Tell Me Something True with Laura McKowen

Chris Marshall on How Connection Can Save Your Life

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Jul 21, 2022

Chris Marshall, the creator of Sans Bar and a meeting leader at The Luckiest Club, opens up about his personal battles with addiction and the profound loneliness it can bring. He discusses the importance of connection in recovery and how it helped save his life. Chris shares his journey of creating a welcoming space for those seeking non-alcoholic alternatives, emphasizing community as a lifeline. Listeners gain insights into managing anxiety, understanding self-worth, and the transformative power of shared experiences in healing.

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ANECDOTE

Early Feelings of Isolation

From childhood, Chris felt like he didn't belong and assumed he hurt his father by breaking a fish tank.
This belief led him to isolate himself, thinking he was destined to be alone for causing harm.

ANECDOTE

First Drink Felt Like Baptism

Chris took his first drink at 16 to gain connection, feeling weightlessness and absolution from guilt.
Alcohol immediately made him feel accepted and cleansed, an experience he compares to a baptism.

ANECDOTE

Rapid Downward Spiral with Alcohol

Chris quickly developed alcohol dependence, getting a DUI on his second drink and facing jail at 16.
Despite consequences, the temporary weightlessness alcohol gave him was always worth the risk in his mind.

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Being human means sometimes we feel deeply alone. Cut off from other people. For most people, it passes quickly.

For others, especially those who also suffer from addiction, that feeling of isolation is persistent. It’s a low hum that follows a person everywhere. Part of the reason why some drink is to numb that feeling and turn down the voices that whisper why we’re alone.

Chris Marshall knows these feelings well and he’s here today to share how listening to those voices have almost killed him on several occasions. And how he’s developed a support network to make them less loud. Chris learned how powerful the experience of connection can be and it, literally, helped to save his life. It led him to create Sans Bar, a community connection space that specializes in serving extravagantly amazing, zero alcohol cocktails.

You may know Chris if you’re a member of The Luckiest Club, the sobriety support community Laura founded where he’s one of the meeting leaders.

BONUS: Chris and Laura recorded some material just for TMST Plus members. Become a TMST Plus member to hear some of his top tips and secrets for creating an inclusive space, his favorite drink for the hottest summer day and the TWO WORD genius answer to “Do you want a drink?” and “Why aren’t you drinking?”

Episode link: https://www.tmstpod.com/episodes/57-chrismarshall-on-how-connection-can-save-your-life

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Here’s the transcript: https://tell-me-something-true.simplecast.com/episodes/chris-marshall-on-how-connection-can-save-your-life/transcript

Tell Me Something True is a 100% independent podcast. There are no corporations or advertisers backing this community. We are 100% funded by the TMST community. Become a TMST member today so you can hear the uncut interviews, attend private events with Laura and help keep TMST ad-free.

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TMST is hosted by Laura McKowen, the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and founder of The Luckiest Club. Follow the show and Laura on Instagram.