452- Andrew L - Sober Founders
Andrew L., a 13-year sober entrepreneur, recounts his harrowing journey from a blackout DUI in Maryland to founding Sober Founders, a thriving online community for sober business owners. His story begins with a near-fatal drive home from a Capitals game, where he chugged a half-bottle of Fireball to avoid an open container charge—only to blow a .24, landing him in court with six charges. Facing jail or rehab, he chose rehab, where he initially mocked the 12-step program but eventually found transformation through spiritual humility and daily prayer. What started as a survival tactic evolved into a life of purpose: he built a cybersecurity company for accountants, sold it in 2023, and then launched Sober Founders—not as a replacement for AA, but as a 'cherry on top' for entrepreneurs in recovery who crave peer support without the isolation. The community, rooted in the 12 steps but tailored to business challenges, has grown organically to hundreds of members, with Andrew describing the emotional high of receiving tearful messages from people saying, 'This changed my life.' He reflects on the paradox of being a 'wannapreneur'—someone who dreams of building empires but never acts—while acknowledging that his own ADD-driven energy, when channeled through service, becomes a force for good.
Sober Founders was born from Andrew’s loneliness as a sober entrepreneur—there was no community for people who’d beaten alcohol but still struggled with business pressure and isolation.
He chose rehab over jail after a .24 DUI, not because he wanted to get sober, but because he wanted to avoid prison—yet the 12 steps still worked, even when he didn’t believe in them.
Andrew’s first prayers were sarcastic: hands together in bed, saying 'God, this is me praying'—but he did the work anyway, and 13 years later, he still says the program 'keeps working.'
The 12 steps aren’t a replacement for recovery—they’re a 'cherry on top' for sober founders who need peer support beyond traditional AA meetings.
He built Sober Founders not to preach, but to answer a quiet question: 'Am I the only alcoholic bar manager on earth?' The answer was no—and that realization changed everything.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The DUI That Changed Everything
“I blow a .24. Maryland has three degrees of DUI. There's DUI per se at .02, regular DUI at .08. And then .15 is you're in a lot of trouble. So I was in a lot of trouble. A lot, lot of trouble.”
Rehab and the Sarcasm That Led to Surrender
Andrew enters rehab with a sarcastic attitude toward AA, mocking the idea of God and prayer. But despite his resistance, he follows the steps meticulously, doing everything 'to prove it doesn’t work.' Then, three months in, he starts seeing miracles—jobs, money, opportunities—and realizes the program is working, even if he doesn’t believe in God.
From Bar Manager to Cybersecurity Founder
Andrew shares how his life shifted after sobriety: he built a cybersecurity company for accountants, sold it in 2023, and realized he hated working for a corporate structure. He craved the chaos of entrepreneurship but felt isolated as a sober founder with no one to bounce ideas off.
The Birth of Sober Founders
“I had been complaining about my job to everyone that would listen for that year. Thank God I didn't like that job. I never would have started my nonprofit if I liked that job.”
The Addict’s Mind vs. The Entrepreneur’s Drive
Andrew reflects on the tension between his ADD-driven need for constant new ventures and the need for stability. He embraces the 'wannapreneur' label—someone who dreams but doesn’t act—and sees his VP as the 'stamper' who keeps things on track. The ecosystem needs both.
“So, I blow a .24. Maryland has three degrees of DUI. There's DUI per se at .02, regular DUI at .08. And then .15 is you're in a lot of trouble. So, I was in a lot of trouble. A lot, lot. of trouble.”
“I was the only alcoholic bar manager on earth. And then I come to realize it's pretty much a prerequisite for all other bar managers is that you are an alcoholic.”
“So What eventually happened, I had been complaining about my job to everyone that would listen for that year. Thank God I didn't like that job. I never would have started my nonprofit if I liked that job.”
Host
Guest
Andrew L.
person
John M.
person
Sober Founders
organization
12 Steps
other
Alcoholics Anonymous
organization
Sober Speak
media
Maryland
place
South Florida
place
Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms
organization
Washington Capitals
other
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