Sober Shenanigans

"Emily": A Neurodivergent Teacher’s Journey to 6 Years in Recovery

Sober Shenanigans Podcast — Episode 41Teaching Differently: Recovery, Neurodivergence, and Finding Your Superpower
In this episode of Sober Shenanigans, we sit down with Emily, a teacher who works with neurodivergent students and celebrates six years in recovery. Her story is a powerful reminder that the traits that once made life difficult can become strengths when we find the right path.
We talk about the intersection of recovery, education, neurodiversity, and purpose, and how learning to understand our brains—rather than fight them—can transform our lives.
Emily shares what it’s like teaching kids who think differently, how recovery helped her find clarity and patience, and why embracing who you are might be the most powerful lesson of all.
As always, Sober Shenanigans is the meeting before the meeting and after the meeting—where we share stories, laugh at ourselves, and remind each other that recovery can actually be fun.
No drinks today.
Topics in this episode:• Recovery and neurodiversity• Teaching neurodivergent students• Life lessons from sobriety• Finding purpose through helping others• Mental health and personal growth
Keywords for search:recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, recovery stories, neurodivergent teacher, sobriety journey, mental health podcast, addiction recovery stories, sober living, recovery community, Sober Shenanigans podcast
 
 
 
Sober Shenanigans Podcast — Episode 41
Class Is In Session… and Emily Brought the Freedom
This week on Sober Shenanigans, we welcome Emily, a dedicated teacher working with neurodivergent students who is celebrating six years in recovery. Her story is one of resilience, purpose, and discovering that the very things that once felt like obstacles can become powerful strengths.
Emily shares what it’s like teaching kids who think differently, how recovery changed the way she sees the world, and why compassion, patience, and understanding are the real tools of transformation.
From the classroom to the recovery community, this conversation reminds us that growth happens when we embrace who we are—and help others do the same.
As always, Sober Shenanigans is the meeting before the meeting and after the meeting, where real stories, real laughter, and real recovery come together.
Real Talk • Real Recovery • No Drinks Today
Topics in This Episode
• Recovery and personal transformation• Teaching neurodivergent students• Finding purpose through service• Mental health and sobriety• Six years of recovery wisdom
recovery podcast, sobriety podcast, sober living, neurodivergent teacher, recovery journey, mental health podcast, addiction recovery stories, sober community, inspirational recovery stories, Sober Shenanigans podcast
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Amanda into Action and in the middle of it

Amanda from Jersey is the host of The Middle of It podcast, where real life, real struggles, and real growth all collide. Known for her raw honesty, Jersey-strong attitude, and zero-filter storytelling, Amanda dives into the messy middle of life — the part most people try to skip past.
Through conversations about relationships, personal growth, recovery journeys, and navigating everyday chaos, Amanda creates a space where listeners feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. The Middle of It is about embracing the process, learning while you’re living it, and finding strength in the chapters that aren’t perfectly written.

LORENZO the yeti from chicago

This week on Sober Shenanigans, we sit down with Lorenzo — the Yeti from Chicago. 🐻‍❄️A traveler, builder, and seeker, Lorenzo’s story winds through success, movement, and the kind of awakenings you don’t get from comfort. From Chicago roots to wide-open roads, his journey is about more than miles logged or wins earned—it’s about waking up to purpose, presence, and what really matters.
This is a conversation about growth, humility, and learning to listen when life starts nudging (or shoving) you toward change. Honest, grounded, and quietly powerful—Lorenzo brings the kind of perspective that sticks with you long after the episode ends.
Real talk. Real recovery. No fluff.
 

Tommy a Southie from Boston

Meet Tommy ☀️🌴
Tommy is a young guy originally from South Boston who recently made the move to Florida—and he didn’t come down empty-handed. He brought a solid foundation, a commitment to recovery, and a willingness to start fresh and do the work.
Since relocating, Tommy has built a new career, planted roots, and focused on family and personal growth. His journey is about momentum—taking what he learned back home, applying it in a new environment, and proving that real change is possible when you stay grounded and show up consistently.
Tommy’s story is a reminder that recovery isn’t just about leaving something behind—it’s about building something better.
Real talk. Real recovery. One step forward at a time.

Conner Young people representing IT..

Connor is a young man with four years of sobriety who represents what solid recovery looks like when the work is actually done. He’s actively engaged in 12-step work, shows up consistently, and lives his recovery with integrity, humility, and purpose. Connor’s story is a reminder that sobriety isn’t about age or time—it’s about willingness, action, and doing the next right thing. His journey proves that when you commit fully, recovery delivers a life worth protecting.
 

Chris shooky The ref!!

We sit down with Chris S., a longtime NHL referee, to talk about life inside one of the fastest, toughest leagues in professional sports — and the personal discipline it takes to survive it.
 
Chris opens up about the pressure of officiating at the highest level, accountability when millions are watching, and how recovery principles translate directly to consistency, integrity, and showing up when it matters most.
 
From the chaos on the ice to the calm required off it, this is a conversation about responsibility, resilience, and doing the right thing — even when no one agrees with the call.
 
🏒 High speed. High pressure. Real talk. Real recovery.

SKINNER!! 38yrs of gratitude

Here’s a clean, Podbean-ready description—warm, respectful, and very on-brand for Sober Shenanigans:
This week on Sober Shenanigans, we sit down with our good friend Mike Skinner, who brings 38 years of lived recovery experience to the table.
Mike is a substitute teacher, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation therapist, and—full disclosure—Primo’s actual therapist during his last treatment stay. So yeah… this one hits close to home.
We talk real recovery, long-term sobriety, working in the field, showing up for others, and what it actually looks like to live this thing day after day for decades. No fluff. No preaching. Just honest conversation, insight, and a whole lot of wisdom earned the hard way.
Real talk. Real recovery. Real gratitude.
🎙️ Tune in and hear why Mike Skinner’s voice matters.
 

Tiffany No substitute for hard work

This week on Sober Shenanigans, we sit down with Tiffany Wind — substitute-teaching rock star, proud Florida Gator, and the mom who somehow holds it all together even when life throws extra homework at her. Tiffany brings a story packed with grit, humor, and real recovery wins. From classrooms to chaos to clarity, she’s learned how to show up for her students, her family, and herself with a strength she never knew she had. Her journey is equal parts inspiring and relatable, and she proves that no matter where you start, you can build a life that feels like an A+.

Stauff co-host and Founder of sober shenanigans

Got you — corrected and tightened:
Podbean Episode Description — Stauff’s Thanksgiving Story
This week, Stauff steps out from behind the co-host chair and takes the mic for one of our most powerful episodes yet. Raw, honest, funny, and straight from the heart, he walks us through the twists, turns, and gratitude-filled truth of his recovery story. A Gen-Z dad, former baller, rapper, and now a co-founder of Sober Shenanigans — this one hits different.
Short, sweet, and pure Stauff. Tune in.

The Donald Rhode Island 29 years

This week on Sober Shenanigans we’re hanging out with The Donald — 29 years sober, straight outta Providence, Rhode Island, with the soul of a street philosopher and the résumé of a steelworker who’s seen some things. Don’s story goes from chaos, consequences, and “this can’t be my life” moments to nearly three decades of showing up, doing the work, and quietly becoming the guy people call when their world is on fire.
He’s blue-collar recovery at its finest: no fluff, no filters, just honesty, humor, and the kind of hope that comes from putting in the reps one day at a time. Expect hard-hitting truths, some seriously old-school wisdom, and plenty of laughs as we dig into how a guy who used to break everything in sight learned how to build a sober life that actually lasts.