ESH: Brooke - 15 MonthsESH: Brooke - 15 Months
Sober Cast: An (unofficial) Alcoholics Anonymous Podcast AA
Brooke shares a candid story of childhood trauma, medical crises, opioid and alcohol addiction, and repeated suicidal despair. She describes how finding AA, working the steps and accepting support have helped her rebuild relationships, stability and a sober life she actually enjoys.
41:39•1 Jul 2026
From Feral Cat to Angels Anonymous: Brooke’s 15 Months of Sobriety
Episode Overview
- Alcohol and drugs became Brooke’s way to block out fear, pain and emotions she had been taught to suppress from childhood.
- Years of prescribed opioid use for multiple brain surgeries quietly turned into addiction, followed by a brutal, largely unsupported detox.
- Without a recovery programme, an initial period of abstinence gave way to homelessness, heavy drinking and a life built around bars and comedy gigs.
- A traumatic assault and suicide attempt led to psychiatric care and, eventually, a moment of clarity where she knew she could no longer drink and drive.
- Committing to AA meetings, getting a sponsor and working the steps helped her rebuild family relationships, secure housing, work again and enjoy sober connection and fun.
“Let us love you until you love yourself.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Brooke’s story lands like a raw, funny and honest answer to that question. Recorded at just over 15 months sober, Brooke shares how growing up with an alcoholic father, deep family trauma and early brain injuries left her terrified of the world and stuffing every feeling she had.
Alcohol and drugs quickly became her escape: “It relieved that for me, it took it away.” You’ll hear how a car accident, six brain surgeries and years on prescribed opioids slid into full-blown addiction, hidden even from her closest family. She talks about secret detox, suicidal despair, and being told by her doctor to taper off alone. Therapy, yoga and lifestyle changes brought a spell of abstinence, but without a programme or community, she drifted back into chaos.
Her account of living out of a van, chasing stand-up comedy gigs, heavy drinking and then surviving a horrific assault at a campground is harrowing. The suicide attempt that followed, a stint in psychiatric care, and being a self-described “feral cat” show just how lost she felt.
The turning point comes in a car park outside a bar: “I heard, clear as a bell, you can’t do this anymore and you’re not going to get away with it ever again.” That moment led her to a nearby AA meeting, 90 days of back-to-back meetings, several sponsors, and slowly working the steps. Now she talks about making amends, rebuilding relationships with her mum, stepdad and daughter, holding down a home and work, and even doing sober stand-up comedy.
She sums up AA as “Angels Anonymous” and reads a list of things she once thought were impossible – friends, safety, joy, dancing – all now part of her sober life. If you’re wondering whether a new life is still possible after years of addiction and trauma, Brooke’s story might be the proof you need to hear.
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