Talking with the Sober Samurai

Talking with the Sober Samurai

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation with Thad, known online as the Sober Samurai, offers a candid look at addiction, recovery, and what happens when simply “not using” isn’t enough. Thad shares how meth and alcohol pulled him from being a friendly “Mr Aloha” into an isolated “caveman” who could barely hold a conversation.

He talks about trying to be a “functional” addict, losing his job where his dealer literally worked alongside him, and watching his life shrink as his family looked on, unsure what he was on but knowing something was badly wrong. A major turning point comes when his grandfather gives him a blunt choice: move in with a sober aunt on another island and get help, or be completely cut off.

Thad chooses the move, steps into 12-step recovery, and meets a man “with light in his eyes” whose energy makes him think, “I wanted what that guy had.” Yet he’s honest that true change didn’t really begin until nine years sober, when, despite not using, he was suicidal, divorced, overweight and spiritually empty. From there, the episode looks at what it means to stop avoiding pain and start looking at one’s own part in the chaos.

Thad and host Coach Blu talk about ego, carrying everyone else’s problems while ignoring your own, and the shift from blaming others to real accountability. You’ll also hear how becoming a dad and watching his gymnast daughter train pushed Thad into the gym, strongman competitions, and a disciplined routine.

He links the grind of early mornings and heavy weights with the daily work of staying sober: showing up even when you don’t feel like it, trusting the process, and building a solid support network. If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I still feel broken even though I’m sober?”, this conversation might be the nudge to start working on the inside as much as the outside. What small “show up” could you commit to today?