SoberNotMature - Episode 214 (Jacob S. - Functional Medicine & Disfunctional Podcasters)SoberNotMature - Episode 214 (Jacob S. - Functional Medicine & Disfunctional Podcasters)
Sober Not Mature
Bill and Mike chat with Jacob S., who describes how his drinking led to severe liver cirrhosis and how functional medicine, lifestyle changes and sobriety transformed his outlook. The conversation mixes explicit humour with frank discussion about health, stigma and finding hope when doctors say there’s little left to try.
1:47:07•28 Mar 2026
From Liver Failure to Functional Medicine: Jacob’s Candid Sobriety Shift
Episode Overview
- Alcohol-related liver damage can progress quietly for years before symptoms become obvious and life-threatening.
- Functional medicine focuses on root causes, using tools like ALA infusions, supplements and diet changes rather than just symptom relief.
- Cutting out alcohol and sharply reducing sugar intake gave Jacob’s liver a chance to improve and stabilise.
- Regular blood tests and liver panels can highlight problems early, long before a medical crisis hits.
- Speaking openly about addiction and illness reduces shame and often reveals that many others are struggling in silence.
“"It was one of the worst things that ever happened to me, but in a lot of ways it was one of the best things that ever happened to me."”
Curious about how others manage serious health scares while getting sober? This round of Sober Not Mature brings together raw humour, medical crisis and practical hope as Bill and Mike sit down with Jacob S., a Wisconsin "cheesehead" and self-described grateful liver cirrhosis survivor. Jacob talks openly about how his drinking crept up over the years – from teenage fun to a daily coping tool for work stress, family pressure and the chaos of the pandemic.
He explains how alcohol went from feeling like a "superpower" to something he needed just to get through the day, until subtle signs like night cramps and a growing “beer belly” turned into severe liver cirrhosis and a three‑to‑six month prognosis. You’ll hear his account of being told a transplant wasn’t an option, planning his own funeral, and then having one hospital doctor quietly mention something he’d never heard of: functional medicine.
Jacob walks through what that means in plain language – treating the root cause instead of just symptoms – and shares how alpha‑lipoic acid (ALA) infusions, supplements, diet changes (including brutally cutting sugar) and strength training became part of his recovery toolkit. He’s careful to stress he’s not a doctor and isn’t selling anything, just "living proof" that these approaches, alongside complete sobriety, have dramatically improved his liver numbers and his life.
The chat keeps its trademark explicit, no‑BS edge, but underneath the jokes there’s a strong message: get your bloods checked, don’t ignore warning signs, and drop the shame so you can ask for help. Jacob also describes how sharing his journey online accidentally “outed” him to friends and family, only to reveal how many people are quietly struggling too. His story might leave you wondering: what would you be willing to change if your life really depended on it?
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