Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline cover art

Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline

Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline

By: Stuart Cline LPCC MAC ATR-BC
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About this listen

Most sobriety podcasts tell you to stay sober. This one helps you figure out what to do with the life you're building.


Sobriety... Now What? is for people who are sober — or trying to be — and ready to go deeper than just not drinking or using. Each episode explores what it actually looks like to build a life worth staying sober for.


I'm your host, Stuart Cline — a licensed therapist, addiction counselor, and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) with over 25 years in clinical practice — from a locked inpatient psychiatric unit early in my career, to leading an intensive outpatient program, to 18 years of hospital-based clinical work alongside a private practice. In New Mexico I hold two active licenses: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC).

I also bring something no credential can give you. I grew up with two alcoholic parents — one who got sober, and one who didn't. The difference between those two paths shaped my life and my purpose. I know what recovery can cost, and I know what it can give back.


Each episode offers practical tools, honest conversations, and real strategies for navigating the emotional terrain of sober life — cravings, stress, relationships, purpose, identity, and everything in between. You'll hear from authors, musicians, teachers, business owners, and recovery experts, alongside solo episodes where I break down what works, why it works, and how to apply it.

There's no single right way to recover. But there are principles that help people thrive — and that's what we explore here.


This podcast exists to help you avoid unnecessary suffering and discover what's possible when sobriety becomes a foundation, not a limitation.

You're not alone — and you don't have to figure this out by yourself.

🌐 www.sobrietynowwhat.com ✉️ sobrietynowwhat111@gmail.com

Sobriety Now What? — Let's explore what comes next.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not establish a therapeutic or counseling relationship.

© 2026 Sobriety... Now What? with Stuart Cline
Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Ep. 38: A Kindness Practice to Calm Your Mind & Reduce Stress (Bonus Episode)
    Apr 19 2026

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

    In this short bonus episode of Sobriety… Now What?, Stuart Cline guides you through a simple, calming kindness practice you can use anytime to help calm your mind, reduce stress, and reset your mood.

    This guided practice is inspired by the long-standing tradition of loving-kindness (also known as metta), adapted into a practical, real-life tool you can use while driving, walking, or taking a moment to pause during your day.

    You’ll be guided through a series of gentle phrases to help you:

    • calm your thoughts
    • reduce stress and emotional reactivity
    • practice kindness toward yourself and others
    • create a small but meaningful shift in your state of mind

    This episode builds on Episode 37 and gives you something simple you can actually do—not just think about.

    Use this practice in the morning, at night, or anytime you feel overwhelmed.

    Even a small reset can make a big difference.

    Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

    Support the show

    HI! If you would like to find out more things I offer check out the links below.

    🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

    🌱 Stuart Cline: www.Stuartcline.com

    🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

    📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

    Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
    Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

    If this episode helped you:
    Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend

    Disclaimer
    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • Ep 37 The Helper's High Without the Hangover — Francesca Donlan (Back by Popular Demand)
    Apr 18 2026

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

    You’re sober… but still feeling stressed?

    The to-do list doesn’t stop. Life feels heavy. And some days, just getting through feels like enough.

    In this episode, I sit down with returning guest Francesca Donlan — my most downloaded guest — to explore a simple, powerful tool that can shift your mood, calm your mind, and improve your day without substances.

    Francesca spent the entire year of 2025 doing one intentional act each day to improve connection and well-being — and what she discovered, backed by research, might surprise you.

    We talk about a simple way to reduce stress and feel better fast, how small daily actions can improve mood and mental health, the “helper’s high” and why it works, how to reset your mindset when life feels overwhelming, practical ways to feel more connected in sobriety, and why self-compassion is a key part of lasting recovery.

    This episode isn’t about being perfect. It’s about having a tool you can use on real days, in real life.

    If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just off lately, this conversation can help you reset and move forward.

    About My Guest
    Francesca Donlan is a university educator and researcher focused on human connection and well-being. She has taught the science behind positive social behavior and is the organizer of the K20 Global Kindness Summit, bringing together leaders from around the world to explore how small actions can create meaningful change.

    Key Takeaway
    You don’t need to change everything to feel better. Sometimes one small action can shift your entire day.

    Connect + Learn More
    Learn more about the K20 Global Kindness Summit:
    https://k20kindness.com

    If This Helped You
    Follow the podcast and share this episode with someone who could use a reset today.

    Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

    Support the show

    HI! If you are looking for me - Stuart Cline. You can find me below. I would like to hear from you.

    🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

    🎓 Courses & Programs: https://stuartcline.podia.com

    🌱 Evolving Fully Institute: www.evolvingfully.com

    🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

    📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

    Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
    Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

    If this episode helped you:
    Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit.
    That’s how we grow this message and help more people thrive in sobriety.

    Disclaimer
    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life
    Mar 24 2026

    DId this podcast help you. Please let me and others know to support the show. Thank you.

    Ep 36: He Trained His Brain to Reject Alcohol—Then Had to Rebuild His Life

    In this episode of Sobriety Now What?, Stuart sits down with Ian Fee to explore what recovery really looks like beyond just quitting drinking.

    After decades of alcohol use, Ian shares the moment he could no longer lie to himself—and how that became the turning point in his life. He opens up about his unique experience with aversion therapy, a rarely discussed approach that helped change his relationship with alcohol.

    But this conversation goes deeper than how he stopped.

    It’s about what happens next.

    You’ll hear what early recovery really feels like, how to face the emotions that come up, and what it takes to rebuild your life with honesty, accountability, and support.

    This episode will help you:

    • Understand the difference between stopping drinking and real recovery
    • Feel less alone in the emotional challenges of early sobriety
    • Learn how accountability and support can change everything
    • Begin thinking about how to build a better life in sobriety

    If you’re in early recovery—or starting to question your relationship with alcohol—this episode offers a new perspective and real hope.


    To learn more about:

    • Ian Fee: Ianfee.com

    Stuart Cline:

    • Coaching: EvolvingFully.com, stuartcline.podia.com
    • Counseling: nmcounseling.com
    • Podcast: www.sobrietynowwhat.com

    Invitation to consider at least one helpful piece of information to help them thrive in their sobriety and to share with podcast with others and to follow and email questions.

    Support the show

    HI! If you are looking for me - Stuart Cline. You can find me below. I would like to hear from you.

    🌐 Website: www.SobrietyNowWhat.com

    🎓 Courses & Programs: https://stuartcline.podia.com

    🌱 Evolving Fully Institute: www.evolvingfully.com

    🧠 Counseling Services: www.nmcounseling.com

    📧 Email: SobrietyNowWhat111@gmail.com

    Have a topic you’d like me to cover?
    Send me an email—I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you.

    If this episode helped you:
    Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit.
    That’s how we grow this message and help more people thrive in sobriety.

    Disclaimer
    This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of support, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider.

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
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