Sober Banter is a sobriety podcast hosted by Rachel and Colin, a married couple who got sober together in November 2021. The show explores life after alcohol in real time, covering relationships, relapse, identity shifts, family, stigma, and the daily work of staying sober. Honest conversation. Sharp humor. No preaching. New episodes every Thursday.
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 14/07/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Sobriety, Identity, and Rebuilding Life Beyond Alcohol with Heather Trumpfheller
Episode 50
Sunday, February 8, 2026 • Duration 57:52
In this episode of Sober Banter, host Rachel sits down with Heather Trumpfheller, a tech startup professional and world traveler, for an honest conversation about modern sobriety, identity shifts, and reclaiming life without alcohol.
Heather shares how quitting drinking led her to also walk away from busyness, a decade long career that no longer aligned with her values, and patterns rooted in anxiety, people pleasing, and burnout. The conversation explores early sobriety, grief and loss, dating and traveling alcohol free, resentment, stigma, and why community is essential in recovery.
This episode is a powerful reminder that sobriety is not a punishment. It is freedom. And it is never too late to choose yourself.
Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in July 2025 when Heather was 18 months sober. She is now over 2 years sober as her sobriety date is November 13, 2023.
Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource.
Modern Sobriety & Parenting: Relapse, Labels, and AA Tradition 11 | Kristen Crocker
Episode 49
Thursday, January 29, 2026 • Duration 01:04:51
In this episode, hosts Colin Casey and Rachel Casey sit down with writer and recovery advocate Kristen Crocker for an honest conversation about parenting, sobriety, and modern recovery. Together, they talk about quitting drinking, navigating sobriety while raising kids, and how stigma, labels, and recovery culture shape the way parents seek support.
(00:00) - Meet Kristen Crocker
(03:54) - Struggles, relapses, and trying again
(06:30) - Changing perceptions of alcoholism
(10:39) - Navigating sobriety with family
(16:42) - Pregnancy and sobriety
(31:44) - AA Tradition 11 and social media
(34:53) - Relapse and recovery insights
(41:26) - Evolving AA literature and recovery culture
Connect with Kristen
Kristen writes Recoverettes, a Substack focused on normalizing recovery from alcoholism among strong, smart women. Her work explores motherhood, step-motherhood, staying sober through hard seasons, twelve-step recovery, neuroscience, and anything that actually works.
Gambling Addiction: The Lie of Control with Adam Lyons (The Modern Meeting)
Episode 48
Thursday, January 22, 2026 • Duration 54:43
What happens when the bet stops being about money and starts being about control? When does gambling shift from entertainment to survival mode?
In this episode of Sober Banter, Rachel and Colin sit down with Adam Lyons, host of The Modern Meeting, for a direct conversation about compulsive gambling and long term recovery.
Adam shares nearly twenty years of chasing losses, normalizing chaos, and living inside the illusion of control. Together, they unpack how gambling culture, online platforms, and social media quietly glorify risk, and how that normalization fuels addiction.
This episode explores what desperation really looks like, how enabling can hide as support, and why recovery requires structure, accountability, and humility.
In this episode, you will hear:
• How early poker shaped the illusion of control • When gambling crosses the line into addiction • Why chasing losses becomes the trap • The impact of YouTube and gambling influencers • The reality of living with addiction • What real recovery looks like beyond willpower
If you are questioning your relationship with betting, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand gambling addiction in today’s culture, this conversation is honest and grounded.
We are not clinicians. We are two people in recovery sharing lived experience. This podcast is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek qualified professional support.
(00:00) - Early Gambling and the Illusion of Control
(00:55) - A Spiritual Awakening in Oklahoma
(07:30) - Living Dirty and Normalized Chaos
(08:37) - When Gambling Became a Problem
(14:27) - Chasing Losses and the Addiction Cycle
(20:00) - Desperation and Survival Mode
(25:17) - The Glorification of Gambling Online
Managing Expectations during Sober October (Re-release)
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 • Duration 13:01
Episode Summary (Re-Released episode) Sober Banter hosts offer advice for Sober October, emphasizing realistic expectations, support systems, and self-compassion.
Chapters 00:00 Managing Expectations and Social Pressure 01:21 Finding Support and Accountability 03:32 Health Benefits and Personal Growth 07:19 Tips for a Successful Sober October
This episode is a re-release and goes back to our early catalog, before most people even knew Sober Banter existed. We are bringing it back because the advice still matters. Sober October is not about perfection, it is about managing expectations, leaning on accountability, and giving yourself compassion along the way.
Please give us grace on any audio hiccups. I (Rachel) touched it up as best I could, but wanted to share it for the message, not polish it into perfection. Between college, parenting, and chronic illness, I overworked myself and had to step away. It was the right choice for my sobriety and emotional health.
I also have a backlog of unreleased interviews. If one of those is yours, it will be out as soon as possible. I am pacing myself this time and will send updates by email. Thank you for your patience.
The good news is that Colin and I are still sober, and we plan to record a new episode soon to share how we have stayed grounded.
For now, enjoy this short audio-only throwback about Sober October. Let us know what you think, and remember to take it one day at a time.
Stay Connected 💌 Subscribe at soberbanter.com 💬 Leave a review or comment to help others find us
Leave a comment
🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it
Share
📱 Follow on Instagram: @soberbanterpodcast☕ Support the show: Buy us a coffee at or Venmo at 🌐 Questions or feedback? Visit soberbanter.com or email Rachel at rachel@soberbanter.com
Navigating Sober October From the Vault
Episode 4
Monday, September 29, 2025 • Duration 16:49
This is an early Sober Banter episode brought back for Sober October. We were new at this, so you may hear a few hiccups. The lessons still land. We cover the hardest parts of Sober October and the simple habits that kept us steady. Think of this as day one support with honest talk and practical steps. It also shows how far we have come as hosts and as people in recovery. If you are here to start strong or find your footing again, press play.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sober Banter 00:43 Personal Sobriety Stories 03:33 Challenges of Sober October 06:36 Daily Check-ins and Support 08:58 Reflections and Rationalizations 15:07 Cultural Perspectives on Drinking 16:06 Conclusion and Wrap-Up
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Let’s stay connected!
💌 Subscribe to Sober Banter so you never miss an episode.
💬 Leave a review or a comment because your thoughts mean the world and help others find us.
🔄 Share this episode with someone who might need it.
41 Years Sober: David McMenimen on AA Meetings, Sobriety, and Understanding Alcoholism as a Threefold Disease
Episode 47
Monday, July 7, 2025 • Duration 01:08:22
In this inspiring episode of Sober Banter, Rachel welcomes David McMenimen, who shares his remarkable 41-year journey of sobriety. David discusses pivotal moments that led him to AA meetings, including DUIs and a life-changing car accident. He candidly shares the challenges of early sobriety, the transformative impact of consistent attendance, and how the 12 steps provided spiritual and practical tools for recovery. David explores alcoholism as a threefold disease—physical, mental, and spiritual—and how this understanding reshaped his approach to addiction and recovery. He reflects on how sobriety strengthened his relationships, shifted his outlook, and connected him to a supportive community. This episode delivers powerful wisdom and hope for those in recovery, sober curious, or supporting someone on their journey.
(00:00) - – Introduction and Guest Welcome: David M.
(02:04) - – The Turning Point: Legal Consequences
(04:38) - – Embracing Sobriety and Working the 12 Steps
(13:20) - – The Importance of Consistent AA Meetings
(24:30) - – Growth Through Sharing and Learning in AA
(38:56) - – Understanding Alcoholism as a Threefold Disease
Dr. Robb Kelly on Trauma, Sobriety, and Healing Addiction with Neuroscience
Episode 46
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 • Duration 01:03:03
What if addiction is not about alcohol at all? What if the real root is trauma wired into the brain long before the first drink?
In this episode of Sober Banter, Rachel and Colin sit down with Dr. Robb Kelly for a direct conversation about neuroscience, childhood trauma, identity, and what permanent recovery actually requires.
Episode 46 | Originally Released July 1, 2025
Dr. Kelly shares how he went from homelessness to becoming an internationally recognized addiction expert, and why he believes most treatment models miss the real issue. With a reported 98 percent success rate, his 90 day recovery program goes beyond traditional talk therapy, using brainspotting, 9D breathwork, subliminal messaging, and structured behavioral change to help rewire the brain for long term sobriety.
With a 98% success rate, his 90-day recovery program goes far beyond talk therapy, using brainspotting, 9D breathwork, subliminal messaging, and more to rewire the brain for long-term sobriety.
This conversation breaks down the connection between unresolved childhood trauma and chronic relapse, the difference between white knuckling sobriety and true transformation, and what it actually means to heal the addicted brain.
In this episode, you will hear:
• Why trauma is often the real gateway drug • What a structured 90 day recovery program looks like • How breathwork and brain based interventions support healing • The myth of being “one drink away” • Whether alcoholics are born and addicts are made • What long term recovery demands beyond motivation
If you keep starting over, feel stuck in relapse cycles, or want to understand the science behind addiction in plain language, this episode will meet you there.
We are not clinicians. We are two people in recovery sharing lived experience. This podcast is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, trauma, or a mental health crisis, please reach out to a qualified professional.
"Just Because I Don’t Drink Alcohol Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Deserve a Damn Good Drink" -Eryka V. Namari
Episode 45
Thursday, June 19, 2025 • Duration 41:52
Eryka V. is a queer, sober, first-generation founder and the co-creator of Namari—a non-alcoholic digestif rooted in intention, ritual, and bold flavor.
In this episode, we talk about what happens when you quit alcohol, meat, and caffeine all at once—and how that radical choice led to clarity, creativity, and the launch of something revolutionary. From finding community to letting go of ego, Eryka shares wisdom on building a brand (and a life) that actually feels good. We dig into identity, connection, the power of ritual, and what it means to create something that tastes like love and intention—not just trend.
If you’re craving depth, joy, or just a better non-alcoholic drink—this episode delivers.
1:21 – How Eryka Got Sober (Dry January… Plus No Meat, No Caffeine)
4:52 – The Band-Aid Rip: Goodbye Booze, Meat, and Coffee
7:46 – Building Namari: A Drink With Intention
11:52 – You Can Taste the Love (Like a Lemonade Stand in Summer)
17:19 – Finding Your People in Sobriety
22:12 – Saying “I Don’t Drink” Without Apology
29:16 – Choosing What Serves You (and Letting Go of the Rest)
33:58 – The Best Way to Drink Namari (Spoiler: Pineapple, Lime or Neat)
Spiritual Reflection & Humor in Recovery: Brenton Sconce of Office Recovery on Sobriety, Faith, and Connection
Episode 44
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 • Duration 47:18
In this episode of Sober Banter, Rachel is joined by Brenton Sconce, the meme genius behind @OfficeRecovery, a former pastor, and a fierce sober ally. Brenton opens up about his path to sobriety, beginning with rehab in July 2022 and evolving through deep aftercare, spiritual reflection, and a whole lot of humor. He shares the moment he finally admitted he was an alcoholic, how the pressures of ministry shaped his addiction, and how The Office went from background comfort to a powerful language of recovery and connection.
(00:00) - – Introduction and Guest Intro
(01:39) - – Brenton’s Sobriety Journey
(02:47) - – The Moment of Clarity
(05:03) - – Challenges and Support in Recovery
(15:14) - – Humor in Recovery
(22:27) - – Faith and Community in Sobriety
(26:51) - – The Importance of Aftercare in Recovery
(32:51) - – Advice for Those Struggling with Addiction
(35:06) - – Connecting and Supporting the Recovery Community
Shaking Up the World of Alcohol-Free Drinks with Sarah Kate of Some Good Clean Fun
Episode 43
Sunday, June 8, 2025 • Duration 01:20:44
In this refreshing episode of Sober Banter, hosts Rachel and Colin sit down with Sarah Kate, founder of Some Good Clean Fun and a proud sober Canadian mom shaking up the world of non-alcoholic beverages. Once a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur, Sarah shares her transition from alcohol culture to alcohol-free confidence, offering candid stories about social pressure, parenting, and building a brand that celebrates sobriety without shame.
Together, we talk about:
What it’s really like to keep alcohol in the house when you’re sober
How media and marketing have warped our views on drinking
The emotional and practical impact of quitting alcohol on family dynamics
And yes—a mocktail recipe you’ll want to try tonight (spoiler: it includes non-alcoholic beer and tonic!)
Whether you're sober curious or a longtime non-drinker, Sarah's warmth, wit, and wisdom will leave you inspired to rethink the role of alcohol in your life—and maybe even mix up a Summer Shandy along the way.
Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource.
Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource.
(00:00) - – Dr. Robb Kelly: From Homelessness to Addiction Neuroscientist
(02:00) - – The 90 Day Addiction Recovery Program and 98% Success Rate
(05:00) - – Trauma and Addiction: The Real Gateway Drug
(09:30) - – Rewiring the Brain for Sobriety: Breathwork and Brainspotting
(17:00) - – Addiction Mindset and the Myth of One Drink Away
(27:00) - – Chronic Relapse and Childhood Trauma in Recovery
(36:00) - – Are Alcoholics Born or Made? The Science of Addiction
(43:00) - – Alcoholics Anonymous, the Original 12 Steps, and Long Term Sobriety
(59:00) - – Final Thoughts on Trauma Healing and Permanent Recovery
About Dr. Robb Kelly
Dr. Robb Kelly is an internationally recognized addiction expert known for blending neuroscience, trauma recovery, and structured behavioral change. His work focuses on addressing root causes rather than surface behaviors, helping individuals build sustainable recovery from the inside out.
Sober Banter is not a medical or clinical podcast. We share lived experience, not professional advice. If you are navigating alcohol withdrawal, mental health concerns, or need additional support, please seek help from a qualified provider or trusted recovery resource.
Discover shows related to Sober Banter, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
