Rephonic
Artwork for Dear Vernon
Sobriety
The Luckiest Club
Dopamine
Therapy
Loneliness
Alcohol
Recovery
Sobriety and Recovery
Happiness
Meaning
Postpartum Depression
Antidepressants
Compartmentalization
Friendships
Motivation Fatigue
Stress
Laura Mckowen
Concerts
Social Connections
Pink Cloud

Dear Vernon is a sobriety podcast brought to you by The Luckiest Club. Each episode tackles real questions about sobriety, recovery, and life—submitted by members of the TLC community and listeners who are navigating it all in real time.

The Luckiest Club (TLC) is a global sobriety support community founded by Laura McKowen, bestselling author and a leading voice in modern recovery. With daily me... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes12Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureMental HealthHealth & Fitness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dear Vernon

Latest Episodes

This week on Dear Vernon, Laura McKowen, Founder of The Luckiest Club, and Eric Johnson, CEO of The Luckiest Club, tackle a question that's been sitting heavy with one of The Luckiest Club members.

She had 183 days sober. On vacation with her husban... more

This week on Dear Vernon, The Luckiest Club Founder Laura McKowen and The Luckiest Club CEO Eric Johnson are answering a question that came in directly from a member with almost four years of sobriety—and honestly, it's one a lot of people can relate... more

Getting this episode recorded and out was like pulling teeth, but here we are. We couldn't let this question go unanswered, it's that good. A listener asked, "I'm sober, but finding myself shopping, scrolling, and using food as a way to fill that voi... more

This week on Dear Vernon, The Luckiest Club Founder, Laura McKowen, and The Luckiest Club CEO, Eric Johnson, are answering the question "how do I tell people I'm not drinking?" and this is one we hear all the time. We've had close to a dozen people w... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Hosts

Laura McKowen
Co-host, TLC founder, author; multiple episode references as a leading voice in recovery.
Vernon
Host of the show, co-hosting with Laura; central to the sobriety-focused discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 59 ratings
  • Simple and potent

    This is my favorite podcast. First of all, there are no commercials to get in the way of the message. Secondly, the topics are discussed from a human perspective not filled with scientific jargon. It’s real and honest. Just what we all need. Thank you for doing this podcast. I hope it continues just as it is.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yarrumik
    United States2 months ago
  • Great perspective from two of the world’s best humans

    In the first episode Eric and Laura ask why the world needs another podcast and that’s a fair question. But the world does need this podcast because there’s still not enough plain honest talk about the reality of sobriety. This podcast is going to reach people who will benefit so much from listening in on this conversation and from the honesty, the empathy and the wisdom that Eric and Laura just naturally bring to every conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LarryDubs
    United States5 months ago
  • Welcommmmm, Dear Vernon

    It feels genuinely exciting to welcome you into the podcast landscape. This is a natural extension of the care, connection, and integrity that live at the heart of The Luckiest Club (TLC). I’m grateful to see the objectives take this form, meeting real questions with steadiness, sound voice, education, and warmth, and reaching people in the everyday moments where podcasts are often heard. This podcast matters and strengthens the sobriety conversation. I’m proud to be part of a team that understa... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlexanderBlueFeather
    United States6 months ago
  • YES!

    Yes to this podcast and yes to TLC!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3julezz
    United States6 months ago
  • A treasure

    The Luckiest Club is the reason I have 4 years alcohol free and I’m so excited for this new podcast. I love Laura’s books. Thank you TLC!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hihosilverlake
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Supportive, warm and practical, with a strong sense of community.
Honest, compassionate conversations that feel real and useful for people in recovery.
Listener feedback highlights how the hosts' lived experience informs empathetic, non-judgmental dialogue.
Community-focused show that's helpful for both newcomers and those in long-term recovery.
Thoughtful discussions that help reduce stigma around sobriety and share actionable guidance.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike RoweThe Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
The Why Files: Operation PodcastThe Why Files: Operation Podcast

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 6: Is This As Good As It Gets?
Q: I've been sober for five months. My question is when I will feel happy again, when I will feel like I am the quote, luckiest.
The hosts explain that happiness in recovery is often temporary and tied to meaningful meaning, peace, and fulfillment that come from changing life, not just stopping drinking; happiness is a subset of a broader, sustained sense of purpose.
EP 7: How Do I Like My Eggs?
Q: I'm 60 days in and I just feel so bored, which is crazy because I'm a busy working mom.
The hosts acknowledge boredom as a common experience in early sobriety and offer a framework: dopamine regulation can dampen motivation, so start with small, manageable experiments to rediscover what brings light to daily life, including hobbies or routines that fit into a busy schedule.
EP 11: Is It Normal to Keep My Sober Friends Separate?
Q: Is keeping sober friends separate from non-sober friends a sign of secrecy or problems in the relationship?
No. It's a common and healthy part of building a sober life to have distinct circles, and with time these circles often integrate, with different groups serving different needs and conversations.
EP 3: Are You Ever Recovered?
Q: What exactly do you mean when you describe yourself as being in recovery? Do you feel you'll be in that phase forever, or a day will come when you feel fully recovered?
Recovery, to me, is a lifelong process that goes beyond sobriety. It includes emotional healing, addressing past traumas, and building healthier coping strategies, so I'm in long‑term recovery even if I'm not actively “recovering” in a heavy sense day-to-day. The work evolves from simply not drinking to actively evolving how I respond to life's stresses.
EP 1: So... Who The Hell Is Vernon?
Q: Why is it that I wake up each morning determined to be sober, but by 6 p.m. I'm thinking I'll have some wine and tomorrow I can work on it?
The answer involves both physical dependence and psychological factors: the body craves the substance due to dopamine-driven rewards and habitual cues, while motivation and stress responses wanes as the day progresses; recognizing these patterns and building daily routines, community support, and accountability can help shift behavior.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Dear Vernon

What is Dear Vernon about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts (Laura and Vernon) explore real questions about sobriety, recovery, and everyday life with warmth, practical tips, and a strong emphasis on community support. Episodes mix personal experiences, listener questions, and guest perspectives to normalize sobriety, discuss boundaries, communication, and stigma, and offer actionable strategies for sustaining a sober life while navigating relationships, parenting, and work. Notable throughlines include compassion over punishment, the role of community (The Luckiest Club) in recovery, and a willingness to tackle uncomfortable topics with honesty and curiosity, from emotional processing to social dynamics and cross-addiction risks. The show often blends storytelling with tangible takeaways,... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Dear Vernon?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Dear Vernon. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Dear Vernon and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Dear Vernon get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Dear Vernon, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Dear Vernon?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Dear Vernon, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Dear Vernon have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Dear Vernon has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Dear Vernon?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Dear Vernon:

1. The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women
2. Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober
3. Soberful
4. This Naked Mind Podcast
5. How I quit alcohol

How many episodes of Dear Vernon are there?

Dear Vernon launched 6 months ago and published 12 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Dear Vernon?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Dear Vernon?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Dear Vernon from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Dear Vernon?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Dear Vernon. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days