Latest / Two Percent with Michael Easter
#11: Why Most Habit Change Fails (And How to Get Good at Feeling Bad) | Ryan Soave
Sobriety isn't just "not drinking"—it's learning how to live without needing relief on demand. In this episode, Michael Easter sits down with therapist Ryan Soave (18+ years sober) for a sweeping conversation on why addiction often acts like a solution to deeper pain, how fear and shame quietly run the show, and what it takes to break the compulsion loop for good.
They dig into habit change that actually sticks, how to rebuild identity and community, and practical ways to regulate your nervous system so you don't have to numb yourself.
Ryan Soave is a licensed mental health counselor…
The skinny
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