Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick are back after a two-month break, and they’ve got a lot to say about why sometimes you just need to step back. The holidays weren’t exactly smooth sailing—there were challenges, surprises, and plenty of lessons along the way.

Ryan spent time in Buffalo, catching up with an old friend and making sure to hit meetings to stay on track. Matt had a wild experience giving someone a ride home, which turned into a lesson on boundaries and recovery.

They break down the ups and downs, how they stayed sober through it all, and why making recovery the priority helps keep everything else in balance.

Timestamps & Key Takeaways:

Over the River and Through the Woods – Ryan shares his trip to Buffalo, reconnecting with an old friend and attending meetings to stay grounded.

Recognizing Holiday Triggers – How the holidays can impact emotions and thinking in recovery.

Staying Connected to Sobriety – Ryan emphasizes the importance of meetings and support systems.

No Holiday Relapses! – Matt shares his holiday experience, including an unexpected and bizarre encounter after giving someone a ride home.

Handling Stress Without Relapsing – How Matt and Ryan stayed sober despite holiday chaos.

Focus on What’s Important – Recovery must come first, no matter what’s happening around you.

Learning from Unusual Situations – Matt’s story of a shouting match, unexpected requests, and choosing the right response.

Remind Yourself What Comes First (Your Sobriety) – Ryan reflects on staying resolute in recovery, even when the desire to use creeps in.

The Power of Meetings – How attending a familiar meeting helped Matt reset.

Resources

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast!

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org

Meetings: aa.rgroup.org/meengs

NA Meetings: virtual-na.orginte

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

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