About CaFé RE

Our Story: The Heart and Mission of Café RE

Our Mission

Finding Joy in Sobriety

We offer hope through community and connection, partnering sobriety-seeking individuals with other like-minded people!

Our Vision

The Future is Alcohol-Free

At Café RE, we believe that by reconnecting and restoring who we are meant to be, we can overcome addiction and create lasting change for ourselves and the world.

How It All Began: Our Recovery Story

Paul Churchill launched the Recovery Elevator podcast in 2015 as a personal tool for accountability and to help others struggling with alcohol addiction. The idea came to him while hiding behind a tree (thank you stigma) in a church parking lot trying to decide if he wanted to walk into an AA meeting.

What started as a podcast quickly grew into Café RE, a vibrant community dedicated to supporting those on their journey to quit drinking. Today, the Recovery Elevator podcast and Café RE community are a lifeline for thousands of people just like you who are ready to ditch the booze and reclaim their lives. As far Paul, he did attend that AA meeting, it’s been ten years since his last drink, and he plays ukulele to his goats 🐐 on his sunset platform as many nights as possible.

Meet the Team Committed to Helping You Quit Drinking

At Café RE, we’re proud to have a team of individuals who have all come to us through their own struggles with addiction and come out the other side. Our team is here to support you every step of the way because we are all walking the same path together.

Paul Churchill

Founder/Executive Director

Kerri MacFarlane 'Kmac'

Community Manager

Stephanie McCarroll

New Member Coordinator

Kris Oyen

Graphics/Media

Tyrrell Lourie

Community Operations

Natasha Mazumdar

Communications

Dale Harness

Chat Coordinator

Danielle Marr

Course Instructor

Patrick Foley

Course Instructor

Lauren Grasso

Philanthropy Coordinator

Our Core Values

Honesty

Authenticity

Compassion

These core values guide everything we do at Café RE, from how we interact with our community members to our broader mission of creating a world free from the constraints of addiction.

The Meaning Behind “RE”

The “RE” in Café RE stands for recovery, reconnecting, and restoring. These aren’t just words—they’re the foundation of our community. We believe that recovery is about more than just making the decision to quit drinking.

It’s about reconnecting with your true self, your curiosity, and the world around you. It’s about restoring balance to your life and creating a future that doesn’t need alcohol.

That’s what we’re here to help you achieve.

Our Commitment as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Café RE operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, committed to providing support for those seeking to quit drinking. Our non-profit status reflects our dedication to transparency and community-driven initiatives. We’re here to make a difference not just in individual lives, but in how society addresses addiction as a whole.

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Member Stories

Megan - 39, Georgia

I joined Cafe RE in 2019 when I was 3 weeks sober. It was the place I could go for support, comfort, connection and a platform for me to be vulnerable. It was my safe place and I owe my long term sobriety that I have today to that community.

Dave - 62, Minnesota

For me, participating in the CafeRE community was the missing piece to my sobriety puzzle and has helped me attain my longest stretch of sobriety in over 40 years. Regularly attending online chats has allowed me to build a network of sober friends, taught me a tremendous amount about myself, and provided a loving/supportive/non-judgemental community in which I am thriving. Your path to sobriety may be different than mine, but joining CafeRE has been exactly what I needed to build the pride, knowlege, accountability, and community I needed to make my sobriety finally stick. Good luck on your journey.

Andrea - 60, California

I joined CafeRE 2 weeks after my last drink and it has been pivotal in my recovery. The connections I have made and the support I have received, has been significant in my long term sobriety. I have been able to form long lasting friendships with members who I know consider my chosen family. 💙

Rick - 47, New Hampshire

The Recovery Elevator podcast cracked the door of sobriety open for me. The CafeRE community busted that door wide open! Connecting with the CafeRE community has been instrumental in my sobriety journey.

Sobriety can be a lonely place. I was sober-curious for a long time and often had small periods of sobriety, but always went back to drinking. I found the Recovery Elevator podcast and it satiated that sober curiosity, but the CafeRE community and connections I’ve made there solidified my life of sobriety.

Kayleen - 27, Maryland

I say this all the time – I wouldn’t be 15 months sober without the courage to ask for help and reach out to community. Cafe RE has given me just that – an amazing community of like-minded people to laugh with and lean on. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to build my AF network and it’s a bonus to make amazing friends along the way.

Why Café RE is Different

Café RE isn’t just another recovery group—it’s a movement. We’re challenging the culture around alcohol and creating a space where sobriety is not just possible, but enjoyable. We believe that life is meant to be lived with laughter, authenticity, and joy, and we’re here to help you discover that life for yourself.

Whether through our online private bumpin’ community, in-person meetups, or daily online chats, Café RE offers a welcoming community where you can find the support you need to live an alcohol-free life. We’re not just about quitting drinking—we’re about helping you create a life you love.

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Ready to Start Your Journey?

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