I can truly get to the depths of the dreaming I used to do as a 5, 6 year old little boy.

I can truly get to the depths of the dreaming I used to do as a 5, 6 year old little boy.

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between host Kristen and Broadway music director Dan gives a front-row seat to what that courage can look like. Dan talks honestly about going from a self-described "goody two shoes" who barely drank to someone secretly putting away around 20 drinks a day, masking it with Xanax, panic attacks and Listerine.

He shares grim moments many will recognise: losing his eyesight briefly at work, waking up in his own urine, and being told by a doctor his liver enzymes meant he could have cirrhosis within five years. Even then, stopping felt impossible. Things begin to shift when a friend brings him to his first AA meeting. Saying, "Hi, I'm Dan, I'm an alcoholic" comes out unexpectedly, yet he describes it as "the most comforting thing I've ever said...

like a warm hug from my mum". From there, he leans on meetings, constant companionship, therapy, and eventually Zoloft to deal with persistent anxiety. He’s careful to stress that medication is a personal choice, but for him it highlighted a chemical imbalance and lifted a huge weight. You’ll hear how his career on Broadway, once threatened by addiction, has become richer in sobriety.

Dan lights up when he talks about conducting his show and realising, "I can truly get to the depths of the dreaming I used to do as a five, six-year-old little boy." His greatest gifts now are his husband and young son, and the simple joys many people in recovery will relate to: loving sunshine again, knowing where his keys are, and being fully present at bath time.

If you’re wondering whether life can feel bigger, softer, and more honest without alcohol, this story gives plenty to think about – and might prompt you to ask what your own "why" looks like.