From Whiskey for Breakfast to Spiritual Fitness: 8 Years Sober
Why Michael’s Story Matters
There’s something different about hearing recovery stories that are lived, not learned. When someone talks about addiction, prison, and losing everything—then shows you a new life built from the ground up—you pay attention.
That’s what happened when we sat down with Michael Robinson on the Sober Strong podcast.
Michael’s story isn’t just about sobriety. It’s about transformation, fatherhood, spiritual growth, and the hard-earned wisdom that comes from showing up even when it doesn’t make sense.
Listen to the Full Episode
🎙️Watch our Full Interview with Michael Robinson on the Sobriety Uncensored Podcast: From Prison to Purpose link below:
The Early Years: Chaos, Crime, and Addiction
Drinking at 13: “It Was Survival, Not Partying”
Michael didn’t start drinking to have fun. He drank to survive. By the age of 13, he was already self-medicating with alcohol just to quiet the chaos inside. What the outside world saw was a “drinking problem” was really a last-ditch effort to keep from breaking.
This wasn’t teenage rebellion—it was emotional triage. If he didn’t drink, he didn’t know how to function. Alcohol became his answer to fear, pain, and abandonment.
Living with Secrets
Growing up in a home where violence, trauma, and instability were the norm, Michael was taught to keep quiet. Don’t tell. Don’t ask for help. Don’t show weakness.
Behind the silence were years of abuse, constant relocation, and emotional numbing. He internalized that chaos and eventually mirrored it.
Spiraling into the System
12 Years in Prison Before Age 30
By his early twenties, Michael was deep in the criminal justice system. With 40 felonies on his record and multiple prison sentences, he became what society expected: high-violent, high-risk, unpredictable.
Inside prison, he found something that scared him even more—comfort. The system became home. That’s when he knew something had to change.
A Wake-Up Call: Drug Court and Darwin
When Michael was given the chance to enter a drug court program instead of serving another long sentence, he hesitated. But then he started receiving pictures of his newborn son, Darwin.
Something cracked open.
“I didn’t grow up with a dad. My dad was cooking dope and in and out of jail. I didn’t want that to be my kid’s story too.”
Michael took the opportunity and ran with it. He moved into an Oxford House, began attending Alcoholics Anonymous, and started doing something unfamiliar: asking for help.
Getting Sober (For Real This Time)
“It Takes What It Takes”
Michael had tried to get sober before. Multiple times. Treatment centers. Jail time. Personal promises. But the pain always returned, and he always reached for the bottle.
What changed? He stopped thinking he could fix it alone.
“I realized I needed something bigger than me. If I didn’t have a spiritual solution and a team, I would lose my mind.”
Why AA Worked When Nothing Else Did
AA wasn’t just a support group—it was a lifeline. It offered structure, a code to live by, and a sponsor who didn’t sugarcoat anything.
For Michael, recovery meant becoming teachable. He started doing what he was told, even when it didn’t make sense. And that’s when the obsession to drink was lifted.
Building a New Life
From Oxford House to Business Owner
Michael went from living in a shared sober house to owning multiple businesses. He didn’t grow up knowing how to build homes or run companies—but he learned. One step at a time.
Today, he leads several successful ventures, including 4D Installation and a newly launched construction group in Lewis County. But none of it would exist without sobriety.
“People ask how I learned this stuff. I didn’t. I just kept showing up and doing what was next.”
Spiritual Fitness Over Material Success
Despite the material milestones, Michael is quick to say they’re not the goal.
“If it all disappeared tomorrow, I’d still be spiritually fit. I’d still be showing up.”
Staying spiritually grounded means daily prayer, step work, and community involvement. It's what keeps him centered when life gets busy—or tempting.
The Legacy He’s Creating
The Robinson Trust and Community Impact
Michael didn’t just rebuild his life. He rewrote his family’s story.
He now has full custody of his oldest son, a thriving marriage, and two boys who know what stability looks like. The cycle of chaos has been broken.
“We created the Robinson Trust. That legacy is more than financial—it’s a blueprint for how to do it differently.”
Plans for the Future
Michael and his wife Danielle recently bought a farm in Rochester, Washington. The vision? Create a safe space—possibly even an AA hall—on the land to serve the recovery community.
They're also launching consulting projects to help others build systems for business and personal recovery.
And somehow, between all of that, they still make time for nightly dinners and youth football practice.
Key Lessons from Michael’s Story
“Don’t Settle”
Michael could’ve stopped at just getting clean. But he didn’t.
“I didn’t get sober to live in an Oxford house and pee in a cup. I wanted more.”
The drive to grow, to evolve, to give back—that’s what pushed him past mere survival.
“Secrets Keep Us Sick”
He was taught to hide everything. Today, he shares everything.
“There are no secrets in my life anymore. That’s where the healing started.”
“Just Do the Work”
Feelings don’t dictate Michael’s actions anymore. Whether he’s tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed, he still shows up.
“My son doesn’t care how I feel. My wife doesn’t care how exhausted I am. They care how I show up.”
Practical Takeaways for Those Still Struggling
Ask for help—even when you think you don’t deserve it.
The first step isn’t to feel better—it’s to take action.
You don’t have to believe it’ll work. Just do it.
Stay spiritually fit, not just sober.
If you’re deep in the chaos, it’s not too late to start.
Final Words: From Monster to Mentor
Michael doesn’t sugarcoat where he came from. He was violent, manipulative, and destructive. But through sobriety, he found something bigger than himself—and became the man he never thought he could be.
“I used to change my goals to match my behavior. Today, I change my behavior to match my goals.”
He’s not just living differently—he’s living free. And he wants others to know it’s possible, no matter how far gone you feel.
Ready for Your Reset from Alcohol?
Know someone who needs to hear this story?
Send them this blog. Share the episode. Or just check in on them.
If you’re struggling today:
You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to take the first honest step.
👉Qutting Alcohol? 1:1 Sober Coaching. https://shop.beacons.ai/soberstrong/sobercoaching
👉More Sober Content: https://www.youtube.com/@Soberstrong
☕ NIKAO Coffee is here: https://thesoberstrong.myshopify.com/
