ALCOHOL, COLONIZATION, AND 30 YEARS SOBER
Soberness Podcast
Deb Haaland shares how sobriety, generational trauma, and survival shaped her life and leadership. In this Soberness episode, she speaks candidly about alcoholism, Native American boarding schools, and 30 years of sobriety. This is not a political interview. It’s a conversation about how trauma gets passed down, how alcohol was weaponized against Native communities, and what it takes to choose sobriety when numbing feels easier. Deb Haaland reflects on family, public service, recovery, and the responsibility she carries to honor those who came before her. IN THIS EPISODE: HOW GENERATIONAL...
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AJ McLean: The Relapse That Almost Cost Him Everything
Soberness Podcast
AJ McLean opens up about addiction, relapse, sobriety, and fame in one of his most unfiltered conversations ever. The Backstreet Boys singer talks honestly about alcohol, drugs, recovery, fatherhood, and the moment that stopped him for good. This isn’t a redemption arc or a PR version of sobriety. AJ walks through the lies, the manipulation, the relapses that “didn’t count,” and the brutal truth of knowing when you’re out of chances. From hiding drinks on the road to being exposed by his own child, this is what addiction actually looks like when the lights go off. In this episode,...
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Everclear’s Art Alexakis Hit Bottom “My Wife was Searching Morgues for me”
Soberness Podcast
Everclear frontman Art Alexakis joins Tom Arnold for an unplanned, deeply honest conversation about addiction, blackout drinking, childhood trauma, fame, anger, fatherhood, and what it actually takes to stay sober long-term. What was supposed to be a standard Art Alexakis interview turned into one of the most raw and unforgettable sobriety stories ever recorded on the Soberness Podcast. This episode captures what happens when two very famous, very sober men realize — live — that their stories are disturbingly similar. In this Art Alexakis / Everclear interview, they talk about: 💥 Being...
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The Tom Arnold Story You’ve Never Heard Before (Addiction, Relapse, Getting Sober)
Soberness Podcast
Tom Arnold gets brutally honest in one of the wildest, funniest, and most heartbreaking conversations ever recorded on Soberness. From nearly dying on the PCH to relapsing on medical fentanyl, battling benzos, enduring organ failure, losing loved ones to suicide, surviving four marriages, and navigating fame, fatherhood, and addiction — Tom tells the truth with zero filter and a ton of heart ❤️. In this episode, Tom reveals: 💥 The motorcycle crash that triggered a secret year-long dependence on pain meds 💥 The terrifying reality of benzos — and how they contributed to...
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The Clay Aiken Story You’ve Never Heard Before (Fame, Fear & Finally Becoming Himself)
Soberness Podcast
In this unfiltered and wildly funny conversation with Clay Aikin, Cat Greenleaf unpacks the American Idol legend’s truth behind overnight fame, losing half his fanbase overnight, price of fame, coming out as gay in the public eye, running for Congress, and rebuilding his identity — again and again. In this episode of Soberness, Clay reveals: ✨ The whiplash of going from schoolteacher to global superstar in 12 weeks ✨ Touring with Kelly Clarkson after American Idol ✨ The paranoia and loneliness that fame quietly creates ✨ Why Broadway had to STOP a performance because fans ✨...
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Don Lemon Gets Raw About Fame, Truth & Rebirth after CNN
Soberness Podcast
Don Lemon opens up like never before. In this raw, unfiltered conversation with Cat Greenleaf, he reflects on life after his CNN exit — the shock, the betrayal, and how he rebuilt his life from his living room. In this Don Lemon interview on the Soberness Podcast, he reveals the impact CNN had on his life and voice, how the experience made him wiser, more grounded, and why he’s dedicated to fighting for the truth. From racism to violence, from truth in media to rebuilding his identity, Don Lemon speaks with clarity, courage, and conviction. If you’ve ever felt betrayed, voiceless, or...
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"I Hit Rock Bottom" Marky Ramone on Alcoholism, Regret, and His AA Story
Soberness Podcast
Raw and unforgettable conversation with Marky Ramone, the legendary drummer of The Ramones. This is the definitive Ramones interview that goes beyond the music, exploring the dark side of rock and roll fame. Marky opens up about his personal struggle with alcohol addiction and the painful consequences that followed, including being fired from one of the greatest punk bands of all time. Marky details the low point that led him to seek help, his first reluctant visit to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and how the 12 Steps fundamentally changed his life. Hear the true story of his recovery, the moment...
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The Woman Who Made Trump Pay $100 Mil | E. Jean Carroll Tells All
Soberness Podcast
E. Jean Carroll is the only woman who made Trump pay, twice. This is her shocking story about being a woman, beating a billionaire in court, the verdict, and the aftermath of abuse on mental and relational health. E. Jean Carroll is a successful journalist and activist, and we're honored to hear her story live, kicking off season 2 of Soberness, Freedom from F*ckery. This episode of Soberness is empowering, shocking, and inspires us to stand up to those who have taken advantage of us. It's time to free ourselves from F*ckery! This episode is sponsored by Hand on Heart Wine Submit your...
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Sobriety Behind Bars: What No One Tells You About Prison & Addiction | Amika Mota
Soberness Podcast
What’s the truth about getting sober in prison? In this powerful episode, Amika Mota shares her journey from addiction to incarceration—and the unexpected realities of recovery behind bars. From fighting fires as an inmate to leading change on the outside, her story is raw, eye-opening, and deeply human. - WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/QSD3sxd_wS4 LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi - FOLLOW SOBERNESS: Instagram @SobernessPodcast TikTok @SobernessPodcast YouTube @SobernessPodcast #AmikaMota...
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Nick Thune's Absinthe Relapse and the Comeback That Followed
Soberness Podcast
Nick Thune's Absinthe Relapse and the Comeback That Followed Comedian and actor Nick Thune gets brutally honest about his sobriety journey—getting sober at 17, staying dry for 12 years, and the one drink in Vegas that triggered a decade-long relapse. From absinthe and near-death moments to a comeback rooted in faith, fatherhood, and self-forgiveness, this is one of Soberness’ most raw and redemptive episodes yet. If you've ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, struggled with shame, or wondered what recovery can really look like—this conversation is for you. - WATCH THE FULL...
info_outlineIn this episode of Soberness, a panel of top chefs and mixologists discusses the challenges and triumphs of staying sober in the high-pressure world of hospitality. Recorded live at the Mindful Drinking Festival, these culinary experts share their personal stories of addiction, recovery, and how mindfulness has shaped their approach to life.
Discover how the industry’s culture is shifting toward inclusivity, with non-alcoholic trends taking center stage and offering hope to those on their sobriety journey. Whether you're in hospitality or curious about the intersection of food and mindful living, this episode serves up plenty of inspiration and insight.
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WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/SVUiX4hXNnE
LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi
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FOLLOW SOBERNESS:
Instagram @SobernessPodcast
TikTok @SobernessPodcast
YouTube @SobernessPodcast
TIME CODES:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 The pressure of hospitality and addiction
04:22 Why the industry normalizes alcohol use
07:48 Chef stories: Personal battles with sobriety
11:32 Finding balance in a high-stress kitchen
14:05 How mindfulness transformed their careers
17:20 The rise of non-alcoholic options in fine dining
20:35 Challenges of creating sober-friendly spaces
23:50 Advice for chefs and hospitality workers in recovery
26:45 Audience Q&A: Sober strategies for hospitality professionals
29:10 Closing remarks and future trends in mindful drinking
Keywords: chefs and sobriety, mindful drinking festival, sober hospitality, addiction in the food industry, non-alcoholic trends, sober chefs, mindfulness in hospitality, recovery stories from chefs, sobriety in fine dining, chefs and mental health, sober-friendly restaurants, culinary industry challenges, mindfulness and cooking, alcohol-free dining, sobriety in the kitchen, chefs overcoming addiction, hospitality and recovery, non-alcoholic beverage trends, sober living for chefs, mindful drinking movement.