When UFC legend Dustin Poirier was arrested for public intoxication at an airport on Father's Day, the reaction was immediate:

"He has a disease."

But what exactly does that mean?

In this solo episode, Shane dives into one of the most controversial conversations in recovery: the disease model of addiction.

If addiction is a disease, is smoking a disease too?

Why do we send people to rehab for alcohol and drugs, but not cigarettes?

Why do some people lose control of their lives through addiction while others quit cold turkey and never look back?

Drawing from personal experience, current events, and the work of addiction researcher Stanton Peele, Shane explores the tension between personal responsibility, brain science, recovery culture, and human agency.

This isn't an anti-recovery episode. It's a conversation about asking better questions.

In this episode:
• The Dustin Poirier airport incident and what it reveals about alcohol
• Is addiction really a disease?
• Why nicotine may be one of the hardest addictions to quit
• The difference between addiction, dependence, and choice
• Insights from Stanton Peele's work on addiction and recovery
• Why purpose, meaning, and personal agency matter
• Can both the disease model and personal responsibility be true?

Whether you're in recovery, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or simply interested in the broader conversation around addiction, this episode will challenge you to think differently.

The goal isn't to prove who's right. The goal is to ask the questions most people are afraid to ask.

Join “The Victory Circle”, our FREE Sober Guy Mens Community at https://www.thatsoberguy.com/offers/SvjjuEQ2/checkout

Want to go 30 Days Alcohol Free? Try our 30-Day Sober Performance Challenge — https://www.thatsoberguy.com/quit-drinking-alcohol-for-30-days

Sober Executive Performance Reset: A 12 Week Private Coaching Experience - APPLY HERE https://www.thatsoberguy.com/coaching

Shanes New Book, Sober Guy How Do I - https://a.co/d/81ZIgtE
Invite Shane to Speak - https://www.thatsoberguy.com/speaking

For More Resources go to http://www.ThatSoberGuy.com

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What has changed about recovery, sobriety, and alcohol over the last decade?

In this episode of That Sober Guy Podcast, Shane Ramer sits down with Paul Churchill, founder and host of the Recovery Elevator Podcast, for a conversation that has been more than ten years in the making.

Shane and Paul both launched their podcasts in the early days of the modern sobriety movement and have spent years talking with thousands of people navigating their relationship with alcohol. In this episode, they reflect on how the recovery landscape has evolved, what they've learned from their audiences, and why more people than ever are questioning alcohol's role in their lives.

Together, they tackle some of the biggest debates in recovery today, including identity, labels, moderation, the sober curious movement, and whether people need to hit rock bottom before making a change.

They also discuss the common struggles men face when trying to quit drinking, the excuses that keep people stuck, and why so many smart, successful people continue drinking even when they know it's holding them back.

In this episode:

• How the sobriety and recovery movement has changed over the last decade • The rise of the sober curious movement • Do people still need to identify as alcoholics? • Can some people successfully moderate their drinking? • The biggest lies people tell themselves about alcohol • Why successful people continue drinking despite the consequences • What keeps people stuck longer than necessary • Lessons learned from thousands of conversations about recovery and personal growth • Where the future of sobriety may be headed

Whether you're sober curious, alcohol free, in long term recovery, or simply questioning your relationship with alcohol, this conversation offers practical insights, honest reflections, and plenty of thought provoking discussion.

Takeaway:

If you're a man looking to quit drinking, improve your health, sharpen your focus, and connect with other like minded men, join our free online men's community, The Victory Circle.

You'll find accountability, support, and encouragement from men who are committed to becoming stronger husbands, fathers, leaders, and business owners.

CONNECT for a free month of Paul's Café RE. https://www.cafe-re.org/alcohol-free-community/ Connect

Join “The Victory Circle”, our FREE Sober Guy Mens Community at https://www.thatsoberguy.com/offers/SvjjuEQ2/checkout

Want to go 30 Days Alcohol Free? Try our 30-Day Sober Performance Challenge — https://www.thatsoberguy.com/quit-drinking-alcohol-for-30-days

Sober Executive Performance Reset: A 12 Week Private Coaching Experience - APPLY HERE https://www.thatsoberguy.com/coaching

Shanes New Book, Sober Guy How Do I - https://a.co/d/81ZIgtE

Invite Shane to Speak - https://www.thatsoberguy.com/speaking

For More Resources go to http://www.ThatSoberGuy.com

Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-ramer-7534bb257/

Follow us on Instagram @ThatSoberGuyPodcast

Follow us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/thatsoberguypodcast

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What happens when the dream you've spent your entire life chasing comes to an end?

In this episode of That Sober Guy Podcast, Shane sits down with former NFL linebacker Brandon Siler to discuss identity, purpose, leadership, mental health, and life after professional sports.

Brandon shares his journey from being a standout athlete at the University of Florida and captain of a National Championship team to spending six seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. But this conversation goes far beyond football.

Together, Shane and Brandon explore what happens when your identity is tied to performance, why so many high achievers struggle after reaching their goals, and how men can build a life of purpose beyond success, status, and external accomplishments.

They also discuss leadership, resilience, mental health, discipline, and the challenges many men face when navigating major life transitions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why identity can become a trap for high performers • What happens when the thing that defines you is taken away • The connection between purpose, fulfillment, and mental health • Why many successful men struggle silently • Leadership lessons from the NFL that apply to everyday life • How discipline and accountability create long term success • The importance of building a legacy beyond your career • How to find meaning and purpose in your next chapter

Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, business owner, father, leader, or someone navigating a major transition, this conversation offers practical wisdom on how to build a life rooted in purpose rather than performance alone.

Takeaway:

If you're a man looking to improve your health, strengthen your mindset, and connect with other men committed to growth and accountability, join our free online men's community, The Victory Circle.

You'll find support, encouragement, and practical tools to help you become a stronger husband, father, leader, and man.

Pure Recovery California

Siler Brain Clinic

Join “The Victory Circle”, our FREE Sober Guy Mens Community at https://www.thatsoberguy.com/offers/SvjjuEQ2/checkout

Want to go 30 Days Alcohol Free? Try our 30-Day Sober Performance Challenge — https://www.thatsoberguy.com/quit-drinking-alcohol-for-30-days

Sober Executive Performance Reset: A 12 Week Private Coaching Experience - APPLY HERE https://www.thatsoberguy.com/coaching

Shanes New Book, Sober Guy How Do I - https://a.co/d/81ZIgtE

Invite Shane to Speak - https://www.thatsoberguy.com/speaking

For More Resources go to http://www.ThatSoberGuy.com

Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-ramer-7534bb257/

Follow us on Instagram @ThatSoberGuyPodcast

Follow us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/thatsoberguypodcast

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Something strange is happening.

People are drinking less alcohol. Not because they joined a recovery program. Not because they found religion. Not because they suddenly became health gurus.

Instead, they’re taking Ozempic, talking to AI companions, binge-watching Netflix, ordering DoorDash, and staying home.

In this solo episode, Shane dives into one of the biggest cultural shifts happening right now. What if alcohol isn't disappearing because society got healthier? What if it's simply being replaced?

We explore how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are reducing alcohol cravings, why AI companions are becoming a substitute for human connection, and how technology is quietly replacing the role bars and happy hours once played in our lives.

This isn't just a conversation about sobriety. It's a conversation about culture, connection, loneliness, comfort, and where we're headed next.

The future may be sober. But it might not be for the reasons we think.

In this episode:

• How Ozempic could disrupt the alcohol industry
• Why AI companions are exploding in popularity
• The decline of happy hour culture
• What technology is replacing in our lives
• The hidden connection between alcohol, dopamine, and modern comfort

If you've ever wondered where drinking culture is headed, this episode is for you.

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What happens when someone stays sober for 11 years... and still ends up relapsing?

In this powerful episode of That Sober Guy Podcast, Shane sits down with keynote speaker, bestselling author, filmmaker, and recovery coach Matt Farnsworth to discuss the hard truths about sobriety, relapse, identity, and what it actually takes to build a life worth staying sober for.

Matt shares his incredible story of achieving more than a decade of sobriety before relapsing and spiraling into a devastating car accident that left him with a broken neck and clinically dead for three minutes. Yet even after surviving the crash, he found himself seeking alcohol again just hours later.

Together, Shane and Matt explore why simply removing alcohol is often not enough, how many people mistake abstinence for recovery, and why rebuilding identity is one of the most important parts of lasting transformation.

They also discuss the tendency toward self deception, the danger of trying to recover alone, and why rock bottom may be the beginning of a comeback rather than the end of the story.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why white knuckling sobriety often leads to relapse • The difference between being sober and being truly free • How identity shapes long term recovery • Why the brain that got you addicted cannot be trusted to get you out • The cycle of temptation, isolation, shame, and relapse • Why outside help, accountability, and community matter • How to turn rock bottom into a launchpad for change • What it takes to build a life worth staying sober for

Whether you're newly alcohol free, years into recovery, or simply looking to level up your life, this conversation offers practical wisdom, hope, and a reminder that your past does not have to define your future.

Takeaway:

If you're a man looking to quit drinking, improve your health, and build momentum in your life, join our free online men's community, The Victory Circle.

You'll connect with other men committed to becoming stronger husbands, fathers, leaders, and business owners while living alcohol free.

Best Selling Book - The Comeback Blueprint
https://a.co/d/0gkMmmXy

ARMOR UP
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https://apps.apple.com/us/app/armor-up-gospel-warrior/id6748839645
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Join “The Victory Circle”, our FREE Sober Guy Mens Community at https://www.thatsoberguy.com/offers/SvjjuEQ2/checkout

Want to go 30 Days Alcohol Free? Try our 30-Day Sober Performance Challenge — https://www.thatsoberguy.com/quit-drinking-alcohol-for-30-days

Sober Executive Performance Reset: A 12 Week Private Coaching Experience - APPLY HERE https://www.thatsoberguy.com/coaching

Shanes New Book, Sober Guy How Do I - https://a.co/d/81ZIgtE

Invite Shane to Speak - https://www.thatsoberguy.com/speaking

For More Resources go to http://www.ThatSoberGuy.com

Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-ramer-7534bb257/

Follow us on Instagram @ThatSoberGuyPodcast

Follow us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/thatsoberguypodcast

Follow us on X @ThatSoberGuyPod

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if alcohol was never really the problem?

In this episode of That Sober Guy Podcast, Shane Ramer dives into identity, addiction, purpose, and why he no longer identifies as an “alcoholic.” From recovery culture and the disease model of addiction to faith, connection, masculinity, and personal responsibility, this is an honest and controversial conversation about what real freedom actually looks like.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in labels, shame, or the endless cycle of escape, this episode will challenge the way you think about sobriety, and yourself.

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Everything Is ‘Self-Care’… Except Quitting Drinking?

Everywhere you look, it’s “protect your peace,” “prioritize your mental health,” and “build better habits.”

But somehow… drinking still gets a free pass.

In this episode, we take a fun, honest look at the irony of modern self-care culture, where we track our sleep, invest in routines, and talk about mental health… while doing the one thing that quietly works against all of it.

From “you deserve it” mentality to the real impact alcohol has on stress, sleep, and performance, this episode breaks it down in a relatable (and slightly sarcastic) way.

Most of what we call self-care isn’t actually helping.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in that cycle, or started questioning it, this episode will hit home.

Because real self-care isn’t always comfortable—
but it’s what actually moves your life forward.

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