6 Years 333 days - Steamed6 Years 333 days - Steamed
I'm Quitting Alcohol
Comedian David Boyle talks about relentless 5.30am wake-ups, a chaotic steam room experience, and the odd mix of exhaustion and optimism in his sober routine. The episode blends raw humour with candid reflections on sleep, stress and small daily habits in long-term recovery.
7:44•12 Apr 2026
Steam Rooms, Sleepless Nights and Sober Laughs with David Boyle
Episode Overview
- Even with long-term sobriety, new problems like early wake-ups and wired fatigue can appear unexpectedly.
- Sleep trackers can show good REM and restorative sleep while you still feel cloudy from a lack of light sleep.
- Steam rooms and saunas might help you feel physically cooked and ready for rest, but shared spaces can be uncomfortable and unhygienic.
- Building small routines, like going to the gym while a child is at boxing class, can support physical and mental wellbeing.
- Seasonal changes, such as the arrival of spring and community events, can lift mood and create a sense of renewed optimism.
“I'm running on empty, and I can't fucking do anything about it at the moment.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For comedian David Boyle, part of that answer seems to be laughing his way through the chaos of everyday life, sleep deprivation and all. This short, punchy episode of *I'm Quitting Alcohol* follows Boyle as he hits nearly seven years sober and finds himself stuck in a bizarre new problem: waking up at 5.30am every day, completely wired, despite feeling exhausted.
He jokes, "I'm running on empty, and I can't fucking do anything about it at the moment," as he talks about relying on gummies and obsessing over his sleep data, from REM to light sleep, to try to crack the code of his restless mornings. In classic Boyle style, the episode veers into an outrageous steam room story involving naked strangers, questionable hygiene, and a very determined man blowing on a steam sensor while giving everyone an unwanted view.
Boyle’s blend of disgust and humour makes it oddly relatable for anyone who’s ever felt trapped in a public changing room nightmare. Alongside the jokes, there’s a glimpse into his sober routine: squeezing in a gym session while his son is at boxing, pushing his body in the steam until he feels dizzy and “cooked”, and hoping it finally knocks him out for a proper sleep.
He also shares a rare burst of optimism about spring in Boston, with warmer weather, the marathon, and the sense that the next few months could be something special. If you like raw, unfiltered sobriety chat mixed with everyday frustration, dark humour, and a surprising amount of honesty about sleep and sanity, this one’s worth your five minutes. Ever noticed how staying sober doesn’t magically fix life’s nonsense, but it does give you better stories?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.