In this unfiltered and wildly funny conversation with Clay Aikin, Cat Greenleaf unpacks the American Idol legend's truth behind overnight fame, losing half his fanbase overnight, price of fame, coming out as gay in the public eye, running for Congress, and rebuilding his identity — again and again.

In this episode of Soberness, Clay reveals:

✨ The whiplash of going from schoolteacher to global superstar in 12 weeks

✨ Touring with Kelly Clarkson after American Idol

✨ The paranoia and loneliness that fame quietly creates

✨ Why Broadway had to STOP a performance because fans

✨ The moment People Magazine told him he had to come out and his coming out story

✨ How he processed losing a massive portion of his fans

✨ The lawsuit claiming he was "false advertising" his sexuality

✨ Why he left entertainment for politics — and why he walked away

✨ How GLP1 changed his life (and almost made him puke onstage)

✨ What age has taught him about confidence, embarrassment, and giving zero f*s

If you grew up with Clay, loved Idol, or care about the psychology of fame, identity, and reinvention — this is one of the most vulnerable interviews he's ever done.

MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE:
Jason Biggs https://youtu.be/TLU8NO2cOm8

Submit your story: https://soberness.com/

For more content from Cat Greenleaf, check out her socials below!

https://www.instagram.com/catgreenleaf/

https://www.instagram.com/sobernesspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-greenleaf-52900279/

ABOUT SOBERNESS:

Soberness—the concept—is freedom from f**kery:

The f**kery of addiction.

The self-inflicted f**kery.

And the f**kery that shows up uninvited.

Soberness—the podcast—is where celebrity raconteurs spill what broke them, what saved them, and what still f**ks with them today.

From Talk Stoop creator and host Cat Greenleaf, Soberness is recorded at the Algonquin Hotel's iconic Round Table in Midtown Manhattan.

Once home to Dorothy Parker and her Vicious Circle of drunken critics and wits, the Gonk is a legendary hotbed of brilliance and bad behavior. A f**kery free-for-all.

In other words, it's a perfect fit.

ABOUT CAT GREENLEAF:

Cat created and hosted NBC's long-running series Talk Stoop—the celebrity interview show filmed on her Brooklyn front steps. Yep, the one with the bulldog that dominated NYC TaxiTV and USA Daytime in the 20teens. Over nine years, she hosted hundreds of guests, racked up four Emmys, launched countless adventures—and had so much fun.

Then she got fired. No fun.

After losing her job, she thought she'd never to go back to journalism. With no other marketable skills and no idea what to do next, she entered an epic dark night of the soul.

Looking for light, her family moved to the beach in Coney Island. There, Cat got serious about her own sobriety and began bringing recovery meetings to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and men. That work inspired her to found the nonprofit Restorative Housing Organization. RHO is dedicated to training formerly incarcerated men and women to renovate undervalued NYC waterfront properties, which are then rented to Section 8 tenants. She loves it. But once a journalist, always a journalist.

So when she weirdly got name-checked on Hacks last season, she took it as a sign.
Soon after, she heard her old friend, musician Steve Earle, talking openly about his sobriety on a radio show —a thing she didn't know people were even allowed to do. And she realized she wanted to be the one talking to Steve Earle about sobriety on a show! Soberness was born in September 2024.

#soberness #catgreenleaf #catgreenleafsoberness #Clayaikin #Clayaikininterview #americanidol #americanidolvideos #americanidolauditions #americanidolwinner #americanidalseason4 #americanidalseason3 #americanidalseason2 #kellyclarkson #wherearetheynow #comingoutasgay #comingoutstory #lgbt #comingout #lgbtq #Clayaikinpodcast #overnightfame #priceoffame #celebritynews #celebritygossip

Don Lemon opens up like never before. In this raw, unfiltered conversation with Cat Greenleaf, he reflects on life after his CNN exit — the shock, the betrayal, and how he rebuilt his life from his living room.

In this Don Lemon interview on the Soberness Podcast, he reveals the impact CNN had on his life and voice, how the experience made him wiser, more grounded, and why he's dedicated to fighting for the truth. From racism to violence, from truth in media to rebuilding his identity, Don Lemon speaks with clarity, courage, and conviction. If you've ever felt betrayed, voiceless, or afraid to take your power back — this conversation is for you.

MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE:

E. Jean Carroll Tells All | Trump Paid Me $100M for Abuse and Defamation: https://youtu.be/TLU8NO2cOm8

What Sobriety Really Means with Heavyweight Host, Jonathan Goldstein: http://youtu.be/u6P7J5KToQE

He Didn't Know He Belonged—Until Al-Anon with Philip Galanes: https://youtu.be/84tWDAZAebE

Submit your story:

https://soberness.com/

For more content from Cat Greenleaf, check out her socials below! https://www.instagram.com/catgreenleaf/

https://www.instagram.com/sobernesspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-greenleaf-52900279/

ABOUT SOBERNESS: Soberness—the concept—is freedom from f**kery: The f**kery of addiction. The self-inflicted f**kery. And the f**kery that shows up uninvited. Soberness—the podcast—is where celebrity raconteurs spill what broke them, what saved them, and what still f**ks with them today. From Talk Stoop creator and host Cat Greenleaf, Soberness is recorded at the Algonquin Hotel's iconic Round Table in Midtown Manhattan. Once home to Dorothy Parker and her Vicious Circle of drunken critics and wits, the Gonk is a legendary hotbed of brilliance and bad behavior. A f**kery free-for-all. In other words, it's a perfect fit.

ABOUT CAT GREENLEAF: Cat created and hosted NBC's long-running series Talk Stoop—the celebrity interview show filmed on her Brooklyn front steps. Yep, the one with the bulldog that dominated NYC TaxiTV and USA Daytime in the 20teens. Over nine years, she hosted hundreds of guests, racked up four Emmys, launched countless adventures—and had so much fun. Then she got fired. No fun. After losing her job, she thought she'd never to go back to journalism. With no other marketable skills and no idea what to do next, she entered an epic dark night of the soul. Looking for light, her family moved to the beach in Coney Island. There, Cat got serious about her own sobriety and began bringing recovery meetings to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and men. That work inspired her to found the nonprofit Restorative Housing Organization. RHO is dedicated to training formerly incarcerated men and women to renovate undervalued NYC waterfront properties, which are then rented to Section 8 tenants. She loves it. But once a journalist, always a journalist. So when she weirdly got name-checked on Hacks last season, she took it as a sign.Soon after, she heard her old friend, musician Steve Earle, talking openly about his sobriety on a radio show —a thing she didn't know people were even allowed to do. And she realized she wanted to be the one talking to Steve Earle about sobriety on a show! Soberness was born in September 2024.

#soberness #catgreenleaf #catgreenleafsoberness #DonLemon #Donlemonshow #Donlemonlive #Donlemoncomments #DonLemonInterview #DonLemonpodcast #DonLemonCNN #DonLemonfired #DonLemonmentalhealth #DonLemonmarriage #truthinmedia #racism #authenticityinmedia #DonLemonunfiltered #DonLemonfiredfromCNN #DonLemonfiredreaction #DonLemonyoutube #celebritysobrietystories #donlemonfiredfromCNN #celebritypodcast #sobernesspodcast

Raw and unforgettable conversation with Marky Ramone, the legendary drummer of The Ramones. This is the definitive Ramones interview that goes beyond the music, exploring the dark side of rock and roll fame. Marky opens up about his personal struggle with alcohol addiction and the painful consequences that followed, including being fired from one of the greatest punk bands of all time. Marky details the low point that led him to seek help, his first reluctant visit to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and how the 12 Steps fundamentally changed his life. Hear the true story of his recovery, the moment he reclaimed his life, and what it took to achieve over 30 years of sobriety. This episode is an essential listen for Ramones fans, anyone facing their own battle with alcoholism, or those seeking inspiration in recovery. This episode of Soberness is empowering, shocking, and inspires us to take control of our own future. It's time to free ourselves from F*ckery!

MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE:

Steve Earle (Space Monkeys) and his Journey to Sobriety https://youtu.be/jmSeBT0ud5o Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols) and his Journey to Sobriety https://youtu.be/yIShyWH5yvI

Submit your story: https://soberness.com/

For more content from Cat Greenleaf, check out her socials below! https://www.instagram.com/catgreenleaf/

https://www.instagram.com/sobernesspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-greenleaf-52900279/

ABOUT SOBERNESS: Soberness—the concept—is freedom from f**kery: The f**kery of addiction. The self-inflicted f**kery. And the f**kery that shows up uninvited. Soberness—the podcast—is where celebrity raconteurs spill what broke them, what saved them, and what still f**ks with them today. From Talk Stoop creator and host Cat Greenleaf, Soberness is recorded at the Algonquin Hotel's iconic Round Table in Midtown Manhattan. Once home to Dorothy Parker and her Vicious Circle of drunken critics and wits, the Gonk is a legendary hotbed of brilliance and bad behavior. A f**kery free-for-all. In other words, it's a perfect fit.

ABOUT CAT GREENLEAF: Cat created and hosted NBC's long-running series Talk Stoop—the celebrity interview show filmed on her Brooklyn front steps. Yep, the one with the bulldog that dominated NYC TaxiTV and USA Daytime in the 20teens. Over nine years, she hosted hundreds of guests, racked up four Emmys, launched countless adventures—and had so much fun. Then she got fired. No fun. After losing her job, she thought she'd never to go back to journalism. With no other marketable skills and no idea what to do next, she entered an epic dark night of the soul. Looking for light, her family moved to the beach in Coney Island. There, Cat got serious about her own sobriety and began bringing recovery meetings to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and men. That work inspired her to found the nonprofit Restorative Housing Organization. RHO is dedicated to training formerly incarcerated men and women to renovate undervalued NYC waterfront properties, which are then rented to Section 8 tenants. She loves it. But once a journalist, always a journalist. So when she weirdly got name-checked on Hacks last season, she took it as a sign. Soon after, she heard her old friend, musician Steve Earle, talking openly about his sobriety on a radio show —a thing she didn't know people were even allowed to do. And she realized she wanted to be the one talking to Steve Earle about sobriety on a show! Soberness was born in September 2024.

#sobernesspodcast #catgreenleaf #soberness #TheRamones, #PunkRock, #Ramones, #RamonesInterview, #MarkyRamone, #MarkyRamoneInterview, #AlcoholicsAnonymous, #AlcoholicsAnonymousSpeakers, #AddictionRecovery, #AlcoholAddiction, #Alcoholism, #StopDrinking, #RecoveryApproach, #Alcoholic, #JoeyRamone, #AAJourney, #MarkyRamoneOnSobriety, #MarkyRamoneAAExperience, #MarkyRamoneRecoveryStory, #SoberMusicians #alcholicsanonymous #soberlife #soberjourney

E. Jean Carroll is the only woman who made Trump pay, twice. This is her shocking story about being a woman, beating a billionaire in court, the verdict, and the aftermath of abuse on mental and relational health. E. Jean Carroll is a successful journalist and activist, and we're honored to hear her story live, kicking off season 2 of Soberness, Freedom from F*ckery. This episode of Soberness is empowering, shocking, and inspires us to stand up to those who have taken advantage of us. It's time to free ourselves from F*ckery!

This episode is sponsored by Hand on Heart Wine https://handonheartwine.com/

Submit your story: https://soberness.com/

For more content from Cat Greenleaf, check out her socials below! https://www.instagram.com/catgreenleaf/

https://www.instagram.com/sobernesspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-greenleaf-52900279/

ABOUT SOBERNESS:

Soberness—the concept—is freedom from f**kery: The f**kery of addiction. The self-inflicted f**kery. And the f**kery that shows up uninvited. Soberness—the podcast—is where celebrity raconteurs spill what broke them, what saved them, and what still f**ks with them today. From Talk Stoop creator and host Cat Greenleaf, Soberness is recorded at the Algonquin Hotel's iconic Round Table in Midtown Manhattan. Once home to Dorothy Parker and her Vicious Circle of drunken critics and wits, the Gonk is a legendary hotbed of brilliance and bad behavior. A f**kery free-for-all. In other words, it's a perfect fit.

ABOUT CAT GREENLEAF:

Cat created and hosted NBC's long-running series Talk Stoop—the celebrity interview show filmed on her Brooklyn front steps. Yep, the one with the bulldog that dominated NYC TaxiTV and USA Daytime in the 20teens. Over nine years, she hosted hundreds of guests, racked up four Emmys, launched countless adventures—and had so much fun. Then she got fired. No fun. After losing her job, she thought she'd never to go back to journalism. With no other marketable skills and no idea what to do next, she entered an epic dark night of the soul. Looking for light, her family moved to the beach in Coney Island. There, Cat got serious about her own sobriety and began bringing recovery meetings to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and men. That work inspired her to found the nonprofit Restorative Housing Organization. RHO is dedicated to training formerly incarcerated men and women to renovate undervalued NYC waterfront properties, which are then rented to Section 8 tenants. She loves it. But once a journalist, always a journalist. So when she weirdly got name-checked on Hacks last season, she took it as a sign.Soon after, she heard her old friend, musician Steve Earle, talking openly about his sobriety on a radio show —a thing she didn't know people were even allowed to do. And she realized she wanted to be the one talking to Steve Earle about sobriety on a show! Soberness was born in September 2024.

#ejeancarroll #donaldtrump #abuseallegations #abusesurvivors #trumpnews #sobernesspodcast #catgreenleaf #soberness #ejeancarrolltrump

What's the truth about getting sober in prison? In this powerful episode, Amika Mota shares her journey from addiction to incarceration—and the unexpected realities of recovery behind bars. From fighting fires as an inmate to leading change on the outside, her story is raw, eye-opening, and deeply human.

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WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE:

https://youtu.be/QSD3sxd_wS4

LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi

-

FOLLOW SOBERNESS:

Instagram @SobernessPodcast

TikTok @SobernessPodcast

YouTube @SobernessPodcast

#AmikaMota #SobernessPodcast #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #AlcoholRecovery #SoberCurious #MentalHealth #ShameAndHealing #SobrietyJourney #SobrietyBehindBars #AmikaMota #PrisonRecovery #SobernessPodcast #WomenInRecovery

Nick Thune's Absinthe Relapse and the Comeback That Followed

Comedian and actor Nick Thune gets brutally honest about his sobriety journey—getting sober at 17, staying dry for 12 years, and the one drink in Vegas that triggered a decade-long relapse. From absinthe and near-death moments to a comeback rooted in faith, fatherhood, and self-forgiveness, this is one of Soberness' most raw and redemptive episodes yet.

If you've ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, struggled with shame, or wondered what recovery can really look like—this conversation is for you.

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WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE:

https://youtu.be/QSD3sxd_wS4

LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi

-

FOLLOW SOBERNESS:

Instagram @SobernessPodcast

TikTok @SobernessPodcast

YouTube @SobernessPodcast

Nick Thune, sobriety, addiction recovery, relapse story, comedian sobriety, getting sober, alcohol relapse, sobriety journey, rehab story, faith and recovery, sobriety podcast, sober comedian, relapse recovery, AA story, sobriety motivation, addiction and comedy, absinthe relapse, alcohol abuse, sobriety comeback, Soberness podcast, shame and addiction, Nick Thune relapse, staying sober

#NickThune #SobernessPodcast #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #RelapseStory #SoberLife #ComedyAndSobriety #AlcoholRecovery #SoberCurious #FaithAndRecovery #AAStory #RehabJourney #MentalHealth #ShameAndHealing #SobrietyJourney

What happens when humor meets heartbreak? In this episode of The Soberness Podcast, acclaimed writer and Heavyweight host Jonathan Goldstein dives into the tangled roots of family dysfunction, forgiveness, and the stories we carry from childhood. Through wit and vulnerability, Jonathan unpacks emotional inheritance, estrangement, and what it means to find peace without closure.

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WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE:

https://youtu.be/u6P7J5KToQE

LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCASTS HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CT7iEJi0PIzaVHxEBVZVi

-

FOLLOW SOBERNESS:

Instagram @SobernessPodcast

TikTok @SobernessPodcast

YouTube @SobernessPodcast