S2 Ep 24 - Ground Hog's Day Sobriety by Angie Chaplin

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Angie Chaplin to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. On Groundhog’s Day 2026, Angie will celebrate six years of sobriety—a milestone that powerfully illustrates how alcohol use disorder can affect anyone, regardless of background or success. Angie grew up in Decorah, Iowa, where she was academically strong and deeply involved in extracurricular activities as a Decorah Viking. As the child of a teacher in a small town, she felt constant pressure to do the “right thing” and stay out of trouble, believing there was little room to make mistakes without being noticed.After graduating from high school, Angie attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, where she met her future husband and the father of her two sons. Driven and capable, she went on to wear many hats throughout her professional career, eventually earning her master’s degree from Seton Hall University. On the surface, Angie’s life reflected achievement and stability. Beneath it, however, she was quietly battling long-standing depression.Running became her first coping mechanism, a way to manage stress and emotional pain. Life’s challenges mounted in what Angie referred to as her “dark decade” (2010-2020). She lost a job she really valued, a close friend lost her battle with cancer, and her marriage began to unravel. Alcohol use gradually replaced healthier outlets, becoming a primary tool for coping. What began as a way to numb pain eventually led to serious consequences, including multiple hospitalizations and encounters with the legal system. Those moments became turning points, forcing Angie to confront her relationship with alcohol and the direction of her life. She was sick and tired of being sick and tired.Today, nearly six years sober, Angie has reclaimed her life with clarity and purpose. She is the Founder and Author of The Way Onward, a leadership and recovery program designed to equip professionals with practical tools to help others rebuild life skills, resilience, and hope. Angie’s story is one of accountability, growth, and the belief that meaningful change is always possible.