This week on Sober Champs, Pete sits down with Eli who's rocking 10 months clean. Born in Seattle to a Moroccan dad and American mom who met at a local bakery and had a one-night stand that led to his birth, Eli opens up about growing up in Woodstock, NY and how his life took some hard turns.

Eli doesn't hold back when talking about his teenage years and how substance use gradually took over. He takes us through his college days at Boston University where freedom, identity struggles, and a passion for hip-hop mixed with increasing substance use that eventually derailed his education.

The conversation gets real about the cycle of getting sober, thinking you've got it figured out, then sliding back into old habits – from weed to alcohol, Adderall, and eventually harder drugs. Eli shares the rock-bottom moment that came with his kratom addiction and how it finally clicked that no amount of success or good relationships could fix what was happening inside him.

There's something powerful about hearing two guys just talking honestly about the tough stuff – the missed opportunities, the family tension, and eventually the healing that comes with genuine recovery. Recorded at Color Studios in Pioneer Square, this episode isn't about perfection – it's about progress, honesty, and finding your way back home to yourself.