Sober Talk SA - SageSober Talk SA - Sage
Sober Talk SA
Sage shares their journey from binge drinking and atheism to finding sobriety through AA, including relapse, spiritual resistance and eventual freedom in service. The story highlights practical tools, emotional struggles and the gradual lifting of the obsession to drink.
35:40•9 Jul 2026
Sage’s Story: From Staunch Atheist to Sober Sponsor
Episode Overview
- You don’t need a traditional belief in God to start in AA; a willingness to try suggested actions can be enough.
- Binge drinking with long gaps can still indicate serious alcohol dependence, even without daily use or physical withdrawal.
- Relapse often highlights parts of Step One that weren’t fully accepted, especially around powerlessness.
- Making amends by owning your part without "I’m sorry, but" can transform tense relationships, including at work.
- Sponsoring others and practising Step Twelve can be where the obsession to drink finally lifts and a new sense of purpose appears.
“At first it was fun and then it was fun with consequences, and then it was just consequences.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? In this episode of Sober Talk SA, Sage shares a raw and honest account of their journey from chaotic binge drinking to finding peace through Alcoholics Anonymous. You’ll hear how Sage arrived at AA convinced they weren’t a "real" alcoholic, armed with an online quiz diagnosis but still clinging to the idea that they could learn to "drink without consequences".
Their story tracks the slow erosion of that belief: escalating consequences, lost licence, strained relationships, and a mind that only ever felt quiet with alcohol. Sage talks openly about coming into AA as a staunch atheist, hating "the g word" and only returning because someone with 20 years’ sobriety assured them it was possible to stay sober without buying into a religious idea of God.
From there, Sage commits to a "12 month experiment" of doing all the suggested AA actions: getting a home group, a sponsor, 90 meetings in 90 days, working the steps, and eventually trying prayer with the simple line, "I’m powerless, please help me stay sober." One of the most moving parts of the episode is Sage describing how sponsoring a newcomer revealed that the obsession to drink had quietly lifted: "Though you may come to scoff, you may remain to pray" suddenly meant something deeply personal.
That reassurance kept them coming back, even as relapse pushed their rock bottom lower: "At first it was fun, then it was fun with consequences, and then it was just consequences." The turning point comes during Melbourne’s lockdowns, when drinking shifts to around-the-clock and offers no relief. This episode speaks to anyone who’s ever felt different, terrified of spiritual language, or convinced they’re "too smart" for recovery.
Sage’s mix of humour, vulnerability and very practical hacks for social anxiety and amends makes it relatable and grounded. If you’ve ever wondered whether AA could work for someone like you, this story might be the nudge you need to keep coming back.
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