Pat Chats with his 2 best friends Tim, & Steve

Pat Chats with his 2 best friends Tim, & Steve

How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober while still chasing creative dreams? This chat between Patrick Ridge and his two best mates, Tim and Steve, gives you a laid-back look at exactly that. Patrick, 14 years sober, catches up with the boys for the first time in decades in front of mics, drifting from fountain pen obsessions and cursive handwriting to bigger questions about art, work, and money.

You’ll hear them reminisce about old music projects and their "Dead Poets Society" crew, while wrestling with what it means to be a creative adult who still wants to make something that matters. A big chunk of the conversation centres on an idea they’re all buzzing about: long-form YouTube "vibe" videos that mix real footage, AI-generated scenes and original music.

Patrick sums up the appeal simply: "The ultimate achievement or goal is to create something from nothing, based on just your opinion." They talk about wanting art to feel organic, even when AI is involved, and about finding a way to keep it fun instead of chasing numbers. Sobriety pops up in a grounded, everyday way.

Patrick talks about filming Complex Con as a sober flex – proof that you can stay clean and still be part of cool culture and high-energy events. There’s also a raw look at live-streaming, the manic highs it creates, and how chat-driven behaviour can drag you into unhealthy patterns, even if you’re sober. Between jokes about taxes and film directors, the three friends keep circling back to connection, creativity, and trying to make a living without losing yourself.

If you’re sober or cutting back and wondering how your artistic side fits into your new life, this relaxed hang-out might spark a few ideas – and maybe make you think about what kind of "vibe" you want your own life to have.