# How a Restaurateur Quit Drinking: Justin's Sobriety Story

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204/how-a-restaurateur-quit-drinking-justin-s-sobriety-story
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204/how-a-restaurateur-quit-drinking-justin-s-sobriety-story.md
Podcast: [One for the Road: The Quit Drinking Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204)
Published: 2025-10-10T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/one-for-the-road-1/episodes/justin-bone
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64a1692cfc86ab00111f2ce6/e/68e7b646f513ad2b8197f39a/media.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204/episodes/how-a-restaurateur-quit-drinking-justin-s-sobriety-story
Duration seconds: 3327

## Resource

A former elite sprinter and successful restaurateur shares his journey from high-functioning alcoholism to ten years of sobriety. He details the extreme measures he took, including a four-month self-imposed isolation in a garage, to reclaim his life.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Alcoholism can mask itself behind professional success and social status, creating a false sense of control
- Failure mode: Using professional achievements, like running award-winning restaurants, to justify continued heavy drinking
- Practical takeaway: Focus on short-term milestones, like one day or one month at a time, rather than the daunting prospect of lifelong abstinence
- Lesson: The 'seed' of change often begins during the most physically and mentally harrowing moments of withdrawal
- Perspective: Sobriety allows for a 'head up' approach to life, replacing the shame and avoidance of active addiction with presence and gratitude

## Topics

Alcohol recovery, Sobriety stories, Addiction recovery, Mental health, Lifestyle change, Personal transformation, Alcoholism, Resilience

## Chapters
- 5:30 — Athletic Roots: Justin discusses his background as a talented, high-achieving sprinter and his early life before alcohol took hold.
- 9:50 — The Allure of the Bar Scene: How the competitive nature of his personality led him to embrace the lifestyle of a successful, high-profile restaurateur.
- 13:50 — The Illusion of Control: Using professional success and a 'civilized' career in restaurants to mask the severity of his drinking problem.
- 22:10 — The Descent into Denial: Navigating the transition into property ownership while simultaneously losing grip on his sobriety.
- 26:20 — The Garage: A Self-Imposed Rehab: The harrowing experience of detoxing alone in a rented garage to escape the triggers of his old environment.
- 34:30 — Life After the Storm: Finding gratitude and purpose in sobriety, and the importance of facing life's challenges head-on.
- 42:50 — Advice for the Journey: Practical wisdom for those looking to change their relationship with alcohol, focusing on small, manageable victories.

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## Transcript

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