Every Silver Lining has a Cloud with Scott Stevens

Every Silver Lining has a Cloud with Scott Stevens

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation between host Ellen Stewart, the Pushy Broad from the Bronx, and best-selling author Scott Stevens digs into that question with a sharp mix of straight talk, science, and raw honesty. Aimed at people in recovery, those flirting with the idea of quitting, and families trying to understand relapse, the episode focuses on Scott’s book *Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud: Relapse and the Symptoms of Sobriety*.

Scott shares how, after two and a half years sober, he suddenly spiralled into a two-day relapse, saying, “I wanted the alcohol more than I wanted my next breath of air.” He explains how neglecting basic self-care, poor sleep, eating badly and skipping meetings quietly eroded his recovery long before the first drink.

You’ll hear the difference he draws between a brief lapse and a full-blown relapse, and why relapse doesn’t have to be part of recovery even though “nine out of ten people who quit drinking go back to it” at least once. Scott and Ellen break down the “symptoms of sobriety”, including substitute cravings like chain-smoking, brain fog, and confusion, and link them to the brain’s dopamine cycle. The chat also gets deeply personal around guilt, shame and perfectionism.

Scott talks about the “low light reel” of his past and the crushing guilt of becoming the kind of dad he promised he’d never be, then explains how self-forgiveness and rebuilding relationships with his children became “the most rewarding part of this whole recovery journey.” Throughout, Ellen keeps things practical and relatable, sharing her own relapse history and 38 years clean and sober, while Scott adds nerdy humour and clear explanations of alcohol as a lethal, progressive disease.

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I can manage my drinking again,” this episode might make you pause and ask a different question: what could you do today to protect your sobriety instead?