RE 593: Man's Best FriendRE 593: Man's Best Friend
Recovery Elevator
Paul reflects on the life-saving role his dog Ben played in his recovery, while Camille from Montreal shares her early wins, failed moderation, and decision to quit alcohol for good. Together their stories highlight grief, gratitude, and the relief of waking up without a hangover.
49:25•29 Jun 2026
Man’s Best Friend, First 17 Days, and Why Moderation Failed Camille
Episode Overview
- Pets can play a powerful role in sobriety; Paul credits his dog Ben with guiding him through early recovery and even "saving" his life.
- Camille’s drinking escalated from teenage binges to years of bartending, then to daily dirty martinis used to cope with performance pressure.
- A 5k race followed by heavy drinking made Camille realise she was "pouring poison" into a body she’d just pushed to work hard, sparking a serious rethink.
- After a year of trying to moderate, Camille accepted that moderation does not work for her and chose full abstinence, even quitting mid all-inclusive holiday.
- Both Paul and Camille highlight self-kindness, community support, and honest conversations as crucial for anyone who feels out of control with alcohol.
“I just asked my body to do like this huge effort and then I poured poison into it.”
Curious about how others find their way through their sobriety journey? This episode of Recovery Elevator brings together two very different but equally moving stories: a man grieving his dog and a woman just 17 days alcohol-free. Paul Churchill opens up about losing his beloved dog Ben, who he says "saved my life" and was the quiet heartbeat behind the whole podcast.
Ben walked Paul through those early, fragile days of sobriety, greeted anxious retreat guests at the car door, and modelled unconditional love when Paul couldn’t extend it to himself. Paul doesn’t try to explain where Ben is now; instead, he keeps landing on one thing: gratitude for 12 years with a four-legged best friend. Then the focus shifts to Camille from Montreal, 36, a graphic designer and climber who took her last drink on 20 April 2026.
Her drinking history starts at 13 with vodka shots from a water bottle at boarding school and escalates through years of bartending where being drunk or hungover was "practically a constant". Later, daily dirty martinis became her way to dull performance anxiety and perfectionism.
A key turning point came after a 5k charity run: "I just asked my body to do like this huge effort and then I poured poison into it." That led to a year of attempts to moderate, then a final realisation on an all-inclusive holiday that moderation simply doesn’t work for her. She stopped mid-trip, stayed sober for the rest of the holiday, and now loves waking up knowing "it’s not because I’m hungover" when she feels off.
Camille talks about being kind to herself, joining a support group, using alcohol-free cocktails, and surrounding herself with people who respect her choice. She reminds anyone feeling alone that shame keeps people quiet, but "you’re not alone" in struggling with alcohol. If you’re waking up saying "never again" and pouring a drink by evening, could this be the nudge you need to try a different way?
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