Episode 232: Iron Wig StenchEpisode 232: Iron Wig Stench
Since Right Now
The Boys start to promote Dry January, give their…
53:50•21 Nov 2022
Iron Wig Stench: Dry January, Dance Floors and Ravaged Amygdalas
Episode Overview
- Sober events like dance parties or workout-based gatherings can give Dry January a fun, social focus that doesn’t revolve around alcohol.
- Short breaks from drinking only really matter if they help someone honestly assess their relationship with alcohol and what happens afterwards.
- Rationalising past drinking or bad behaviour is common; noticing those mental gymnastics is a key step in changing patterns.
- Sponsors and trusted people in recovery can be vital when stress hits, even if a drink doesn’t feel imminent.
- Therapy can help unpack jealousy, abandonment fears and old trauma that keep showing up in relationships, even years into sobriety.
“Sobriety does not make you a better person. It just makes you a sober whatever you are.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? Episode 232 of **Since Right Now** swings from daft jokes to deep honesty, all through the lens of life in recovery. Jeff, Matt and Chris kick off by plotting a big Dry January event in St. Louis – a sober dance party that might double as a workout.
They riff on themes, music and whether anyone actually dances without booze, while pointing out how huge Dry January has become and how some people use it to test their relationship with alcohol. From there, the chat shifts to meetings and a powerful share from a visiting speaker whose life has moved from trauma and dealing drugs to steady recovery. That story sparks a long talk about rationalisation – the way people justify alcohol and drug use or bad behaviour.
Chris jokes he once wanted to start **Justifier.com**, a place where "you can write anything bad you've done and I will justify it for you" – funny, but it lands close to home for anyone who’s excused their own drinking. Work culture comes under the microscope too, especially agencies with bars in the office and booze-centred events. They question how "inclusive" that really is for people who are sober, or even just cutting back.
The final stretch gets personal and tender. Matt talks about calling his sponsor during a stressful week and how simple reassurance helped. Both he and Chris share openly about starting therapy again – to deal with jealousy, abandonment fears and old trauma. One therapist’s line, "you have a ravaged amygdala," becomes a running joke and a handy explanation for overreactions.
If you’re sober, sober-curious or just wondering what recovery looks like in real, messy life – dance parties, therapy, workplace drama and all – this one might get you thinking about what support you could add to your own week.
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