Season 4, Episode 10 | Authentic Circles Only: Building Rea…

Not all support is created equal. In this episode, Daniel and the Sobriety Crew explore the difference between convenient applause and genuine encouragement. Learn how to recognize conditional friendships, set boundaries with...

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October 02, 2025

Season 4, Episode 10 | Authentic Circles Only: Building Real Support in Sobriety

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Not all support is created equal. In this episode, Daniel and the Sobriety Crew explore the difference between convenient applause and genuine encouragement. Learn how to recognize conditional friendships, set boundaries with confidence, and build a circle that truly honors your sobriety — whether you’re just starting out or years into the journey.sobriety, recovery, personal growth, self improvement, mental health, resilience, lifestyle, wellness, motivation, authentic support, relationships, boundaries, community, awareness📱 Recommended Apps & Resources for Episode 10Authentic Circles Only: Building Real Support in Sobriety1. Sober Support & Community

I Am Sober – Daily motivation, milestone tracking, and community.
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/i-am-sober/id672904239
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.sparklabs.iasober
Loosid – A sober social network to meet supportive friends.
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/loosid-sober-social-network/id1328872356
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.loosidapp

2. Boundaries & Mental Well-being

Headspace – Mindfulness and meditation to help manage stress and reinforce healthy boundaries.
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-meditation-sleep/id493145008
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getsomeheadspace.android
Calm – Guided meditations, sleep stories, and relaxation practices for reflection.
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android

3. Personal Growth & Journaling

Daylio Journal – Track moods, habits, and reflections to recognize who lifts you up and who drains you.
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/daylio-journal/id1194023242
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.daylio

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/absolutely-focused-radio-podcast--6516641/support.

Transcript

WEBVTT

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A build a fire wall round my heart because love

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and Cole you tear.

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Par Welcome back friends. Breathe in, breathe out. You're listening

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to Season four, episode ten of the Sobriety Crew. With

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me today are Jane, Marie, Chucky, Chip, Marcus the Motivator,

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Curious Joe and b You all here to share wisdom

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and encouragement. And now here's Daniel, your sobriety buddy, ready

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to guide today's conversation. Together, we're exploring the quiet power

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of real support and why your sobriety deserves nothing less

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than a circle that reflects your worth.

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Hello. Everyone, it's Daniel. Thank you for tuning in. As

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I've been walking this sobriety journey. One lesson keeps coming

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back to me. The loudest cheers aren't always the most loyal.

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It's the steady, consistent people who quietly show up that

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make the biggest difference. And here's what I've come to understand.

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Sobriety has to be for me first. That's what keeps

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me grounded and moving forward even when the path isn't easy.

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What I've learned is that letting go isn't just about people.

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Sometimes it feels like letting go of an old version

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of yourself, and that's not easy. But I realized that

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choosing sobriety meant choosing growth, choosing life, even if it

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meant stepping away from someone else's comfort.

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There's actually research to back up what you felt, Daniel.

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Studies show that people in early recovery thrive when they're

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surrounded by consistent, authentic support. It's like having a sober

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safety net. The more genuine connections you have, the better

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your chances of staying grounded and resilient. And yes, it

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can hurt to let go of relationships that feel familiar

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but drain you.

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That's real. Letting go felt a bit like breaking up

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with an old version of myself, not just with a person.

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But I came to understand that choosing sobriety meant choosing

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my own life, even if it meant stepping away from

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someone else's comfort.

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So here's what I'm wondering. How do you even know

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when someone's cheerleading is conditional? What's the line between a

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friend who's genuinely concerned and someone who just wants you

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to stay small?

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Great question, Joe.

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One sign is when someone's supportive only when it doesn't

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challenge their habits or comfort. If you setting boundaries are

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saying I don't drink anymore makes them awkward or defensive,

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that's a red flag. True friends, a and grow with you.

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Okay, I'm going to nerd out for a second. Think

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of your social circle. Like your phone's home screen, you

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only keep the apps you use in trust. Anything that

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eats updata or glitches gets deleted. Right, So why keep

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apps people who drain your battery? Update your circle like

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you update your os. Choose supportive apps. Ditch the bloatwear,

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and please no side loading sketchy vibes your system. Your

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sobriety deserves better.

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That's a solid analogy. I've had people in my life

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who felt like malware draining my energy and keeping me

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from running at my best.

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Let me jump in real quick to everyone listening. Saying

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no is one of the bravest acts you can do.

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I had friends who text me just one drink, come on.

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It took a minute, but I learned that my no

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was actually a huge yes to myself. Every cyber choice

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I make is a celebration. Celebrate your quiet wins too.

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They matter.

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Amen to that. Sometimes the most radical choice you can

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make is simply to stay home and drink water. H

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two oh on the rocks stirred, not shaken.

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Another question, how do you set boundaries without making it

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awkward or losing people completely. I think a lot of

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us fear being alone more than we fear staying with

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the wrong people.

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Man, I've been there. Honestly, it starts with honesty. I

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had to tell a close friend I care about you,

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but I can't be around drinking right now. Was it awkward? Yeah?

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Did some people drift away? Definitely? But the space that

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created allowed healthier friendships to grow. And guess what, some

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friends respected it and chose to meet me where I was.

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That felt amazing.

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The way you phrase things matters. Use eye statements, I

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need to focus on my recovery, or I'm not drinking anymore.

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It's less about judging them and more about protecting your path.

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Think of your boundaries like firewall rules. You're not shutting

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down the whole Internet of life. You're simply blocking the

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harmful traffic that doesn't belong in your system exactly.

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The right friends will respect your boundaries because they want

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to see your system thrive. And if someone gets upset

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about your sobriety. It's a sign they weren't truly supporting

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you in the first place.

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I want to speak to anyone out there who feels torn.

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Sobriety is an act of radical self love. Choosing your

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healing doesn't make you selfish, it makes you wise. Being

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yourself means aligning with people who see, honor and uplift

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that true version of you when you were at least

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The friendships that keep you in a loop of self

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sabotage you make room for deeper, more authentic connections. It's

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okay to grieve what you're letting go of. It's also

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okay to be excited about what you're stepping into.

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Who thank you for that. I needed that reminder. Sometimes

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we forget that sobriety isn't just about not drinking. It's

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about choosing who we become and who we walk with

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as we wrap up. Here's what I want you to remember.

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Your worth isn't defined by the volume of applause. It's

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defined by the quiet presence of those who stand with

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you when nobody's watching. Protect your energy, set your boundaries,

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and trust that the right people will respect them. Your

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sobriety is precious guard it fiercely.

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Celebrate every step, whether it's one day or one decade.

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So you're doing a big, brave thing. We're proud of you, and.

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Don't forget to update those friend lists. Your operating system

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deserves top to your support.

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If you need resources or want to learn more about

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building healthy networks, check our show notes. We've got you.

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Ask yourself this week, who lifts me up? Who drains me?

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Sit with those answers you deserve, truth.

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Be kind to yourself, Be patient, be you.

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We're here with you.

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Always until next time. May your path be clear and

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your heart full. We're rooting for you. Take care of

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yourself and keep moving forward.

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I'm warning to breathe, Bilma Castle, It's.

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In my heart.

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I believe, just crystal clue.

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With each bear this anthem, I'm shedding everything.

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Together.

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We rise it.

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Let's break every.

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Chan stay sober, stay solid.

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We'll dance through the plane with every affirmation, We'll tune

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in again through the long recovery, through in all things,

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in the sight of suff love.

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We're breaking the strays through the journey to the battles.

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We win and stay sober, stay solid.

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Let the know life begin had ever abou