How Loneliness Fuels Addiction: Chris Marshall’s Truth

Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar, shares his deeply personal journey from addiction to creating one of the first alcohol-free bars in the U.S. Recorded live at the Mindful Drinking Festival, Chris opens up about the wake-up call that led to his sobriety, the challenges of loneliness in addiction, and how he’s building a new social scene for sober and sober-curious people.

This eye-opening conversation dives into the stigma surrounding sobriety, the mental health struggles often overlooked in recovery, and the growing movement of alcohol-free spaces. If you're looking for inspiration, hope, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live alcohol-free, this episode is a must-watch.

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WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE:

https://youtu.be/_YaZX6hVHvs

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Loneliness is a Major Factor in Addiction – Chris shares how isolation fueled his struggles with alcohol and how building a strong, sober community was essential to his recovery.

2. Sober Social Spaces Are Changing the Game – The creation of Sans Bar proves that people want alcohol-free environments where they can connect, have fun, and build relationships without the pressure to drink.

3. Mindful Drinking is a Growing Movement – Chris discusses how attitudes toward alcohol are shifting, with more people embracing sobriety or moderation as a way to improve their mental and physical well-being.

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In this episode of Soberness, a panel of top chefs and mixologists discusses the challenges and triumphs of staying sober in the high-pressure world of hospitality. Recorded live at the Mindful Drinking Festival, these culinary experts share their personal stories of addiction, recovery, and how mindfulness has shaped their approach to life.

Discover how the industry’s culture is shifting toward inclusivity, with non-alcoholic trends taking center stage and offering hope to those on their sobriety journey. Whether you're in hospitality or curious about the intersection of food and mindful living, this episode serves up plenty of inspiration and insight.

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WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/SVUiX4hXNnE

LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi

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FOLLOW SOBERNESS:

Instagram @SobernessPodcast

TikTok @SobernessPodcast

YouTube @SobernessPodcast

TIME CODES:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 The pressure of hospitality and addiction

04:22 Why the industry normalizes alcohol use

07:48 Chef stories: Personal battles with sobriety

11:32 Finding balance in a high-stress kitchen

14:05 How mindfulness transformed their careers

17:20 The rise of non-alcoholic options in fine dining

20:35 Challenges of creating sober-friendly spaces

23:50 Advice for chefs and hospitality workers in recovery

26:45 Audience Q&A: Sober strategies for hospitality professionals

29:10 Closing remarks and future trends in mindful drinking

Keywords: chefs and sobriety, mindful drinking festival, sober hospitality, addiction in the food industry, non-alcoholic trends, sober chefs, mindfulness in hospitality, recovery stories from chefs, sobriety in fine dining, chefs and mental health, sober-friendly restaurants, culinary industry challenges, mindfulness and cooking, alcohol-free dining, sobriety in the kitchen, chefs overcoming addiction, hospitality and recovery, non-alcoholic beverage trends, sober living for chefs, mindful drinking movement.

DMC on Sobriety, Hip-Hop, and Finding Purpose | Soberness & Mindful Drinking Fest LIVE

In this powerful live episode of Soberness, hip-hop legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels returns to share his remarkable journey from addiction to redemption at the Mindful Drinking Festival in Washington, DC. DMC, one-third of the groundbreaking group Run-D.M.C., discusses the pivotal moments that led him to sobriety, how childhood trauma and identity shaped his struggles, and the transformative power of vulnerability and creativity.

This candid conversation touches on the stigmas surrounding addiction in hip-hop, the importance of mental health, and why sharing honest stories can break down barriers. If you’re on your own recovery path or want to understand the resilience behind one of rap’s greatest icons, this episode is packed with inspiration, hope, and truth.

ABOUT THE SOBERNESS PODCAST

Soberness is a new podcast from Cat Greenleaf, creator and host of Talk Stoop.

Cat brings her legendary interviewing style and ten years of sobriety to wild conversations with celebrities and notable people who have been on their own sober journeys, either out loud in public or quietly at home.

Soberness is not a somber show about sobriety. It’s about the one-of-a-kind stories that define the lives of people we all know, sharing the aching humor and the meaning that comes with a life in recovery.

And it’s about how that life redefines the work and the art of the actors, musicians and thinkers around us.

Soberness is built upon the primary belief that there’s no one definition for sobriety and no one way to get sober …and there are a million stories that can lead the way for anyone who’s trying to make it happen.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE:

https://youtu.be/SVUiX4hXNnE

LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi

ABOUT CAT GREENLEAF

Cat Greenleaf is a veteran TV personality and host, best known for her long-running series, Talk Stoop, where she interviewed and entertained actors, musicians, politicians, and other notable folks on the stoop of her Brooklyn brownstone. When she’s not TV-ing, she’s working on her non-profit the Restorative Housing Organization which provides employment for formerly incarcerated folks and affordable waterfront housing. She also leads AA meetings for inmates at Bedford Hills Women’s Maximum Security Prison, and for formerly incarcerated men and women in East New York. She lives in Brooklyn’s Coney Island with her husband, two sons and three dogs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Honesty and Vulnerability are Powerful Tools: DMC emphasizes how opening up about his struggles with addiction and childhood trauma allowed him to heal and connect with others on similar journeys.

2. The Role of Identity and Adoption in Addiction: DMC shares insights into how his feelings of disconnection from his identity, amplified by learning about his adoption later in life, contributed to his struggles with alcohol.

3. Creativity as a Lifeline for Recovery: DMC explains how music, writing, and storytelling helped him rediscover purpose and build resilience, demonstrating the healing power of creative expression.

TIME CODES:

00:00 Introduction

02:11 DMC’s lowest point and discovery of adoption

03:59 Lyrics as hidden cries for help

05:08 The truth behind Run's House absence

14:03 Hope and being a vessel of positivity

17:09 Vulnerability in hip-hop culture

19:45 Childhood bullying and cycles of trauma

24:30 Sobriety and being Black in hip-hop

26:39 Approval-seeking and addiction triggers

29:06 Rehabilitation and spiritual growth

39:39 Searching for identity and Chapter 1

45:30 Meeting birth family and genetic ties to addiction

51:54 Dry January USA and Meharry Medical College

55:21 Practical mindfulness tool for sobriety

59:06 Impact of sobriety on creativity

01:02:01 Closing remarks and gratitude

Keywords: DMC live, Run-D.M.C. sobriety, Soberness podcast, hip-hop addiction recovery, addiction and trauma, Mindful Drinking Festival, hip-hop mental health, creativity and sobriety, overcoming addiction, DMC interview, alcohol-free movement, sober rap icons.