"I Bet on Myself and Everything Changed" - THE LOFT EPISODE 131"I Bet on Myself and Everything Changed" - THE LOFT EPISODE 131
The Loft
Jerry talks about getting sober, losing almost everything, and then deciding to move to Colorado and start again. He shares how running, self‑forgiveness and taking risks helped him build a life that finally feels like his own.
1:01:12•1 Apr 2026
Betting on Yourself: Jerry’s Leap into Sobriety, Colorado and Long‑Distance Running
Episode Overview
- Big life losses in sobriety (job, car, income) can trigger doubt, but they can also open the door to life‑changing decisions.
- A simple act of support, like a hug and "everything's going to be alright", can shift someone from wanting to die to asking for help.
- Moving away from a familiar city and social circle can force you to face yourself, drop people‑pleasing, and finally choose your own needs.
- Setting a hard goal, such as a half marathon, and seeing it through can rebuild confidence and show what you’re actually capable of.
- Focusing less on worst‑case scenarios and more on taking the leap can be the key to betting on yourself and building a life you actually want.
“"I've forgiven myself for the way that I was acting and the way that I treated people... I'm okay with who I am as a man now today."”
How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? This conversation from THE LOFT follows Jerry Caleb as he talks through nearly two years of sobriety, a cross‑country move, and the unexpected joy of becoming a runner. Jerry shares how losing his job and car in the same week left him questioning whether sobriety was even worth it.
On a 36‑hour drive to Colorado, he admits he fully intended to drink again until a long stretch through Kansas made him realise, "this world is huge... I might as well just start living my life." That moment pushed him to protect his second chance instead of throwing it away.
He speaks honestly about the darkness that led him to stop: hating his life, wanting the pain to end, and finally making a desperate phone call to a former co‑worker, Nate, who met him with a hug and the words, "everything's going to be alright, kid." From there, treatment, new sober friendships, and a willingness to say "I don't know" became the first bricks in a new life.
You’ll hear how moving from Philadelphia to Colorado forced Jerry to sit with himself, let go of people‑pleasing, and stop saying yes to everyone but himself. Training for his first half marathon was, in his words, "horrible"—lonely runs, no idea what he was doing, and stubbornly refusing to ask for help.
Yet crossing the finish line in 2:14 without stopping became one of the most emotional moments of his life and proof that he could commit to something hard and see it through. At its heart, this chat is about self‑forgiveness, taking scary leaps, and choosing your own pace in life. It might leave you asking: what risk are you putting off that could change everything for you?
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