Rolling Sober

Episode 16: Cy-chology

Look, we’ve finally done it. Coach James and White Belt Zach (who is technically a Blue Belt now, but we love keeping him humble and/or confused) have brought in an actual "expert." Well, a psychology student. Same thing, right? Joining the circus today is Cy, a man who spent his youth rolling joints at 11 and hiding from his parents on a bathroom tile floor with a Labatt Blue. Now, he’s studying Psychology, which is basically just a fancy way of saying he learns exactly which parts of your brain you melted during that 2014 bender. We’re diving deep into the Psychology of Escape. Why did we spend our 20s trying to be anyone else? Cy explains how he used musical theater to hide from himself, while James and Zach discuss the $83,000 they didn't spend on "sniffy treats" since getting sober. (Spoiler: That’s a lot of missed jet skis). Shout out to Pink Cloud Coffee! https://pinkcloudcoffee.com/ [https://pinkcloudcoffee.com/] Jimi Darkness: Help James bring his recovery-based rock musical to the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Every 20 bucks helps. https://gofund.me/4ce004f43 [https://gofund.me/4ce004f43] Buy us a coffee on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/rollingsober [https://www.patreon.com/c/RollingSober]

Episode 15: Blue Belt Zach

Episode 15: Blue Belts, Doomscrolling, and the "Mines of Moria" White belt Zach is officially a white belt no more! In this episode, the boys celebrate Zach’s graduation to Blue Belt and dive into the high-stakes world of "creeping up the ranks." From the traditional Brazilian ceremonies in São Paulo to the garage-gym "Speak Easys" of North Carolina, James and Zach explore what it’s like to represent your home gym while traveling the world. But it’s not all promotions and handshakes. The conversation takes a turn into the "Mines of Moria" (a.k.a. the Instagram Discovery page) as they discuss the mental health benefits of staying off social media and the "doom" that comes with it. They also tackle the reality of financial recovery—doing the math on how much they’ve saved by not buying "sniffy treats" and booze, and why learning basic financial literacy is just as important as learning a cross-collar choke.

Episode 14: The Prova Teórica

Episode 14: The Prova Teórica Cow Sweat, Blue Belts, and the "Am I a Piece of Shit?" Neural Superhighway Grab your mushroom coffee (or your regular "VC Bro" espresso) and settle in, because Episode 14 is a certified LA fever dream. This week, Coach James and White Belt Zach (if you're nasty) dive deep into the ethics of expensive grocery stores and why milk suddenly tastes like cow sweat. Zach recounts his grueling Prova Teórica—the legendary Brazilian written Jiu-Jitsu test—while James flexes his 27-year-old biological age thanks to some fancy bloodwork. But it’s not all armbars and adaptogens. The boys get real about the "Pink Cloud" of sobriety, the struggle of feeling "too good," and why our brains are hardwired for self-flagellation even when life is finally going right. From the politics of Amazon to the "Imperial Boomerang," we’re covering it all with the grace of a white belt in a scissor sweep. To see your biological age or get a great blood test with information about your general health, check out Function Health and use this link to save $25: https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=JBYOUS10&_saasquatch=JBYOUS10&d=FHREF25 [https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=JBYOUS10&_saasquatch=JBYOUS10&d=FHREF25] Buy us a coffee to support Rolling Sober at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/rollingsober/membership [https://www.patreon.com/c/rollingsober/membership]

Episode 13: Normies

In Episode 13, Coach James and White Belt Zach record their second episode of the day in record-breaking Brazilian heat, immediately abandon shirts, and ask the real questions—like why drinking hot coffee in 100° weather somehow feels correct, and whether mushroom coffee is medicine or just expensive dirt with an attitude. From there, things get real. We talk about dating and loving “normies”—those mysterious people who can have one drink, forget it exists, and not spiral into chaos. How do you stay sober in a relationship where your partner drinks casually? Is it hot? Is it scary? Is it a red flag? (Spoiler: if they hate your sobriety, run.)

Episode 12: Psych 101

Buckle up, because this episode has more mood swings than a toddler who skipped nap time. James and Zach kick things off by fueling their crippling caffeine addictions and pretending to be film scholars. Then, things get physical: Zach is getting ready to test for his Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt, which means he can technically kill you (but gently). Meanwhile, James recounts the time his sciatica hurt so bad his brain decided to go on a little vacation—yes, we’re talking full-blown psychosis. It sounds heavy, but we promise it’s wholesome. We navigate the thin line between "having a mental breakdown" and "having a breakthrough," discuss why we need more diverse friends, and argue about music.