Welcome to Sober.Coffee Podcast "Behind the Counter" - FROM THE VAULTWelcome to Sober.Coffee Podcast "Behind the Counter" - FROM THE VAULT
Sober.Coffee Podcast
Mike and Glenn explain how Sober.Coffee started, what the 18‑minute coffee chats aim to offer, and where the boundaries of the show sit around AA and expertise. Their focus on experience, strength and hope gives a clear picture of how they plan to share their recovery journeys with others.
19:27•14 Oct 2026
Behind the Counter at Sober.Coffee: Setting the Ground Rules for Recovery Chats
Episode Overview
- Sober.Coffee offers short weekly coffee chats designed to fit an average cup of coffee or commute time, around 18 minutes.
- The show is built around sharing experience, strength and hope, with each episode structured into these three parts.
- Mike and Glenn state clearly that they are not AA, not experts and not seeking financial gain, but simply sharing their own recovery journeys.
- The 12 steps are part of their stories and will be discussed, but they avoid dogmatic "big book" or religious preaching.
- They view personal stories as a powerful asset, hoping that showing their "before and after" can bring hope to people in desperation.
“We’re just going to be at the intersection of desperation and hope.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This throwback "Behind the Counter" episode gives you a front-row seat to how Sober.Coffee came to life and what it’s trying to offer people on the sober road.
Mike and Glenn, described simply as "two guys on their own path of recovery," talk about moving their regular chats from a quiet corner in Starbucks into a "big coffee shop in cyberspace." Their aim is modest and clear: a weekly 18‑minute coffee chat focused on "experience, strength, and hope" for anyone curious about or committed to sobriety.
As Glenn explains, that timing is intentional, based on "scientific studies on the average length of time it takes somebody to drink a cup of coffee" and fitting common commute times. They spend a lot of time explaining what Sober.Coffee is *not*.
"We’re not AA," Mike stresses, while Glenn adds, "we’re just going to be at the intersection of desperation and hope." They’re open about using the 12 steps and sharing personal faith when it’s part of their stories, but they’re clear they’re "not big book thumpers" and "not bible thumpers," and they don’t claim to be experts or therapists. It’s just their journey, shared honestly.
You’ll hear how they plan to structure episodes around three simple sections: experience (what it was like), strength (what they did and which tools helped) and hope ("what do the promises look like?"). Mike talks about his biggest "asset" being his story and his willingness to share it: the before and after, like showing the photos of a renovated basement so others can appreciate the change.
This archived episode is especially helpful if you’re wondering whether a short, straight-talking recovery chat is worth your time. Ready to sit in the coffee shop corner with them and see if their stories sound anything like yours?
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