He lost his kids.
He lost his marriage.
He nearly lost his life.
And he finally learned surrender isn't something you do once. It's something you do every moment of every day.
Matt F. spent most of his life dancing on the edge.
Growing up fearful and uncomfortable, alcohol gave him something he'd been searching for: relief. It quieted the anxiety, eased the fear, and gave him a sense of belonging. But as the years passed, blackouts, arrests, probation, and court ordered treatment became the norm.
Even after finding AA, Matt wasn't ready.
He experienced periods of sobriety, marriage, children, and what he calls his "Golden Boy" years. From the outside, life looked good. But underneath, he was drifting away from the very things that had saved him.
When alcohol reentered the picture, everything began to unravel.
What followed was divorce, bankruptcy, heartbreak, and moments where he wasn't sure life was worth living. Then, in a moment of clarity, a song called Come to Jesus reached him when nothing else could.
On June 30, 2004, Matt surrendered again.
In this powerful episode of The Cup of Joe Show, Matt shares how recovery carried him through the loss of his father, the overdose death of his brother, the pain of divorce, and years of emotional healing without picking up a drink.
Today, meditation, prayer, sponsorship, and service keep him connected to a Higher Power he believes is always trying to reach us.
His message is simple but profound: Learn to surrender quicker.
Because sobriety isn't about avoiding pain. It's about finding the power to walk through it.
📌 If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United States. Help is available 24 hours a day.
🙏 Please like, share, and subscribe to The Cup of Joe Show so more people can hear stories of hope and transformation.
🌟 For daily encouragement, visit Daily Ponderables — your source for inspiration 365 days a year.
The Cup of Joe Show explores the journey of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction—one story, one conversation, and one step at a time. New Episode Every Thursday at Noon.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com