Sober and Unashamed: Rubber Stamping a Toxic Culture
Sober and Unashamed: Rubber Stamping a Toxic Culture

Untoxicated Podcast

New from Sober and Unashamed: “Rubber Stamping a Toxic Culture” - We have published hundreds of essays on alcoholism, recovery, sex and intimacy, underlying issues, growth and progress. Maybe you love to read, but just don’t seem to find the time.

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12:53•18 Sept 2025

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About this podcast

Untoxicated Podcast

Matt & Sheri Salis

Sheri and Matt Salis just wanted a normal life – normal marriage, normal careers, a normal house and happy kids. Instead, they lived a life of lies and terror as they struggled with Matt’s alcoholism. While their experience sounds rare, with over 15 millions problem drinkers in America, their alcoholic marriage was all too normal. Matt has been writing about their experiences in alcoholism and recovery for years. On the Untoxicated Podcast, Sheri and Matt talk about it, too. No subjects are off limits as the couple discusses the trauma of active addiction, the pain of early recovery, the destruction and rebuilding of trust, and the impact on their intimate relationship. If you love an alcoholic, the disease will terrorize your relationship. We hope you’ll listen and find healing in our shared stories. For more support from Sheri and Matt, check out their Echoes of Recovery program providing connection and healing for the loved ones of alcoholics.

Sobriety ToolkitSuccess StoriesFamily RecoveryRelationshipsUnderstanding Addiction

Episodes: 386

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Redefining Masculinity: A Journey Through Sobriety and Society

Episode Overview

Redefine masculinity by disconnecting it from power and control.
Encourage open communication about feelings in boys.
Recognise the impact of societal pressures on self-esteem.
Emphasise empathy over achievement in parenting.
Challenge toxic cultural norms linked to addiction.

“"Help our boys know they are enough. Teach them to be human beings, not human doings."”

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this episode of the Untoxicated Podcast, Matt and Sheri Salis explore the intricate web of societal pressures and personal struggles that often accompany addiction. With their characteristic honesty, they discuss how toxic cultural norms can perpetuate low self-esteem, especially among men, and how this ties into broader issues like mass shootings and mental health crises.

Through a mix of personal anecdotes and broader societal observations, Matt reflects on the pressure to conform to outdated standards of masculinity, linking it to his own journey through alcoholism and recovery. The episode challenges listeners to reconsider how we define success and masculinity, urging a shift from power and control to empathy and authenticity. By sharing their insights, Matt and Sheri aim to provide a supportive narrative for those battling similar demons.

So, what can we learn from those who have battled addiction? Perhaps it's time to redefine our cultural norms and embrace a more compassionate approach to masculinity.

PreviousEp313 – Blame Assigned or Blame Prevented

NextEp314 – Pressure that’s Crushing Our Kids