From Rock Bottom to Recovery - coffee with author Justin Kinney

From Rock Bottom to Recovery - coffee with author Justin Kinney

What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? For regulars at the Sober.Coffee shop, this chat with author and teacher Justin Kinney lands right in that sweet spot between raw honesty and practical tools. Over coffee with hosts Mike and Glenn, Justin talks about his new daily devotional, *From Rock Bottom to Redemption*, and how it grew out of a simple, stubborn habit: putting pen to paper every morning.

Six months into sobriety, he made journaling a "daily non-negotiable"—sometimes just three sentences, sometimes ten to fifteen minutes—paired with short bursts of meditation. As he puts it, the key was realising "the time does not matter. I just had to start." The conversation is aimed at anyone on the sober path, from day one to decades in, who wants something more than white-knuckling.

Justin describes being a high-performing teacher who looked disciplined on the outside but felt "physically depleted, mentally unstable, and spiritually empty" on the inside. An intervention from family and church forced him into treatment and towards the 12 steps, counselling, accountability and faith. He’s clear that his book isn’t theory: it’s lived experience shaped into 52 chapters, each with seven short readings designed for a one-day-at-a-time approach.

The focus is on small choices, responsibility, and building character rather than making grand promises. "My story," he says, "it's not about hitting rock bottom. It's about discovering that rock bottom can become a foundation." Mike and Glenn match Justin’s calm with their usual mix of humour and straight talk, sharing their own measures of change—like the slowly lengthening hugs that show trust returning.

The whole chat feels like a gentle nudge to pick up a pen, find a bit of structure, and keep going, one quiet morning at a time. If rock bottom can become a foundation, what’s one small daily habit you’re ready to build on?