Rise. Recover. Thrive.: How I Got Strong, Got Sober, and Built a Movement of Hope

As seen on the Today show and The Kelly Clarkson Show

In his “memoir with a mission,” Scott Strode shares his extraordinary journey from addiction to founding The Phoenix, a national sober active community that has empowered more than half a million people to thrive in sobriety.

Scott Strode drank his first beer at 11 years old. By 15, he was using cocaine. By his early 20s, he had spiraled into the bleakest nights of his addiction—alone in a dark alley, too drunk to light a crack pipe.

Then came a series of life-changing outdoor adventures—including competing in Ironman triathlons and climbing in the Himalayas—leading to a decade of profound personal growth. By the summer of 2006, Scott had nearly ten years of sobriety and a vision for revolutionizing addiction recovery.

What inspired his dramatic self-transformation?

It began with a mindset shift. Instead of defining himself first by his addiction, he began embracing his inherent strength and potential.

He also employed practical principles like his 5:00 a.m. rule: instead of staying out partying until 5:00 a.m., he worked to surround himself with people who regularly got up at 5:00 a.m. to share in meaningful adventures, exercise, and get stronger.

These practices and principles formed the heart of The Phoenix’s empowerment approach to recovery and led Scott to lasting sobriety, marriage, fatherhood, and a long-term purpose.

More than a memoir, Rise. Recover. Thrive. is a pathway to hope for millions of people—and their loved ones—who are struggling with addiction.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will go to support The Phoenix.

Scott Strode is the founder of The Phoenix, a national sober active community that has reached more than half a million people impacted by addiction, with the goal of reaching ten million people by 2030.

Born in Pennsylvania to an emotionally abusive father who suffered from untreated mental illness and a distant, workaholic mother, Scott turned to alcohol and cocaine early on as an escape from his tumultuous upbringing.

On April 8, 1997, Scott finally made the life-changing decision to get sober. His strength and resolve came in large part from adopting an active lifestyle that would carry him through his recovery. That lifestyle included boxing, cycling, mountain climbing, triathlons, and almost anything that got him outside. It was the connections he formed with others as they bonded over new experiences and shared goals that kept him sober. And this gave him a powerful idea.

Since Scott started The Phoenix in Colorado in 2006 as “just a guy with a bike,” this innovative network has expanded across America. It offers a safe, sober active community of peers who support and empower each other every day, fostering healing through all kinds of activities, including concerts, hiking, yoga, lunches, book clubs, meditation, and music jam sessions. As Scott puts it, “We believe in each other even before we believe in ourselves.” He lives in Boston with his wife and two children.