Turns out… the old-timer had to start over too (Ep. 13)

This one is special. Paul joins us for a long, honest look at a life shaped by surrender, relapse, grace, and growth. He sobered up at 18. Fell hard in mid-life. Came back through the doors with nothing left but willingness. And over the decades he has become someone we all look to for wisdom.We talk about blackouts, bottoms, the stubbornness that almost killed him, and the miracle that pulled him back. But we also talk about the calmer, quieter work. The sixth and seventh step. The ego. The anger. The peace he never thought he could find.If you’ve ever wondered what long-term sobriety actually looks like, this is it. A man who has rebuilt his life again and again. A man who still asks God for help every single morning. And a man who has helped more people than he’ll ever know.00:00 – How God Guy would dispatch a goose05:07 – The table fills with four decades of sobriety08:36 – Sobering up at 18: strict home, early bottom, and young fellowship11:33 – Leaving AA, discovering alcohol for real, and going off the deep end15:29 – Treatment, halfway house, and the five-month reset that saved his life17:22 – What is an alcoholic? Bottoms, loss, and why only you can decide18:59 – Why treatment alone doesn’t keep people sober20:51 – God, meetings, sponsorship, and what “doing the deal” really looks like23:43 – Meditation enters the picture and changes everything27:06 – Therapy, adoption, abandonment, and deeper emotional work31:29 – When “you’re not an alcoholic” becomes dangerous permission36:49 – Bars, cocaine, blackouts, and near arrests39:18 – Parenting through addiction and the long road back to his daughter42:37 – The 12th step that didn’t “work” and the power of this disease45:52 – The third DWI, flashing lights, and the moment of surrender47:49 – The millionaire friend, the paid-for treatment, and a flat-out miracle53:14 – Why Paul still chooses traditional AA and one main meeting56:08 – Shrinking his network and finding peace in a smaller life57:37 – Steps six and seven, ego, anger, and character defects01:03:02 – God as friend, habit, and daily anchor01:10:36 – The real secret to long-term sobriety: change and humility01:15:18 – The most surprising part of this season: peace01:16:31 – What Paul hopes his inner circle understands about him now01:24:43 – Turns out… I’m a really good personNeed help? Find your local AA or Celebrate Recovery group. Or email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.