 34 Sober since: 12/16/14
"I had one roommate who was brutally honest with me. He told me "you smell terrible. You smell like the homeless guy on the train that everyone moves away from"
The first episode of 2020 discussed the recent Op-ed in the NYT entitled "The Patriarchy of Alcoholics Anonymous" and then discusses Steven's journey, including his views on why Asian-culture seems to be underrepresented in 12-step recovery.
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Dec 13, 2019
Harrison T. Age 26 Sober since: 08/31/12
What's it like being the only sober guy in your college fraternity?
What's it like living in not 1 but 2 halfway houses before the age of 22?
Harrison and I discuss how a young man navigates socially, romantically and professionally during the course of our interview.
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Dec 4, 2019
Part 2 of 2: Julia M
Last we left off Julia M was starting day 1 in her recovery. Over the next 30 minutes she describes her initial impressions of recovery rooms and describes how she stays sober today.
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Dec 2, 2019
Julia M. Age 54 Sober since: 09/08 Part I of 2
How does one go bankrupt?
Two ways, first gradually, and then suddenly
_E. Hemmingway
In part one of my interview with Julia, we discuss all the events leading to day 1 of her recovery. From drinking, to pill addiction, to smoking crack cocaine, the conversation spans being a daughter, a wife, and a mother in active addiction.
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Nov 20, 2019
Bill S. Age. 61 Sober since: 11/19/95
Comedy writer and comedian Bill S. reflects on 24 years of sobriety in today's interview. We touch on growing up in a large Jewish family, his late-wife and the influence her sobriety had on him, and Bill provides some nostalgic tales from early days in recovery.
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Nov 14, 2019
Stacy H. Age 51. Sober since 10/6/86
Born and raised in northern Louisiana , Stacy had spent time in two rehabs by the age of 19. During our time together we discussed the importance of sponsorship, her connection to a power greater then herself, and touch on why AA's seem to continue to struggle with relationships..
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Nov 5, 2019
Ryan M. Age 49 Sober since: 10/08/09
"5% of life is what's happening to you, and 95% of life is how we react to it"
In the course of an hour, Ryan and I discuss the blackouts, the un-manageability , and the double life that comes with active alcoholism. In the back half we explored finding a relationship with a power greater then yourself and how that manifests in life today.
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Oct 28, 2019
Lee O. Age 38 Sober since: 7/3/06
After years of sobriety, Lee O. took a break from AA. In this interview he discusses what lead to that break, what brought him back, and what keeps him coming to meetings after 13 years.
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Oct 19, 2019
Farrell M. Age. 49 Sober: 1/6/00
How does one navigate the 12-steps in moments when a belief in a higher power is waning or even non-existent? This is a question nearly everyone has struggled with at some point in sobriety. In this interview Farrell and I discuss his road to a rehab center, early enthusiasm for AA, and the "god" moments in his story
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Oct 19, 2019
Ella G. Age 33. Sober: 5/24/15
There's a reason so many alcoholics and addicts drank and drugged for too long...it wasn't ALL bad. Trying to recapture some magic from years before, whether it be a feeling, or a sense of comradery is a common theme for many. In this interview Ella and I discuss the shift from drinking with friends to drinking in isolation, and how she made the decision to stop.
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Oct 17, 2019
Allen C. Age 35 Sober: 8/24/15
"We had these intentions, but drugs and alcohol got in the way of everything. I knew I'd lost the power of choice"
"I didn't know how do do anything without drinking. I didn't know how to date. I didn't know how to hangout with friends...and in the beginning its very lonely."
Allen is the only person in this podcast series who knew me when I was active. We met in 2007, and spend much of the interview reminiscing and remarking on just how different life is today for both of us.
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Oct 17, 2019
Sydney M. Age. 28 Sober: 1/7/2010
Rehab at 15, then back to high school.
Rehab at 18, and now it sticks. Sydney and I weave through her story and focus on life in a rehab, willingness to change, and growing up with alcoholism in the family.
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Oct 8, 2019
Tom L. Age 50 Sober 8/3/17
"I was drinking around the clock"
" If you had my life you'd drink too"
Tom and I start at the end and work our way back. From his first meeting until the moment it finally clicked, we talk about what finally lead to the end of 30+ years of drinking.
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Oct 7, 2019
Nicole L. Age 51 Sober: 10/15/91
Dating in sobriety, fellowship, and sharing in the rooms of AA are all discussed in this interview with Nicole. She talks to what it means to "drink like a man" and explains the difference between a physical bottom and a "spiritual bottom"
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Oct 7, 2019
Jon A. Age 26 Sober since: 1/1/18
..."at this point I've crossed the threshold. Alcohol was no longer about having fun. It's not a social lubricant anymore, it was about not feeling the way I felt anymore. I would come home from work, drink beer, drink whiskey, smoke cigarettes , and pass out at 8pm so I didn't have to feel anymore"
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Oct 7, 2019
Robert B. Age 42. Sober since: 8/8/11
Introduction to “Keep Coming Back.” In this initial episode I discuss a bit of my own story, followed by my interview with Rob B. Age 42 and sober since 8/8/11. We explore how drinking touched his work life, affected his marriage, and his initial thoughts on recovery and AA.
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