The Sober Spotlight is a section on our site that highlights extraordinary people in recovery doing really cool things. Today we are shining a light on Justin Lamb. He puts the EXTRA in extraordinary in the very best of ways. Justin is a husband and cat dad that produces a thoughtful, hip, and fun-loving podcast called Friend Request.
Justin has in-depth interviews with people he follows on social media, as well as his own social media followers. Friend Request dives so much deeper than just the “likes and comments” we’ve all grown somewhat numb too. He tries (and succeeds) at creating a more meaningful conversation about the individual. Justin does an amazing job with each interview at tying in commonalities and struggles that not only are extremely relatable but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience. (Also, we think his voice sounds like money and you may find yourself wishing he’d record your voicemail intro. Warning! It’s easy to start binging this podcast.)
Not only that, but Justin is also a Sober Curator and has been bringing Sober Curator readers weekly non-alcoholic beer reviews since the Spring of 2021. Justin is dedicated to tasting great (and sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his amazing collection of memorabilia from the ’90s.
The Sober Curator PETS Edition: Meet Our Mascots – Get Sober, Get a Plant, Get a PET! Here you can learn all about Theodore Whiskers Lamb, aka Teddy, aka Justin’s best fur friend.
Sober Spotlight Q&A with Justin Lamb
What’s your Sobriety Date?
June 24th, 2019
Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage of Choice?
That’s easy. Free Wave Athletic Brewing Double Hop IPA + Hazy IPA. I really enjoy the hop flavor. I appreciate the artistry of the brewing, hop gum, hop sparkling water. This brand knows how to blow the hop flavor out of the water.
Happy Every Hour with Justin Lamb: Athletic Brewing Hails From a Small State and Packs Large Flavor
#ADDTOCART ATHLETIC BREWING Co.
What’s your favorite #QUITLIT Book?
Another easy one. This Naked Mind by Annie Grace. I recommend listening to it on Audible as opposed to reading it. In the preface, she describes the feeling of waking up after drinking all night and it is so incredibly accurate. Listening to Annie share her story, I quickly realized I wasn’t alone in having those moments. Playing it all back, the shame, the guilt, and the description. It’s all just so spot on.
#QUITLIT: This Naked Mind, Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness, and Change Your Life by Annie Grace
What advice can you share about recovering out loud?
Own it and know that anyone that questions your sobriety is really only questioning their own use. I learned that lesson pretty early on. Some people will be surprised. “WHAT? You’re sober now? WHY?” There will also be the people that hound you about it, explaining that they didn’t think that you “drank too much”. (“Come on, you can have just one, can’t you?”) Just know that their stuff really doesn’t have anything to do with you. It’s really helpful to take that shame off of yourself right away. It’s heavy when you first quit and announce it to the world. That’s enough to carry. You don’t also need to carry other people’s shame game on your shoulders.
How has recovery impacted your career?
I travel for work and before getting sober, traveling basically equaled drinking for me. I’d be stuck in some random mid-western town alone, which would lead me to bad decision-making. I don’t miss the hangovers or being smelly. Not being that person anymore is the best thing that ever happened to me. I don’t spin out worrying about the consequences of my behaviors. Plus, I’ve discovered so many cool things from the cities I’ve traveled to by traveling sober and meeting some pretty incredible people.
How has recovery impacted your home life?
I have a great relationship with my wife. We love each other and we also respect that we each have our own lives and hobbies that we want to pursue. After getting sober, I have really embraced so many hobbies. I play the guitar, sing, paint, and sometimes even build something out of wood. I’m famous for picking up random hobbies for pockets of time. I give myself lots of freedom to explore whatever I’m interested in at that moment.
For example, I like buying storage units. You know, like Storage Wars. You can do it online. There are websites you can bid on. Flashback five years ago when I won my first storage unit for $35 and had to go clean it out. I started researching the stuff, something I really enjoyed, to find out the values. I love learning about random crap. Thankfully, I’m not a hoarder. Sometimes I just give the stuff away and sometimes I’m able to sell it. I scored a ton of Christmas Ornaments and was able to sell them for like $20 a pop. I usually always break even. For example, the last storage unit I purchased was $200 and I ended up making $2500 on it. Naturally, the really cool stuff like video game systems and action figures I keep for myself.
If you could go back and tell your newly sober self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Great work! Keep going! Everything will happen the way it is supposed to happen.
What are you most proud of in your recovery so far?
The work I’ve been able to do on myself through therapy. I’ve learned to love myself and I provide value to myself. I finally got to the point in life where I believe I am worth something. Getting sober gave me the emotional capacity to be able to find everything I needed all along, which was right inside of me.
How do you Pay it Forward?
I really wish I did more service-oriented volunteer work than I am currently doing. Admittingly, I sometimes live a bit of a selfish life. That said, I am a huge mental health advocate. My podcast is about other people and I love praising their stories. I give to food banks and local things every year, but I know I can and should be doing more.
I hope to be able to find a local nonprofit in the mental health sector that I could work with. I also volunteer my time on a variety of recovery and mental health rooms on the Clubhouse app as a moderator.
I was in a punk band in high school and the bass player was really into drugs. Sadly, he passed away 10 years ago. I did help re-release the album last year and any proceeds made were donated to the Association of Children’s Mental Health and Forgotten Harvest in the band’s name, Done Mama Proud.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I love watching American Pickers. I also actively play Dungeons and Dragons.
What’s on your playlist?
I’m obsessed with the 90s and early 2000s pop music but I will NEVER show my playlist to anyone. Not even my wife. I also enjoy Lake Street Dive and Talia Dalton – she has such an original voice.
What podcasts do you listen to when you’re not making your own?
For Podcasts, I’m a die-hard Dax Shepard Armchair Expert fan. I got very emotional when Dax came out about his relapse in the Fall of 2020. In fact, I made a video talking about it. How Dax shared about the rationalization and fooling of himself…Lying to others is one thing. Lying to yourself is a very slippery slope.
I also listen to Dungeons and Daddies, a podcast that tells the story of four suburban dads from “the real” world flung into a world of fantasy and magic in a quest to rescue their lost sons.
Describe your meditation practice
LOL – um…I don’t really have one right now. Sometimes I will practice with guided meditations. I actively want to be more mindful. That counts, right?
What are you looking forward to?
Planning an upcoming trip to England. I’ve always wanted to go there, 23 and me style. I’m really interested in learning more about my genetic history and I’m fascinated by old things.
Sober Curator Pro Tip:
Justin was a guest at our SOBER POP Club on the Clubhouse App earlier this summer.
SOBER SPOTLIGHT: This section of our site highlights extraordinary people in recovery. Sober small business owners doin’ their thing gives us all the feels. Who is making a difference in your recovery community? If you know someone we should spotlight please connect with us at thesobercurator@gmail.com or DM us on social media.
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Justin Lamb is dedicated to tasting great (and sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his amazing collection of memorabilia from the 90s.
Resources are available
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.