048: Group Of Drunks with Seth Manter – Do you have a problem with the concept of GOD?

048: Group Of Drunks with Seth Manter – Do you have a problem with the concept of GOD?

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Here, the SHAIR Recovery Podcast zooms in on a question that trips up loads of people in early sobriety: what if you have a problem with the word “God”? Host Omar Pinto chats with guest Seth Manter, who is five years clean and sober and has turned his scepticism about religion into a very practical spiritual approach.

Seth shares how an old-timer reframed God as “G.O.D – Group Of Drunks,” explaining, “God could be anything. It could be a group of drunks. It could be a tree in your front yard.” For anyone who freezes at the idea of a higher power, that kind of humour and simplicity can be a massive relief.

You’ll hear Seth walk through his history of alcohol and drug use, from underage drinking and family chaos to serving in the Coast Guard, being on scene during 9/11, and getting marched into rehab after multiple alcohol incidents. He’s brutally honest about failed attempts at treatment, getting kicked out of the military, and then sinking deeper into drinking, weed, cocaine and pills. What really stands out is how ordinary his life looks today—and how proud he is of that.

He talks about being a husband, a stepfather, a journeyman electrician and an “average dude” who prays in the morning, meditates in the shower, and meets workmates with decades of sobriety for lunch-time support. His stepdaughter’s interest in recovery podcasts adds a touching family angle, showing how sobriety can ripple out to the next generation.

This episode suits anyone who wants AA-style recovery without feeling forced into a specific religion, and anyone who enjoys raw, funny, straight-talking stories of addiction and change. It might leave you asking yourself: what could your own version of a “Group Of Drunks” higher power look like?