The Sober Butterfly Podcast

From Executive Loneliness to Ironman: Nick Jonsson’s Journey to Sobriety & Success

• Nadine Mulvina

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In this compelling episode of The Sober Butterfly, host Nadine sits down with Nick Jonsson—a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, Ironman athlete, and sobriety coach—to explore the journey from addiction and executive burnout to purpose-driven recovery.

Nick opens up about his experience with executive loneliness, the hidden struggles behind high-performing professionals, and how hitting rock bottom ultimately became the launchpad for a radically transformed life. 

Together, Nadine and Nick dive into topics like the power of community support, gray area drinking, and the importance of holistic wellness in sobriety. Nick also shares how sobriety improved his athletic performance and led him to create a coaching practice to help others reclaim their lives.

🎙️ Highlights from this episode:

  • 00:39 – Rapid Fire with Nick Jonsson
  • 02:54 – Nick’s story: Success, silence, and addiction
  • 06:27 – His breaking point and beginning the path to recovery
  • 09:55 – Why making amends is a crucial part of healing
  • 16:03 – What it means to live a life beyond your wildest dreams
  • 21:45 – Wellness strategies that actually work in sobriety
  • 27:42 – What data can teach us about alcohol’s impact
  • 33:49 – Why coaching and community are recovery game-changers
  • 38:23 – Sneak peek of Nick’s upcoming book

Whether you're sober-curious, in recovery, or supporting someone on their journey, Nick’s wisdom will leave you feeling inspired and empowered.

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the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

Hello, hello, and welcome to The Sober Butterfly. I'm so excited today because we are joined with a very special guest. We have Nick Johnson here now. Nick is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author. Sobriety coach, and he's here to discuss the power of recovery and leadership. So stay tuned for today's episode. Nick, I want to welcome you to the show. I feel like there's so many titles that you have, so I probably didn't do justice, but I'm so honored to have you on today. How are you?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

I am doing great. Thank you so much, Nadine, for inviting me to speak on this topic.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

I am so excited to have you get into it, and I like to start my episodes with sort of like a rapid fire getting to know you. Is that okay? Can I ask you some quick questions?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Absolutely.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

Okay. So I know because I've done some research, you are. part of the 2% World Iron Man community, I'll call it as an athlete. So my first question for you, Nick, is what is your favorite pre-race meal?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Prera, it's bread and peanut butter, so lots of energy.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

that's a good one. I'm obsessed with bread so I can get behind that. It's like healthy fats as well with the peanut butter. So, great. Pre-race meal. What is one book that you can recommend to everyone?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

A book called Manhood by Steve Del. So while it's manhood one would think it's for men, but it's also actually a wonderful book for women to read to also understand men better.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

that's, that's a hot topic here on the show. The majority of my listeners are women. So when you said manhood, I'm like, Hmm. I don't know if that will resonate, but good to know that we can sort of get into the minds of your gender. So I will add that to my list. I. Thank you for sharing. is a quote or mantra you live by?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

It is a quote that I picked up from a friend who is a cyclist. He says It's never too late to grow young.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

I love that it's never too late to grow young. I guess you're as young as you feel or as you aspire to feel. then my last question I have for you is, what is a surprising fact about yourself that most people would not guess?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Well, I was born on May one in Sweden, and that's a labor day. It's a public holiday. When there's fireworks, there's parades, there's all kind of things. And as a child, when I grew up, I fought that that party was put on to celebrate my birthday.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

I love that. That's amazing. That's so cool. You're like all of this for me. Thank you for sharing that and thank you for playing. Get to know Nick. So, I wanna open the conversation. To learn a little bit more about your journey. Like you have this term executive loneliness. Can you kind of describe to us what that journey looked like from executive loneliness and addiction to becoming, you know, Nick today as a sobriety coach and Ironman athlete? Can you share a little bit about what led you to your personal, I'll quote rock bottom, and how you took the first steps towards recovery.

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Right. It'd been my pleasure to share that. So about 10 years ago, I was at the peak of my corporate career. I was a general manager in a large medical company running plenty of, clinics and hospitals and medical personnel all over Indonesia. So it was a high pressure job. I did very well commercially and, and bringing in business and so on. However, I was surrounded by doctors, operational staff and so on. It was quite technical and difficult as well. I. So I can remember many times sitting in meetings feeling, you know, completely left outta the conversations, not being involved in it because I couldn't understand it. It was just not my technicality as I'm not a doctor myself. And so I remember leaving the office many times, you know, feeling completely drained, completely isolated, not understood, no one to talk to and so on. And those feelings. I was not able to discuss them at that time. I also didn't have a safe space. I didn't have a coach to share them with. So what I did instead was going to the bar, seeing some friends having a great time and drinking some beers to forget all about it. And that though, became a bad habit and it picked up more and more and more until I lost control a bit later on. So that was the beginning of all of this when I started to come across the the loneliness that you can feel in the workplace.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

Yeah. Thank you. I feel like so many people can resonate or relate to that drank as well to. Escape. It was definitely a form of escapism. And it's funny because I think drinking starts off for a lot of people as a, a social activity, or at least for me it did. But then I found toward the end of my drinking that I was drinking more alone and I felt really isolated even in. Company of other people. So thank you for sharing that. I think that's a theme that a lot of people can resonate. So kind of walk through, what was that turning point for you? So you're in this high pressure job, you know, you're doing well professionally, but internally it sounds, or personally you weren't feeling maybe as successful. So walk us through what that key

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

And.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

in your life or that pivotal point in time where you decided to change courses or change direction.

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Yeah. So in that job then for a while I was, you know, feeling more and more lost and I therefore also start to drink more. I started to. Exercise less, replaced my healthy diet with fast food and pizza, gained weight and so on. And with that, then eventually I resigned from that job and then I jumped from job to job where I failed and I increased my drinking and also went through my, my savings financial issues came, and with that then I filed for divorce at home. Because I was just feeling lost in, on, in all ar areas of my life. So that led me eventually then to my rock bottom and from the rock bottom though. And eventually I, I'm glad to say that I managed to find my way back up, but it was about two, three years of a downward spiral before I reached that point.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

And so when you decided that you no longer wanted to stay at that bottom. Can you give us, I like specific examples because I feel like everyone's rock bottom may look different. Right? So what happened? Like, what was that day like? Walk us through that moment where you just realized, okay, something has to change.

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Yeah, I can remember it quite clearly. It was 2018 and again, it was on my birthday and I'd met the girl who was my girlfriend, who today is my wife. And I remember telling her that I would stop on the birthday and I remember I. Trying to stop alcohol that day. And around lunchtime I gave up. I just couldn't do it. So I asked her to go and buy some beer for me, which she did because she was supportive and understanding at that day for me. And then we said we make a plan again, and we did that. So I drank those beers and the next day we went back to a hospital. That were able to then help me with a, a detox that day and getting the medication I needed and the advice we needed. And as I walked out of there I haven't had a drink since, since then. That's, no, almost seven years now.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

beautiful. So it sounds as though you were in sort of like a pre-contemplation slash contemplation phase for quite some time, and I feel like so many people I. Put that pressure on themselves, like they project their last day of drinking or using to a certain day, and then that day arrives and you're like, actually, I'm gonna need some more help. I'm gonna need some more support. Because there's a willingness piece, which I think is crucial, right? Like you have to be willing and wanting to change. But the action piece. necessarily align with you just wanting to change. So I, I feel like that's so important to note that you needed a little bit more support and help to get you there, so thank you for sharing

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Hmm.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

when you went to that inpatient facility at the hospital, what course or what program did they recommend to help you detox and decide to never drink again, essentially.

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Well, they wanted to inpatient me at that stage, but I didn't want to, and they, they were okay to not inpatient me. And I remember getting some medication and injection. I remember coming back and seeing the doctor 24 hours later as well. And then. After that, what I did was to get more support and I went into one of those 12 step programs where I got the support, felt again, understood. I was around other people who'd gone through it before. And the first two, three years I attended plenty of those meetings every week. Yeah, sometimes almost every day. And through that, then I found myself and really coming back in all areas of my life and in, in a better way and form than I ever had been before.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

Powerful. So it sounds like the 12 step program offered a sense of support in community and connection, and often we hear that the opposite of any form of addiction is connection. So one of the interesting parts, because I've. Been, to meetings. I did not follow a full 12 step program, full disclosure. But I'm well familiar with the literature and the power of connection and community, but a part that I think scares so many people, making amends. Did you find that, you know, as a part of going through the 12 step program, you make amends and can you share what your experience with this practice had on? Your life, and more importantly, I would say like the relationship itself and with others.

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Yes, I do remember the, the step of making amends and indeed it's very scary. But what I found was that the, you know, it was also a very nice thing to do because while there was some big amends with some family members and so on, which occurred, which was wonderful to once you have done them the feeling was amazing. It was also. A lot of the smaller amends that I have done over the years, including, you know, making amends and apologize to a high school friend who. Perhaps you were part of a group and you bullied that person, you know, and for me that's 35 years ago or something like that. And actually reaching out to reconnect and you're setting up a lunch with that person who I haven't seen for so many years. And during the lunch by just, you know, saying, by the way, I am sorry about, you know. Being part of that group, we were bullying you. At that time I remembered that that was not the right thing to do and I just wanted to know that I'm sorry about that. And, and then saying that, you know, is there anything I can do? And I remember that person then, you know, really getting emotional. In this case, the one I mentioned, I was a girl and, you know, shedding a few tears and, you know, really connecting. Thing and now being really close and good friends again. So is a, that is the power of a men's, right? So why it's painful and, and, a lot of anxiety around it. It's a wonderful thing to do.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

Did you make amends to your ex-wife? I'm sorry to pry, but I'm curious because it sounds like the dissolution of your marriage was connected to that rock bottom or that dark period before sobriety. So did you ever reach back out to her?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Absolutely. It was massive and major work to be done there. And it's still going ongoing with living amend perhaps not every day, but. Every week, certainly. And I also to my son, we have a, a shared son who today is 15 years of age. So it was a lot of amens to be made there as well to him perhaps since he was little. And now he's 15, but he's more living amens and also because they live. In a different part of the world. They live in Sweden, and at that time I, I didn't negotiate for any custody or anything else. I just was sick when we, I filed for the divorce and I realize that she was in a better situation and better state to take care of our son. But now the relationship with my ex wife have be on, have been repaired to the point where. She happily send him to come and visit me in Southeast Asia once a year. That means that she has to sign a letter that, you know, he is allowed to travel overseas by himself to see me. And that's happened now for four years. And that's without me asking. It's, it is just happened naturally. So I think that's a testament of the trust that has been restored in, in that relationship. We probably have a better relationship now than when we were married.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

beautiful to hear. And

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

Hmm,

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

amends to yourself?

nick-jonsson_2_02-11-2025_060218:

yes. It's also about forgiving myself for what was there and realize here that it was alcohol that actually took the better from me. Once that was removed. I am the real person, the more authentic myself who I wasn't when alcohol was sort of running the show.

the-sober-butterfly_2_02-10-2025_170220:

Yes, agreed. And I, I also had to forgive and let go of past grievances things that I did to myself, because honestly, the person that was probably the most impacted was me. Right. And I think it's so easy to focus on other people as we should. I. We should reach out and we should make sure that other people understand that we are sorry for our wrongdoings. But at the same time, it's like, don't forget that the person standing in front of you and that mirror is you. And you said the word sick. I think that is very, that's very true. Like. We are sick when we are using and we're when we're in that state. So it's like now we're healing and we're working and we're trying. And so it's like give yourself grace is the point I'm making here. thank you for sharing all of that. That's really powerful, Nick.

Nadine Mulvina:

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the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

I would love to talk a little bit about your book. I know that you talk extensively and really I think the beauty of your book is this idea of living beyond your wildest dreams. What dreams did you have for yourself, Nick? And what dreams, I guess, before I even ask you that question, what dreams were you. when you were using, because I think sometimes we have something inside of us that is driving us to drink. And when we are in that state, we're letting go of things that are important to us that maybe we think we're incapable of reaching goals or dreams. So I would love to know from you before you talk about, you know, your dreams and your, inspiration for this book. Like what were your dreams that you were sort of repressing. Or stifling when you were drinking?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, so I had goals, I had visions, and I had dreams also back then, but perhaps they were. Very different from what I have now in my life. Perhaps they were the, the standard, uh, you know, dreams that most people have. Uh, maybe it was about, you know, having a big house, having a car, those kind of normal things. Uh. I didn't necessarily have dreams to have wonderful connections with people and deep relationships and attempting relationships and all of those things. That was not on my list. I just couldn't picture it, I think. And, uh, I thought that, you know, I'm, I was born introvert and the, I should feel outside. I should feel a bit odd. I shouldn't perhaps feel that I can belong everywhere. That was sort of. Something that I accepted and, therefore I couldn't perhaps dream bigger and I couldn't have bigger reasons for myself.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

Yeah, I connect with that. The superficial things that I thought I wanted that were so important to me and were driving a lot of my decision making and also drinking, if I'm being honest, because I felt like I wasn't living up to my potential or optimizing my life for these things that like are just things like they weren't, to your point, authentic connections and like building true community like all of the things you mentioned that are beyond just. The surface. And so it sounds like your priorities shifted once you got sober. So now walk us through what that was like for you. What dreams did you, or goals or vision did you find in sobriety that you didn't recognize before or have realized before?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, and, and first it is the continuity because also drinking always shattered my dreams, even if I was on the right path to do. Something, then something would come in the way and some trouble would come in the way and it would destroy everything and put me back to zero. Now it's the continuity and it's the resilience of keep going, and if anything becomes difficult, it's about seeking help for that one. And. Uh, therefore, you know, sort of your network and your connections becomes your greatest strength because you're open and honest about the shortcomings. Therefore, you know, the life I have now is really beyond my wildest dreams. Indeed, uh, I have lived and worked in Southeast Asia last 20 years. But I have now repackaged my life and put my community and health and so on first. So, uh, while I'm mainly working in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia and so on, my back office and where I spend time, I. These days and where I'm today is actually in, in Pke, Thailand. I have a triathlon community here. And after our, our call today, I will actually go out cycling with a community here. So those are the things that I was dreaming about, but now I can actually make them happen as well. So that is the major difference. I'm sort of living what I, that kind of life beyond my wireless dreams. I could picture it perhaps before, but I would have no idea how to make it happen.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

That's. Profound. I, first of all, I love puke. I have spent two summers there and I'm obsessed with the and wellness community that's there. I actually did Tiger Mo Thai, the, um, the camp. Have you heard of it?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah. Hmm.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

Of course, I'm sure. Anyway, how do you, balance your roles because you have many roles, as mentioned, you are a coach, you're a speaker, you're an athlete, you're an author. So how do you balance your roles and also maintain your sobriety?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, so it's about putting myself first, and I do that by then being in this healthy community and there's a strong recovery community here as well. Uh, so, so that is the beautiful thing. And uh, actually, I. Where I live is in that area that you're talking about where, you know, most people are here for the health aspect of things and therefore there's a big recovery community here as well. Uh, there's quite a few rehabs and those kind of places, in this area as well. So therefore, you know, I'm surrounded being by what I need to have. So it's, for me, it's, it's constant reminders, you know, to putting, recovery and my health first, and that is the foundation for everything and. After that, then uh, everything else becomes sort of easier, uh, in that sense. And I integrate, of course, my coaching, speaking with my writing. I'm writing my second book as well now, so it's all coming together very nicely.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

And can you share with us, any strategies or habits that help you maintain your focus in recovery and on your health and wellness?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, it's, it's really the foundation here by eating well, sleeping well, and having a good exercise. I see myself when I'm exercising as the CEO of my business, sort of the strategist. It's when I get the creative good ideas. Um, and therefore I think I owe to myself to do that every day for a few hours, uh, uh, even if it's light exercise. And I see myself perhaps as the manager, as the administrator. When I'm in front of the computer, so I need to remind myself that's not where I grow my business or where I really get the important things done. So it's about closing down the computer and, and getting out there and meeting people and exercising.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

Movement is crucial and I feel like that has been really the baseline and the foundation of maintaining and sustaining sobriety for me, like my mental health is not okay unless I know that I am connected to my body and present and taking what I need and also thinking about what I ingest. It's funny because I don't know. well, actually, you did mention when I was drinking, I still thought of myself as a health nut, which is very contradictory and ironic, like I worked out all the time, but at the same time I was ingesting poison. I. day almost. So it's a very interesting duality that coexisted for me where it was like I thought I was being healthy and prioritizing my health, but in reality I was not. So thank you for sharing that. And I wanna kind of talk a little bit about your work with clients and helping professionals who are in that gray zone area that you mentioned in your book. So what are some of the common misconceptions. They have, and when I say they, I mean gray area drinkers.

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Hmm.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

What misconceptions do they have about sobriety?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, so while, uh, I was not the gray zone drinker towards the end, I had really become a day drinker and so on. What I have realized in sobriety is that there's quite a lot of people and increasingly so who want to explore sobriety. We have a healthy waves. We see that. People are playing with the become vegan and vegetarians and all kind of things because they wanna look after themselves. We can just see the trend of people choosing almond milk and and so on over dairy. So people are Yeah, yeah, me too. So, keep. People are really more health conscious these days and therefore, uh, uh, like you said, how can you call yourself, you know, being healthy and uh, and what's the point of exercising every day if we inject poisoning ourselves? And I'm. Please to, uh, see that. Finally, we start to accept and understand that alcohol is poison. However, in the, in the countries where I live in, it's still not the warning on, on the labels that alcohol is a toxin. It is on tobacco. It's still not in most of the countries where I live and spend time on alcohol, but I'm pretty sure it would be around the corner. But we are the, we are. Groundbreakers here we are ahead of the politicians and understand that this is poison, so maybe we should have a conversation about it. And that's the message for a gray zone drinker, uh, not to wait for that label there and to understand that, hey, it is actually poison. So let's, let's perhaps have a conversation and change our relationship with alcohol. Uh, and, and I'm getting more and more calls from people and those kind of people who are health conscious, who now understand that this might not be the best, uh, way moving forward if I want to live a healthy life.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

Yeah. I think too, going back to what I mentioned before around being. Misaligned with my goals and my dreams or what I thought were my goals and dreams. They were very superficial and I think a lot of my health decision making was superficial as well. I wanted to look good, but like aesthetically looking good on the outside does not necessarily reflect what's going on internally, and I think a lot of people to have a bit more discernment around. Okay. Do you wanna be healthy because you just wanna look good or look like a healthy person? Or do you actually want to be healthy? Because that's the part I think sometimes we're still disconnected on and it takes some time to come to that realization that I. Alcohol is never gonna aid, or substance is never gonna aid you in becoming a healthy person. Like you can fake it, but the reality is it will catch up to you one day. Even if it physically doesn't catch up to you, it's like performance wise, right? You're, you're not going going to be your optimal self. And so I came to that realization, obviously in sobriety, but I think a lot of people are, to your point, having the conversation around, okay, awareness, it's access to information and knowledge. And once you have the information, it's like, well, how much longer can I feign ignorance? How much longer can I pretend that it's okay to just, you know, numb and drink and party? Probably not that much longer. So I see a lot to say that. I agree with everything that you've mentioned and I love that you, in your coaching services and conversations with people are also letting them know that there is. A disconnect if you are not taking care of yourself in all capacities and questioning the role that alcohol plays in your true fitness or wellness goals. so I'm also curious to learn from you, Nick, how do you encourage people to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol without. Labeling because I think it can be very jarring and overwhelming to tell someone that maybe they have a problem with alcohol. So how do you have those conversations without that stigma or that judgment?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Well, it's easier to have these conversations these days because we have so many devices that, uh, we can track. We have watches and rings and so on where, actually, the alcohol consumption typically is quite black and white there. We didn't have that luxury 10 years ago, so I was still doing triathlons 10 years ago, and I can remember. Drinking alcohol pretty close to full distance Ironman race. And I remember cramping in the swim and almost drowning. So that was an indicator, that was an indicator for me that, you know, this might not be a good thing to drink and do, do this kind of sports. Right. Uh, but my point being that these days then that the coaching clients that I have, if they start to take, you know, one month. Uh, as the first step, as a goal to be sober. Then if they wear the devices, you will start to see the rest heart rate coming down the HRV value, uh, which is a reflection on your health to really stabilize and come down. And you really start to see also that you're sleeping better. And overall, these devices will just tell you that you know, your health is absolutely fantastic. So if someone is health conscious, then all you can do is to, to work with them over a month, and then you compare. One month of your data when you were still drinking and one month in sobriety, then there's no denial anymore. So that's uh, some of the benefits that you can see in black and white these days.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

I love the framing of that too, because it depersonalizes it for someone. It's not necessarily me telling you that you have a problem. It's like, here are the data, here are the data points. You look at it, you see, and treating it like a social experiment is something that comes up a lot for me, where it's like. Instead of overwhelming people with this idea that you should never drink again, it's like take a break if you can, and to your point, compare, look at the data, track it and see how you feel. And also look at your different health indicators and how they've changed over the course of X amount of time. So I, I like that because I think it shows people that. You can't argue with facts. It's like staring at you in your face. What is it like being an Iron Man athlete? I would love to hear, because quite literally you're in the top 2% the world and I ran my first marathon sober. I. realized a dream that I never thought would be possible, which was to run the New York City Marathon back in 2023. And that was incredible for me because the pandemic I started to run. That's when I first, you know, I. my abilities as a runner and I would force myself to get out there because there was nothing else for me to do. But I would work my workouts around being hungover. I would work my workouts around punishing myself because I felt ashamed of how much I drank. I would work out, I would work or plan my workouts around. Determining, know, I have to work out first thing in the morning or run first thing in the morning because I know tonight I'm gonna drink. So I, it was just the mental gymnastics of trying to fit running into my life when in reality I was not really optimizing my performance as a runner until I got sober. And then I was actually like, I love this. I'm good at this. I'm not punishing myself. I can actually be a runner now and do something hard like running a marathon. So walk us through what it's like to be. In this high class or high caliber of athletes and what the mental preparation and physical preparation looks like and how it shifted. Because you mentioned that you were doing triathlons many years ago.

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Hmm.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

Walk us through like that comparison, because I think that's really important for people to hear and understand yes, you can do something just because you're. Drinking, but that doesn't mean it's gonna be your best performance. Do you understand what I'm getting at? I would love to hear a little bit about what your life looked like before and after getting sober in regards to the competitions like this.

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, sure. And, and actually, so before I stopped drinking, I was also doing the sport and um, I was trying my best, you know, to control my drinking balance, the drinking, limited drinking, and then doing those kind of sports was sort of forcing myself to not drink too much. I would. Typically just drink three or maximum five beers on a, on a weekday evening because I knew that I would need to get up next morning and I didn't wanna do that with a hangover. So it worked quite well for some time. However, then I thought, you know, on Sundays and when the training weeks sort of was over, that I deserved to have more and. Then sometimes it went overboard and I was drinking too much. And it was a few times where I pulled out a races, you know, beforehand because I wasn't in the form that I should have been. And I might have blamed stress and work. But you know, looking back at it, it was clearly that it was alcohol that was in the way that let me down. So once then in sobriety. All those issues are gone. You know, there's, there's no longer that issue and that sort of inner fight with yourself about, doing that and that. The controlling was not nice either for anyone who likes drinking, you know what it's like if you are in the bar and you've had three beers and everyone else is staying and you are leaving, that feeling is not nice. So to not have that anymore is, is a true blessing, and my performance have just increased a lot as well, and I learn what I learned also in. My recovery was to ask for help. And I do that with everything in my life these days. I do it when it comes to writing book. I ask people who've written a book to help me. So I thought, why don't I do the same with triathlons? So I reached out also then to the best swim coaches I could find. Running coaches, cycling coaches. I have a trial long coach now. Um, someone who's training normally. Professional athlete who, coach me. Uh, and that is the secret then to climbing up, uh, so high in the ranking is because I have good support and, and that makes all the difference.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

That makes a huge difference at what point in time did you get a coach and would you recommend that everyone have some form of help or coach in their life as well? I.

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, so I got a coach about four years ago now and that made a huge difference. And I think no matter what sport we are interested in, it's about doubling down and I think almost become a bit obsessed with our hobbies and and so on. And then, you know, I also say we need to belong to a tribe and you know, we feel that we belong there. And then having a coach, typically they have that kind of community as well. So not only do I get a coach, I also get a, a triathlon community. And so everyone, depending on their hobbies and likes, they can look at perhaps doubling down on that. And having a coach is a great start for that.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

Yes. I feel like in life. You could benefit from a coach. It's not just necessarily connected to a sport, but if you think about it, life as an analogy is a game or it's a support, right? It's not just about you. It's about you in connection to other people. Whether it's people that you're racing against or racing with, or that are on your team or against you. Just this idea that everything is and it's nice to your point, to have someone in your corner advising you. Also connecting you to other people. It sounds so, I, I love that so much. Thank you for sharing that, Nick

Nadine Mulvina:

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the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

winding down here if someone listening at home is struggling, maybe they feel stuck or maybe they feel sick or scared to take that first step toward sobriety or thinking about the role alcohol is playing in their life. What words of encouragement can you offer for anyone who is feeling stuck or scared?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

Yeah, I don't be scared of asking for help, and I mean, there's so many different support systems these days. We discussed quite a few of them today. On the call is everything from the 12. Step programs, and it doesn't matter what addiction we are falling into, there will be other people who've gone through it before who are there to help and give back. There's also hotlines, there's helplines full of volunteers and a lot of them is free who can help. But then of course we have the wonderful world of coaching recovery for people who perhaps want to have a one-on-one private conversation who want to get some support. And some of the clients that I've had, they come to me to have a conversation and. Then they agreed to test for a month, and a few of those clients now are, are three months sober, and some of them are saying that they're never looking back and they wanna remain in sobriety. So it's about taking that first step and, and just have perhaps a conversation, with a sober coach near you.

the-sober-butterfly_3_02-10-2025_171751:

I love that. Thank you. that you mentioned that you are working on a next book so what does sort of the next chapter look like for you, Nick, as you continue inspiring other people through your journey?

nick-jonsson_3_02-11-2025_061749:

It's, uh, really to share what I've learned my seven years in sobriety, uh, with others and giving this back in. I created a five step formula for my next book, which is basically some of the best steps that I learned in the 12 step recovery programs, but really doubling down then on community and help and health and tying it all together. So. It's supposed to be a book for anyone who, who want to explore sobriety and a bit of a he healthier living.

the-sober-butterfly_4_02-10-2025_174041:

That's incredible. I think hearing people's stories are truly life-changing and profound and can really help someone connect so that they don't feel so alone. I. But I also think having practical measures and tools and what you mentioned in the second book, it sounds like you've created a framework. I think that is amazing because I think sometimes we just need a template. Like we just need to know like, what steps do I need to take? Or what can I do to get to the next place? And I, I think so often we can convince ourselves that, oh, I don't know what to do, so I'm not gonna do anything about it. So it's nice that you have. Thought about this from a, a place of obviously drawing from your own experiences, but also then repurposing that into something that someone else can potentially follow or use to help them. And I, I don't think there's a one size fits all approach, and I'm not suggesting that you think that either. But it's nice to have options, you know, it's nice to hear and follow and be able to. Find other resources outside of what's been already presented. So I really appreciate that and I'm really looking forward to reading your book, your second book. When does that come out, Nick?

nick-jonsson_4_02-11-2025_064040:

I'm writing it now and I hope to have it done sort of around October this year.

the-sober-butterfly_4_02-10-2025_174041:

Well, will you let us know when it's ready? I would be honored to read your book, your second book, and I wanna thank you so much for coming on the show. If anyone wants to connect with you, Nick, what's the best way to do so?

nick-jonsson_4_02-11-2025_064040:

I'm pretty active on LinkedIn, so they can look up Nick Johnson on LinkedIn or if anyone is interested in my first book, executive Loneliness. It's on Amazon and also on Audible.

the-sober-butterfly_4_02-10-2025_174041:

I love Audible Audible's, actually a sponsor of the show, so. Cute audible ad.

Nadine Mulvina:

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the-sober-butterfly_4_02-10-2025_174041:

I think the executive loneliness piece will resonate with a lot of people just because whether you work in say, corporate or not, we've all felt lonely at times. And loneliness can drive a lot of people to make decisions that maybe they wouldn't have if they felt connected or or if they felt like they had community. So I appreciate. All that you've done and all that you've shared today, I've learned so much about you and just even reflecting it back to my own experiences in sobriety. So thank you Nick for coming on the show and I look forward to getting that second book. And also I will plug everything in the show notes for folks at home. Thank you, Nick.

nick-jonsson_4_02-11-2025_064040:

Thank you, Nadine.