RE 584.5: Bonus Episode - Give Big

RE 584.5: Bonus Episode - Give Big

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This bonus instalment of Recovery Elevator gives a peek behind the curtain of a long-running sobriety podcast and the community that keeps it alive. Recorded in Gallatin County, which Paul Churchill calls "the drunkest county in America," this short episode blends humour, honesty and a heartfelt ask for support.

Paul shares the strange irony of broadcasting "one of the top sobriety podcasts" from a place where, according to a CDC study, 26.8% of residents drink excessively. It’s a mix of raw reality and wry observation, making it easy to relate if you’ve ever felt surrounded by drinking culture. The focus here is Café RE, Recovery Elevator’s non-profit alcohol-free community, and the local Give Big event raising funds for organisations in the area.

Paul notes how rarely he asks for donations, which makes this appeal feel special rather than routine. The style stays conversational and down-to-earth, with lines like, "We took the elevator down. We got to take the stairs back up.

We can do this." You’ll hear powerful imagery as Paul talks about community and connection: a Mexican Toltec shaman’s idea that "there is nothing to learn except how to unlearn" and a Lakota chief’s reminder that "the answers to all of our problems can be solved by looking towards nature." The bison walking into the storm becomes a metaphor for people facing their drinking problem together.

This episode suits anyone who’s sober-curious, in recovery, or feeling isolated in their relationship with alcohol. It leans heavily on the message that "you can't do life or an alcohol-free life alone" and highlights how modern community might look like earbuds, late-night listening and a "stranger's voice telling you it can be done." If connection, honesty and a bit of humour help you stay on track, this one’s worth your time. So, who’s walking into the storm with you?