7 Years 145 days - Vibe Parking7 Years 145 days - Vibe Parking
I'm Quitting Alcohol
Comedian David Boyle recounts a chaotic attempt to get his Massachusetts driving licence while over seven years sober, turning a simple test into a funny, tense story. The episode focuses on learning strict driving procedures, confronting old habits, and finding a sense of belonging in everyday sober milestones.
10:27•7 Oct 2026
Vibe Parking and Sober Driving Tests at 7 Years Dry
Episode Overview
- Structured driving rules can feel alien if you’ve relied on instinct and habit for years.
- A short practice session before a test can reveal crucial gaps, like not knowing hand signals.
- Parallel parking for a test requires a specific step-by-step method rather than pure intuition.
- Safety procedures for hill parking aim to keep a failing car from rolling into the road.
- Even small wins, like getting a local licence, can help someone in recovery feel more settled and part of the community.
“I actually don't have any steps, it's all just vibe.”
Interested in the personal battles against addiction? Here’s a short, chaotic slice of sober life with Australian comedian David Boyle, now seven years and 145 days alcohol-free and trying to sort out something as simple – and stressful – as a driving test in Massachusetts. The episode follows Boyle’s mission to finally get his local licence after letting his Australian one roll past its expiry date.
In classic Boyle fashion, he turns a fairly mundane admin task into a hilarious story filled with nerves, close calls and his trademark honesty. You’ll hear him admit, "I actually don't have any steps, it's all just vibe," as he realises his usual freestyle parallel parking approach doesn’t cut it with driving instructors.
There’s a half-hour crash course where he learns hand signals he never knew existed, attempts a straight-line reverse he freely admits isn’t his "strongest move on the road", and breaks down the oddly specific rules for parking on hills. He contrasts his usual driving style – texting, eating and steering with his knee – with the rigid structure of a formal test, highlighting how sobriety still has him bumping up against rules and routines.
A standout moment comes when his instructor agrees to secretly help during the test by kicking under his seat if he forgets something. Several kicks later, Boyle realises he’s about to launch forward into a stop sign because he never put the car in reverse. It’s funny, a bit tense, and very human.
This episode suits anyone who enjoys raw, daily snapshots of sober life where recovery isn’t dramatic every day – sometimes it’s just you, a stranger’s car, and a parallel park between cones. Ever noticed how even the small challenges feel different once you’re doing them sober?
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