Ryan Lee spent his twenties chasing numbness—ecstasy, cocaine, alcohol, repeat. He kept his corporate job intact, hit his numbers, and convinced himself everything was fine. But underneath the performance, he was stuck. Personally stagnant. Professionally functional but unfulfilled. Using substances to blur the edges of a life he didn’t actually want.
On March 14, 2021, Ryan found himself lying on an Airbnb floor, convinced he was dying from a heart attack. He wasn’t—it was panic from daily hard drug use. Two days later, he got sober. Not gradually. Not with a plan. Just done. He flew home, left his corporate job, spent 90 days learning to live without substances, and started the real work of figuring out who he was beneath the blur.
What happened next wasn’t a linear recovery story. It was a complete life rebuild that led him to create Capsule Adventures—a sober travel company that takes people to bucket-list destinations like Patagonia, Iceland, and Colombia. Not to prove sobriety works. To experience what becomes possible when you strip away the distractions and show up fully present. Ryan calls it “life in 4K”—choosing clarity and presence over grayscale sameness. This conversation explores how he built a creative business around that clarity, what it takes to replace old patterns with something better, and why the moments that stick are the ones you actually remember.
Show Notes
[03:07] The Stagnant Years: Drugs, Work, and the Performance Trap
Ryan moved to NYC in 2016 and quickly started using ecstasy and cocaine alongside heavy drinking
His life became a cycle: work, party, recover, repeat—convinced he didn’t have a problem because he was performing at his job
The work “life raft” kept him stuck personally while he evolved professionally
He didn’t realize how unfulfilling his corporate job was until after getting sober
[05:05] The Gift of Boredom: Relearning Who You Are
Ryan describes early sobriety as having a “blank slate”—a chance to reexamine every facet of his life
He had to relearn what he actually liked versus what he thought he liked when substances were involved
The boredom people fear in early sobriety is actually an invitation to rediscover yourself
Ryan started trying things he’d previously dismissed—like square dancing—and found joy in unexpected places
[10:48] The Georgia Hike That Changed Everything
While traveling through the Svaneti region of Georgia, Ryan witnessed a trip derail due to heavy drinking, a foiled assault, and a fired guide
Standing in front of an “unreal mountainscape” on Day 3, the idea for Capsule Adventures hit him
He realized he was done compromising on the kind of experiences he wanted to have
The concept: sober adventure travel where presence replaces performance
[11:55] Replacing Chaos with Joy
Ryan initially thought sobriety meant the end of euphoric experiences
On a trip through Colombia—gripping a mototaxi around mountain roads—he felt genuine joy again at 11 months sober
The joy kept returning: clouds parting over Machu Picchu, standing on glaciers, starting fires with bare hands
These experiences didn’t just help him stay sober—they brought color back into his life
[20:22] How He Curates Trips: The Magic Test
Ryan travels constantly, always evaluating: “Would this make a good trip?”
Most experiences don’t pass the test—they’re fun but not memorable enough
The ones that make it have a “magic feeling”—places where everything converges and you feel honored to be alive in that moment
Example: The Lost City in Colombia requires permission from indigenous people, includes a 1,200-stair climb and purification ceremony
[23:06] Type 2 Fun: The Hard Trips That Transform People
Ryan’s Machu Picchu trip is his favorite—physically demanding and emotionally cathartic
He’s witnessed more crying on these trips than anywhere else: people reaching summits and sobbing as they “come back to themselves”
One woman went from apologizing constantly at the start to moving through the world with confidence by the end
The stress is real (Ryan’s mustache literally went white in four days), but watching transformation makes it worth it
Key Quotes
“I had to relearn who I was and what I liked and what I didn’t like. And did I have passions for these things I thought I did? Or like, essentially I kind of just reexamined every facet of my life.” - Ryan Lee
“It’s such a gift to be able to be bored and to have this blank slate available to you.” - Ryan Lee
“I assumed sobriety meant that kind of joy was over. But then I replaced the chaos with something better.” - Ryan Lee
“When all these things kind of converge and hit you in the face—that’s when I’m like, okay, this could be a good trip. You just feel so happy and honored to be alive and in this moment and in this place with these people.” - Ryan Lee
“You can always look back on that experience and be like, this thing I’m going through right now that’s hard, this is nothing to this hike I did with these amazing people. So like, I fucking got this.” - Ryan Lee
Resources Mentioned
Capsule Adventures - Ryan’s sober travel company offering bucket-list trips to destinations like Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Iceland, and the Komodo Islands
Reddit early sobriety communities - Where Ryan offers support and perspective on common challenges like boredom
Where to Find Ryan Lee
Website: capsuleadventures.com
Instagram: @capsuleadventures
Ryan offers both challenging adventure trips (like the Machu Picchu trek) and more relaxed experiences (yacht trips through the Komodo Islands, beach destinations). Whether you’re looking for Type 2 fun or a chill vibe, there’s a Capsule Adventure that fits.
Ready to Remove Alcohol as a Barrier to Your Greatest Work?
Ryan’s story demonstrates what becomes possible when you strip away the blur and commit to showing up fully present. If you’re sensing that something’s holding you back—whether it’s alcohol, self-doubt, or patterns you can’t quite name—you don’t have to figure it out alone.
The Sober Creative Method™ is a 90-day program specifically designed for those who want to unlock their full potential by removing alcohol as a barrier. Through personalized coaching, proven frameworks, and a supportive community, you’ll build the clarity and creative momentum Ryan describes—without compromising your work or waiting years to figure it out.
Curious about your next step? Let’s talk. Coaching, community, or clarity—it all starts with a conversation.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us live for this conversation, and to Ryan Lee for his raw honesty about transformation and what it takes to build a life worth remembering. Your presence and engagement make these conversations possible.
What’s Next
The Sober Creative is more than a newsletter—it’s a movement of individuals reclaiming their creativity by choosing clarity over coping.
The 31-Day Alcohol-Free Reset starts on January 1st.
If you want to see what your creativity feels like without alcohol in the way, this is your moment.
🎯 Take the Clarity Quiz: This assessment reveals certain areas where alcohol may be the exact thing that is quietly sabotaging your creative potential. It’s free and only takes a few minutes.
✍️ Read the Essays: Stories and strategies for building a clear, creative, and intentional life.
🎙️ Join Clear Conversations: Honest talks with creative professionals navigating the intersection of sobriety, self-discovery, and breakthrough work.
💬 Curious about your next step? If you’re sensing that something’s holding you back, but you’re not sure what—reach out. Coaching, community, or clarity—it all starts with a conversation.
✨ The Sober Creative Method™ is a 90-day journey to remove alcohol as the barrier to your greatest work.
Each step forward is an act of becoming who you’re meant to be.
Thanks for walking this path with me.
Josh
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P.S. Missed previous episodes? Browse the Clear Conversations archive to explore more conversations with creative minds in sobriety.
