Episode 15 : Embracing Sobriety & Identity: Eamon Kearney's 'Long Way Home'.

What happens when you realise alcohol has become your “home”… and you decide to burn that version of home to the ground?In this episode of The Next Chapter, I’m joined by Eamon Kearney —Irish immigrant living in Massachusetts, father, sober runner, and author of the upcoming memoir 'The Long Way Home.' We get into the real stuff: adoption, early trauma, Irish drinking culture, and how learned behaviour can quietly wire addiction into your identity.Eamon shares the moment he hit a low point, what finally made him choose sobriety, and why running became the anchor that helped him rebuild discipline, clarity, and self-respect. We also talk about redefining what 'home' actually means when you’re sober—and how fatherhood can become the reason you break the cycle for good.If you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol, struggling with identity, or trying to become the dad your kids deserve—this one will hit.Chapters...00:00 Intro – Eamon’s Kearney story in a sentence01:12 Who is Eamon ? (father, sober runner, immigrant, author)03:05 Adoption, early trauma, and the search for belonging06:10 Growing up around alcohol: “learned behaviour” and Irish culture09:25 When drinking becomes identity (and why it’s so hard to quit)12:40 The turning point: hitting a new low15:30 Choosing sobriety in 2022 – what changed?18:10 Running as an anchor: discipline, routine, mental clarity22:05 The mind in recovery: self-reflection and healing25:30 Fatherhood after sobriety: showing up and breaking the cycle29:10 Redefining “home” — from a place to a feeling33:20 Building a life that supports sobriety (people, environment, habits)37:05 Eamon’s memoir “The Long Way Home” — what it’s really about40:10 Practical takeaways for anyone trying to quit drinking43:00 Final words + where to find EamonFind Eamon on TikTok below...https://www.tiktok.com/@irish_sober_striderSend us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action. Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories. Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family.Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time.For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation.Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...