Sober Toolbox 13: Power of the Podcast
Photo Credit: @mohammadmetri
Hello Sobertown,
Guess what this tool entails.
We now have a massive leg up on our sober warriors of years or decades gone. We have access to a huge library of discussions, stories and information direct from the mouths of those who have been or are going through very similar scenarios to that which we are. Today we live in the age of increasingly easy access to information where you can find any opinion to confirm your pre-established view on a topic whether radical, fringe or majority, this can be detrimental and encourage us to function within an echo chamber, never exposing ourselves to the discussions we believe not to meet our view of the world. The world of information from sober-life journeymen and women is less likely to bounce back exactly what you wish to hear, you find more honesty and more variation, my only concern is the prevalence of interviewee’s or providers of content over describing the positives of sober living and neglecting the reality of the toughness of the process and the reality of the work involved in the maintenance of a sober life. Perhaps I am guilty of this myself, certainly I am to some extent. However, within the sober world of content you will find less controversial, less radical or wild information and more helpful, honest, supportive and useful applicable information. You will find some opinions from well trained professionals like Chip Somers and some or dare I say many from people who make it their duty to speak about their opinions in the sober experience who have no training and only experience, though both have undeniably helpful information to share. Some play for money and self gain, some play for nothing, gain nothing but continue to grind to add a small piece to simply reach out and lend a hand to others who are currently where they themselves have been.
Hearing these stories, realising the similarities and gaining from others trials, errors and wins and losses is so valuable, so incredibly valuable.
We can then realise not only are we not alone, we are not even slightly unique in our struggles with booze. Not a bit.
I will admit, I consumed copious amounts of sobriety related podcasts prior to and after quitting alcohol. The stories told by those who have left the booze behind were a constant reminder of multiple important facts.
This can be done
I was not alone
Others had experienced the same or if not the same, very similar problems to me with their use of alcohol
I was not alone
Hearing from these people speaking into their microphones was soothing, it put my mind at ease and it reinforced my journey and its importance.
Podcasts are a catalyst lowering the barriers into community help. Past sobriety seekers had to muster up the courage to seek help, to seek groups, to speak up which can be very difficult initially, so much so that many find this an insurmountable barrier and the cycle continues. We can now pick up a device and seek multitudes of recorded stories in podcast form and hear information largely for free or a minimal monthly fee and this is gold, this may be the information that helps to develop strategies and courage to move forward with this journey. This is a gift not available to our previous generations and so we have a leg up, we have the data, we have the information, all we need to do is open mind, then tune in. Many who develop addictions do so behind closed doors, all but invisible to the outside world and this is usually by design, because of this secrecy the likelihood of reaching out prior to the point of genuine desperation is low, however, in this position we can begin in privacy to plug in to the podcasts and build a foundation of knowledge and support to strengthen our will and encourage the ability to reach out to real people and real professionals. This truly is a gift of recent years and tech.
This is not an article designed to promote a list of podcasts, for that you can visit the Sobertownpodcast.com resources page, this is simply a statement of thanks and gratefulness for the many sober warriors who have taken the time to send out their support and messages for us to gulp down and grow from.
The Tool is This
Locate and listen to podcasts on Sobriety
Be open minded - Discount podcasts which are unhelpful or narcissistic and focus on podcasts providing support, good safe information and helpful stories, most importantly, ones you also enjoy listening to.
Spend time daily or weekly investing in these sources of information and stories
Use resources such as this websites resource page to learn about Sober podcasts available
Sobertown, I could not encourage you more to grab the streaming service of your choice and start listening, through others we can grow and there is no shortage of recorded gold out there.