ROCK BOTTOM TO MOUNTAINTOP
A feature-length documentary about recovery, community, and The Phoenix.
Recovery is not a solitary climb. It is a collective ascent.
\ THE FILM
SOBER frames recovery as a living chain reaction.
SOBER is a feature-length documentary that follows a group of people who have risen from the ashes of addiction in Los Angeles, proving that recovery isn’t just about getting sober, but also about reclaiming joy, strength, and community. The film explores the rise of The Phoenix, a nonprofit founded by Scott Strode, as it evolves from a single man’s journey to sobriety through fitness and connection into a nationwide movement of over one million people united by the power of community in recovery.
What begins as a personal battle becomes a shared path—one built on mutual support, dignity for all, and a deep belief in people. Recovery, it turns out, is not a solitary climb, but a collective ascent. At its core, the film is about strength rediscovered and passed forward, one person at a time. With each story, the film shows recovery as a simple act of believing that another person can spark a movement of healing, resilience, and hope.
Bring SOBER to your community. Host a screening for your organization, campus, or community group. The Phoenix team is available for live Q&A sessions to spark meaningful conversation around recovery. Together, we can break stigma and build bridges to a life of connection.
\ As Seen On
\ Spokespeople
Scott Strode
Role
Founder and Executive Director
Scott launched The Phoenix in 2006 to create free, sober active communities where people rise together through shared experiences. Now with more than 28 years in recovery himself, Scott knows firsthand the power of connection to ignite change. The Phoenix has since empowered over a million people, with a goal of 10 million by 2030. In 2025 he co-founded NewForm, a digital platform connecting people to free recovery and mental health resources. His memoir, RISE. RECOVER. THRIVE., tells the story behind the movement.
Jefe Greenheart
Role
Co-director of SOBER
Jefe is the co-director of SOBER and an award-winning filmmaker based in Austin, TX. After leaving primetime TV to make pro-bono documentaries for grassroots organizations in South America, he co-founded CIRCUS PICNIC — a studio specializing in social impact storytelling and immersive entertainment. His work has generated over 2 billion views and helped clients raise 2 billion dollars.
Charlene Chandler
Role
Innovative Development Manager
Charlene is a mother of two with seven years in recovery and a deep passion for fitness and community. For the past five years she has channeled that passion into her work with The Phoenix, inspiring others to find strength through movement and connection.
Raelynn Franklin
Role
Volunteer
Raelynn is a film subject based in Long Beach, CA. As a volunteer for The Phoenix, she teaches fitness classes. She ran the NYC marathon in November 2025.
Jacki Hillios, PhD, MSW
Role
Deputy Executive Director
Jacki is Deputy Executive Director of The Phoenix and Co-Founder of NewForm. A former clinician with 20 years working with at-risk youth, she co-founded The Phoenix in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades scaling its evidence-based sober-active model. Her 2013 TEDxBoulder talk Transcending Addiction and Redefining Recovery has been watched by over 783,000 people.
Beth Collinson, PhD, MRes
Role
Senior Research Manager
Beth Collinson is Senior Director of Research for The Phoenix. After completing her PhD in addiction recovery and publishing on the importance of meaningful activities in promoting recovery and wellbeing, she discovered The Phoenix — a model that brought those ideas to life at scale. Alongside a team of researchers and partners, she studies how participation in The Phoenix helps people flourish, and how those changes ripple across families, neighborhoods, and systems.
\ Contact