076: A different life story with Stephan Neff076: A different life story with Stephan Neff
You're Sober! Now What?
Dr Stephan Neff shares how he went from a high-functioning alcoholic anaesthetist to a man who describes sobriety as a life “so exhilarating” he loves waking up. He and host Tamar Medford talk through rehab, the 12 steps, micro habits and learning to turn overachiever energy into a positive, purpose‑driven life.
1:21:02•22 Feb 2021
A Different Life Story: Dr Stephan Neff on Sobriety, Overachievement and Starting Again
Episode Overview
- Recovery is a lifelong process; if you stop working on recovery, you quietly start working on relapse.
- The 12 steps can be seen as a practical blueprint for fixing a failing “life business”, not just a religious approach.
- Micro habits like regular sleep, nutrition, hydration and movement form a basic foundation for emotional stability in sobriety.
- Anxiety and cravings come in waves; learning to observe and “surf” them instead of fighting or numbing them reduces their power.
- Accepting the label of alcoholic (or alcohol use disorder) and owning your part in past problems is the first step towards meaningful change.
“Sobriety is living a life so beautiful, so exhilarating, that yesterday becomes jealous of today.”
How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? This conversation between host Tamar Medford and guest Dr Stephan Neff answers that in raw, practical detail. A high‑functioning anaesthetist in New Zealand, Stephan describes himself as “an alcoholic in recovery” who went from 16–18 hour workdays and secret vodka bottles to a $27,000, 28‑day stay in rehab that changed everything.
He talks about the shock of having his boss pull him off the hospital floor and says of rehab, “It was the best thing that ever, ever in my whole life happened to me.” The episode speaks directly to people in long‑term recovery or those wondering if their drinking has gone too far.
Stephan walks through how the 12 steps worked for him, especially the brutal self‑inventory and resentment work, but he frames it in a very practical way: as a blueprint for rescuing a failing business – in this case, your life. He’s open about not being religious and explains how a “higher power” can simply mean people who are a bit further along the path.
You’ll hear how he learned to ride waves of anxiety instead of numbing them, why he still calls himself an alcoholic, and how sobriety became “living a life so beautiful, so exhilarating, that yesterday becomes jealous of today.” Tamar adds her own experience of hitting emotional rock bottom, rebuilding from age 14 emotionally, and using overachiever energy for something meaningful. The tone is honest, humorous in places, and very practical.
If you’re sober and thinking “Now what?”, or quietly asking yourself if you might have a problem, this chat shows how tiny daily habits, ongoing support, and a willingness to look in the mirror can add up to a completely different life story. What would your “new version” of you look like if you gave yourself that chance?
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