“Summer House” star Carl Radke has been extremely open about his sobriety journey, choosing to step away from drugs and alcohol more than five years ago. Since then, the Bravo star has made it a priority to support others on their own paths to recovery, most recently speaking about his experience during an event at his Brooklyn, New York, mocktail bar and cafe, Soft Bar, on April 15.
According to Reality Tea, Radke was joined by MTV’s “Laguna Beach” star Jason Wahler and “The Bachelorette” contestant Zac Clark, both men who have also shared incredible stories about their own journeys to maintaining their sobriety.
Carl Radke Opens up About Being Sober on ‘Summer House’
On April 15, Radke hosted the Reality of Resilience event at his bar and cafe, Soft Bar, in honor of Alcohol Awareness Month. There, he was joined by “Laguna Beach” alum Jason Wahler and “The Bachelorette” season 16 winner Zac Clark, two men who are no strangers to opening up about their own paths to sobriety, often speaking candidly about their experiences.
According to Reality Tea, during the event, the trio reflected on their sobriety journeys and how they’ve overcome outside judgment.
Radke also spoke to RealityTea exclusively about maintaining his sobriety on “Summer House,” noting that not drinking doesn’t mean he has less to offer.
“People ask me all the time, ‘How do you not drink and do Summer House?’ And the response is always [that] I wouldn’t be doing ‘Summer House’ if I was drinking because I wouldn’t be there. It’s given me a lot of freedom to really show up, to film, and be a part of our show,” he shared, adding, “I might be less messy or less crazy, but sober people can be d*cks too. Sober people can still have emotions.”
Radke also shared his hopes for the future of reality TV, saying he doesn’t believe alcohol should always be the driving force behind some of its biggest moments.
“Reality TV is definitely a weird animal. Some of the best reality TV has been fueled by alcohol. And I’ve been a part of some of that. But I think as our society has evolved, and the [conversations about drinking] are shifting … It’s been amazing to be in the position that I am, [and] show that you can still have fun and not drink alcohol,” he said.
Radke Is Building a Unique Community With Soft Bar
In a conversation with People during his April 15 event, Radke emphasized that his Brooklyn, New York, hot spot isn’t just a mocktail bar; it’s meant to be a welcoming, inclusive space. The reality star hopes Soft Bar will help build a community for people who choose to abstain from alcohol for a variety of reasons.
“I really believe in building a third space, a community, a foundation of mindful consumption,” he told People. “And it’s not all about sobriety. It’s about connection and taking better care of yourself,” he added.
Radke even shared that “every Friday” at Soft Bar, a group of pregnant women and new moms gather at his space to share their unique stories of motherhood. “It’s a beautiful thing to see because we provide an incredible experience and space for these women to hang out with other moms,” he shared.
