Hey, I'm Sarah Treacy...
also known as The Sober Sherpa, a guide, a mentor, and founder of The Sober Adventure Collective.
I help people turn recovery into their greatest adventure by building lives that feel bold, connected, and deeply fulfilling.
I was a work hard, play hard kind of girl. I partied hard, chased success even harder, and kept those two worlds separate for as long as I could. My corporate career was my proof that I wasn’t a complete “screw up,” even as the fallout from my drinking piled up everywhere else in my life.
When the world shut down in 2020, I faced the terrifying possibility that my two worlds might collide. I knew if I didn’t change, the career I’d built over 20 years was at risk.
The lockdown gave me something I’d never had before: the space, privacy, and opportunity to focus entirely on my recovery. No FOMO. No social pressure. Just months on my own to do the work. I can say with absolute certainty:
The pandemic saved my life.
Rewiring My Life Without Alcohol
That doesn’t mean it was easy. For years, I was convinced that a life without alcohol meant giving up fun, connection, and even my identity. My world revolved around drinking, and everyone I knew drank. Letting it go meant rewiring my brain and finding new ways to get those dopamine hits.
I started walking daily, exploring every street and trail I could find. Nature became my therapy. Movement became my medicine. I traded dancing on bar tops for summiting mountaintops, from Ontario’s hills to Utah’s canyons to the peak of Kilimanjaro.
As many do, I eventually hit what I call the slippery middle, that plateau when the early sobriety excitement fades, the celebrations becomes fewer and further between, and you're left wondering now what?
I didn’t have a sober community, and I didn’t think I needed one. In fact I was determined to not let sobriety define me at all. But I started to feel like something was missing and so I took a leap and attended an adventure-based sober retreat. That weekend changed everything for me. The connections I made, the sense of belonging, and the power of shared challenge lit a spark in me I hadn’t felt in years. I came home determined to bring something like it to Canada.
From Corporate Climb to
Purpose-Driven Path
Not having a sober community wasn’t the only part of my life that felt misaligned. Over time, my corporate career (the very thing I’d once protected at all costs) began to matter less and less. I no longer needed it to prove my worth. I wanted something bigger: to help others see what I had discovered... that sobriety isn’t the end, but the beginning of a life richer, freer, and far more fulfilling than you ever imagined.
In 2024, I walked away from my 20-year corporate career, began sharing my story openly, and stepped fully into a mission with more purpose and alignment than I’d ever felt before.
Today, I create opportunities for people to challenge themselves, connect deeply, and discover the joy and freedom of alcohol-free living. I launched the Sobriety is the New Epic virtual speaker series in 2025 to showcase real people living adventurous, purpose-driven lives — proof that sobriety is not boring, isolating, or restrictive.
My philosophy is simple: sobriety isn’t the end, it’s the starting point for your greatest adventure yet. My mission is to help you find your passion, connect with your people, and live with more meaning and purpose. Because once you replace what’s been holding you back with what truly lights you up, life becomes an epic you actually get to remember.
The Sobriety is the New Epic Speaker Series - REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!
The Sobriety Is the New Epic series started with one bold question:
What if sobriety isn’t the end of fun, but the beginning of your greatest adventure?
The first edition set out to prove what’s possible. I brought together community leaders, athletes, creatives, entrepreneurs, and mindset disruptors who were building bold, meaningful lives in sobriety and redefining what recovery could look like.
From there, the series evolved.
The second edition moved beyond possibility and into practice, bringing together actionable tools and real-world strategies to help people build greater resilience, confidence, connection, wellbeing, and purpose in their alcohol-free lives.
And with each edition, the conversation has continued to expand beyond simply staying sober and toward the bigger question:
What becomes possible because you are?
Each edition of the series explores a different part of that journey, with powerful conversations, practical ideas, and resources you can put to work in your own life.
Want to explore where it all began? Check out the previous editions of the Epic series below.
Want more Epic? Go back to where it all began!
On-demand access to over 50 Sobriety is the New Epic interviews, plus the companion
Action Workbooks to help you turn their insights into your own breakthroughs.
As featured on...
Conversations that shape the way we think about sobriety, identity, and possibility.
I’ve been invited to share my expertise and lived experience on leading podcasts in the recovery and mindset space, each one exploring how to rewrite the story of life after alcohol and turn it into your greatest adventure.
These episodes highlight:
My personal journey and turning points
The vision and creation of Sobriety is the New Epic
Why adventure, connection, and purpose accelerate recovery
How to reframe sobriety as expansion, not restriction
Listen in for real-world insights and bold conversations that have inspired thousands to see what’s possible.
Podcast: Sober Yoga Girl Podcast with Alexandra McRobert
🔊 Beyond Quitting Drinking: Finding Adventure with Sarah Treacy
In this episode of Sober Yoga Girl with Alexandra McRobert, I share how getting sober in April 2020 started as a way to protect the corporate career I had worked so hard to build. But as alcohol faded into the background, I began discovering parts of myself I hadn't paid attention to in years. What started with early morning walks and journaling eventually led me to question the very life I had been so determined to preserve.
We talk about the shift that happened a few years into sobriety, when I started noticing areas of my life that no longer felt aligned. I share how I went from keeping my sobriety private and returning to my old social circles as a non-drinker to becoming curious about what life might look like surrounded by people who shared my interests and experiences. That curiosity eventually took me halfway across the continent to my first Adventure Recovery retreat in Zion, an experience that completely changed my understanding of sober community and planted the seed for a new career.
We dig into why adventure has become such an important part of my recovery. For someone who once associated drinking with excitement and fun, discovering the joy of challenging myself physically and connecting with others through shared experiences has been transformative. We explore how accomplishing something you once thought impossible can change your belief in what you're capable of, and why continuing to seek out new challenges can be so valuable in later sobriety.
We also explore what I call the sobriety plateau, that stage when staying sober has become your normal but you're beginning to wonder, "Now what?" I share how this experience inspired the evolution of Sobriety Is the New Epic and why I believe we need to keep expanding our understanding of what recovery can look like beyond the early years.
We wrap up with a conversation about taking action before you have all the answers. I share how my own tendency toward analysis paralysis kept me stuck and why experimenting with new interests, following your curiosity and allowing the path to unfold as you move can lead you somewhere you never could have planned.
Listen in if you're ready to challenge what you thought life without alcohol would look like, find your people, and discover just how much more might be possible in your next chapter.
Podcast: Sober Life Rocks Podcast with Margy Schaller
🔊 When The Life You Worked So Hard To Save No Longer Fits
In this episode of Sober Life Rocks, I share how getting sober in 2020 initially felt like a way to protect the life I had worked so hard to build. But a few years later, with my sobriety solid and my corporate career thriving, I found myself questioning whether the life I had fought to preserve was still the life I wanted.
We talk about what I now call the sobriety plateau, that unexpected stage when drinking is no longer the challenge, everything looks good on paper, but you start asking yourself, “Is this it?” I share what it felt like to consider walking away from a successful 20-year career, especially when nothing was actually wrong, and why choosing change without a crisis to justify it requires a different kind of courage.
We dig into my experience of keeping my sobriety private for nearly four years, the shame I hadn't fully recognised I was carrying, and how alcohol had been tied to my desire to fit in and be accepted. I share how learning to own my story changed the way I saw myself and eventually opened the door to connecting with others through my experience.
We also explore the turning point that came through my first Adventure Recovery retreat in Zion, where I discovered a completely different kind of sober community. I share how connecting with people through shared experiences and challenging ourselves together helped me rethink what recovery could look like and inspired me to create Sobriety Is the New Epic. We talk about how the series has evolved beyond showcasing what's possible in sobriety to helping people turn inspiration into meaningful action in their own lives.
Listen in if you've built a good life in sobriety but are starting to question whether it still fits the person you're becoming, and what you might be ready to explore next.
Podcast: Women in... Podcast with Toni Will
🔊 Bonus Episode: Sarah Treacy - Beyond Not Drinking: Build a Life You Don’t Want to Escape
In this episode, I share how getting sober in 2020 eventually changed far more than my relationship with alcohol, leading me to leave my 20-year corporate marketing career and build a life around adventure, connection and purpose.
We talk about getting sober during COVID, the moment I realised alcohol was threatening the career I had worked so hard to build, and the tools that helped me reach radical acceptance that alcohol and I simply couldn’t coexist. I share how those early years became an unexpected period of self-discovery as I started figuring out who I was and what I actually wanted from my life.
We dig into what happened a few years later when sobriety was solid, but other parts of my life started to feel misaligned. I open up about keeping my sobriety private for nearly four years, recognising the shame I was still carrying, and eventually learning to own my story. We also talk about discovering sober community through Adventure Recovery and how challenging ourselves, getting outside and connecting with people who understand us can open up an entirely different experience of recovery.
We also dive into why I left the security of my corporate career, how my definition of success changed, and what inspired me to create Sobriety Is the New Epic. I share how the series has evolved from showing people what’s possible in sobriety to providing practical tools for the question that often emerges once life is stable again: Now what?
Listen in if your sobriety is solid but you’re starting to wonder who you’ve become, what no longer fits, and what you want to build next.
Podcast: Sober Vibes Podcast with Courtney Andersen
🔊 Ep. 248 — Embracing Your Sober Identity After Quitting Alcohol with Sarah Treacy
In this episode, I share how I went from quitting drinking in 2020 to leaving my 20-year corporate marketing career in 2024 to build a life that’s not just sober, but epic.
We talk about getting sober during COVID, moving from secrecy to confidence, and building a community that makes alcohol-free living feel expansive, not small. I open up about how sobriety helped protect my career, my health, and my happiness — and what truly happens after you quit drinking.
We dig into the connection between alcohol and anxiety, how to work through shame and fear of judgment, and why finding belonging through retreats, adventure, and shared purpose changes everything. I share practical tools for navigating cravings, regulating emotions, and building confidence as you create a life that feels aligned, purpose-driven, and fun.
We also dive into what inspired me to launch Sobriety Is The New Epic, a free virtual speaker series redefining what recovery can look like — proving that sobriety isn’t boring or restrictive, it’s your next great adventure.
Listen in if you’re ready to step into your new identity, rediscover joy and connection, and see recovery as the adventure of a lifetime.
Podcast: Her Journey Home Podcast with Sophia Graniela
🔊 Ep. 49 — Turning Recovery into Adventure with Sarah, The Sober Sherpa
In this episode, I share how I went from walking away from a 20-year corporate career after quitting drinking in 2020 to building a life that’s not just sober, but epic.
We talk about how movement, connection, and adventure became the foundation of my healing—and how I turned sobriety into my greatest adventure yet. I break down my S.O.A.R. framework—Self-Discovery, Overcoming Barriers, Adventure Activation, and Reclaiming & Expanding—and how it helps women reconnect with themselves, rediscover joy, and create lives that feel aligned and free.
We also dive into what inspired me to launch Sobriety Is The New Epic, a free virtual speaker series featuring 28 trailblazers proving that recovery isn’t restrictive—it’s wildly fun, deeply connected, and full of purpose.
Listen in if you’re ready to see what’s truly possible in an alcohol-free life—from emotional balance to purpose, passion, and adventure that keep growing with you.
Podcast: SobahSistahs Sobriety for Women Podcast with Megan Wilcox
🔊 Ep. 53 — Sobriety is EPIC with Sarah Treacy
In this episode, I open up about the moment I finally stopped ignoring the red flags in my drinking and chose to quit during the COVID lockdown, a decision that changed everything.
We talk about what those first 90 days of sobriety really feel like, from the shaky early emotions to the surprising joy and connection that start to surface when you push through the hard days. I share the tools that helped me when moderation failed, why mentorship and retreats became game-changers, and how telling your story can create ripple effects you never expect.
I also unpack how adventure became the missing piece that transformed my recovery from just “not drinking” into living fully, and how that passion led me to create The Sober Adventure Collective, a space for mentorship, retreats, and community built around movement, nature, and real human connection.
Listen in if you’re ready to see sobriety as more than restriction. It’s about adding passion, purpose, and belonging, and creating a life that feels bigger, bolder, and far more meaningful than anything alcohol ever gave you.
Podcast: Thrive Alcohol-Free with Dupe Witherick
🔊 Ep. 79 — Sobriety Is The New Epic
In this episode I share my journey from corporate life to building The Sober Adventure Collective and how sobriety became the launchpad for my greatest adventures yet.
We explore the turning points that shaped my alcohol‑free path, the freedom that comes from aligning your life with your values, and how adventure, community, and purpose can transform recovery into something truly epic.
Listen here and discover how your alcohol‑free life can be so much bigger, bolder, and more fulfilling than you imagined.
Podcast: Sun and Moon Sober Living Podcast with Mary Tilson
🔊 Ep. 112 — Discover How Sobriety Can Become Your Greatest Adventure
In this episode we explored my recovery story and the beliefs I had to rewire about alcohol, along with how habits, structure, and routine helped transform early sobriety.
I shared what it took to embrace a sober identity, navigate the “slippery middle,” and move beyond shame. We talked about building a life filled with adventure, purpose, and community — and the inspiration behind creating Sobriety is the New Epic as a platform to celebrate that possibility.
Listen in and discover how recovery can become your launchpad for passion, connection, and a life you truly love.
Podcast: Tribe Sober Podcast with Janet Gourand
🔊 Ep. 286 — Sobriety is EPIC with Sarah Treacy
In this episode I share my journey from teenage drinking to a “work hard, play hard” corporate lifestyle and how I finally found freedom in sobriety.
We explore the turning points that helped me step away from alcohol during COVID lockdown, the tools that worked after years of failed attempts to moderate, and the surprising confidence and emotional freedom that came with living alcohol free.
I also talk about how adventure became the missing piece in my recovery and how the Sober Adventure Collective was born to help others heal through nature, movement, and connection.
Listen in and discover why recovery is about more than just removing alcohol. It is about adding passion, purpose, and community and creating a life that feels bigger, bolder, and more meaningful than you ever imagined.
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ORCA Recovery Coach Training
Feb-Mar 2022
Completed the 40-hour training program. Developed the knowledge and skills essential for safe and effective entry-level Recovery Coaching, including lectures, discussions, mock coaching sessions, and behavioural experiments.
Ditched the Drink - Launch Your Coaching Practice
June 2024
Completed a comprehensive business-building curriculum with award-winning sober life coach Heather Lowe. Covered business planning, branding, marketing, and client acquisition, with access to practical tools, templates, and resources.
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