Ambassador of SobrietyAmbassador of Sobriety
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu talks with Brad Waldron, the "Ambassador of Sobriety", about using multiple recovery communities, service, and personal integrity to build lasting sobriety. Their conversation highlights many paths to recovery, the importance of boundaries, and why honesty and community support matter for long-term change.
55:46•20 Jan 2020
Ambassador of Sobriety: Brad Waldron on Many Paths, One Recovery
Episode Overview
- There are many valid paths to sobriety; treatment is a start, but long-term recovery needs a personal niche such as 12-step groups, sport-based teams or service communities.
- Service work and jumping in "with both feet" can anchor recovery and give structure, purpose and connection.
- It’s possible to support multiple recovery groups without creating rivalry; the shared goal is sobriety, not organisational prestige.
- Learning to say no, planning ahead and honouring commitments helps prevent burnout and keeps recovery and relationships stable.
- Honesty about relapse, cravings and habits like nicotine use matters because, as Brad puts it, "secrets keep us sick."
“"Secrets keep us sick."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation on Addict II Athlete zooms in on exactly that through the steady, grounded presence of Brad Waldron, affectionately dubbed the "Ambassador of Sobriety". Anyone juggling multiple recovery paths, support groups, work, and family will recognise a lot of their own journey in his story.
Brad talks about how treatment gave him a start, but long-term recovery came from finding his "niche" afterwards – be that 12-step meetings, Addict II Athlete, or community groups like Addicts Fighting Back and Addicted We Stand.
He stresses that there isn’t just one right route: "For the addict who goes to treatment and just constantly is a chronic relapser, they have to find that connection to some kind of source." You’ll hear how Brad’s become a bridge-builder between different recovery communities rather than choosing a side.
He rejects turf wars and egos, backing Blu’s reminder that "we’re not in competition, we’re all on the same team" and that the real priority is sobriety, not logos or Facebook numbers. His calm approach makes space for people to be themselves while staying focused on core values. Brad also shares very practical themes: learning to say no, keeping your word, and using a simple calendar to avoid burnout when you’re pulled in ten directions at once.
His decision to quit vaping, tied to his dad’s health scare, shows how personal commitments can reshape habits: he cleared out his nicotine gear and reminded himself that "secrets keep us sick" – whether about relapse, cravings or stress. This chat suits anyone in recovery who’s curious about mixing 12-step work with sport-based support, service projects, or broader community involvement.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re allowed to try more than one path, this episode might be the nudge you need to ask: what would your own "team sobriety" look like?
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