A life transformed through sobriety—today’s guest has not only overcome addiction but has turned his journey into a mission to help others. As a TEDx speaker, best-selling author and dedicated endurance athlete Nick’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery and community. In this episode, we get into his personal battle with alcohol, the moment he hit rock bottom and the strategies that have kept him sober for the long haul.
Beyond his sobriety journey Nick shares how he rebuilt his life through physical fitness and personal development. From doing Ironman’s before he was sober to achieving peak performance after recovery he explains how sleep, discipline and community support has impacted his success. His book Executive Loneliness shines a light on the hidden struggles of high achieving professionals and the need for open conversations around mental health and connection.
If you're looking for motivation, practical advice, and a reminder that rehabilitation may lead to a better version of yourself, this episode is for you. Whether you're newly clean, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in personal development, Nick's insights will provide you with lessons on resilience, health, and finding purpose beyond addiction.
- [01:54] Tim introduces guest Nick Jonsson, a TEDx speaker and author.
- [02:54] Nick shares his background—born in Sweden, educated in Australia, and living in Southeast Asia for 20 years. He discusses his early experiences with alcohol in Sweden, where access was heavily regulated.
- [04:20] Drinking became a problem when Nick moved to Australia at 23, where alcohol was widely available and socially encouraged.
- [05:55] Drinking escalated in Asia, leading to health issues. Even after hospitalization in Thailand, he initially denied alcohol as the cause.
- [07:52] Nick describes his attempts to quit drinking, culminating in a failed attempt on his birthday in 2018, which led him to seek medical detox.
- [09:33] He began his sobriety journey with AA, attending daily meetings for the first few years.
- [10:03] He's been sober for 7 years.
- [11:21] Nick discovered that about 33% of senior executives in Singapore were lonely and isolated. He realized this was a problem. This was the beginning of Nick writing Executive Loneliness.
- [12:32] His TEDx talk is partially based on the book where he talks about getting healthy and getting proper sleep.
- [13:26] He studied everything on sleep. One of the top tips he discovered was taping your mouth.
- [15:01] His Ironman numbers improved when he got extra sleep.
- [17:47] Community support, including AA and men’s groups, played a crucial role in maintaining long-term sobriety.
- [19:01] It's helpful to be an authentic groups that aren't just about sobriety.
- [20:51] Ironman racing was part of his life before sobriety, but his performance improved drastically after quitting alcohol.
- [22:15] One of the things that has changed for Nick is his ability to ask for help and be more vulnerable.
- [23:08] Finding mentorship and being part of an elite triathlon training group helped him excel as an athlete.
- [25:15] In order to train, he became extremely disciplined and also stopped watching news.
- [27:37] Physical health became a priority, especially for managing high cholesterol. Instead of medication, he chose daily exercise.
- [29:17] He discusses the impact of isolation and anxiety on mental and physical health, sharing how unresolved stress led to psychosomatic illness.
- [31:31] People need personal and professional safe spaces and friend groups that they can talk to.
- [33:27] Leaders in high-stress environments need to prioritize self-care rather than glorifying overwork.
- [35:02] Social media has played a significant role in spreading awareness about sobriety and mental health.
- [36:12] Nick shares his most unexpected lesson. He encourages listeners to acknowledge and talk about their struggles.
- [37:55] If you're trying to get sober, talk to someone. He has free resources in the back of his book Executive Loneliness.
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