From Football Coach to Filmmaker: Brent Ogburn's Bold Sobriety Story

In this episode of The Sober Curator Podcast, host Alysse Bryson chats with filmmaker and former football coach Brent Ogburn, whose journey through sobriety led him to write and direct "Turn Off," a heartfelt and humorous short film inspired by his time in rehab. Brent shares how stepping away from the football field and into creative storytelling became a deeper act of recovery, fatherhood and purpose.  

Takeaways  

• Sobriety isn’t the end of fun—it’s the start of real purpose.  

• Storytelling can be a powerful tool for healing.  

• Brent’s short film "Turn Off" is based on his personal recovery journey.  

• Letting go of old identities can make space for new creative expression.  

• Vulnerability and humor are essential in recovery.  

Key Timestamps  

 [02:45] Meet Brent: From football coach to filmmaker and father  

 [05:40] Early sobriety, "The Magic" book and a creative reawakening  

 [11:00] Leaving coaching to pursue a more present life with his kids  

 [14:00] Behind the scenes of "Turn Off" — writing, casting and funding  

 [26:30] The power of recovery storytelling and building sober community  

 [38:21] Brent’s sober superpower and go-to creative process  

Resources & Links: 

-Brent Ogburn: Website, Instagram, Facebook 

-"Turn Off" Short Film: Website, Instagram 

-Book: "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne 

-Meet the Contributors 

-Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide 

-Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide 

-LBGTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide 

Connect with Us: 

-Website: www.thesobercurator.com  

-Facebook: @The Sober Curator 

-Instagram: @thesobercurator 

-X: @thesobercurator 

-YouTube: @thesobercurator 

-Pinterest: @thesobercurator 

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About: 

Sobriety isn’t the end of the party—it’s just the start of a better one. Hosted by Alysse Bryson, media powerhouse and sobriety’s ultimate hype woman, and joined by Sober Curator contributors, The Sober Curator Podcast* delivers bold convos, pop culture deep dives, and zero-proof living that doesn’t suck. Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just looking for good vibes without the hangover, we’ve got you covered. Subscribe now—because getting sober matters, staying sober matters more. 

The intro and outro music for this episode is proudly featured with permission from Avatari. All rights reserved to the original creators. For more of their work, check out his website: https://www.avatariworld.com/music. 

*The Sober Curator Podcast is a space for open and honest conversations about sobriety, recovery, and alcohol-free livi