Theo Von might be the most unexpectedly useful voice in sober pop culture right now.
Yes, the mullet guy. The Louisiana storyteller with the rat kings and the imaginary childhood friends. If you’ve never heard of him, here’s what you need to know: he hosts one of the biggest podcasts alive, he’s been in recovery for years, and he never makes a big deal about it. Recovery just… lives in the show. Unannounced. Between the bits.
One minute you’re laughing at something unrepeatable. The next, Theo is telling a stranger on a sober hotline that he’s proud of them, and suddenly you’ve got something in your eye.
That works whether you’ve been sober for 90 days or 20 years. Trust me on this one.
We went deep into the last two years of episode and pulled the ones where addiction, sobriety, and recovery take center stage. Links, dates, and the reason each one is worth your time. Tan lines optional.
The Ones That Will Wreck You (In the Best Way)
Mike Tyson (Live at the Wiltern) — #658 — May 2026
In front of a live crowd, Iron Mike casually drops that he’s nine years sober. “Getting high was my life. Alcohol, too.” The baddest man on the planet talking about the fight he’s actually proudest of winning — it lands different.
Pete Davidson — #612 — September 2025
Pete Davidson has been the internet’s favorite cautionary tale for so long that watching him be genuinely okay is almost disorienting. In this one, he talks about the specific moment he knew he had to get sober, what rehab actually looked like from the inside, and the role his mom played in keeping him there when he wanted to leave. He seems settled in a way he hasn’t in years. The internet noticed. So did Theo.
Morgan Wallen — #573 — April 2025
Morgan Wallen is the biggest name in country music, which is also one of the drinkiest industries alive. He tells Theo that staying away from bars has been one of the best things he has done for himself. He doesn’t turn it into a formal sobriety announcement or redemption press tour. He simply talks about changing the way he lives—and what that change has made possible.
The Comics Who Get It
Bobby Lee — #657 — May 2026
Two sober comedians, zero filters. Bobby and Theo get brutally honest about maintaining sobriety in the high-stress, late-night, everyone’s-at-the-bar world of stand-up. If you’ve ever white-knuckled a work event, this one’s for you.
Jim Norton — #608 — September 2025
Norton has been sober practically forever, and this conversation goes places most podcasts won’t — sex addiction, compulsive rituals, and the cocaine-fueled night that finally pushed Theo toward recovery. Raw in the best way.
Yes, There is Science. No, It’s Not Boring.
Dr. Gabor Maté — #538 — October 2024
The In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts author explores the powerful connection between trauma and addiction. If there’s one episode on this list to send to someone who still thinks addiction is a willpower problem, it’s this one. Send it and don’t explain yourself.
Andrew Huberman — #585 — May 2025
The Stanford neuroscientist unpacks the dopamine-addiction connection and how to build daily routines that work with your brain instead of against it. Nerdy, practical, and surprisingly hopeful.
Ibogaine Advocate Bryan Hubbard — #596 — July 2025
The former Kentucky Opioid Commission chairman on ibogaine as an addiction treatment. Heads-up: this is psychedelic-treatment territory, which is personal and polarizing in our community. We’re sharing it as information, not endorsement. Your recovery, your rules.
*Editor’s note: Ibogaine is not FDA-approved for treating addiction in the United States and has been associated with serious cardiac complications and deaths. This episode is included for discussion purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice or an endorsement of treatment.
Porn Recovery Coach Steven Wolt — #663 — June 2026
The founder of Valor Recovery on porn addiction, intimacy, and what recovery from a behavioral addiction actually looks like. Theo shares why this cause hits close to home. Proof that recovery is bigger than substances.
The One That Might Make You Cry
Something New — #654 — April 2026
A listener named Alex left a voicemail about getting sober. Theo calls him back. Live. On air. What follows is five of the most genuine minutes in podcasting — meetings, isolation, staying sober in Los Angeles, and Theo admitting he’s been “newly sober so many times.” 👉If you only listen to one episode on this list, make it this one.👈
Fine, I Couldn’t Stop Myself. Four More.
- Sen. JD Vance (now VP JD Vance) — #540 — October 2024. Politics aside, the Hillbilly Elegy author’s account of how his family’s addiction history shaped him is a stark look at the generational toll.
- Donald Trump — #526 — August 2024. Whatever your politics: the most-watched podcast episode of the election cycle includes Trump explaining why he’s never had a drink, after losing his brother Fred to alcoholism.
- Mariana van Zeller — #603 — August 2025. The Trafficked journalist goes inside Central American drug manufacturing sites — the supply side of the story recovery rarely sees.
- BEST OF: This Past Weekend 2025 — December 2025. The year-end compilation, sobriety moments included.
Sober Celebrity Honorable Mentions include: Ben Affleck, Dax Shepard, Kat Von D, John Mulaney, Joe Rogan, Bert Kreisher, Tony Mandarich, and RFK Jr.
He Neven Meant to Do This. That’s the Whole Point
Theo Von never set out to be a recovery podcaster. He’d probably cringe at the label. But somewhere between the rat king stories and the live phone calls to strangers named Alex, he built something that the wellness-industrial complex never could: a place where recovery just exists, without being the whole point.
That’s rarer than it sounds.
Whether you’re nine years in and need to remember why it’s worth it, or you’re nine weeks in and need to hear someone famous say they’ve been “newly sober so many times” — there’s an episode on this list for you.
Gang gang. Stay hydrated. See you at the meeting. BNTY.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Naturally, Theo has merch and it’s worth checking out. And you can go HERE for his tour dates. And HERE for his hotline. He also has a new movie out with David Spade. So I’m dropping the trailer below.
Other Sober Celebrity Show Episode Lists We’ve Curated:
- Sober Guests on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard (Full List)
- SmartLess Podcast: Every Episode with Sober Celebrity Guests
- Sober Celebrities Who Opened Up on The Drew Barrymore Show
- Rich Roll’s Best Addiction & Recovery Episodes of the Last Two Years (Bookmark This)
SOBER POP CULTURE: Punchlines, Not Pints: 20 Comedians Who Prove You Don’t Need Alcohol To Be Funny
SOBER POP CULTURE at The Sober Curator is where mainstream trends meet the vibrant world of sobriety. We serve up a mix of movie, podcast, fashion, and book recommendations alongside alcohol-free cocktails, celebrity features, and pop culture buzz—all with a sober twist.
We’re here to shatter the “sobriety is boring” myth with a mash-up of 80s neon, 90s hip-hop edge, early 2000s bling, and today’s hottest trends. From celebrity shoutouts to red-carpet style inspo, this is where sober is as chic as it is fun. To the celebs using their platform for good—our Sober Pop Trucker hats are off to you!
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.
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Is Theo Von sober?
Theo Von has spoken openly about addiction, Alcoholics Anonymous and his ongoing experiences with sobriety. Rather than presenting recovery as a finished transformation, he frequently discusses its setbacks, restarts and daily realities.
Which Theo Von episode talks most directly about getting sober?
“Something New,” episode #654 of This Past Weekend, contains one of Theo Von’s most personal conversations about sobriety. He calls a listener named Alex who is trying to get sober, and the two discuss meetings, isolation and repeatedly beginning again.
Which Theo Von guests have discussed addiction and recovery?
Recent guests who have discussed sobriety, addiction or related recovery experiences include Mike Tyson, Pete Davidson, Bobby Lee, Jim Norton, Morgan Wallen, Dr. Gabor Maté, Andrew Huberman and Steven Wolt.
Does Theo Von discuss behavioral addictions on his podcast?
Yes. In addition to substance use and sobriety, This Past Weekend has covered behavioral and process addictions. Episodes with Jim Norton and porn recovery coach Steven Wolt explore compulsive sexual behavior, pornography, intimacy and recovery beyond substances.
Where can I listen to Theo Von’s recovery-related episodes?
Episodes of This Past Weekend with Theo Von are available through Theo Von’s official YouTube channel, website and major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
