Turns out... surrender keeps you alive (Ep. 14)

Paul spent 23 years in addiction, reached the point of loading a gun on the beach, and chose life instead. Almost two years clean, he’s wrestled with isolation, brain fog, losing his job, nearly losing his home, and still finding the courage to start again. We talk through what it feels like to abstain versus recover, how faith and community keep him going, and what surrender really looks like when everything falls apart. If you’re stuck, scared, or slipping, Paul’s story shows you’re not alone—and it turns out, you can be okay.00:00 – Brian cracks open a LaCroix behind his wife 4 days after sobriety04:11 – Paul loads a gun on the beach and chooses life instead07:56 – “I had everything going for me… but none of that mattered.”15:17 – Paul admits he was doing the bare minimum: clean but not in recovery25:03 – “I didn’t get sober to feel this crappy.”34:58 – Job loss, legal fight over his house, and his dad’s health scare45:35 – Fresh haircut, a smile, and new actions after hitting bottom again56:59 – “Turns out… you can be okay.”Need help? Find your local AA or Celebrate Recovery group. Or email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.