Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories - Blake never thought he would quit drinking alcohol—until he did.

Episode Date: August 20, 2025

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, host Brad welcomes Blake, who shares his journey from growing up in a small town with a drinking culture to becoming nearly one year sober. Blake discusses his initial experimentation with alcohol, the challenges of moderation, and the fork in the road moments that led him to quit drinking. He also dives into the impact of alcohol on his mental health, relationships and other areas of his life. Blake highlights the importance of a support system, replacing alcohol with healthier habits, and his aspiration to break the cycle. Contact Blake on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/blakeupmann/ 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:22 Blake's Early Life and High School Experience 00:55 The Start of Drinking 06:18 College Years and Career Path 08:21 Challenges in Law Enforcement 12:57 Struggles with Alcohol 16:46 Journey to Sobriety 33:07 Support and Reflections 33:58 Struggles and Support in Sobriety 34:57 Breaking Free from Alcohol 35:25 The Journey to Sobriety 36:10 Reflecting on the Past 37:00 The Turning Point 38:27 Embracing a New Life 42:04 The Importance of Routine and Discipline 45:45 Building a Support System 54:10 The Challenges of Moderation 58:37 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Welcome back to season four of the Sober Motivation podcast. Join me, Brad, each week as my guests and I share incredible and powerful sobriety stories. We're here to show sobriety as possible, one story at a time. Let's go. In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Blake, who shares his journey from growing up in a small town with a drinking culture to becoming nearly one year sober. Blake discusses his initial experimentation with alcohol, the challenges of moderation and the fork in the road moments that led him to quit drinking. He also dives into the impact of alcohol on his mental health, relationships, and other areas

of his life. Blake highlights the importance of a support system, replacing alcohol with healthier habits and his aspiration to break the cycle. And this is Blake's story on the Subur Motivation Podcast. Welcome back to another episode of the Subur Motivation podcast. Today we've got Blake with us. Blake, how are you? I'm doing great.

Thanks for having me, Brad. Of course, man. It was great before we jumped on. kind of the quote unquote air here you're just sharing with me how you found the podcast and relate to so many of the different stories and then through your name in the hat one day too and here we are absolutely i'm glad to be here yeah so what was it like for you growing up i grew up in a small town in illinois pretty like population like 2000 and i was involved in sports did fairly well in school had a you know your typical normal upbringing um i got two brothers

And yeah, you know, I just high school was great. You know, I had loving parents. I was a two-sport athlete. I wrestled and played football. I was involved with, like, school activities. And, like, it was great. I mean, I really enjoyed my high school experience. And I don't have any, like, regrets, really.

But the whole point I'm here is because, you know, that's where drinking started for me. And I think a lot of people, especially that I've, you know, I've resonated on the podcast, have kind of expressed like when you're in a small town, you know, what do you do for fun? And some people fun, it's like maybe they're going to join a club or be part of some kind of extracurricular activity or you're going to drink and you're going to find ways to get alcohol. And for me, it probably started when I was like, I was kind of thinking about this before I was going to do the podcast because I'm not exactly entirely sure. I don't have that like, oh yeah, that first moment.

and it because it all was blended in. But I would say I probably started drinking, you know, recreationally with my friends, probably like 15 to 16, so like freshman year in high school. And yeah, it was just like, it was just what we did. And at no point did we ever, like we knew it was wrong. Like we're like, okay, we're not 21. But it was never a problem to get alcohol. It was never like this impossible feat.

It was just, it just happened. And honestly, if you would ask me how I did it, I really don't remember. We just had people that had hookups, and we would get our full pack of Keystone or Bushlight or Natty Light or Skol Vodka or, like, just thinking about that now just makes me like gag. Yeah. All the cheap stuff, right? I mean, I had a big, I had a big stretch of the Keystone light just because of the price was right for my budget at the time. Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, it's a very common story. I mean, that's kind of how it starts. Like that innocent sort of thing of, you know, just, just hanging out. Small town, you mentioned to a couple thousand people. Yeah, it's not like there's arcades on every corner and stuff that kind of keep you busy too. Interesting, though, you know, a lot of people I hear from maybe like my generation too was like a thing for the parents to, you know, as long as they're at our house, right? As long as we're kind of keeping a watchful eye. I think people are kind of waking up to that a little bit because it's, I get the whole idea behind it.

And I'm not like definitely here to say what's, you know, what anybody's got to do with that aspect of things. But I think it could, for me anyway, when I saw that, it sent sort of the wrong signal. But, you know, I mean, very relatable for where things started for you. And at first, I mean, no problem with it, right? No, no problem at all. It was totally normal. Never once became a problem with school, athletics, my home life. You know, honestly, like, I had very, I have loving parents.

You know, my parents are wonderful people, and they've been super supportive of me in my entire life. And they, I was kind of like a, I make sure I get the term right, but like a latch key kid, kind of like they just let me go out and about. And I'd be gone all day long. And, you know, we're about the same age, Brad. And, you know, I'm a few years younger than you. But, like, we grew up. I didn't have cell phone.

You know, I think I had a, I think I had a razor. Still miss that thing. And, you know, maybe like my junior or senior year. But, like, I just told my parents, like, this is what we're doing. doing and I'll be back later and they just kind of recool with it. But yeah, to your point too, like it never was a problem and never affected my education, sports, but that stuff always came first. And I guess I was just young enough and naive enough where I didn't, I didn't at that time

know the consequences of drinking. And it's just like, this is what you do. If you want to fit in, if you want to be social, if you want to be part of the club, you have to drink. And I love drinking. I mean, I know a lot of people on here like, oh, the first taste was like, oh, but I just made me feel good. Like, I just remember all the good times that we had. And I got into a lot of mischief. Luckily, I've never, never got in trouble by the law. And that's all, you know, past those statute of limitations at this point. So we can, you know, that's, it is what it is. But, you know, I relatively, I was a good kid, stayed out of trouble.

and yeah and I just you know we can get more into it but I just never was a problem for me. Yeah and I feel like when you're able to keep it at that level too, it's kind of like fly under the radar too. Like it's not really that big of a problem. But if it's not this big thing, of course, I mean, nobody's going to come and mention stuff to you and like you're keeping stuff together. You're going out for the day. You're not getting in a whole bunch of trouble and stuff. So it's like, I mean, it's a very common thing to to kind of get. it into it not take it too far and plugged into sports and doing you know school and everything like

yeah i mean it makes sense and and it did um it did offer that sort of way of connection you know i think that's one of the big things that a lot of us you know maybe get attracted to i sure did anyway you know being able to meet people because you go i just picture it i would go to parties and i don't know anybody there like i'm like we we don't really have anything in common and by the end of the night you could kind of be best pals. I mean, not like, you know,

lifelong friends, but could we have done that at 17, 18, 19, sober, like hung out with people for four or five hours. Like,

I don't know. Would have been tough. Would have been awkward. So it was, you know, check that box for sure. Where do things go for you after high school? So,

went back to college, to like in Munich college for a couple years. And, yeah, I just didn't really know, have a good direction and what I wanted to

with my life at that point. You know, one of my interests and hobbies is cooking. So it was something that I thought I could be good at and pursue, but it just never really ended up happening. So I just went back to school and got like my general associate's degree and, you know, got my prerequisites all the way. And then there was like a couple years span where I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do and I was just kind of working, staying at home and working some side jobs.

And I decided to go back to college. And that's where I went to get my four years. degree and I got that in criminal justice and that's why I decided that in high school I mean I dabbled with the idea of getting into law enforcement and it always kind of interests me. It was something I thought I could be good at because I've always been, you know, charismatic and good with people and just like you able to talk to people and that's one thing that I people always kind of said that that may something you can be good at. So I went back to school, got my degree and I applied to the agency that I'm currently employed to

right now and they hired me right away and that's where I've been since. So I'll be starting my ninth year next month in law enforcement. So wow. So how how do you shift from the love of food to law enforcement? Was that just like you just saw a program and you're like I'll check it out? Yeah, pretty much like I don't have any prior like none of my family is military. I know like law enforcement plays a lot of military, ex-military and or you know it's kind of like like a, hey, my dad was a cop. His dad was a cop and kind of a family thing. So nobody in my family, media family was law enforcement.

And, yeah, it was something that I just kind of like, I could probably be good at that. And I just kind of went down that path. And it's been really good to me. And I've had a great career. And, you know, I'm getting like almost halfway done with it. So it's like, it's really cool. But it's the whole point, like I really wanted to jump on the podcast is because, like,

there's so many people struggling in law enforcement and first responders in general, you know, nurses, ER staff, firefighters. And I'm not trying to dismiss anybody's profession. Whatever you may do, any career choice has stress, especially when you're throwing family and other just aspects of life into it. But as first responders, I mean, we experience a large amount of trauma and traumatic events yearly. And, you know, I think the average person might see four to five traumatic events in their

life. You know, that could be a loss of a loved one to a bad car accident, to somebody suddenly dying when law enforcement can see upwards to 200 traumatic events a year. Wow. So, yeah, I just like, leading into that, like, yeah. I guess my point is, is like, what do cops do to relieve that stress? They drink. And obviously, cops can't use recreational.

drugs because it's illegal and they're the ones enforcing law. So what is there to do? Yeah. Alcohol. So yeah. That's something I that that is a big trend that I've seen to. I mean, even when you reached out and you know, sharing with me your story and everything and thinking, hey, this is a little bit different than what we usually gather here because that's, I mean, I would say there's a handful of professions too that, you know, I've never been there and I'm only an outsider, you know, and taking a shot in the dark here. But it's just something you just don't talk about maybe. Or maybe things are changing and maybe things are moving in the right direction. I think especially with nurses, you have a license held to. You have a license that you

lose, you know, if I'm working as a chef and I lose my job from one restaurant because they say, oh, you're in sobriety and I can go to another restaurant. You know, I see people with sort of the license and in stuff too. You could lose that or get that suspended. It's very hard. to come out and say something with the fear of like, okay, if I say something and everything works out, I'll probably be okay. But like, what if I struggle with the process and now sort of the dots are connected? I'm glad you're bringing this forward to. And just what you see, I have a buddy of mine who just got into RCMP up here in Canada. And I was like, I don't know how you could do it. And the reason, one of the reasons being is because when I wake up every day,

I kind of have an idea, a general idea of how things are going to go. I mean, obviously, wrenches can be thrown in. But when you wake up in those professions that you mentioned there, my vision is you could be having a cup of coffee one second and you could be heading somewhere else and it could completely turn your day upside down. I feel like personally that would always kind of be bouncing around somewhere. Absolutely.

Like, it's, and it says I have so much to say, say about this and it's like I'm very passionate about it because of exactly what you just said like that that feeling of like one second you're having a cup of coffee and next year you're going to a shooting or you know something you know somebody's dying or something a major accident and you're expected just to handle it and then move on to the next call and there's really no room for when you work a 12-hour shift and that's most police department or most nurses or fire department, and you're just expected to move on.

And there's no time to decompress and get rid of that built-up adrenaline and all those other hormones that are flooding your body now. So the time you get done with your shift, you might experience multiple arrests, dealing with disorderly, dealing with combative subjects. They're wanting to hurt you. All you can think about is, like, I just need to get done with the shift,

and then you get home to my family, and I need to be safe. And then what do you do to relax? You know, and I think a lot of people resort to alcohol. And like you said earlier, like I think it's becoming more like open, especially with like the mental health aspect of where everything's going to society. But like, you ask the average cop and they're like, I don't got a drinking problem. Yeah.

But the amount of people that do have a drinking problem in this profession is, I mean, I don't even want to know the percentage. It's. Yeah. You know, it just runs rampant. Yeah. Is that when you started this, right? Nine years, I think you mentioned there, just for like a timeline.

Is that when you notice things start to pick up for you as far as the drinking or was it before that college or? No. So I would say I have a like a specific date in mind where it all kind of shifted for me. But I would say probably the first five years of my career. it never really was a problem it was like you know you drink you binge drink you drink all weekend whatever it may be and then you know you'd wake up you'd have the physical side effects and you know the nauseous feeling you know maybe throwing up you know just lethargic you know the typical physical hangover but it never was it never weighed on me and you know it's just what i did and you know

it's every weekend you know like hanging out with the guys you're going out with you know my girlfriend at the time who's not my wife and we would get drinks and get dinner and you know anything we did you know it was all based around drinking and every social aspect and that's the problem is everything for adults revolves around drinking you go to a sports game there's drinking you go to a family event there's drinking you hate go out to dinner there's always drinks available so i never really was a problem up until then but then probably about four years ago I had my bachelor party, and, you know, we rented this river boat, and we were up, like, on the Mississippi river, like, in between Minnesota and Wisconsin, and it was a great time. It was like me, you know,

my closest friends, and, you know, my dad and my father-in-law showed up with my two brothers. So it was a big group of guys, and I wouldn't say we, like, got crazy, but, I mean, we drank every day, and we just, we drilled out, and we just had a great time. When I got back, I had this feeling of like dissociatedness. Like I almost thought I was like hallucinating because like I could still feel like my body swaying. And I know that's from like being on a riverboat for three days straight. So your equilibrium is going to be all distorted. But that feeling I had of like being dissociated and not being able to like talk or think really scared me.

And I was like, whoa. That was like the first time where I was like, okay, this is something's going on here. Yeah. And since that point, every time I would, you know, binge drink or drink during the weekends or two or three days in a row, that feeling would come back. And I just dealt with that for a few years. And it got really bad. I mean, it got to the point where it was really affecting my job performance. And, you know, I started seeing a counselor and, you know, we started talking.

And he gave me some really good advice. on how to, you know, what, exactly what I was experiencing. So for like the next couple years, I just kind of like try to mitigate it. And I was like, all right, well, I'm just not going to drink so much. You know, I was never like a blackout drinker, but, I mean, I could drink a lot. I mean, I, upwards of 12 plus drinks, you know, in a night or a day. And so, yeah, I just started really starting to minimize. my intake.

And it got to the point where maybe I would only have a couple. And that next day, I would still wake up and feel like, I know people on this podcast have said like anxiety or just general anxiety, depression. And I would feel those feelings. And it just became too much. And I knew something had to give. And so that's when I started really thinking about, you know, sobriety. Yeah.

So that is so you kind of the party there. was heavy drinking and then it kind of set off this, you know, this other thing and feeling different about it. And then you kind of go into the moderation. I mean, I think that's a common trend for a lot of people too. If they, it's kind of like now we're going to make, you know, compromises with ourselves or whatever it is, right? I'm only going to do this. I'm only going to have that much. And I don't know what your experience is. And maybe you'll share with us. But I find for a lot of people like, man, that's such a tough uphill battle to fight of trying to, trying to quote unquote moderate a highly addictive substance that our brain is craving.

Like, what was your experience in that sort of middle ground? Yeah. So it was, I was able to do it to a certain degree, but like, it's like alcohol is, like, you said, such an addictive substance. And it's like trying to tell somebody that's addicted to food. that they can't eat. So there really was this, like, I mean, if you're addicted to food, you have to eat. So you have to, I mean, you have to change your lifestyle or else, I mean, you're always going to

want those highly processed foods and sugars and bad thing. But we're like drugs, like, you have to actually go out and get them. You have to find, you can't just go to the supermarket and buy legal narcotics where alcohol, it's so accessible. You could go to the grocery store and walk out with like two handles of bourbon or vodka and nobody would ever look at you. You know, they'd go, oh, he must be having a party. And that'd be it.

Nobody would ever think twice. I mean, you could almost damn near fill up your old grocery car with beer, 12 packs or whatever. And nobody would ever say anything. And they'd be going to a party. So with the moderation, it just never, I just, it just wasn't working. Like, I was like, but that's where I really started. get scared. I was like, okay, this is a problem because now I'm I'm even limiting my intake

to maybe a very small amount and maybe more recreationally rather than just like coming home and like having a beer to like relax. And even that small amount was still like a weekly thing was still causing the same effects as if I was in my really high binge drinking days. And I know when I was talking to like my therapist, I would mention, I was like, and I've, it's like, I've heard this so many times on a podcast like, oh, I would, can never be sober. It's impossible. Oh my God. Like if I could just enjoy a drink, you know, like if I could just go to a winery and have a glass of wine with my wife or a nice steak dinner or if I can enjoy a bourbon, you know, like we're just like a nice IPA from a brewery. Like, there's nothing wrong with that.

Like, come on, man. And just one drink. Like, what's the big deal? Yeah. And it was, it still wasn't an option because I don't know where I heard it, man, but like somebody said, like, I have enough evidence to know that I shouldn't drink.

And I've proven that to myself, time in and time in it again. And it's like, I have enough evidence. Like, I shouldn't drink. And that doesn't make me weak. It doesn't make me, you know, like quote unquote,

normal not normal yeah but i just know what it does to me and it just takes too much and uh you know i'm just like i'm in the wellness i'm into fitness i'm into like and it was just like what am i doing to myself i'm literally poisoning myself every day almost every day for what for what so like i can fit in you know what the biggest thing the two things going into this past year and i'll be sober here days, August 24th would be my sobriety date of one year. Yeah. And it's just like to say that out loud confidently is like, whoa. Like this is cool.

Yeah. Man, this is actually happening. But the two things that like leading up to that were my two biggest fears was how am I going to have to explain to people that I don't drink? And, you know, am I actually going to be able to like have fun and enjoy my adult life without drinking and I mean this past year I have done everything that I thought I wouldn't be able to have fun sober and I've had a great time you know I've been to weddings I've been to social events I've I've been on my vacation with my wife and we had this we had our first sober vacation and we had

an amazing time and it's like I'm just I just want people to know all right that are listening like I never ever thought that I was going to be at this point like ever yeah and you would ask me a year and a half ago I'd been like absolutely not I would never stop drinking are you kidding me like what's the point of like what's the point of living if you're not going to enjoy a couple beers yeah yeah which it's so interesting you bring that up because it's so true like we have this a lot of people do and I mean I was there too right like what is life going to look like how am I going to connect with people what am I going to do But, you know, all the scenarios, we could probably chat about those for just an hour and how, like, none of that stuff that we're most worried about really ever comes true.

But isn't it interesting to look back and like, I don't know, maybe we call it brainwashing or maybe we just call it playing small or we come up with another thing for it. But how did we get from the point in high school just drinking to whatever, you know, just connect with the boys or whatever it was? have some fun and maybe chase girls around. Who knows what we were doing. But we go from that point to a point, you know, a decade or so later or even less than a decade for you. And it was for me too to where we end up at this spot where living my life without this is impossible.

Like, you know what I mean? Doesn't it on this side of things, doesn't it sound a little bit madness? Yeah. Of like, how can I not? And now we have a lot more information coming forward about. cancer causing and about the effects of the brain and how it shrinks the brain and it has all of this stuff, right? Blood pressure, heart.

I mean, it does damage to so many areas of our body. And it's like we get so convinced we need it. And I'm with you 110% on this. And I think a lot of other people are too, because that's why we stick around. How the heck did we go from just innocently drinking some keystone light to having this life where we're experiencing consequences and you have all this other stuff going on? and I did too and I'm like

I can't see a life without it any thoughts on that? Yeah I mean it's like looking back I drink I mean like

I think you said recently on your podcast like maybe like 80% of time like you would drink and there'd be no problems and like yeah

like the other percentage of the time would just be like so devastating that you're literally open yourself to endless possibilities of bad things

that can happen to you yeah and it only takes that one time for you to drink over drink over consume stay out too late get behind the wheel of a car or who knows what could happen i mean people make horrible decisions when they drink and it's like you know my uncle always told me like nothing good happens after midnight and i know that from firsthand experience from doing my job like i literally i deal with drunk people all the time and a combination of that

and drugs. And it brings out the absolute worst in you. And I just, I mean, it was doing that to me. I was, it was affecting my marriage. It was affecting my, my social setting, like my friends. I mean, and we could really go in more into the mental health aspect of this because I'm a huge proponent of that. And I mean, that's, I guess my message is, I'm not just trying to be like, you know,

hey, I had a drinking problem and it was just affected my job. And I just wanted to quit drinking, so I quit drinking. But I just wanted to highlight some more of the mental health aspect. Like, it was destroying me, man. Like, I'm a very introspective person. I'm very thoughtful. And, you know, I'm very cognizant of my body and, you know, well-being and fitness and spirituality and just like embracing this whole life that we are gifted, this wonderful life.

And then you're just going to drink it all away. Because that's what you're supposed to do. You're just supposed to, like, poison yourself slowly and then maybe have a few good times, but then have these other horrible times in between where you get in awful fights with your significant other. You get in trouble at work. You get, lose your job. You lose your family. I mean, it's just like it's endless.

I mean, you're spending an enormous amount of money. For what? I mean, really, for what? Because you like the taste? Okay. you know yeah maybe there are some people out there to enjoy the taste of alcohol but i think most people drink because they're running from something and yeah yeah or something something's going on yeah and that's another angle too kind of like the external things right the job and the relationships

and you know all that stuff but then that internal battle too i mean i always say like i was just so far out of alignment i mean the 80-20 rule you know for the 20% when i got into the 20% Blake, you would show up, man, you know, where I'm getting in trouble all the time. And that really wasn't who I was, you know, I really wasn't who I was. It never was. I never, and I'm finding myself in trouble over and over again, you know. And if I look back, it's like, okay, this is the common denominator with all this stuff. But then the other impacts on the mental health, too.

Like, I mean, a lot of people talk about anxiety. I think what we don't talk a lot about is how we feel about ourselves. You know, because like I was mentioning there earlier, I was so far out of alignment with who I actually was at my core, the values and everything that was instilled in me growing up. And here I'm living this kind of outlawish lifestyle personally. And I'm just like every corner I look around. I'm like, man, this is so far from who I actually was. But people loved it. And I was like, well, you know, I mean, I wanted to fit in so bad.

You know, I mean, the time I got in trouble for the biggest thing I got in trouble for, crazy. reflecting back on this on my 38th birthday, it was selling narcotics to an undercover police officer and a buddy of mine, I wanted this guy to like me, man. And, you know, as, as hard as that is to admit the chaos that caused in my life, I mean, it turned out to be the best thing for my life. I didn't see it at the time. But it all came back to like a young boy, Brad, the young boy wanting to be accepted and wanting to fit in without having any idea of that at the time. You know, so it really did for me, man. I ended up in some spots that made things difficult.

But it has a huge, you're right, though. I mean, it has a huge toll on our mental health. Yeah. I mean, it's like, it's, it's, and I appreciate bringing that up because, I mean, obviously, you know, there's been a lot of your guests that have gotten into some, some serious trouble because of this. and it's something that it's just so available. And, you know, like growing up too, like I never was talked to, you know, about drinking.

Hey, this is what could happen to you. Like, hey, like, it's really amazing how we just kind of let young people just wing it. All right. Well, go, go, you know, like, we're not going to really tell you, like, the effects of alcohol or how much we really can drink or should drink. you know it's like drink responsibly like what does that mean like no they got away with that marketing tactic forever did you ever do the dare program no never did the dare program when I started they kind of got they kind of like backed out of that I know that was probably more like like late 90s early 2000s yeah they have a substitute of any sort no nothing that I know of yeah I know

even there too it was really like i mean i think i always give people the benefit of the doubt right they did the best they could with what they had you know like that's what i often try to do but it was really focused on like from what i took from it is just say no i was like the whole thing i think that's the big campaign kind of all around the u.s at the time was like just say no to drugs you know but i don't think at that time they were putting they were really putting alcohol into the same category even sometimes now people will be apprehensive a bit right of alcohol as a drug and it It's like, yeah, I mean, it's a drug. It's just one you buy at the store.

But their whole thing was just say no, which I mean, I get there was benefit to that. But my problem was like, okay, I would already not then because I was grade five, I did that. But when I started to slip, like, I didn't know what to do. I was like, okay, I'm leaning. I know I'm leaning on these substances. You know, alcohol being one of them more and more. But I was just like, I don't know really what to, where to get help at. When I was on probation the first time when I was 16.

So it's like, okay, I've got this. It's like, okay, do I go tell the counselor? Is it going to tell a probation officer? Be back in jail for the weekend? Like, what do I do? Right? I was kind of in that spot. So I think now, like, in schools too, and they got a lot more people kind of going in

there and obviously sharing. But it's like, hey, if you find yourself in trouble, like maybe here's a couple steps to reach out and get some support. But then, too, there was all the stigma and the shame and everything else, too. Right. And I think we're definitely moving in the right direction with that. I mean, hopefully with the show. And I think it just goes to show like just, I don't know.

I mean, regular folks that had decent lives and struggled with this and are finding a way out to share about it. I think it's so cool. Yeah. Yeah. I think at the end of the day, like, choosing to not drink has just been, it's been so good for me because I always envisioned what it would be like. And I guess I would like fantasize about it. And, and but to actually do it and they have almost a year, you know, down, you know, that this is the same I had. Like, I've made it through 52 weekends of not drinking.

And I've just been able to really grow as a person and see that potential. And don't go me wrong. There's been times where it's like, you know, people will be like, oh, come on, man. Like just, you've made it long enough, just have a drink. And it's just like, man, what are you trying to do to me? Like, I don't want that. It's like I lived a whole lifetime of drinking and now I want to live a whole another life without drinking.

And to me, that's really exciting because I know like you said on your podcast a couple times, some people just never figure it out. And, you know, they might go their entire life drinking. And it's like, what kind of potential did they lose? And I just think the message to get out there is that it's so important to stop, just to stop, like find that support system, go to a meeting, listen to this podcast, talk to somebody, talk to a therapist, because it's possible. And I'm proof of it because I'm somebody that was always hyper, hyper aggressive.

Like, I just live a very intense lifestyle. And, like, I'm always open to things. But I was like, that's the one thing that I'm never going to give up because that's what I'm supposed to do. Like, that's what I do as an adult. And I'm not going to lie. Like, I enjoy, I did. I like drinking.

Like, most of the times were great. And it made me, you know, I was the life of the party most of time. And I really never got, you know, in too much trouble. I mean, there was always those times that you overdrink and maybe said something you shouldn't have, you know, regretted and everything. But I think that's pretty common. Fortunately for me, I've never gotten any trouble with it and never had any, you know, health problems due to it. But other than the mental side of it were it was really causing a big riff in my life. Yeah.

So what is your, what did your wife think about all of this when you, brought it up to her. You taught with her like you were struggling with it or? Oh yeah. She definitely knew and she's been like super supportive through this entire process. And when I first met her, she didn't drink. She came from a pretty tight knit family. Her parents, you know, rarely drink. Her brothers don't drink. She was in band in high school. So she, while I was out going to barn parties and, you know, raising hell, she was like you know donating her time at the church and going to band camp and and like we lived two totally different high school experiences

um so when we first met I was drinking that was payday of my drinking and I kind of brought her on board and you know we had a lot of fun over the years a lot of fun we you know it really um like we had a good time with it but towards the end it started to get rough and you know when you drink you it just opens up vessels that allow you to say things that you don't wouldn't normally say or get in arguments and it was really starting to wear on our relationship and when I told her you know hey I'm gonna I'm gonna try this she was really supportive and she actually uh you know unbeknownst

to me she just kind of jumped on board one day and and I was like it was so funny man because like when I first started this my big biggest thing was like, okay, I'm not drinking, but if you're around me, I encourage you to drink. I'm not going to, like, don't drink because of me. And if people would come over to my house, I'd be like, hey, I'll make you a drink. That's so crazy to say now to actually, like, literally have the thing in my hand and give it to somebody. But I never was tempted by it. And I think that helped to kind of break away from that attachment to it. And so she just told me one day, I was like, I asked her like, hey, do you want, you want anything to drink?

And she's like, no, I'm good. And I was like, when's that time you had a drink? I've been a few months. I'm like, holy Kirk. So, yeah, I don't know for sure, but she's got to be almost like that eight or nine month mark as well. Wow. Yeah. I mean, it's like, that's awesome.

Yeah. I mean, because I think it, everybody has their own story, obviously. But it can be challenging too, right? If you're, you know, especially if you're married with somebody and, you know, everybody's drinking can look a little bit different right some people might lean more into it some less but i think it's great to be on the same journey i mean i just look at drinking it's just really just a waste of time i don't know i always thought it was yeah i mean i always thought it was what brought me together with other people what connected me to other people like this was kind of

the bridge from like maybe my awkwardness and stuff this was a bridge i drank some alcohol and then I'm like, you know, I can connect. But I look back and I'm thinking, I was more disconnected in my life than I have been throughout my sobriety. I avoided the difficult times, you know, and I mentioned it a lot on the podcast. And I think there's some importance to it. The longer we keep alcohol around, you know, whether it's a problem in our life today or tomorrow, the more we lean on it, tough day, relationship, family members, something happens.

The more and more we lean on it, I think we're really opening ourselves up to like, maybe that one big event away because I've heard the story so many times on the podcast, right? People keep it around. Probably they're doing all right. They're not having any big blowups in their life. Things are rocky, but you know, I mean, whose life isn't a little rocky at times, but they have one thing happen, right? One thing kind of out of the blue could be traumatic in a sense. And then it's like, okay, you know, alcohol has been here for me. And it's like leaning more and more. And then you can really pick up speed. But that's cool. So walk me. me through sort of the end, you know, the last week. I mean, how did you get this thing going and

all of that story there? Yeah. So one of the last times I really did drink. I was with a couple friends and, you know, we're at this bar and like, I don't know, like, they knew leading up to that, like, I mean, I wasn't really drinking like you were trying to drink, but we just end up drinking like an absurd amount, like, just like, it was just like a shot fury. And it was like, like, Like, I don't even remember. I mean, I remember, but I don't really recall exactly. Like, I remember just, like, you know, getting home and, like, waking up the next day and just being like, okay, what's going on? What am I actually doing?

And I just say, you know what, enough's enough. And I'm just going to go, I just remember hearing, you know, from like prior, like, listening to stuff and reading stuff. It was like, just like one day at a time. I was like, I'm just going to go one day at a time. And, you know, I made it a week. And then it was like a couple weeks. And then made it that month. And I was like, oh, my God, I'm doing it.

And I just knew I knew I needed to just let it go. And it was just like, like, hey, like, if I could like shake alcohol hand, I would. It'd be like, hey, man, it's been great, you know, but I got to let you go, man. It's good. It's good. Like, we're cool, but see you later. And that's kind of how I was with it. I was just, I just wanted a new life.

and I wanted to see what it would be like without alcohol. And I heard like Jim Carrey or some quote, I'm floating around once in a while. He's like, you know, go a whole year without like bad people in your life and just see what would you like on the other side. Yeah. You know, I'm paraphrasing that.

But that's kind of what my mindset was. I was like, just go as long as you can. And if you start seeing the benefits, then keep going with it. And I just kept going. And the benefits just kept becoming more and more, you know, apparent to me. And it was just lining up with who I am as a person and what I wanted to be and to reach

that full potential that I've always wanted. And I just felt like alcohol was just, it was always there to hold me down. Always there. And obviously I was never going to get to my fitness goals by drinking. And with my job, it was just going to, it was just going to, I just knew eventually it was going to, it was going to reach a breaking point. And luckily, I stopped when I did because there was some times where, I mean, I almost got out of my profession strictly due to, you know, my drinking.

And that's one thing we just see across the border is a lot of, there's a lot of really good cops out there. And, you know, they just, they end up drinking their career away. And I just didn't want that out of my life. And I wanted more. And here I am today. I feel great. Yeah, like you said, man, it's like there's still days where it's rocky and, you know,

it's not perfect, but God has it fixed like so many problems in my life. And that's what I just want people to know. Like, it's worth it. It is so worth it. And I just drive to work or drive the store and I just remind myself how grateful I am that, you know, God has allowed me to do this. and like I just thank for your podcast because people's testimonies have been so impactful and everybody's story is so unique and it's just like you're not alone. I guess that's my thing, man.

It's like you're not alone and today might seem like I'll never get there, but one day, you know, one day at a time. And you're going to you're going to get to that whatever that milestone may be, might be a year, five years, 10 years, who knows. but any day you don't drink is a good thing. And yeah, I just want to encourage people to really think about that. Yeah, now that's beautiful. So yeah, you just start out and see how far,

you know, let me just keep going. And then I think it does take, I mean, I think initially you can feel better, but maybe it takes a little bit longer, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days to start to experience,

you know, more benefits, right? But like once you see that, it's, I mean, I would say it's near impossible to deny it, that it's a direct result of not drinking and you wait you'll sleep better wake up and i mean all that stuff is so massive for our life right that when we're drinking and stuff too it's like oh man

i'll never forget those nights too was waking up just bed like soaked and sweat and it's just like tossing turning i would wake up most mornings and wonder if i even went to sleep i mean i didn't even feel rested yeah just from that the body going through detox of like what have you what's all this stuff that you put into your body and then maybe order a taco bell and then went to sleep and my body's like, oh my gosh, what are you doing to me? So you got, yeah, a year or 10 days from now. I mean, what were what are some of the biggest takeaways, man? Some of the things that you really saw. And I'm curious too about, you know, I think there's kind of two ways that people like to consume, consume, whether it be podcasts or content, sort of a broad, general word, right?

You have some stuff that's like, okay, stories. And you have other. stuff that might be like, do this. One, two, three, four, five, six. Like, do this and it'll work for you. What about the stories kind of maybe helped you or kept you interested too? Because I'm always like, I'm always wondering that. Yeah. I think, uh, I think it's so important like feeling connected and feeling that

you're not alone and that we're all very similar, especially in this domain. You know, language might separate somebody from another culture or whatever maybe, but like, I feel like under the umbrella of alcoholism, you know, we all can, we all can connect and we all are aware of it. So it's like listen to people's stories and just hearing what they've gone through. Like, it's like been time in and time out again. I was like, oh my God, that's me. Like, that was me. And I would think like, you know, my podcast or my episode here is like, like, I'm. Like people are going to probably think the same thing.

And I think at the end of the day, it's so important to hear that because you do feel like alcoholism puts you on an island. It like it targets you. It puts you aside and said like, you know, it's not the alcohol. It's like you're the problem. You just need to change. You just need to like just drink some more electrolytes. You need to like take this B12 before you go out and drink so you don't wake up with a hangover or you need to, you know, get up in the morning and then go get some fast. food to soak up all the alcohol in your system or but it's like all these remedies of like all the

things that we do to mitigate the effects the negative effects of drinking and but yet nobody ever talks about maybe we should what are all the positives and just not drinking so i think at the end the day like just hearing people's stories has been able to just help me understand that what i'm doing is the right thing and yeah This isn't just like some like I'm on some high, right? If I was just on some high and I'm like, because like motivation is only going to get you so far. Discipline and routine and structure is what's going to set you aside and you're actually going to have growth. You know, if I get motivated to go run for a week straight, that might happen.

But then once what happens when life gets a hold of you and then you have to work overtime at work or, you know, the kids need something and now you don't have time to go run. all right well whatever you know because all that's going to take the back burner now and then guess what now a month's gone by and you haven't ran again but discipline and routine and structure is gonna it's going to get you where you need to be and that's what I did that's the mindset I had is one day at a time and when those cravings do come up it's like how am I going to act how am I going respond and you know just i just constantly absorb your guys your podcast because it was just like it was almost like like that motivation and that routine would get me about a week or two and then i would listen to another episode and it was like oh yeah that's right man like you know i'm doing

dishes around the house doing chores i got my earbuds in i'm listening your podcast and it's like it just reminds you of like no you're doing the right thing just keep going and now here i am like a year later it's like man Where did the time go? What was helpful for you? Because I think that is a big thing. I mean, a lot of people I work with, that's one of the things I try to get them to tackle first. It's like, what are you doing from 5 o'clock to 9 o'clock every night?

Are we just chilling watching Netflix, just seeing what the heck happens, opening ourselves up for a mystery? Or can we implement some things in our routine? Can we go for a little 20 minute or 30 minute walk after work? Can we water the plants in the backyard? Like, can we kind of keep moving a little bit? What things helped you out sort of after your shift? I mean, you're working 12 hours shifts, but you have more days off. Like, what helped you with changing up your structure, your routine?

Yeah, so I would, everything you just said, like, I would definitely do. You know, I said I'm into, like, health and fitness and working out. So, like, you know, it was like, again, it was always going against the grain. It was always like, okay, I'm doing all this stuff. I'm drinking all these supplements, taking vitamins and eating good food and exercise and then I'm just destroying it with drinking. And we all know that alcohol has a lot of calories in it. I mean, geez, you go and get an IPA at a brewery. You're looking at like well over 200, 300 calories and people might drink like three or four of those.

Yeah, I had six. A whole freaking days worth of calories in that. So like sugar too. Is there a lot of sugar in it or no? I would think there's a lot of sugar for sure. Yeah. So like just like going with that, it was going against the grain. So then I would start doing those things.

Like I would come home. I would take my walks. I would just try to keep myself preoccupied because I knew that if I allowed myself to just sit by myself and not stay busy, then those temptations would come in. and those thoughts of like, you know, like, oh, come on, man, it's just a beer. You'll be all right. It's not like you're drinking, you know, you're binge drinking and anything like that. Yeah.

Another thing that I would do was I really just had to like separate like toxic people in my life. And I know there's, for many of your listeners, I know that's probably going to be one of the more common themes is, you know, like, but they're my friends. okay well they're your drinking buddies they're not you know maybe they're your friends your friends aren't going to allow you to stay out to 2 a.m. and close a bar down that's not what a good friend does

that's just a drinking buddy yeah so we just me and my wife just basically started saying no and at first it was kind of awkward and hard because you know we were always just always game like oh yeah we don't got kids let's go let's go party and and we just

started saying no and And just, you know, it's amazing, Brad, like all those people that I thought were my friends are like, they sure don't seem like they reach out to me anymore, which is cool. Yeah. So it's all good. I have nothing but love. Like, right? I'm not trying to sit here and say any bad about anybody.

I just think that's really important that you need to start thinking of what's important to you. And these people that you think are your friends probably aren't really your friends. They probably just want to drink. you. Yeah. Yeah. And I love that point too. Even for my birthday yesterday, 38, right, having the cake and my wife's like, who should I invite over, you know, and I'll be honest, man, the list is not long. I don't keep a big circle. And I always remember this quote that, um, that I saw somewhere and it said, I had the most friends when I was the worst version of myself. And it always hits me, man, for those events and stuff, you know, when I was drinking and party. And I mean, we had birthday

parties, a big bash, right? Like, it was, it was like, wow, this is great. Like, I'm so, I'm so cool, you know, I'm telling myself. And I was like, it had nothing to do with that. But that quote kind of stood out to me of like, I had the most friends when I was the worst version of myself. And, yeah, I think it is, you know, and I, but I think that, like, that's really hard for people, you know, some of these, some people, I talk with them.

They might have been pals or whatever it is with these people for decades, you know. But I think if you peel back the layers of the onion, it's like, yeah, I mean, who's, who's, like, letting you self-destruct in your life and who's holding you accountable to do better? I mean, those are the conversations I crave today. You know, when I kind of dropped the ball with something and, you know, my buddy's like, hey, man, like, I mean, I think it was great. You tried, but, like, I think you got more in the tank. I think you could do better.

I think you should go about something that way instead of maybe the way that you did. Or like when my wife mentions it, like, hey, maybe this is a different. approach we can use with the kids. I mean, when I was drinking that, I hated that stuff. I was like, guys, nobody tells me what to do. Now I'm like open to it. Yeah. And I can, you know, those are the people I want in my life, basically a long story short, but I think looking at, I mean, we always hear that popular self-help quote, right? You're a result of the five people you hang out with. I think it spawned a couple different ways, but I think we all get the idea is that the people we hang out with most translates into our life.

probably a lot more than we realize. And I think that this strategy, and I think this was Jordan's sort of way going into it too, right? It's like this way of kind of withdrawing a little bit. I think there's something extremely healthy about doing that to find out where you want to go next, maybe. Yeah, I lived one life and now I'm living this other life. And to me, it's still a little unreal that it's like this is possible.

And it's a thing because, drinking is just like that's what you do and across the board and again i mean there's reasons why people drink all the way until the day that they die you know and because i just don't think we talk about it enough and i think the more we can advocate to people that you can have fun without drinking you're going to have more fun actually when you don't create actually i mean some people if you said that too you might as well like throw up like the the crucifes They're going to be like, oh my God, stay away from me. Like, you kidding me?

Like, yeah, there's an alien. Yeah, yeah. It's like, come on. Like, seriously, it's, and I think that's something that, like, I think once people understand, like, and that's why, like, I said, these testimonial-based podcast is like, just hearing from people being like, I never thought that that would be me. And here I am to say that it is true. It can happen. And, you know, other people might need some more support, and that's fine. Sometimes people just have to white knuckle it and just get it.

and just get through it. And like, I know you always mentioned, like, you know, there's got to be a phase where you just don't drink. You have to get,

you have to get over that physical addiction. And then from there, it's, it's all about mindset and growth mindset and choosing how you want to live the latter part of your life now. And, yeah,

so it's like, I just, I feel like anything's possible now. I feel like when I was drinking, everything was hard. Everything was like one crack away from just blowing up. like my entire life.

I felt like I was always walking on eggshells. I always thought that, you know, I was like, I was almost like, pray at night. Please, like, let me just not wake up and feel that, that horrible anxiety, that horrible depression. And knowing I have to go to work. And I have to literally, like, life and death situations potentially. And, like, drinking was just, like, ruining my brain function

and my clarity and my mindset. And, you know, like, it was like almost like every day. It was this. I just didn't know what to expect. And I didn't know if there would ever be like any relief from it. And, yeah. So I just started to like moderate and, you know, I just got to the point where even having a couple was just,

yeah, it was still too much. And I just had to stop. I had to let it go. And man, I'm just so glad that I was able to do that. Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting too there with the moderation. I mean, let me know your thoughts on this too. And then we'll head towards wrapping up.

But isn't it easier? I mean, this is my thought. And then you can share your sort of thought on it too. For me, it's easier to have none by a million light years than it is to try to have one. You know, I think that's what people in my life today, if I meet new people or whatever, you know, I don't really get it, like just have one. but maybe years ago I did and just have one. And it's like, I literally have no interest, you know?

And I just don't have any interest in having one, you know, but what are your thoughts? I mean, as far as like how difficult moderation can feel as opposed to like just not having any. Yeah, like it would just be, you know, what's the point? Yeah. Like, okay, I'm having one. Like, what am I doing? Like, I at least got to have three or four to catch a buzz. And then from there, it's like, all right, now I got your buzz.

Now it's, oh, man, I don't want the point. party then, you know, like, geez, I've already drank this much. I might as well just keep it going. And it just like always escalated into multiple. And it was always like catching that high, you know, trying to, you know, catch the, catch the dragon. And when you're a kid and when you're young, it's like the most romanticized thing. You're like, wow, this is cool. Like, like you said, man, like how many times it was like you, you're at a party and like you just like totally open up and you are the life of the party and you feel so connected and you're like, like,

like you feel like you're in like an 80s movie. Like, you know, like, oh man, like, it's like, you just feel so like this is, it feels like right. It feels like normal. You feel like this is a path. This is, alcohol is going to get to get me to a point where like I'm meant to be, you know, like cool people drink, famous people during, celebrities and movie stars.

And it was just like, it was all just a big mirage. And as the years progressed, and I think once you get older in life, I think once you get more responsibility and just life gets a hold of you more, I think that mental aspect does really crank up quite a bit. Because again, in my early 20s, it was never really a thing. I never really had anxiety or depression too much. But then as I got older, it really started to show itself.

And it was just becoming so apparent. It was a direct correlation. And as soon as I like unplugged it, yeah, I still have, you know, bouts of some mild depression, anxiety and, you know, where I live in northwest Illinois. It's like we have some pretty harsh winters. So it's seasonal depression. And but it's like, I think that's pretty normal. I think just being a human is a crazy, crazy thing. And I don't think people talk about that enough.

Like here we are communicating. I mean, just being a human, man. It's a lot. It's a huge undertaking. And now we're doing something to directly make it like a hundred times worse, like by poisoning ourselves. Like, life's hard enough. Like, just be kind to yourself.

And I think the, I think sober mindset and sober life is, is this such a better way to live. I really do think that at the end of day, it's, it's just the way to go. I just, I really believe that. Yeah. And too, I mean, you bring up the point there, like life. I mean, life's going to happen sober or not. But I feel like relatable from hearing your story, too, things are a lot more manageable on this side of things, you know, drinking is very unmanageable.

One thing can come up and it can derail us completely for weeks or months or wherever. Sober, what I find anyways, okay, stuff comes up. There's no running. There's no hiding. There's no escaping. There's no avoiding. You know, we can use like healthier tools of meditation, journaling, exercise to kind of help us cope in those moments, but we don't have the alcohol to just check out for the night.

So it's one way or another. We've got to get used to working through the difficult things. But in doing that, we become more equipped to work through the difficult things other than the avoidance that I think alcohol, the opportunity it avoids it. It offers us, right? You think about stuff happens and we go to the bar, we go for a party or, you know, at the funerals, everybody's drinking and da-da-da-da-da. all that stuff, right?

And it's like, because then we don't, when do we get the chance to process? What the heck is going on? I mean, sometimes we do. Sometimes we might not for years to come. Any closing thoughts, Blake, about anything here? Yeah, I just, I think the big thing I wanted to just remind people is that it's so possible to do it. And, you know, if you have any, you know, indication that you have a problem, I think, I think it's time and whatever age you are right now.

And I think it's worth giving it a shot because I specifically remember saying like I would never be sober. I might have a drink once in a while, but I would never be sober. And here I am today. And to me, it's like the only way to go. And so it's completely possible. And, you know, like to your point, Brad, like life is going to happen regardless. things are going to go wrong.

You are going to have death. You are going to have tragedy. You are going to have things are going to break. Problems are going to arise. And no matter what, you're going to have to deal with it. And alcohol is just going to make that worse. It's just going to magnify all those problems that you think are problems when actually it's just part of life and it's okay.

And alcohol is just going to make it. magnify it and it's going to make it that much worse. And it only takes that one time for you to over, overdo it that could have consequences. And to me, it's just not worth it. So I think, you know, in closing, like, if you're wanting to quit and you're wanting to be sober, try to find something to fill that void.

For luckily for me, it's, you know, it's health, it's fitness. So it was kind of counterintuitive for me to keep drinking because I was literally poisoning myself. So that was a big motivator for me. But if you have other things that you want to do, like share that time, you know, fill that space. Don't just sit in a dark room and white knuckle it because, I mean, that's not going to get you anywhere.

And, you know, motivation is only going to get you so far. To me, like, this podcast has been wonderful. I mean, I know I haven't spoken anything. I know I said I haven't done any. I haven't been to any AA meetings. But I think the podcast. The podcast alone for me has been very helpful, and it's something that's been able to keep me, keep me on track and keep me accountable, you know, because it is my support system.

Yeah, in closing, I just want people to understand that it's possible, and it's like, it's such a better way to live this life. I wouldn't change it for anything, man. And, like, I'm very happy, very happy to be here with you. I'm very happy to share my story. And it's possible. That's all I have to really say. Yeah, I love that, man.

Great. So happy we could connect, you know, and we could probably go in this other area for a bit, but maybe we'll just leave everybody with this, you know, if there is somebody in that spot about, we tell you all the time, all the guests tell you, I mean, this, like, you can do this, you know what I mean? I don't think there's anything necessarily overly unique

that us as people who are on this side of it as opposed to people who might still be mixed up in it. Like, I don't see myself having any sort of, you know. Superpowers. something. Yeah, I mean, other than sobriety itself, but I don't think there's anything unique to me where I was like, oh, I could get it. But then, you know, say John over here, John is lacking in this ability so he can't get it. I don't see it that way. I think what people have to understand is like, you're in a spot right now where you feel it's impossible. Blake's been there. I was there as well. Like, just have a little bit of blind faith. Just say, okay, these two guys right here, like, they didn't believe they thought it was impossible and they could never enjoy

life without alcohol, without substances. And here they are and they're telling us that they are. And Blake is not a paid actor and I'm not either. So this is the truth. I mean, this is the reality of it is that we never thought we could live a life without it either. And we are in order like actually living good lives that are meaningful. And not to say you weren't before, Blake, but I know for me, I wasn't at all. You know, my life was, it was not very meaningful. So, yeah. Yeah, it was just like, it was just like you were just pretending. You know, it's like you're just buying yourself time. And that's where it was.

It was just, you were buying yourself time. And it was, it really, yeah, it's hard to know who your true self is when you're always chasing that dragon and always trying to catch that high. And, you know, always thinking about when's the next time I'm going to drink. And I just think like to like having a family. Do you really want your, you know, for me, and I know I'm kind of back, trace them real quick, but like my parents were wonderful people. They are wonderful people. Like, I love them to death.

But like, they never really talked to me about that growing up. Like, we grew up in a household of like they drink and like they had parties. And I don't want that for my kids. And I think, I think that's something to think about. Like, you know, if you're wanting to start a family now or if, you know, something like that, like think to yourself. Like, especially with so much more information out there on mental health and, health and general, like the negatives of alcohol, we should be teaching our children that.

And we shouldn't have it in the house to begin with. So if that's one of your motivators out there too, I mean, that's a great, great motivator too, is to be that voice for the next generation to let's try to clean it up a little bit. Like let's not make a generational problem of alcohol. Let's stop alcoholism here. And you can do that by making that conscious decision to say, you know, I'm not going to have alcohol in my family in my house. and if my child grows up one day and they decide that they want to have a drink,

well, that's going to be on them. But at least I'm going to give them the tools and the knowledge prior to them doing that. Yeah. I love that perspective, man. Well, thanks again for hanging out today. Thanks, Brad. It's been great. And it's so cool to see you on the webcam and like hear your voice fans.

Like, this has been a really, really cool experience. And I'm so glad that I've been able to connect with you. And I just like, when I see a new episode come up, I'm so excited because it's like, they're just so good. And I just keep doing what you're doing. And you know, you're doing a great thing, man. I appreciate it. I know, like you said, you're pretty humble guy. Like, you're not doing like changing the world.

But you are in a way. Man, you've helped a lot of people. So thank you so much for taking the time to do all this. And I know you enjoy it. So I just, I appreciate, appreciate you. So thanks, Blake. It means the world, brother. Well, there it is, everyone.

another incredible episode here on the podcast. Huge shout out to Blake. Coming up fast to one year, jumping on the podcast and sharing his story. Another incredible episode. One thing to take away and maybe think about, sort of had me thinking about it too is that, man,

even a couple days before people quit sometimes or a week before, they had no idea that that was going to be like their last drink for now. I don't have a crystal ball to say it's going to be forever, how the journeys are going to unfold. But that's sort of the reality. too, and I know I talked about that in a previous episode about how things can change just like that. Literally, you can be putting in so much effort and trying so many different things and then wake up one day, decide to go that day without drinking and everything snowballs.

So stick with it. Thank you, as always, for listening. Drop a five-star on Apple and Spotify, and I'll see you on the next one.