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- 204 - Cody T. – Sober 4 Years
Cody’s story is a tragic tale rooted in a family rampant with alcoholism and drug addiction. Both of his parents were hard-drug users who sadly never attempted to get sober. Cody used drugs with them on a regular basis in addition to his drinking, further complicating any notions that he might be an alcoholic. As booze and heroine addled Cody’s decision-making and behavior, he was whipsawed into the consequences that so many alcoholics face, including divorce, DUI convictions, and prison. By the time he was ready for sobriety in 2020, extended time behind bars looked like a forgone conclusion. Fortunately, Cody’s divine moment of clarity about his disease materialized and he found a rehab facility that quite literally saved his life. Sober living residence followed, as did the regular AA meetings both inside and outside. With his lifeline firmly tethered to the program, Cody found a sponsor and earnestly worked the Steps. As he progressed in his AA recovery, he took on more and more service opportunities which resulted in employment at the same recovery center in which he got sober.
Tragedy struck two years into Cody’s sobriety when his father died from a drug overdose, followed by his mother’s death five months later. Facing a plunge into relapse, Cody pulled his Program fellowship in tightly and survived to share his own critically important experience of staying sober no matter what. I believe Cody’s story is one that every recovering alcoholic should hear. The sheer intensity of this cautionary tale lends itself to the importance of always staying the course in good times and bad. And so I’m pleased to present this hour-long episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Cody T.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book,Wed, 27 Nov 2024 - 1h 04min - 203 - Margie D. – Sober Since November 1979 (Encore of Episode 7)
Originally from New England, but having lived in Great Britain for many years, Margie has over 45 years of sobriety. Having faced countless obstacles to getting to AA and subsequent challenges to sobriety during her 4 decades in the Program, Margie has remained as passionate and committed to the AA as one can be. In all those years, the longest she’s ever gone without a meeting was 10 days (during the birth of her children). The simple Program she was first told to follow by the “frigging old dudes”, as she describes them, is the same version of Alcoholics Anonymous she has embraced over these many years. It’s also the same program she has freely given to others through frequent sponsorship and a wide variety of service commitments she has fulfilled since getting to AA in the fall of 1979.
As you listen to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, take note of Margie’s good humor and enthusiasm for Alcoholics Anonymous, and her non-stop work in the Program, and you will learn exactly how someone can put together so many years of sobriety. And whether you’ve been sober a long time or a short time, whether you’re brand new or have returned to AA after a relapse, Margie’s message of hope, faith, and trust is one you can take to the bank, that spiritual bank that is. And whether you’re listening while you’re driving, multi-tasking, or relaxing with your feet up, please enjoy the next hour, one minute at a time, with my special guest Margie D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 - 1h 09min - 202 - Mike J. – Sober 34 Years
Mike's qualification for AA was honed by years of alcohol and drug abuse. Like so many others in our Program, Mike’s experience with alcohol started as a young teenager who drank to overcome feelings of being “less than”, despite his being raised by his grandparents in a strict, but loving home. Mike’s grandfather was the local Baptist minister. Any abhorrent behavior Mike engaged in was quickly and harshly dealt with, thus maintaining Mike’s dutiful position as the pastor’s son (grandson). Of course, Mike continued to drink throughout high school and later during his job as a machinist. Finding that his acumen for fixing machinery meant good earnings and steady employment, he kept up his alcohol consumption. But Mike’s ability to function at his job, despite heavy drinking evenings and weekends, only delayed the inevitable confrontation with his worsening disease of alcoholism. Adding crack cocaine to the mix only accelerated the deterioration of his career, marriage, and personal relations. Facing the grim realities of his situation and a bottom that likely would have turned deadly, Mike had a moment of clarity and was able to check himself into an in-patient rehab facility. He emerged ninety days later as a beaten, but newly teachable, man who was ready to continue the AA meetings he’d experienced in the three months of rehab. Finding an AA club and sponsor, Mike attended as many as three meetings a day and worked the 12 Steps with enthusiasm. He got involved in service work and sponsorship along the way and today is the product of 34 years of continuous sobriety.
Mike is one of those people who demonstrates gratitude and humility as a steady member of Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you’ll find his story to be both inspirational and encouraging. So please enjoy listening for the next sixty minutes to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, Mike J.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book,Fri, 08 Nov 2024 - 1h 10min - 201 - Laura B. – Sober 37 Years
Laura B. got sober at age 17 after 4 years of intensively developing her alcoholism into qualification for AA. In that first meeting, she picked up a desire chip that initiated her 37 years of sobriety as an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous. A compelling aspect of Laura’s story is that her father was in AA and her mother was in Al-Anon. They used the tools of their respective Programs to effectively deal with Laura’s alcoholism, neither preaching nor trying to cajole Laura into quitting. They allowed her to ride her own disease to the bottom and, when she was finally done drinking, helped her get into inpatient treatment followed by AA. From the minute she first joined AA, Laura embraced the Program, learning from older members how to live a sober life to the fullest. Though a move to a west Texas town in the early years of her sobriety disrupted the quantity and continuity of her meetings, Laura persevered and kept her Program front and center in her life. She worked hard to hone her relationships with members of her AA community. The indispensable value of AA fellowship was demonstrated after Laura’s father committed suicide (linked to his battle with clinical depression). Laura was enveloped in the same loving support she had been showing others. Meanwhile, the tragic occurrence of her father’s death gave Laura pause to understand the differences between the alcoholism her father recovered from in AA and the disease of clinical depression that AA could not address. Laura continues her passionate commitment to share her understanding with others. Back living in Austin, Laura is very active in sponsorship and service to this day.
Laura’s willingness to share her story has been a fine gift to me and I’m thrilled to share it with you. It’s a story that’s both inspirational and intriguing. And though Zoom audio was somewhat lackluster the day we taped this, the content is still top-drawer. So, please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Laura B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Thu, 31 Oct 2024 - 1h 05min - 200 - David P. – Sober 37 Years
As the frontman for a British band that was among the vanguard of punk rock in the late 1970s, my guest, David P., rode the New Wave of that musical genre as both writer and performer. Like many rock stars, his alcohol and drug use preceded, then accompanied his career. Both in good times and bad, David’s life was soaked with the same booze and cocaine that went with him when he moved from England to California. Failed relationships, both personal and professional, became consequential in David’s world as he struggled to maintain functionality in his life. But, like many, being a functional alcoholic still meant living as an alcoholic. As the disease stripped away every meaningful aspect of his life, David’s inevitable bottom rapidly approached. By the time he got sober 37 years ago, Alcoholics Anonymous became David’s sole refuge and the solid ground he so desperately needed to re-build his life. In the process of stacking his sober years, David’s involvement in AA has remained both dedicated and continuous, especially during the three decades he spent in service to the hospital and institutions committees. With every visit to a prison or hospital, David continued to build the vast amount of spiritual capital he would need in his later battles with lung cancer and other serious illnesses. While demonstrating both the nature and value of service work to his fellow AA members, he found himself enfolded in the healing love and support of his Program fellows.
David’s courage and optimism are proof-positive that AA really can help us through even the toughest of times. I think you will find the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews to be both captivating and inspirational. So please enjoy this interview with my friend and AA brother, David P.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word,Wed, 23 Oct 2024 - 58min - 199 - Dale C. – Sober Since December 2008 (Encore of Episode 73)
When he started making the coffee, his life got better.... Thirteen years ago, Dale started attending one of my home groups, a men’s meeting that I’ve been going to for over 33 years. Since he first stepped into that meeting, his service to the group and individual men has solidified his spot in the middle of our herd. In fact, he says it was when he started making and serving coffee in the meeting that his life began getting better. Strong testimony from a man whose drinking was fueled by the adolescent trauma he suffered when he found his father’s body immediately after he’d committed suicide. Though he knew what he’d seen, an iron-clad family secret grew out of that tragic event and he spent many years drinking to dull the pain. Like many of us, Dale managed to function with his escalating disease, finishing college and law school, before launching a successful law practice. And though he might have noticed his own heavy drinking over the years, it was his wife’s alcoholism that created the most strife in their family. But things got bad enough that she stopped drinking via AA 22 years before he did. Ironically, Dale accompanied his sober wife to many AA related functions over the years and even got to know her AA friends and sponsor quite well. But despite his own worsening alcoholism, the attraction to AA didn’t occur until late in his 50’s when the alcohol damage to his heart resulted in triple by-pass surgery. While he didn’t stop drinking after the surgery, his looming bottom was clearly in sight. So with his wife’s help, Dale finally found AA at 59 and has been sober since then.
Dale’s story is remarkable in many ways, not the least of which is the impact that service work can have on the continued durability of one’s sobriety. His solid practice of sponsoring other men while cultivating close personal relationships in AA, has served Dale well. His daily prayer, readings, and meetings have both strengthened and enriched his Program, while providing a fine example of what it takes to stay in the protective middle of AA.
I think you’ll enjoy my interview with Dale, and find it both informative and touching. So lend us your ears for the next hour and 5 minutes while you enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my fine friend and AA brother, Dale C.
[This is an encore of Episode 73, originally released April 13, 2022].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 16 Oct 2024 - 1h 07min - 198 - Aileen C. – Sober Since April 2009 (Encore of Episode 30)
A tough upbringing punctuated by violence and abuse led to Aileen's early use of drugs and alcohol just to survive home life. Her difficult and dangerous relationships in adulthood were mired by alcoholism of one or both parties. Self-loathing and despair, with ideations of suicide, haunted her at every turn. Indeed, Aileen’s story looked hopeless. In the end, it took in-patient mental health treatment, private therapy, and the guidance of good mentor to guide Aileen into a variety of 12-step programs, including AA. Even then, she slipped after being sober 15 months, but came back in just a couple of weeks. Thoroughly beaten by the disease, she came back to AA in early 2009 and finally got down to seriously working the Program with a good sponsor.
Like my other guests, Aileen’s story is cautionary, but quite hopeful for anyone facing the kind of challenges she faced and overcame. Today, she demonstrates her commitment to staying sober by virtue of the service she does with the women that she sponsors. Her dedication to AA can also be seen in role as secretary of the meeting in which we first met. What’s more, Aileen practices the principles of the Program in her own community by staying actively involved with organizations that address the myriad of mental health issues facing women in need. The importance of Aileen’s story cannot be understated. In this 30th interview of my podcast series, I invite you open your mind and heart for the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my new friend and AA sister, Aileen C.
[This is an encore of Episode 30, originally released June 9, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen atWed, 09 Oct 2024 - 1h 04min - 197 - Boots G. – Sober 22 Years
At age 82, Boots had lived most of his life as a moderate or normal drinker, only to find out in his late 50s that his drinking was getting out of control. By the time his family staged an intervention when he was 60, Boots had become a full-blown alcoholic with all of the collateral damage that drinking inflicts upon the unsuspecting. Boots spent four months at an inpatient treatment center face-to-face with his disease and quickly developed an earnest desire to get sober. Fortunately, the precepts of AA were woven into the treatment protocol of the recovery center, so Boots did not have to rely solely upon intellectual constructs to stay sober. AA meetings inside plus rapid exposure to the Program after he got out of treatment allowed for a seamless transition into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. Boots came all the way in and sat all the way down, found a good sponsor, and worked the 12 Steps. Over the 22 years Boots has stayed sober, he has faced and surmounted many serious challenges, including cancer. But he has maintained a staunch belief that God’s will is at work in his life. During that same period of time, he has experienced many of the joys of sobriety, including his own son’s nine years in AA. Boots has staked his ground in the middle of the AA herd and delights in going to regular meetings and sponsoring men in the Program.
Boots’ story is a fascinating perspective into what it’s like to live most of one’s life without the scourge of alcoholism. But it’s also cautionary tale of just how patient the disease can be and how it can be the wrecker of lives regardless of age. So please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my close friend and AA brother, Boots G.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939.Wed, 02 Oct 2024 - 1h 01min - 196 - Karen W. – Sober 3 Years
On today’s episode, my guest Karen W. shares a chilling story that every long-term alcoholic needs to hear. It’s a story about alcoholism’s insidious ability to derail 28 years of sobriety into a seven-year relapse that nearly ended in suicide. Karen somehow survived that slip to achieve three years of sobriety as of the date of this interview. Her chaotic life of alcoholism and drug addiction started in high school and culminated in her banishment from the family and a hard collision with reality at age 21. Karen found herself in a rehab facility where she experienced sobriety for the first time in many years and her introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous. For the next three decades she was a mostly active member of the fellowship, though sobriety slowly started to lose its priority over the years. Surrounding herself with the trappings of a successful life, she gradually lost sight of the importance of AA and started to attend fewer and fewer meetings and distanced herself from the fellowship. By the time she slipped at age 50, her relapse was much worse than the life she escaped when she first got sober. For the next seven years, Karen’s experienced inevitable deterioration of her life. She told her family she no longer wanted to live. That desperate cry for help marked her re-entrance into the rooms and a newfound desire to get and stay sober. Since that day in May 2021, Karen has humbled herself to the realization that she simple cannot live without AA. Nor does she want to. That she survived to make it back to AA is nothing short of a miracle.
I believe you’ll find Karen’s story to unlike any you’ve heard, especially if you’ve ever wondered whether long-term sobriety can be sustained with fewer meetings and less involvement in the Program. Hers is a story chock-full with lessons of how to do and how not to do a strong AA program. So please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Karen W.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book,Wed, 25 Sep 2024 - 1h 07min - 195 - Robert B. – Sober 17 Years
Originally from Detroit, Robert grew up in what many would consider to be a “normal’ family in which alcohol and dysfunctional behavior were largely absent. Nonetheless, Robert found alcohol at 16 and was immediately lured to its magical properties that relieved much of the anxiety and loneliness he experienced during his teenage years. Though he made it through high school and later college with few consequences from his mostly social drinking, his early twenties were marked by increasing use and then misuse of alcohol. As he became addicted to alcohol, with all its consequences, Robert rapidly found that drinking was controlling more and more of his life. Feelings of loneliness, isolation, and self-recrimination were no longer quelled by alcohol. By his late twenties, he found himself in psychotherapy, dealing with the same issues that were exacerbated by his drinking. By the time he stepped into AA at age 29, Robert had had enough.
Robert was fortunate to find a strong AA group and a guiding sponsor who helped him work the steps and immersed him in service work to stay firmly planted in the Program. Over the years, he has been a trusted servant to his AA fellowship and a true friend to his peers. His willingness to help those in need has made him indispensable member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I consider it a blessing to attend 2-3 meetings a week with Robert. I value his friendship and believe you will find his words both uplifting and inspiring. So, please enjoy the next hour with my AA brother, Robert B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen atWed, 18 Sep 2024 - 1h 02min - 194 - Al D. – Sober 6 Years (New Episode 155)
Al D. came into AA at 60 years of age to get sober after a lifetime of normal or moderate drinking. Punctuated by occasional binges and excessive use of alcohol to quell periods of depression or anxiety, Al was able to manage his consumption of booze and sometimes stop for years at a time. But the disease of alcoholism was just off-stage ready to make its appearance when the script of his life took an inevitable turn after two divorces, several business reversals, and increasingly frequent periods of self-recrimination. At an age when Al thought he’d be enjoying life the most, the rapacious creditor that is alcoholism took over his life rendering him hopelessly desperate for help. Fortunately, a brief period of awareness occurred after Al was hospitalized for his drinking and he finally admitted defeat. Limping into Alcoholics Anonymous, he found the solutions to his problems and did the crucial work necessary to get and stay sober. With a good sponsor and daily meetings, Al earnestly worked the steps and ensconced himself in the fellowship. Six years later, his stand-out service work is known to all and is a fine demonstration of better living through AA service.
Though I’ve known Al for the short time he’s been in Houston, his presence at many of the same meetings that I attend makes it feel like I’ve known him for a much longer time. His is a story that gives hope to those older alcoholics who may feel it’s too late in life to get help. His frank and unabashed manner of carrying Alcohol Anonymous’ message to those who still suffer, has made him an invaluable and trusted servant in his newly adopted AA community. Al’s understanding of the disease and his experience getting sober late in life, strongly resonate with older alcoholics, and provide hope that it’s never too late to change and find a new life in AA.
So, without further ado, please enjoy the next hour with my friend and AA brother, Al D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Wed, 04 Sep 2024 - 59min - 193 - Lee H. – Sober Since January 2013 (Encore of Episode 23)
Effective sponsorship has been the key to success in Lee's AA Program. Though sponsorship is often discussed, the role Lee's sponsor has played throughout Lee’s sobriety is especially illuminating in a way I wish every AA newcomer could see. From the time they first met and throughout the careful working of the 12 steps, to the point when Lee started sponsoring others, the importance of having a sponsor and being a sponsor has been demonstrated by both men. Of particular note is the gift of time and attention that his sponsor unselfishly gave Lee, even in the midst of building his business and raising children. Hearing Lee describe it, it’s clear that both he and his sponsor not only embraced the concept of working with others but found the vital activity of sponsorship itself highly enriching to them and the lives of others. What’s more, it’s evident that Lee has applied this same dedication to the rest of his program and life.
With over 8 years of sobriety and still under 30 years of age, Lee’s captivating story provides lots of hope for younger AAs and a meaningful reminder of the basic elements of the Program that are so necessary to staying sober. To me, “Keep it simple” is a mantra that could be easily applied to Lee’s daily program. As you listen to this AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I think you’ll agree and find the next hour most enjoyable. So, welcome to my AA brother and friend, Lee H.
[This is an encore of Episode 23, originally released April 22, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.Wed, 28 Aug 2024 - 1h 07min - 192 - Dow H. – Sober Since May 2008 (Encore of Episode 51)
Dow’s revolving-door story of getting sober, slipping, and struggling to get sober again and again should be heard by AAs everywhere. It’s a cautionary tale that shines a bright light on the cunning, baffling, and powerful nature of alcoholism. It’s the disease that’s always lurking just outside the perimeter of AA ready to claim those who let up on this Program of action. In Dow’s case, his family history of alcoholism and drug addiction replicated early in his life when his loneliness and fear of disappointing others needed relief. Drinking, smoking marijuana, and later cocaine use were vital to his ability to cope with life. As a functional alcoholic and addict, he actually succeeded in his academic pursuits, including a law school degree, but his constant need to escape from himself was ever present. Finally, after run-ins with the law and other consequences of his disease, he ended up in rehab for the first time, during which he was introduced to AA. While he stayed sober for a period of time, his success with sobriety also fed his ego. Rather than gratefully embracing the Program, he reclaimed illusory management of his life and soon found himself actually planning his next relapse. During his subsequent 7-year slip diverging from any hope of recovery, he fed his addictions with reckless living fueled by brain-damaging crack cocaine and nefarious relationships. When he finally hit his bottom after three more treatment centers, Dow crawled back into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. But his erroneous belief that it would be easy to come back was crushed by the excruciating realization that he would have to give up and give in to the Program once and for all if he was to get sober and stay alive. But this time he embraced the Program, did the work, and is sober to this day.
Those listeners who have relapsed one or more times will identify immediately with Dow’s poignant story. Those who’ve ever considered relapse may think twice or be dissuaded to follow through with a slip. However you hear his story, I think you’ll find the next hour to be extremely valuable. By the way, I apologize for a rare technical glitch with the interviewer portion of this podcast that makes it sound like I’m conducting the interview from a phone booth, for those of you who remember what a phone booth is! But the quality of content is still excellent and should make up for any sub-par audio. So, without further ado, AA Recovery Interviews and I are pleased to welcome my long-time friend and AA brother, Dow H.
[This is an encore of Episode 51, originally released November 10, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon,Wed, 21 Aug 2024 - 1h 11min - 191 - Jim D. – Sober Since December 2005 (Encore of Episode 65)
Jim’s life as an alcoholic began with an addiction to morphine when he was 14. Administered four times a day while he was hospitalized for a month after a serious surgery, Jim found that morphine did more than kill the pain. It helped him escape the mental tribulations he felt from childhood on. But morphine was difficult to get and he soon found that increasing amounts of alcohol was would have largely the same results. So, he didn’t stop drinking or using drugs until he was 46. Jim’s life prior to sobriety was the familiar odyssey of drinking and drug use, to which so many alcoholics in AA can relate. But the biggest challenges and threats to his sobriety occurred after he had joined AA. At 13 months sober, his wife of 17 years was found dead from a drug overdose suicide. At nearly 4 years sober, a drunk driver caused a near fatal motorcycle accident for Jim that landed him in the hospital for 3½ months of multiple surgeries for shattered bones and brain injury. Released to a life of chronic pain, he also lost his beloved career as a symphonic musician. Later on in his sobriety, Jim lost his best friend to suicide. More recently, as the only child, Jim has been caring for his 91 year old mother who’s been very sick.
Handling the tragedies that have befallen him during sobriety, as well as the gifts that have come from it, Jim has stayed firmly planted in the action part of his AA Program. Sponsoring other men and ceaseless service have never failed to improve the quality of his sobriety no matter what he faces in life. Jim’s story is both courageous and captivating. It provides a roadmap for navigating troubled times and an inspiring optimism for living a happy life in midst of Alcoholics Anonymous. So please enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my fine friend and AA brother, Jim D.
[This is an encore of Episode 65, originally released February 16, 2022].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book,Wed, 14 Aug 2024 - 59min - 190 - Marcia G. – Sober Since May 2009 (Encore of Episode 32)
After a long period of sobriety, Marcia let up on her Program and plunged into a 7-year relapse. Seduced by the disease, she was convinced she could drink normally. That illusion took her to the depths of despair from which few survive. That she barely made it back to AA and sobriety is nothing short of a miracle.
Marcia G. first got sober in 1990. But 8 years into that sobriety, her interest and involvement in AA started to wane. She went to fewer and fewer meetings, becoming increasingly convinced that her real problem was with drugs, not alcohol. By the time she slipped after 12 years, and during the early years of that relapse, her experimentation with social drinking seemed to be working. She believed herself no longer an alcoholic. Seduced by alcohol, her misguided belief soon deteriorated as she began a tragic downward slide back into the bottle. With a child and husband, and previous experience with AA, she had lots of reasons to get sober again. But it took a 7 year beating by the disease before she barely made it back to AA. Thoroughly devastated, she got a sponsor and started to work the Program in earnest. As the years multiplied, Marcia stayed in the middle of the Program, going to lots of meetings, continuing service work, and sponsoring many women from a treatment hospital she herself had attended. Today, Marcia is once again sober 12 years, but this period of sobriety is infused into every facet of her life.
Marcia’s story of long-term sobriety, interrupted by a lengthy slip, should be particularly instructive to anyone who’s ever inhabited the outer regions of the Program where alcohol’s seduction seems the greatest. That Marcia made it back to even tell the story is a worthy demonstration of a power greater than herself. That she has anchored her sobriety to such a strong AA Program, by continuously doing the work, is fine encouragement to anyone struggling to get to the center. This is the 32nd interview in the AA Recovery Interviews podcast. Take a deep breath…exhale, and enjoy the next 60 minutes listening to my friend and AA sister, Marcia G.
[This is an encore of Episode 32, originally released June 23, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 07 Aug 2024 - 1h 01min - 189 - Randy L. – Sober Since July 1998 (Encore of Episode 39)
As an alcoholic and drug addict throughout his teenage years, Randy L. got sober before being old enough to legally drink. His difficult childhood was ruled by compulsive behavior, limited attention, and hyperactivity. Later diagnosed with ADHD, Randy was treated with meds that worked, but left him craving a calmer and steadier mental state. He soon relief in alcohol and marijuana. Though the damage occurred while he was a teenager, Randy’s rise to full-blown addiction was both rapid and severe. He exploited every opportunity to drink and use in high school and early college. Increasing isolated from his family, his behavior soon deteriorated into that of a drug-selling addict and alcoholic. His flawed belief that he was getting away with it fooled nobody but himself. Fortunately, his family arranged a very dramatic rescue plan for Randy that landed him in a 90-day treatment program, from which he emerged into accelerating participation in AA. At only 20 years of age, Randy relaunched his life by getting a sponsor, working the steps, going to meetings, and establishing a close fellowship in the Program with older men who taught him how to live sober.
Randy labels himself a high-bottom alcoholic. But the work he’s done in the program demonstrates the deep dive he’s taken into understanding his own life and the behavior that influenced his personal growth and success. Of particular insight was a highly traumatic event he experienced when he was six that greatly informed his thinking and actions throughout his life. Today, Randy’s total commitment to AA, his young family, and the businesses he runs, makes for a full and busy life. But the men who he’s both sponsored and befriended, will tell you that he’s a man of passion and empathy who is always ready to help. From first-hand knowledge, I know that to be true and I’m confident you’ll find his story to be both compelling and uplifting. So, without further ado, let me introduce to you my good friend and AA brother, Randy L.
[This is an encore of Episode 39, originally released August 10, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in PaperbackWed, 31 Jul 2024 - 1h 09min - 188 - Helen M. – Sober 2 Years
This 154th interview in my podcast series features Helen M., from London, England. Helen tracks her nearly three years of sobriety as more than 1000 days in AA, experienced the one-day-at-at-time. Though she grew up in a home in which neither of her parents were alcoholic, Helen suffered mistreatment at the hands of her two sisters. To cope, she found the emotion-numbing relief that alcohol provided early in her childhood. With the die cast for an adolescence of drinking and other addictions, Helen drank herself into the throes of alcohol abuse by her early twenties. By then, the inevitable consequences of daily drinking took shape in the form of lost jobs, ruined relationships, and physical maladies that are all too common to the disease of alcoholism. Hitting bottoms along the way, Helen finally found the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous in 2018. But getting to AA was only half the battle as her desire to drink continued to take her down. In a moment of utter despair fraught with failure to grasp the Program, Helen’s path of salvation from drink was illuminated in September 2021. She was done drinking and proceeded to work the Program as suggested, even during the early days of Covid when she became meeting-maker on several Zoom AA meetings per day.
Helen’s passion and enthusiasm for AA recovery is infectious as she describes the gifts of the Program she has enjoyed. Working the Steps, studying the Big Book, having and being as sponsor, spiritual awareness, and frequent service work all bolsters Helen’s place in the Program. Her story bears witness to AA members in their early years of the power of the program and reminds those with many years or decades that the simple path of faith and action is still blessed beyond question by a Higher Power. So please enjoy the next hour or so of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Helen M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred ...Wed, 24 Jul 2024 - 1h 07min - 187 - Jim H. – Sober Since July 1996 (Encore of Episode 29)
Jim H. is one of those alcoholics whose unabated drinking created serious medical problems amidst all the other destruction of career and family. He did not drink much in high school. But in college, he was a tie-died in the wool hippie, with a penchant for marijuana, hashish, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms. He used amphetamines to achieve academic success. But it was the alcohol that took him down rapidly during his early career as an attorney. He became a daily drinker and was ultimately hospitalized with alcohol-induced cardio myopathy that was destroying his heart muscle. But he somehow survived through white-knuckle sobriety, until he felt better. Then he drank again. Jim repeated this pattern over and over until 1996 when diminishing liver function and gastro-intestinal distress made it impossible to nourish his skeletal body. His bottom reached, he crawled into a treatment facility, and shortly thereafter into AA.
I met Jim in his earliest days of AA nearly 25 years ago. As with all new members, I had no idea of whether this very sick man would make it. But he kept coming back to the same meetings I attended. I got to know him and see demonstrated his ardent desire to stay sober. Sponsored by a good friend of mine, Jim worked the steps and continued to stay in the middle of the Program. His physical health was restored. Given the opportunity, Jim has shared about the bodily destruction that alcohol can cause even in the early years of the disease. Were anyone who’s slipped to hear Jim’s story, they might be moved to make it back to the rooms of AA sooner than later. The importance of his message cannot be understated.
This is the 29th interview in this podcast. I’m certain you will find of immense interest. So please enjoy the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my long-time friend and AA brother, Jim H.
[This is an encore of Episode 29, originally released June 2, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Thu, 18 Jul 2024 - 1h 09min - 185 - Marci P. – Sober 3 Years
Marci's first exposure to Alcoholics Anonymous was at age 12 when she witnessed her father receiving his one year anniversary chip. But though her father maintained his sobriety until the end of his life through AA, little was spoken of alcoholism in her home growing up. Like many AA members who were raised in or around the Program, Marci’s decisions to drink were largely unaffected by her family of origin. By the time she started drinking in high school and increased her alcohol consumption in college, Marci enjoyed the pleasant aspects of drinking, though she often blacked out and was once hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. With few consequences along the way, she embarked on a career chockful of travel and drinking. Married at 26, the issue of her excessive boozing was raised and allayed many times as her functional alcoholism provided plenty of excuses for continuing to drink. By her early 40s, the fraying fabric of Marci’s life was being torn apart by her drinking. Countless vain attempts to stop were fueled by her desire to please others, but her own desire to quit drinking did not occur until after she’d lost her job and marriage. Thoroughly beaten by the disease, Marci’s desperation turned into a willingness to do whatever she was told to stay sober. For the first time, she became accountable to her sponsor who methodically worked her through the 12 Steps. Combined with studying the Big Book, praying daily, and being of service to her AA fellows, Marci’s efforts to embrace AA for herself finally paid off with a sobriety date that hasn’t changed since May of 2021.
Marci’s willingness to share her story has been a gift to me and I’m pleased to share it with you. It’s a story with sufficient similarities to be of value to AA novices and old-timers alike, yet enough differences to assure even the most skeptical listeners that Alcoholics Anonymous really works for those who do it. for those who do it..is effective beyond any shadow of a doubt.
So please enjoy the next 60 minutes AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Marci P.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in PaperbackWed, 10 Jul 2024 - 1h 08min - 184 - Elliott M. – Sober 39 Years
Sex, drugs, and rock & roll were more than a cliché in the life of Elliott M. As a prominent rock musician and song-writer for years before alcoholism drove him into Alcoholics Anonymous, Elliott’s drinking ran parallel to his rise to stardom. Ironically, his best song-writing and performances were largely free from the influence of alcohol and drugs. But offstage, his drinking and drugging were decimating every facet of his life. His dissent to the bottom occurred during the five years preceding his 1985 sobriety date. Like many of his contemporaries, Elliott’s career had soared in the midst of his functional alcoholism before booze became the malefactor hell-bent on ruining his life. With his options running out, the answer to his prayer for release showed up in the form of a simple AA questionaire given him by the woman he later married. After his last drink, Elliott entrée into AA launched his new life in which sobriety is his number one priority. His relocation to Paris 35 years ago allowed him to continue active participation in AA and performances for his European fans. In a sober career chockful of accomplishments, including more than 40 albums, Elliott readily gives credit to his higher power for every step in his success. His ongoing commitment to regular meetings and AA fellowship keep him humbly connected to the Program. He readily extends the hand of AA to anyone who reaches out for help.
One of my previous guests on AA Recovery Interviews attends meetings with Elliott whenever he’s in Paris and suggested Elliott for the show. Meeting Elliott by Zoom has been a treat and I think you’ll enjoy hearing his captivating story. So please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA brother, Elliott M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of ...Wed, 03 Jul 2024 - 1h 02min - 183 - Diane S. – Sober Since December 1996 (Encore of Episode 40)
In a story is wrought from a difficult childhood, Diane was the youngest of four and was largely ignored by her parents, especially when her father was drinking. Until he died at 56, his alcoholism also fed a mean streak that landed hard on her family, with verbal abuse and derision often aimed at Diane. As a teenager, she found alcohol as a way to escape and her drinking followed her into four booze-soaked years in the air force. At age 22, she met and married the father of her two children with high hopes of a happy marriage. She dreamed he would support and encourage her pursuit of a career as an attorney. But her continued drinking, and lack of support from her husband, resulted in her filing for divorce after a rocky 10-year marriage. On her own, with two kids to raise in the midst of a escalating alcohol use, Diane somehow managed to work as a paralegal and also attend law school in the evenings. Through God-given talent, and the tenacity of a functional alcoholic, Diane’s career as a lawyer took shape. Unfortunately, as her drinking increased, as did her alcoholic behavior. The subsequent years took their toll until she hit the wall shortly after Christmas in 1996. With little knowledge of AA, her chance encounter with a woman in the Program, led Diane to her first AA meetings and onto the road of recovery.
Diane’s is a classic AA success story of full immersion in the Program. She got a sponsor, worked the steps, went to lots of meetings, and sponsored women along the way. But the greatest enrichment of her life, via service work, took the form of helping others find sobriety through her work as an attorney in the civil and family court systems. Laying her own personal anonymity aside, Diane has become an ambassador for sobriety by helping clients and their families find treatment alternatives. As importantly, she also imparts her knowledge, understanding, and first-hand experience to other lawyers and judges throughout the family court system. She’s also passionately involved in a lawyer assistance program that helps those with substance abuse find the right solutions.
Diane’s selfless and successful work in recovery, both within AA and in the legal system, demonstrate the overall quality of a solid Program. I’m grateful to be her friend and am impressed by her efforts in helping others. I think you’ll be impressed, too, as you spend the next hour and ten minutes with my friend and AA sister, Diane S.
[This is an encore of Episode 40, originally released August 18, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available onWed, 26 Jun 2024 - 1h 13min - 182 - John D. – Sober 5 Years
Though he first attended court-ordered AA meetings decades before his current sobriety date, John had no interest in the Program and no desire to stop drinking whatsoever. Even the week-long coma he suffered after being thrown from the car in a drunken crash did little to inhibit his drinking. John was raised in affluence by parents were "party people" who loved their alcohol and the family's standing in society. But they also largely neglected his mental and emotional needs growing up. Seeking the love and acceptance he was missing at home, John found relief in alcohol. Inebriation quelled John’s loneliness and insecurities as he became a functional alcoholic. Career success and marriage hid his growing dependence on alcohol. Inevitably, his behavior under the influence devolved into trouble at work and at home. By the time that behavior became intolerable to his wife and unsustainable in his business life, John finally became ready to stop drinking. His previous experience in AA and time spent in an IOP laid a path into the rooms. That’s where John found the similarities to other alcoholics that he had brushed off in earlier attempts to stay sober. He found an action-oriented sponsor, worked the Steps, and became a daily attendee at meetings. John began sponsoring other men which drew him even closer to the middle of the Program. His tireless effort helped restore his marriage and family relationships. His commitment to his sobriety became foremost in his life and the gifts continue to manifest in his life.
I believe you’ll gain much from hearing John’s story. Especially for those listeners who are earlier in sobriety, John's inspirational message of hope sheds a bright light on the life-changing effects AA can have on your life. No matter where you are along the road of recovery, you are sure to enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother John D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book,Wed, 19 Jun 2024 - 1h 12min - 181 - Jim W. – Sober Since June 1989 (Encore of Episode 31)
As a toddler, Jim was taken to parties where he got his first taste of marijuana and alcohol. For his 10th birthday, his adult brother got him a joint and shots of peppermint schnapps. By 13, he was a daily pot smoker and drinking whenever he could. His race to the bottom ended when he got sober at age 21.
On this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, meet Jim W., an active member of AA for the past 32 years. His journey through alcoholism and drug addiction started early in life. After Jim’s parents divorced when he was six months old, he was essentially raised by his two sisters and brother who were 14, 16, and 18 years older, while his mother worked to support the family. As a child, he engaged in all of the drug and alcohol-riddled behavior practiced by his older siblings. By high school he was crashing cars and frequently getting into trouble. In addition to regular drinking, Jim became a drug dealer to support his own habit of mainlining cocaine. He went to a party college, where his first DWI landed him in jail replete with DTs and drug withdrawal. As he spiraled downward, a desperate visit to a psychiatrist, and coincidental death of two childhood friends who were on his path, provided Jim’s wakeup call at the age of 21. After two weeks in a treatment center, and another slip, Jim thankfully ran into a friend who had been sober in AA for five years. He offered Jim help. Completely defeated, Jim came into AA in Cleveland, Ohio and found a sponsor the first day. His immersive experience in the Program throughout his first 18 months, formed a solid foundation of sobriety and service for years to come.
Jim frequently quotes the Big Book from memory, not to show off, but in the earnest desire to help others. He stills goes to lots of meetings and sponsors new men all the time, with the same firm, no-nonsense approach to working the 12 Steps that was ingrained in Jim by the northeast Ohio brand of AA.
Jim’s story is a fine example of what grateful sobriety looks like after 32 years in AA. I’m glad I’ve known Jim W. for the majority of that time and hope you’ll enjoy what he has to say in this, the, the 31st interview of the AA Recovery Interviews podcast.
[This is an encore of Episode 31, originally released June 16, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, andWed, 12 Jun 2024 - 1h 08min - 180 - Dwight M. – Sober 35 Years
To mark the 150th interview in this podcast series, Dwight’s story is both riveting and ominous. It began with alcohol being added to his milk to keep him quiet as a toddler. Raised as an only child by a single mother in the ghettos of Harlem, he was a thief by age six and had witnessed the stabbing death of school mate at 11. A gang member by middle school, Dwight was drinking, smoking marijuana, and breaking the law daily. When he was 12, his mother moved him to Texas to escape the violent streets of New York only to land him in the notorious inner city gangs of Houston. He somehow survived that deadly environment and made it to college only to be drafted and sent to Viet Nam during the worst years of that war. Taught to kill and then dropped behind enemy lines for reconnaissance, Dwight suffered terrifying trauma that booze and drugs could hardly blunt. Returning to the tumultuous U.S. in 1969, and unable to find meaningful work, he returned to criminal behavior as a drug runner and dealer. As years passed and his and his alcoholism became more severe, Dwight somehow managed to extricate himself from his treacherous lifestyle and land a normal job. It was in that position that his alcoholism and PTSD snapped his psyche and he was hospitalized for 45 days. That forced period of sobriety created a sliver of clarity which culminated in a 12th step call by veterans of A.A. When he got out of the hospital, Dwight was mercifully enveloped by the fellowship never to drink again.
Dwight’s early years in AA were difficult at best as trust in the people and the Program came slowly. But with the help and love he experienced in daily meetings, working the Steps, and helping others, he dutifully built the arch through which he now accompanies others to redemption from the disease. To be sure, his decades in AA have not been without their difficulties and challenges, some of which rival those in his pre-sobriety life. However, by staying continuously steeped in the Program and spiritually connected, Dwight’s life has been richly adorned by the many gifts of sobriety, gifts that he shares most freely with others.
So fasten your seatbelts for this epic adventure through one alcoholic’s life and enjoy listening to the next 90 minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with one of my closest friends and AA brother, Dwight M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 05 Jun 2024 - 1h 38min - 179 - Nicole S. – Sober 3 Years
Nicole's battle with alcoholism was set against the backdrop of repressed feelings from childhood and the deep closet in which hid her own homosexuality most of her life. Growing up in London, Nicole drank without consequence much of her life until she faced a seemingly insurmountable period of grief and isolation six years before she stopped drinking. Her escalating alcohol abuse, plus two suicide attempts, landed her in a psychiatric hospital. Amidst dwindling hope of ever recovering, Nicole was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous in 2020. Her subsequent willingness to embrace the Program grew into vital trust and confidence in her AA meetings. Feeling the acceptance and love from her fellow AAs, Nicole finally emerged from the closet and confided in her AA fellows that she was gay. That profound release from her life-long secret greatly aided her commitment to working the Program in earnest. Today, with 3½ years of AA recovery, Nicole shares her special brand of experience with others, allowing her to enjoy life in sobriety.
Nicole continues to work the 12-Steps with an extraordinary sponsor from whom she is learning how to be of greater service to the Program and her fellow alcoholics. It’s an approach that works well for her, and one that’s worthy of sharing with others who are facing the kind of challenges she has surmounted.
I believe you’ll gain much from listening to Nicole’s story, despite Zoom's audio quality the day we recorded the interview. So, I invite you to enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my new friend and AA sister, Nicole S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace.Wed, 29 May 2024 - 1h 03min - 178 - Quinten S. – Sober 2 Years
Like many alcoholics, Quinten S. started drinking in his mid-adolescence amidst a chaotic home life. Alcoholism was not prevalent in his immediate family, but the vestiges from earlier generations were there nonetheless. Quinten’s alcohol use escalated quickly during his late teens, along with regular use of marijuana. In high school and later college, his use quickly turned into serious abuse of both substances. And though he stopped smoking weed to abide by the rules in his living arrangement, his drinking picked up to take its place. Finding himself a daily drinker, Quinten hid his growing functional alcoholism by drinking in isolation. By his early 20’s, he'd become a full-fledged blackout alcoholic with mounting consequences spilling over into his work life. Quinten had attended a single AA meeting a few years before his sobriety date, but refused a desire chip because he frankly wasn’t done drinking. So, things got worse until a week before his 25th birthday when Quinten dragged himself back into AA while still detoxing from his final spree. This time he took the desire chip and has now been sober nearly three years. That desire to stay sober has been fulfilled as Quinten got to work in the Program. Along the way, he has fulfilled service and sponsorship commitments and has remained close to his sober fellowship. If you’re in early AA recovery, I believe you’ll find Quinten’s story to be quite encouraging. That he escaped the throes of the disease in his late 20’s is strong evidence that sobriety is possible by following AA’s simple suggestions. For listeners with longer-term sobriety, Quinten’s description of his Program of Action is a fine reminder of the persistence necessary to stay on top of the disease. No matter where you are on your journey of recovery, please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother Quinten S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Ha...Wed, 22 May 2024 - 177 - Soleen M. – Sober 21 Years
With a family of origin riddled with alcoholism, abuse, and fractured relationships, Soleen was a disenfranchised child. She started drinking at 11 and progressed rapidly into alcoholic abuse. That latent disease deprived Soleen of adult supervision and good decision-making. She married at 14 and had a baby at 16 by a man nearly twice her age. Her budding alcoholism put Soleen in trouble with the law. As a way out of jail, she agreed to inpatient treatment at the first of many rehabs. By the time she was 19, she was still in lots of trouble, all of it fueled by drinking and drug abuse. Fortunately, the AA seed was planted while she was in the revolving door of four rehabs. Facing utter ruin, Soleen finally found AA at the end of a long, dark tunnel of despair. She surrendered to the Program for good and all when she was 26. That was nearly 22 years ago. Her involvement in AA has only grown over the years and she has helped countless women who could only be helped by her brand of experience and no-nonsense approach to the Program and continuous study of the Big Book.
That she was able to survive a liquor-soaked adolescence and early adulthood to later working a strong AA Program is yet another example of God’s grace in a recovering alcoholic’s life. Soleen’s brutal story is tough to hear, but will bolster every listener’s gratitude for their own journey of sobriety. So enjoy the next 65 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Soleen M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Am...Wed, 15 May 2024 - 1h 05min - 176 - David B. – Sober 30 Years
In David's childhood home, there was one basic rule about alcohol: Don’t let it interfere with your household chores. Lacking any other parental edicts, David started drinking at age 8 and was a regular alcohol user by age 11. Alcohol’s “magical” effect of intoxication helped David cope with both the dysfunction in his family, as well as the intense feelings of loneliness that were fed by the insecurities of moving every three years. By the time he was in college, the Jekyll and Hyde effects of drinking were in plain view to everyone except himself. David wondered whether the label of “alcoholic” that had been pinned on him when he was just 12 might actually apply. But like most alcoholics, that brief introspection was brushed off as his alcohol abuse grew worse by the year. Career dissatisfaction, job losses, and a failed 12-month marriage did little to convince him of his escalating problem with booze. However, David’s breakthrough came five years into his second marriage when he insisted on couples therapy to fix his wife’s discontent with that marriage. The therapist faced him down with the cold hard realities of David’s disease and firmly recommended that David attend Alcoholics Anonymous. At first, he didn’t want to go to meetings. He fed his loneliness with the thoughts that no one in the rooms liked or cared about him. But the people in those early meetings, including your host, gathered him into the security of strong AA fellowship. It wasn’t long before he got a sponsor and worked the steps that David’s life began to improve. To that, he added daily prayer, study of AA literature, sponsorship of other men, and service commitments to his group. And while there were still some bumps and distractions along the way, David’s constant desire to live his Program from within out, guided him through thirty years contented sobriety, David continues to pay forward his debt of gratitude to the Program via on-going adherence to the basic tenets of AA.
Having the privilege to know David since his first days in AA has been a blessing to me. That he continues to live the program with commitment and dedication is an inspiring demonstration of the Program’s Promises materializing on a daily basis. I believe David’s story will enthrall and move you. It’s a marvelous validation of the gifts available to all who actively seek sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous.. So sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my very good friend and AA brother, David B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, andWed, 08 May 2024 - 1h 16min - 175 - Lisa F. – Sober 19 Years
Imagine you’ve been sober for a while and move to a new country. You don’t speak the language and the nearest English-speaking AA meetings are an hour and a half away. How would that affect your sobriety and serenity in your new digs? My guest on today’s show, Lisa F., faced that uncomfortable situation when she moved from the U.S. to Sicily in 2020. Sober nearly 15 years at the time, Lisa faced the loss of her daily meetings and in-person fellowship she had enjoyed in New York City for so many years. Though Zoom offered remote meetings, Lisa knew that the quality of her sober life in southern Italy would be inextricably linked to her face-to-face involvement in the Program. She had learned this the hard way when she first relapsed after her initial run at sobriety, a period marked by her declining commitment to and interest in AA. By the time Lisa made it back to AA in 2004, her life was a shambles and ready for change. Knowledge from her earlier stint in Alcoholics Anonymous proved of little benefit until she got down to causes and conditions. With the help of a dedicated sponsor, Lisa immersed herself in a Program replete with daily meetings, prayer and meditation, sponsorship of other women, and ceaseless service work. She has used the experience gained from that well-worked Program to help build a robust English-speaking AA community with meetings in Sicily.
Lisa’s story covers a lot of ground, but will inspire those who face the same kind of challenges she did. As a cautionary tale, it speaks clearly to the misnomer Lisa used for years prior to her relapse when she told others that she didn’t drink because she used to be in AA. The futility of that idea comes through loud and clear. There’s much more to enjoy in the next 60 minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Lisa F.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word,Wed, 01 May 2024 - 1h 09min - 174 - Ernie G. – Sober Since August 2005 (Encore of Episode 35)
Ernie's story is a fascinating excursion into a high-class lifestyle of fast cars, flashy clothes, and glittery nightclubs, all underwritten by a high paying day job and cocaine dealing on the side. As his alcohol and cocaine use turned into alcoholism and drug addiction, all accountability to career, family, and friends evaporated. His risky behavior escalated until he was arrested in a DEA sting and jailed in federal prison. When he got out, he managed to avoid cocaine, aided by increasing use of alcohol. Meanwhile, his marriage and parenthood suffered irreparably. Separation from his wife and daughter ensued and culminated in divorce. Left alone and still addicted, Ernie returned to his nightclubs every night of the week to find relief, but those days were gone. Incomprehensible demoralization was hastening his demise, until his moment of clarity during a hungover visit to his largest business client, who also paid for Ernie’s inpatient treatment. From there, three AA members, including his present day sponsor, pulled Ernie into a Program of hard work, prayer, and service. His relationships with his daughter and ex-wife finally began to heal. Today, he is still sober and his life reflects the willingness of a man who unconditionally allowed the grace of God and the Program of AA to change his life.
There’s a lot more of Ernie’s story that you’re going to enjoy, some with which you may identify. Like all my other interviews, it’s both unique and entertaining, while conveying the serious message of possibilities and hope available in Alcoholic Anonymous. So, enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Ernie G.
[This is an encore of Episode 35, originally released July 21, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 - 1h 01min - 173 - John F. – Sober Since August 2017 (Encore of Episode 57)
Though he started drinking alcoholically from the age of 13, John's constant nemesis was marijuana, amphetamines, LSD, prescription opioids, and ultimately heroin. His parents, who divorced when he was five, desperately tried to help him. Nothing seemed to work. Every treatment failure and non-successful attempt to get John sober, including half-hearted stints in AA, only validated the label “unlucky” his mother had pinned on him at an earlier age. It seems that John was the one always getting caught using or drinking while everyone else was getting away with it. Even the realization that he was using in situations where he knew he’d get caught did little to abate the tumultuous whirlwind his life had become. By 19, he was living on the streets of L.A. as a daily heroin user. Traumatized by the bleak environment, John was sick and malnourished, floundering around death’s door with seemingly no way out. Though his well-meaning, albeit enabling, parents did what they could, none of the turning points John experienced were effective until in his mid-20’s, when he finally came all the way in and sat all the way down in AA. Getting a sponsor and working the steps in earnest for the first time pulled him from the mire of self-destruction a little over 4 years ago.
After much work, John now resides in the middle of the Program, practicing a true spiritual connection to his higher power and the fellowship. He sponsors many men and stays centered in the Big Book. He’s also careful in the way he shares his experience with drugs while he’s in an AA meeting, highly respecting AA’s singleness of purpose. He has re-established a close connection with his family, based upon the mutual understanding and love that we in the Program cherish. As you listen to John’s story on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast, you’ll hear the kind of humility that only a life like his could encapsulate. I’m grateful he survived to be of service to God and his fellows. I’m thankful to share with you the love I have had for him since he was a baby. So, for the next 72 minutes, please enjoy my 57th interview in this podcast series with my friend and AA brother, John F.
[This is an encore of Episode 57, originally released December 22, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available onWed, 17 Apr 2024 - 1h 17min - 172 - Kristy M. – Sober Since March 2018 (Encore of Episode 52)
Though she drank for only five years during her 30's, Kristy's alcoholism surfaced quickly. By the time she found AA, her descent to the bottom had been both swift and severe. Trying to justify, then hide her alcoholism from her husband, kids, and employer only revealed to them how much worse Kristy’s drinking had actually become. She finally ran out of excuses, suffering physical and emotional depletion and began a vigorous AA program in 2018, Getting a sponsor, working the steps, and attending daily meetings drew her towards the center of the Program That early work portended two crises in her early sobriety that pulled her from the center to the outskirts of AA. First, her husband suffered a major stroke and she became his primary caregiver. Fortunately, the time she invested in meeting and getting to know others in the Program was clearly realized when her newfound AA friends gathered around to help pull her through.
Then in early 2020, Kristy was diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer which left her without use of her legs. Complicating the already horrendous situation was a pandemic that prevented Kristy from being able to have visitors during the four months she was in the hospital undergoing intensive cancer treatment. Fortunately, she was able to connect with her home groups via Zoom. All of her fellow AAs were able to support her on a daily basis with our own experience, strength, and hope. Today, with 3½ years of sobriety, Kristy is on the mend, learning how to live life without the use of her legs. To be sure, her tragedies during early sobriety, and staying sober through them are informative, valuable, and inspirational to those she touches.
Zoom had a bad day during my interview with Kristy, so her audio is less than stellar. But her message of hope, perseverance, and commitment comes through loud and clear. So pull up a seat for the next 60 minutes and listen to inspirational words of my AA sister on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast, Kristy M.
[This is an encore of Episode 52, originally released November 17, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon,Wed, 10 Apr 2024 - 55min - 171 - Steve R. – Sober 13 Years
Getting sober at age 58, Steve had been drinking for 35 years with many opportunities along the way to acknowledge his overuse and later abuse of alcohol. But like many who got sober later in life, Steve managed his drinking, mostly limiting it to binges on weekends and holidays. Though it interfered at times during his marriage and in his relationship with his children, Steve held his marriage together for 14 years until his drinking resulted in divorce. He continued to drink and even attained success in his field, all while his increasing alcohol use caused deleterious consequences to his career and social life. Steve ultimately entered AA, though not necessarily to get sober. In fact, he hoped that attendance at AA would somehow absolve his need for the Program. Fortunately, he stuck around long enough for that attitude to change. As he attended more and more meetings, he discovered a solution to the problem he had been so reluctant to admit for so many years.
By working the Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a dedicated sponsor and continuously attending meetings, Steve has solidified his place in Program. Through daily prayer and meditation, plus constant work with new men, Steve’s involvement in AA has become a demonstrative of a Program well worked.
I believe you will find Steve’s story insightful and upbeat. So, get comfortable and please enjoy today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my fine friend and AA brother, Steve R.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.Wed, 03 Apr 2024 - 56min - 170 - Jon G. – Sober 19 Years
Jon's drinking started in his late teens and continued into his thirties when the disease of alcoholism had him firmly in its clutches. By then, his use of meth-amphetamines had also spiraled out of control. Instead of supplanting Jon’s alcoholism, his drug addiction fueled his drinking until that ruinous combination threatened his job and virtually every other aspect of his life. Though he knew he needed to get sober, early attempts were half-hearted at best and led to still more misery. Even in-patient treatment for four weeks was insufficient to quell his desire for drugs and alcohol, and he slipped almost immediately upon discharge. As he approached the edge of the abyss, Jon experienced a moment of clarity. That brief break in his clouded thinking was enough to convince him that he had to get sober or he would not survive. Jon turned himself over to simultaneous attendance of IOP and regular AA meetings. As he became more and more grounded in Alcoholics Anonymous, he put the Program on the top of his daily priorities. His service commitments in AA further cemented his dedication his own sobriety and that of his fellows.
Because Jon and I have attended many of the same meetings over his 19-year tenure in AA, we’ve gotten to know each other quite well. As such, I can personally vouch for the quality and integrity of his Program and the impact he has had on other AA members. I feel like his is a story that will be readily identifiable to listeners. It’s full of the kind of wisdom and perspective that inspire Alcoholics Anonymous members everywhere. I hope you will enjoy the next hour with my good friend and AA brother, Jon G.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace.Wed, 27 Mar 2024 - 1h 04min - 169 - Marty S. – Sober Since February 2015 [Encore of Episode 53]
Marty is one of the most colorful people I know in Alcoholics Anonymous. Because Marty and I attend many of the same meetings each week, we’ve gotten to know each other quite well over the past nine years. Unfortunately, those years included relapses after 10 months, then another relapse after 14 months of sobriety. It was after his last slip, however, which landed him in a New York City hospital after a failed suicide attempt, that Marty finally embraced the Program and honestly got to work on sobriety. That was over six years ago and he’s been sober since. Frankly, Marty’s first couple of forays in AA were noticed by many of us as well-intentioned but half-hearted attempts to subserve the Program with his own intellect and self-will for staying sober. It obviously didn’t work. We were all familiar with the well-worn approach of just showing up at meetings, but not doing the actual work. So, with no real investment in his own recovery or spiritual condition, but still trying to run the show, it’s not surprising he slipped early on. But the damage he’d done to his family, friendships, and career along the way finally caught up with him. So did the notion of checking out. By God’s grace, Marty was given a second, or should I say, last chance to build a sober life.
Today, Marty is firmly anchored in the center of AA by virtue of his continual meeting attendance, close relationship with his sponsor, daily meditation and prayer, and lots of service work with sponsees. His commitment to long-term sobriety is reflected in his Program, as is the ready acknowledgement that one drink could end it all. And while his story on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast is as entertaining as ever, it’s underlying message of hope for those who may be struggling is both immediate and vital for all to hear.
I’m doing more face-to-face interviews these days, so audio quality on this podcast is quite good. This is the 53rd episode with many, many more to come. But for now, tune into the next hour and enjoy my interview with my good friend and AA brother, Marty S.
[This is an encore of Episode 53, originally released November 24, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon,Wed, 13 Mar 2024 - 1h 10min - 168 - John M. – Sober 12 Years
With nearly 20 years of sobriety, John relapsed after an extended period of good fortune had convinced him that he was cured. The admitted alcoholism that had brought John to the Program at age 24 had been arrested for years through his hard work in AA. And, initially, it helped him survive deployment to Iraq in the early 1990s and a horrible helicopter crash in Somalia that killed four fellow Marines and left John badly injured. During subsequent years, John brought his experience and perspective gained in AA to help found one of the largest service organizations for wounded veterans. During the years he spent building that organization, John also got married and had a few kids. But, though he was active in AA for many of those early years, John’s success side-tracked him into believing he was running the show and didn’t really need the Program. John’s alcoholism conspired with his feeling of being cured such that his meetings and Program work trailed off years before his slip. As sobriety steadily lost its priority, John started drinking again. In short order things got really bad. Ultimately, John’s demise was fueled by divorce, deaths in his family, and business reversals. Depression and serious PTSD further fed the fire and John seriously felt suicide would be the only way out. But, on a day in early 2012, in a moment of clarity, the grace of God prevailed. John returned to AA as a badly beaten man, yet the loving arms of Alcoholics Anonymous still embraced him the minute he stepped through the wide-open doors of his local AA club.
John’s extraordinary story speaks to the power and possibilities available to everyone in Alcoholics Anonymous. His active, daily involvement in the Program harkens back to his first period of sobriety before the insidious nature of the disease moved sobriety to the bottom of his priority list. He is careful to stay always in the middle of the Program through service work, sponsorship, prayer, and daily work on the steps.
I feel like John’s story will touch your heart, but may also rattle the vestiges of whatever lies your disease offers you during times of tragedy and triumph, good times and bad times, and any other day we let up on our Program of vigorous action. So, I invite you to sit back for the next 75 minutes and be moved by the words of my close friend and brother alcoholic, John M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 06 Mar 2024 - 1h 18min - 167 - Kassie M. – Sober 7 Years
Joining us from Nairobi, Kenya, Kassie recently celebrated seven years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised amidst the pomp and circumstance of the diplomatic corps, large, formal parties were a weekly occurrence in her family and she learned about alcohol’s importance early in her upbringing. Spending her high school and college years in America further developed Kassie’s abilities to drink and function effectively as a budding alcoholic. Her career roles as a leader of note in a number of humanitarian organizations around the world placed her squarely in the middle of a lifestyle in which she could control people and situations around her for many years, despite her growing dependence on alcohol. Her drunken behavior and negative consequences from drinking forced the use of many escape hatches along the way. But as Kassie’s disease took firm hold of her life, she found fewer and fewer means of escape from the cruel realities of being an alcoholic woman. By the time she found AA in early 2017, the repeated beatings from the disease had finally made Kassie teachable. She found a good sponsor, worked the 12 Steps, and allowed the Program to envelop her well-being. Despite the many challenges she has encountered during her sobriety, she has found comfort in the Program and faith that her higher-power will provide what she needs to remain vital and effective in life.
Kassie’s story of seven years of sobriety is insightful and encouraging, especially for those whose functional alcoholism kept or is keeping AA at-bay. Listen carefully for the next hour of so and you’re likely find many similarities in Kassie’s story and much hope for future success in Alcoholics Anonymous. So please welcome my friend and AA sister, Kassie M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939.Wed, 28 Feb 2024 - 1h 00min - 166 - Jim G. – Sober Since September 2000 (Encore Episode)
As a medical doctor who secretly battled his own addiction to alcohol and drugs for many years, Jim's alcoholism literally affected the lives and well-being of others. Jim grew up with an abusive father whose military career relocated the family many times during Jim’s childhood and adolescence. He faced additional suffering during countless hospitalizations for medical conditions related to hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. Turning to booze and drugs during his high school and college years, Jim’s escalating alcoholism accompanied his medical degree, internship, and residency into his position as a OB/GYN at a major hospital. Turns out that the hospital culture, with its hard-working and hard-drinking doctors and nurses, further fueled Jim’s lifestyle with alcohol and cocaine.
The effects of constant use soon threw Jim’s personal life into turmoil, replete with three failed marriages and ever-deepening despair. Professionally, his drug and alcohol- impaired medical practice became a severe threat to the safety of his patients. By the time Jim was intervened upon by his hospital and placed in rehab, he had had enough and was desperate to recover. Thankfully, he found a strong AA community that offered him the ego-deflation and no-nonsense support he needed to get sober. As he grew in that community, he built a humble new life in which he could be of real service to others, especially those in the medical profession who find it difficult to admit defeat by the disease.
Jim’s story offers a rare perspective we don’t hear often in ordinary AA meetings, especially since many physicians attend closed meetings amongst their own. But his involvement and service as an active participant in everyday AA is proof positive of a man whose AA program is on solid ground. I’m grateful Jim’s here with me on AA Recovery Interviews and believe you’ll find this podcast to be both enlightening and reassuring. So please relish the next hour with my friend and AA brother, Jim G.
[This is an encore of Episode 67, originally released March 2, 2022].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in PaperbackWed, 21 Feb 2024 - 1h 11min - 165 - Guy R. – Sober 3 Years
By the time he got sober, the dark cloud of alcoholism had engulfed Guy's life. After years of heavy drinking and drug use, that cloud all but obfuscated Guy’s best efforts to manage the disease. The cleverly-crafted lies and innate charm that had worked so well for so long simply stopped working. In the dozens of jobs he held over the years, Guy’s ability to work harder and longer than others always seemed to set him on the right track to success. But the effects of his worsening alcoholism gave his employers little choice but to fire him. Even then, his denial of the disease kept him mired in misery and self-loathing. Towards the end, the negative consequences of his behavior, including a DUI and more job-firings, became irrefutable evidence of a life circling the drain. Fortunately, what little exposure to AA Guy had had from previous scrapes was enough to spur him into his first meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. He found a sponsor who took him through the steps and, slowly but surely, incorporated the Program into his daily life. Three years later, Guy is one of those AA members whose personal demeanor in and outside of meetings is one of humility and service. In the relatively short time I’ve known him, Guy is one of those sober AAs whom I feel is demonstrating the promises of the Program that always materialize if we work for them.
Guy’s story is one of sanguinity and optimism. If you’re early in sobriety, I think you’ll find his story an important testament to the immediate impact of AA. If you’ve been around for years, you’ll recognize the enduring message of hope in everything Guy has to say. So, enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother Guy R.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful,Wed, 14 Feb 2024 - 1h 11min - 164 - Ro Y. – Sober Since April 1982 (Encore of Episode 71)
Jails, institutions, or death. These are the three bleak outcomes from alcoholism and drug addiction that faced my guest on today’s show, Ro Y. Actually, he fulfilled the first two in his late teens and early twenties after being incarcerated multiple times and being court-ordered into treatment facilities. The third option was not far behind. Ro’s increasing use from alcohol and drugs pointed solely toward a permanent, if not welcome, solution to his misery. His introduction to AA happened in the prison meetings he attended for no other purpose than to attain a less severe period behind bars. Upon release from every jailing, he ignored everything he'd heard in AA and returned to a life of drug use, alcoholism, and crime. Ro’s downhill slide accelerated with each felony conviction for buying and selling drugs. Prison sentences, parole violations, and failed attempts to stop drinking and using dogged his every move. Finallly, in Spring of 1982 when he hit his bottom and entered AA. With an earnestness born out of desperation, Ro finally began the tough work required in the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Working his way out of the debris field of his life, Ro continued to trudge the road of happy destiny one day at a time. That journey took him from sweeping floors as an ex-con to owning his own business for over 30 years, building and racing cars and boats while setting world speed-records in the process. He has never forgotten where he came from, nor taken for granted God’s gifts of sobriety.
Living a rich and fulfilling life, Ro lives in the center of the AA herd. With 40 years of sobriety, he still attends daily meetings and can be seen talking to newcomers and old-timers alike, offering his unique folksy brand of support and friendship. His AA story is simply remarkable, yet told in very humble terms. I’m grateful for the friendship we’ve enjoyed for the past 30 years and I believe you’ll find today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews to be especially engaging and meaningful. So, set your phone to Do Not Disturb for the next hour and 15 minutes as you enjoy my conversation with one of my favorite AA kinfolk, Ro Y.
[This is an encore of Episode 71, originally released April 30, 2022].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book...Wed, 07 Feb 2024 - 1h 18min - 163 - Mary M. – Sober 35 Years
Mary joined Alcoholics Anonymous 35 years ago, shortly after her father picked up his 20 year chip in the Program. Her father’s longevity and experience in AA was reflected in his willingness to let his daughter find her own way through the alcoholic mire in which she was stuck for years. By the time she came into AA in 1988, she had become emotionally, physically, and spiritually wrecked. A cry for help was all she had left. That cry, however, was answered by none other than her father who took her to her earliest meetings. Mary’s misery turned into a sincere willingness to get and stay sober. Over time, she got a sponsor, worked the steps, and began her service work as a sponsor. The various milestones in Mary’s sobriety journey represent the very worst and very best things that can happen in the life of a recovering alcoholic. At the end of each milestone were the blessings of continuous sobriety and greater gifts of experience, strength, that she freely shares with others.
I feel you’ll find Mary’s story to be an inspiring example of good long-term recovery in the AA. Her approach to sobriety is both enlightening and inspiring. So please enjoy the next hour with my friend and AA sister, Mary M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show.Wed, 24 Jan 2024 - 1h 00min - 162 - Charlie D. – Sober Since July 1997 (Encore of Episode 37)
At age 13, Charlie suffered hydrocephalous and underwent the first of 5 brain operations over the next 8 years. By 15, he had begun using alcohol and pot both recreationally and to relieve his head pain. With sports out of the question, Charlie learned guitar and started playing in bands. His alcohol and drug use escalated through high school and college, and ultimately through law school. By the time he passed the bar exam and embarked on his childhood dream of being a lawyer, Charlie had become a functional alcoholic, drinking daily as he chased the goal of winning a multi-million dollar lawsuit. But even after he achieved that goal, Charlie realized that money and acclaim did nothing to fill the spiritual hole in his psyche. In fact, it resulted in him drinking more than ever, seeking relief and release. As years passed, his alcoholism was fueled by a fifth of scotch per day. A failed first marriage, and 3 arrests for DWI, drove Charlie into AA in 1992. But his refusal to do the work, and his resistance to God in the Steps, eventually washed him out of the Program. By the time he dragged back into AA in 1997, after 5 years of increasing drug use and sordid behavior, Charlie had finally had enough. He got a sponsor, started working the Steps, and established a relationship with a power greater than himself. Regular meetings, sponsoring other men, and doing service work all drew him into the center of the Program where he lives today. A healed relationship with his current wife and children as the result of the Program further solidified his commitment to sobriety above all else.
When you listen to Charlie’s story on today’s AA Recovery Interviews show, you’re sure to hear similarities to your own story. As with all my interviews, Charlie’s willingness to share intimate parts of his life with listeners speaks to his love and concern for recovering alcoholics everywhere. His dedication to the Program and his ongoing desire to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety are radiant in his words and enthusiasm.
So, savor the next 60 minutes of this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Charlie D.
[This is an encore of Episode 37, originally released July 28, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 17 Jan 2024 - 1h 06min - 161 - Chimene M. – Sober 2 Years
Chimene's story will resonate with those in their first few years of sobriety. It will also ring familiar with those who drank for many years before alcoholism took control of their lives. In Chimene’s case, drinking was part of her life for over 30 years, from the time she was 18 until she joined AA a few years ago. A social drinker for many of those years, she functioned in her job and homelife with few of the consequences that might have indicated a problem with alcohol long before she arrived at the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous. By the time Chimene noticed that her mostly innocuous drinking had morphed into serious alcohol abuse, she was loathe to believe herself to be an alcoholic. But she knew she had to stop, or, at least, moderate, her consumption of booze. Thinking she could manage it herself, Chimene implemented a variety of planning, rule-making, and self-control measures that had worked so well in other aspects of her life. Unsurprisingly, she sought an online solution through various forums, smartphone apps, and interactive “programs” that promised the help she so desperately needed. None of them worked. Finding herself with diminishing options, Chimene sought out AA through the readily available Zoom meetings that have become the mainstay of her Program. Through Zoom, she has actively participated in the core elements of AA, including Step work with a sponsor; chairing and leading meetings; and online fellowship. She also added an in person meeting at a local AA club to her meeting schedule, sufficient to maintain a well-rounded Program.
I believe you will find much of interest and meaning in Chimene’s story. So sit back and please enjoy the next hour of this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Chimene M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book,Wed, 10 Jan 2024 - 1h 05min - 160 - Martyn C. – Sober 29 Years
Originally from England, Martyn immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1970’s bringing along his predilections for excessive drinking. Insecurities from his earlier life, fueled by fears of not measuring up, stoked his drive to succeed. And for years, while Martyn’s drinking morphed into alcohol abuse, his rapid ascent in business and lack of consequences from drunken behavior, made functional alcoholism a working part of his life. While dodging alcoholic mishaps, Martyn rose in the ranks of the early computer industry and later he started, built, and sold a highly profitable company. But the culture of drinking both within his company and as an adjunct to its growth, inevitably transformed Martyn’s rise into a steep decline. As his disease rapidly took control of more and more of his life, the shift from functional to dysfunctional alcoholism became clearly appeared in Martyn’s life. Obtaining in-patient treatment, and ultimately entrée into Alcoholics Anonymous, he found the kind of relief and comfort that he had longed for throughout his life. Getting a sponsor, going to meetings, and digging into the Steps quickly became the most important aspects of Martyn’s life and something he could readily give away to newly sober alcoholics. And while the nearly three decades of involvement in AA have had their ups and downs in his life, Martyn’s desire for sobriety seems apparent to all who know him. It certainly does to me.
So without further verbosity, please enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, Martyn C.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes,Wed, 03 Jan 2024 - 1h 06min - 159 - Chris G. – Sober Since May 2016 (Encore of Episode 8)
Chris G. found AA over 15 years ago, but after the first year and a half, he decided to go back out. Relapse for some is a sad and tragic story. Many alcoholics are claimed by incarceration, institutionalization, or death before they have the chance to make it back. In Chris’ case, by the grace of God, he survived to finally return to AA and today has 4 and a half years of continuous sobriety.
I met Chris 15 years ago when he first came to AA, welcomed him into the fold, and was glad to see him every week. Despite the many time he slipped and came back, we were glad to see him and all of us encouraged him to do the work and reap the gifts of sobriety. Now, with nearly 5 continuous years in the Program, many of those gifts have shown up in Chris’ life, and are his to keep as long as he stays actively in the middle of the AA Program.
Chris’ story may be of particular interest to listeners in early sobriety, as well as newcomers and those back from relapse. It’s also essential listening for those who’ve been around a while who will appreciate the heartfelt gratitude for AA present in the experience, strength, and hope offered by my very special guest, Chris G.
[This is an encore of Episode 8, originally released January 24, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out I invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large.Wed, 27 Dec 2023 - 1h 10min - 158 - Walt P. – Sober 5 Years
Walt was raised in a military family who moved every couple of years. The transitory nature of Walt’s childhood and adolescence meant making and losing friends on a frequent basis. A sense of impermanence drove his desire to excel in whatever short-term opportunities the relocations created. But, by the time college allowed him to stay four years in one spot, alcohol had already pervaded Walt’s life. He drank for all the usual reasons and had a proclivity for drinking more than his peers. Nonetheless, he graduated, got his career underway, and married shortly thereafter. But the trajectory towards heavy drinking and alcoholism was impeded by a diagnosis of a lupus-type autoimmune disease that Walt battled for fifteen years. Drinking took a backseat to the medications and pain killers, but thankfully he did not become addicted to the opioids or other meds. Alcohol was not advised, but Walt’s intake of liquor continued, especially at those times when painkillers were effective. By the time he overcame the disease of his immune system, Walt’s drinking had escalated. His disease of alcoholism was disrupting every aspect of his life, especially with his family. Ultimately, it took a DUI to convince Walt to come into AA. He dove into the Program, got a sponsor, worked the steps, and became of reliable service to others. Walt tethered himself to a group of men who reside in the middle of the Program and he has become solid in AA fellowship.
Walt’s story is both poignant and inspiring, and has much wisdom to impart to current and future members of Alcoholic Anonymous. So please enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, Walt P.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book any...Wed, 20 Dec 2023 - 1h 03min - 157 - John C. – Sober 51 Years
With 51 years sober in AA, today’s guest, John C., shares a story chocked-full with experience that will resonate with newcomers, old-timers, and folks in-between. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, John’s childhood and adolescence were indelibly influenced by his overbearing alcoholic father and pill-addicted mother. Staying out of the house away from his parents for days at a time was one of the few ways he could cope with the madness at home. Indelibly imprinted on John’s psyche was the belief that he was a failure and would not amount to anything. By the time he was kicked out of high school, his drinking had commenced affecting every aspect of his life. Touched by the characters and story in the movie “Days of Wine and Roses”, John’s identification with the film’s depiction of alcoholism planted a seed that took root in his early attempt at AA in his early 20’s. He managed to stay sober for about a year before he relapsed for 14 months. A thorough beating inflicted by the disease brought John back into AA in 1972 when his commitment to the Program was set for the next half-century. His focus on AA principles has served him well over these many years and he is always looking for new opportunities to help others, both in and out of the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I believe you’ll find John’s story to be captivating, instructive, and inspiring. So please enjoy the next hour and fifteen minutes with my new friend and AA brother, John C.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast stri...Wed, 13 Dec 2023 - 1h 17min - 156 - Diana L. – Sober Since March 2011 (Encore of Episode 18)
Diana’s love of AA is unmistakable. In her words: “AA is at the center of my life. It keeps me sane. It gives me structure, a sense of purpose. It teaches me about myself. It gives me fellowship.” When I first met Diana L. on a London AA Zoom meeting almost a year ago, the humility of that sentiment had me listening carefully every time she shared in that weekly meeting. I intuitively knew that such a heartfelt love for the Program occurs only after a particularly difficult road to sobriety. That’s how it was for Diana. It took her more than ten arduous years, fraught with multiple relapses, to finally anchor her current sobriety date to 2011. To save her own life, she got a sponsor, read the Big Book, worked the 12 Steps, went to meetings, prayed, and fulfilled her service commitments. Her love of AA was a natural result, as was her tenacious and ongoing commitment to the Program. That love continues today. So, have a cup of tea and a biscuit while you enjoy the next hour with my AA sister from Great Britain, Diana L.
[This is an encore of Episode 18, originally released March 24, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so fr...Wed, 06 Dec 2023 - 1h 02min - 155 - Kevin S. – Sober 3 Years
Sober since 2020, Kevin's backstory of drinking belied his ultimate identification as an alcoholic who needed help from AA. Raised in a successful family where neither parent was an alcoholic, various ancestors had suffered from the disease, though a few had gotten sober in AA. As alcoholism appeared to skip a generation, Kevin had managed his drinking to achieve a successful business career and active social life, as well as marriage and four children, well into his 30’s. But the patience of the disease outlasted Kevin’s growing use and then abuse of alcohol. Toward the end, drunken behavior and negative consequences rapidly appeared in his life, threatening his job, marriage, and physical health. By the time he asked his parents for help, his attempts to quit drinking on his own had failed miserably and culminated with admission to inpatient treatment. And though Keven often chose not to attend optional AA meetings offered by the treatment center, his exposure to the Program was enough to lead him to the doors of AA when he was finally willing to throw in the towel. That was over 3 years ago from the date of this podcast and Kevin is still sober. He got a sponsor, worked the steps, and did what AA suggests to build a solid foundation for sobriety. Kevin regularly attends meetings, sponsors other men, and clings to the inner-most regions of the Program. That his marriage and career survived is yet another one of those miracles that occur whenever sincere and active work is done in AA.
If you’re in early AA recovery, I feel you’ll gain much from Kevin’s message of hope. For those listeners with longer-term sobriety, his story provides a great pause to reflect on your own experiences in the early years of your membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. Irrespective of where you are in your own recovery, you are sure to enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother Kevin S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More T...Wed, 29 Nov 2023 - 1h 09min - 154 - MaryCeline L. – Sober Since March 2013 (Encore of Episode 28)
The wisdom MaryCeline conveys is that of one who’s fought hard and suffered much in her battle for sobriety. With multiple stints in AA since 1999, her relapses became increasingly miserable and hopeless. When she finally claimed her current sobriety date in 2013, it was at the desperate end of round-the-clock drinking. From the ashes, her AA program was reignited under the careful guidance of a loving sponsor whom it appears God placed in her life. Together they launched MaryCeline's ongoing commitment to reside in the middle of the Program, replete with the kind of service upon which truly solid sobriety can be based.
As you listen to MaryCeline’s story, you’re likely to identify with many of her experiences, as did I. Her cautionary, yet instructive, tale inspires gratitude that the teller survived and returned to the Program to convey such a vital message of experience, strength, and hope. That she survived to become an active member with contented sobriety, living in the middle of the herd, is proof that surpasses understanding that AA does indeed work, if we work it.
For this podcast, the 28th episode of AA Recovery Interviews, please allow me to share with you the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, MaryCeline L.
[This is an encore of Episode 28, originally released May 26, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-g...Wed, 22 Nov 2023 - 1h 03min - 153 - Steve R. – Sober 15 Years
Steve first got sober in the early 80s. But five difficult and prolonged relapses over the next 25 years delayed his current sobriety date until July 2008. As bad things got after each relapse, Steve somehow managed to make it back to AA with plenty of reasons why he slipped. Unlike some alcoholics who stay out weeks or months before re-entering AA, Steve’s intervals of daily drinking lasted for years. During those intervals, he somehow managed to keep his job, though his physical and mental health were steadily declining with every drink. Several stints of in-patient treatment restored him to sobriety and guided him to the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. But sporadic sponsorship, intermittent meetings, and insufficient Step work eventually gave way to whatever cravings and triggers led Steve back to drinking, often for years at-a-time. But it didn’t kill him. By the time Steve picked up his 5th desire chip he’d been thoroughly beaten by the disease and willing to do whatever was necessary to stay sober. The sponsor who’d helped him after his 4th relapse was willing to take Steve back after his last re-entry into AA. Through a combination of willingness and compliance, Steve’s ultimate surrender transported him to the center of the Program. He finally worked the steps, consistently prayed, studied the Big Book, attended regular meetings, and sponsored other recovering alcoholics. Steve has also volunteered at our local Intergroup every week for the past 15 years.
For everything Steve lost in a quarter-decade of slipping, he never lost the belief that he could stay sober in AA. That he lived to survive his relapses is a miracle in itself. His story provides a unique kind of hope to others who have struggled or are now struggling with the desire to drink. So please enjoy the next hour with my long-time friend and AA brother, Steve R.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”.Thu, 16 Nov 2023 - 1h 03min - 152 - Preston D. – Sober Since September 2014 (Encore of Episode 47)
Alcoholic, drug addict, and crazy are three of the self-proclaimed monikers Preston D. wore as a teenager. I first met him when he got sober seven years ago. Since then, we’ve attended many of the same men’s meetings, both in person and on Zoom. Though he moved from Houston to New York City to expand his career as successful artist two years ago, we’ve stayed connected through on-line meetings and during his visits back home. As one of my younger guests, Preston has spent his 20’s in recovery after a turbulent childhood marred by suicidal ideations and teenage years riddled with alcohol and drug addiction. The marijuana, booze, opioids, and cocaine coalesced into a fast-lane lifestyle and early entrepreneurial success with clothing and sneaker design. But his addictions soon torpedoed his achievements and ultimately took him down in a very short time. By age 19, Preston’s rapid descent to the bottom was arrested by an intervention orchestrated by his long-time therapist. That lead him to IOP treatment for his many addictions punctuated by fits and starts, and lots of doubts about sobriety. When he finally got to AA in 2014, he was totally beaten by alcohol and drugs, and ready to admit of defeat. He started attending meetings and got a sponsor to help him thoroughly work the steps. As AA became a more regular part of his life, it allowed Preston to pursue his dreams of being a working artist and lead to his move to New York. Tragically, over the past year, serious health issues punctuated by debilitating and chronic pain have pushed him to the limits of sanity and sobriety. Thankfully, the lifelines he tied to the higher-powered center of his AA program have allowed him to hang on without slipping.
Today, Preston’s recuperation from chronic pain has been eased by his steady involvement in AA, including service work, sponsorship, and prayer. With a lot to look forward to, he continually demonstrates how a solid commitment to Alcoholics Anonymous can enrich the quality of life. At an age when many of us alcoholics were still deep in our cups, Preston’s experience in AA is a fine example of what is possible for other young people who are struggling with getting and staying sober. It’s an awesome and inspiring story, and one which I think you’ll enjoy listening to. So here he is from Brooklyn, New York, my fine friend and AA Brother, Preston D.
[This is an encore of Episode 46, originally released October 6, 2021].
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 08 Nov 2023 - 1h 08min - 151 - Sachin B. – Sober 3 Years
When he first came to the U.S. from India at age 21, Sachin was eager to build a lifestyle fueled by alcohol and partying. Actually, it was a continuation of the life he lived in India where the shame, guilt, and low self-esteem created by his dysfunctional family only made Sachin want to drink more. After years in the U.S., Sachin’s daily drinking, coupled with his desire to dominate business and personal relationships, had ironically become the blueprint for his inevitable demise. For the next 15 years, Sachin’s functional alcoholism aided his relative success in his business and personal lives. Surrounding himself with a group of people who drank and partied like he, Sachin still felt something had been lost in the fog of his disease. A brief break in the fog gave him a glimpse of what had been missing--spirituality. Serendipitously, that realization coincided with his entrée into Alcoholics Anonymous, in 2020. Sachin’s subsequent quest for a spiritual awakening became the driving force in his Program since the beginning. Today, he gratefully acknowledges that he found what he'd been looking for by active work and sincere participation in all aspects of AA. By living the Program and practicing the principles in his affairs, Sachin enjoys a rich life that he shares with his family and his fellows in AA, freely admitting that he could not have achieved what he has with Alcoholics Anonymous.
So please enjoy the next hour and fifteen minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Sachin B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
Wed, 01 Nov 2023 - 1h 20min - 150 - Amanda B. – Sober Since February 2018 (Encore of Episode 46)
[This is an encore of Episode 46, originally released September 29, 2021]. The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 46 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
At age 13, Amanda was challenged by her parents to drink half a bottle of Crown Royal. It left her sick and passed out on the bathroom floor in a pool of vomit. Yet she couldn’t wait to do it again, with any liquor but Crown Royal!
From there, Amanda rapidly progressed in her drinking and drug use. By 15, she had escaped her childhood home and went to live with drug-dealing boyfriend. When that didn’t work out, she moved in with her grandparents, but drugs and alcohol barged back into her life and she found herself on a downward trend into heavy drinking. She went to work in a bar, which allowed her to drink with little consequence, save the occasional firing. She somehow managed to live on her own in an apartment across the street from the bar, to cut the risk of DWI. But the darkness of the disease descended into her life and by her late 20’s, she had lost about everything and had to live with her sister, the first person to ever call her an alcoholic. A DWI lead her into the legal system, replete with court-ordered IOP treatment and twice-weekly AA meetings. It was in Alcoholics Anonymous that she finally faced her alcoholism and drug addiction, though she didn’t get sober immediately. But that belly full of booze and headful of AA was sufficient to trigger her moment of truth. She had a sudden spiritual experience of the kind Bill W. talks about in the Big Book.
That was 3½ years ago, when Amanda went “all in” the Program of AA. She got a sponsor, worked all 12 steps multiple times, attended regular meetings, engaged in service work, and sponsored other women. Today she lives a full and rich life from the center of the Program and can be seen after meetings arranging informal get-togethers at local restaurants and other fellowship. I’ve known her since the earliest days of her sobriety and am grateful to have had a front-row seat watching this fellow alcoholic really get what AA is all about.
Amanda’s story at three years sober will inspire those with less time to stay regularly engaged in AA. For those with more time, her story may trigger reminiscence of early years of sobriety. So for newcomers, old-timers, and everyone in between, settle back for a comfortable listen to the 46th interview in this podcast series with my good friend and AA sister, Amanda B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon,Wed, 25 Oct 2023 - 1h 11min - 149 - Patrick O. – Sober 24 Years
Raised in a politically powerful family in a major eastern city, Patrick's privileged upbringing in the public eye was belied by his alcoholic father’s physically abusive and destructive behavior behind closed doors. That sacrosanct family secret tormented Patrick and his siblings, as they were forced to put on the mask of a perfectly happy family to the outside world. Seeking relief from the terror and madness, Patrick started drinking as an adolescent. Ironically enough, the only relationship he ever enjoyed with his father was when he shared bouts of drinking when Patrick was in his early teens. But the booze-induced relationship with his father did little to blunt his father’s severe disappointment when Patrick refused to follow the career track into the family’s political machine. He left home after college and went to New York to pursue an acting career. But that particular fantasy was supplanted by a job, and an eventual career, as a talent agent for actors. Patrick, not unsurprisingly, found himself in an industry rife with alcohol, drugs, and lascivious behavior.
From there, Patrick’s career and drinking simultaneously skyrocketed until he crashed and burned in the end. Thoroughly beaten by alcohol, Patrick found his way into Alcoholics Anonymous in 1989 and he’s still sober today. Working the steps and studying the Big Book in earnest with a gifted sponsor, Patrick’s Program became a beacon of hope to others whom he led to AA. His involvement in AA is demonstrated on a regular basis, and many lives have been touched by his heartfelt and sincere desire to be of service to them.
There’s plenty to learn from Patrick’s experience and enthusiastic approach to the Program. So, please enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Patrick O.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big...Wed, 18 Oct 2023 - 55min - 148 - Scott B. – Sober Since March 1988 (Encore of Episode 4)
Can someone be too smart or important to get sober in A.A.? My guest, Scott B. had his Ph.D. in neurobiology and an accelerating career in medical research to dispel any notions of being an alcoholic or drug addict. His superior intelligence, unflappable ego, and iron-will would shield him from the realities of a life rapidly falling apart around him. But his journey into the dark regions of substance abuse ultimately brought him to his knees as a ravaged and demoralized subject of King Alcohol and Lady Cocaine.
Increasingly frequent use quickened the downward spiral of his life and career. Intelligence and will power alone were not enough to save him. Teetering on the edge of the abyss, a single lifeline, in the form of a crafty intervention by his colleagues and friends, was thrown to him. Clinging onto it as only the hopeless can, he finally let that lifeline pull him into treatment and A.A. After nearly 33 years of sobriety, Scott gratefully reflects on that crucial turning point that grew into a brilliant career, a fulfilling life, and daily service to others. His wonderous story is one that needs to be told. More importantly, it’s one that needs to be heard by anyone, anywhere who reaches out for help.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[This is an encore of Episode 4, originally released January 6, 2021]. The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 4 on your podcast app or by visitingWed, 11 Oct 2023 - 1h 08min - 147 - Tom D.- Sober Since January 1993 (Encore of Episode 5)
[This is an encore of Episode 5, originally released January 6, 2021]. The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 5 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
Tom’s incredible story is one of a man whose life was turned inside out and upside down by alcoholism, drug addiction, and crime. From a difficult childhood, he emerged into a troubled adolescence, drinking at 14, shoplifting, and getting kicked out of high school. Hanging with the older boys, his drinking increased beyond sociable and his drugs got harder, culminating in ruinous heroin addiction. His 20’s and early 30’s saw him in and out of county jails and state prison, until his third felony conviction for armed robbery at age 36 finally resulted in a life sentence at a maximum security prison. With alcohol and various drugs widely available from other inmates, his life behind bars provided little chance of sobriety or parole.
Amidst the bleak realization that he’d spend the rest of his life in prison, there came a small spark of hope ignited by memories of the early AA meetings Tom had attended during his many stints in the county jails. Though he hadn’t succeeded with the Program in the past, he started going to AA meetings in prison brought there by a small group of dedicated members of the outside AA community. He found his sponsor inside, who guided him in working the 12 steps. Slowly, he began to turn his thinking and spiritual awareness around. Ultimately, he found that service to other inmates from a genuinely humble frame of mind gave his life newfound meaning and purpose.
But that’s just part of his story. You’ll hear the rest in the podcast. Suffice it to say that Tom’s AA program, forged in prison, was burnished in the years since he was released. He’s become a cherished member of the AA community and a vital part of the recovery scene. He’s a fine and trusted friend to many and one of my favorite people in the fellowship. So enjoy the next hour and fifteen minutes with my good friend and AA brother, Tom D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and inWed, 04 Oct 2023 - 1h 17min - 146 - Greg S. – Sober 25 Years
Greg's envied life before sobriety was one of booze, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. Raised in California in a family rife with alcoholism, dysfunctional behavior infested his home during his childhood and adolescent years. Struggling to fit in among kids his age, Greg joined in their antics and began drinking and smoking marijuana by the time he was 14. That, plus his passion for rock music, helped him through his teenage years, though he drank much more heavily than his peers. Greg started a successful band at 18, only to be fired from it by band members who he thought drank as much as he did. His proclivity for over-shooting the mark became a theme in Greg’s life and early career, along with multiple divorces and trouble with the law. Fortunately, his functional alcoholism, during his years as a drummer, and later as a record company executive, allowed him to evade serious consequences. In fact, his very profession in the music industry seemed to tolerate, and often ignore, his deleterious behavior. But the inevitable downhill slide accelerated in Greg’s personal life, until a drunken assault of family member of one of his failed marriages landed him in trouble with the law from which there was no escape, save Alcoholics Anonymous. Inpatient treatment, followed by court-ordered AA, provided Greg with enough clarity of thought to propel him into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous nearly 26 years ago. He quickly embraced the Program and found the guiding hands that drew him into an active practice of AA recovery and continuous service to his fellows.
These days, Greg is as busy as ever, though a reshuffling of his priorities over the years has placed AA, and sobriety at the top of his list. The spiritual awakening he has experienced both informs his work with new-comers and those he sponsors. To hear Greg share today, many might find his pre-sobriety story nothing short of incredulous. But to like who’ve shared on this show and those who have listened on a regular basis, nothing is surprising or unusual about a Greg’s lively travails on the road of happy destiny. It’s what we recovering alcoholics do.
So relax and enjoy listening to the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Greg S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 27 Sep 2023 - 1h 13min - 145 - Gordon R. – Sober Since March1969 (Encore of Episode 25)
[This is an encore of Episode 25, originally released May 5, 2021]. The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 25 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
Gordon R. got sober AA four months before Neil Armstrong put his foot on the moon. By the age of 28, in the spring of 1969, Gordon’s rapid descent into full-blown alcoholism had taken him from a burgeoning career as a globe-trotting engineer to panhandling on the streets of New York City. Fortunately, when he found the Program, the old-timers who’d been sober since the very earliest days of AA took Gordon under their care and helped him build the solid foundation on which his Program stills stands strong and thrives more than a half-century later.
Gordon’s story of sobriety is one of both triumph and tragedy, of a path well-traveled thanks to his consistent involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous. Gordon’s rich experiences in working an active program, which includes frequent meetings, are both instructive and inspirational to all who wonder about the possibility of actually achieving long-term sobriety. Today’s show with Gordon R. is about 90 minutes long with the best audio quality Zoom was able to provide on interview day. But, whether you listen to it straight-through or in segments, my hope is that you’ll find what you’ve been waiting to hear. With that, I welcome to AA Recovery Interviews my good friend and AA brother, Gordon R.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes,Wed, 20 Sep 2023 - 1h 31min - 144 - Jimmy S. – Sober Since October 1999 (Encore of Episode 21)
[This is an encore of Episode 21, originally released April 8, 2021] The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 21 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
After a difficult adolescence, prison sentence, and series of dead-end jobs, Jimmy finally hit the jackpot. He was hired by a California winery, where he worked for over 20 years. This dream job not only allowed him to drink while at work, but actually required it. His job as a wine salesman necessitated intimate knowledge of every bottle he sold and daily drinking with customers. Thus, Jimmy’s long-time alcoholism and drug abuse was fueled by the demands of his job. Then came his downward spiral replete with divorces, physical decline, drunk driving, and mental issues. Fortunately, as the bottom approached, he had a moment of clarity. After 30 days inpatient treatment, he found AA and has stayed sober ever since. Ironically, when he got sober and informed his employer, he was fired for not agreeing to drink on the job. For a functional alcoholic, this was another gift he could not ignore. Over his more than 21 years of sobriety, Jimmy has parlayed that experience into a strong program focused on constant service to the fellowship and helping people in his community.
Though I only met Jimmy about a year ago on Zoom, we formed an instant bond based on a shared love for Alcoholics Anonymous and our mutual willingness to help others. I’ve been fascinated by his story and feels like I’ve known him for years. I think you’ll feel that way, too, over the next hour as you listen to this AA Recovery Interview with my AA brother, Jimmy S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book,Thu, 14 Sep 2023 - 1h 08min - 143 - Diane G. – Sober Since June 1976 (Encore of Episode 17)
[This is an encore of Episode 17, originally released August 18, 2021] The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 17 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
Diane G. first met her husband, John, in AA nearly 45 years ago. As uncommon as that is, what’s rarer still is that they stayed together utilizing the tools of AA to successfully raise their family, launch their careers, and help countless alcoholics along the way. John was one of my closest friends and I had a front-row seat to witness his remarkable ability to integrate AA into every facet of his life, including his marriage to Diane. What was beautiful was to watch John channel Diane’s love into everything he did. That love was unshakeable and when John died of liver cancer almost 7 years ago, Diane’s AA Program carried her through that tragic and difficult time. After he passed, she continued to channel John’s love into everything she did.
Today, Diane’s life reflects the richness of the AA Promises in action. She is involved and engaged in helping women in the Program, many of whom identify with the abject abuse she experienced growing up. Using every tool laid at her feet by AA, and other mental health resources, Diane has dealt with an incredible array of bad times and good times and she passes onto others the experience, strength, and hope that makes her a cherished friend to many, including yours truly.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, orWed, 06 Sep 2023 - 1h 16min - 142 - Scott S. – Sober 20 Years
Scott's adversities during his 20 years of sobriety seemingly outweigh many adversities he suffered while on his way to AA recovery. Scott emerged from an abusive and traumatic childhood into an adolescence where he found alcohol and music to soothe his anxieties and repressed feelings. By 17, his downhill slide into alcoholism was severe enough to convince his Scott’s newly sober father to join him in AA. Many half-hearted attempts at sobriety peppered Scott’s late teens, until he finally compiled 9 years sober. But a lifestyle filled with non-stop touring, song-writing deadlines, and long days producing his own and others’ music, lead to a sharp drop-off in meetings. Scott relapsed. By the time he finally stepped back into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, Scott’s alcoholism had depleted him physically, mentally, and spiritually. Fortunately, AA held the solutions Scott desperately needed and he put himself to working the steps with a sponsor and sponsoring other men. As the years passed, Scott enjoyed the gifts and faced the challenges that AA offers. Late into his sobriety, however, Scott faced the biggest threat to his sobriety in the form of metastatic cancer. Determined to not let the “other disease” stop him Scott submitted to multiple surgeries and years of sickening chemotherapy. Slowed, but undeterred by his illness, he dug into his AA program by gathering his fellows into a tight circle of support and by remotely participating in as many as three Zoom AA meetings a day, as well as live attendance his home group when he feels well enough to travel.
Scott’s remarkable story is one of perseverance and faith and is proof positive that active and unceasing participation in AA is the key to a life of personal healing, service to others, and unfailing hope. I believe you’ll find much inspiration in Scott’s words and works. His is a multi-faceted tale sure to please newcomers and old-times, as well as anyone else seeking a solid testimonial that AA recovery really works.
So keep your feet on the footpath, your eyes on the road, and your ears open for many similarities in the next hour as we dive into another fine episode AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Scott S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book a...Wed, 30 Aug 2023 - 1h 09min - 141 - Doug W. – Sober 12 Years
Doug's story begins with a childhood during which he enjoyed all the opportunities to succeed in life. Unfortunately, a learning disability, combined with a short stature made for an academic struggle in school and a struggle with bullies after school. Feeling left out and disregarded by his peers, Doug found alcohol in his early teens and a new way to cope with life opened up. Hanging with like-minded friends in high school and college, Doug’s drinking escalated, as did the negative consequences of his increasingly frequent binges. In the midst of his functional alcoholism, he managed to sustain marriage and career into his late twenties when the wheels started to come off. Faced with the inevitable misery and pain that accompanies every alcoholic’s demise, life got bad enough that, by age 28, Doug finally put down the drink and came into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I’ve had the opportunity to attend many meetings with Doug during his 12 years of sobriety and can personally attest to the hard work and commitment he has invested in the Program. From regular attendance at meetings to a wide variety of service work to continuous commitment to his family and friends, Doug has clearly demonstrated a Program in action. Listeners will surely identify with many parts of his story and glean valuable insights into living a sober life with purpose and integrity.
So please enjoy the next hour and five minutes with my friend and AA brother, Doug W.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
Wed, 23 Aug 2023 - 1h 10min - 140 - Dennis B. – Sober 61 Years
Dennis got sober in AA in May of 1962 and has enjoyed more than 61 years as a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the Fellowship. At 86, Dennis is actively engaged in all aspects of the program, sharing his depth of experience in the daily meetings he still attends in-person and online. Growing up in a family of coal miners in Manchester, England, Dennis first tried beer at 6 years old and loved it. Living in a environment where drinking was woven into everyday life, he started drinking as an adolescent and working in the coal pits as a teenager. By his late teens and early 20’s, his consumption of beer and hard liquor was already wreaking havoc in his life. Subsequent stints in prison and geographical moves did little to abate the unraveling of his mental, emotional, and physical states. By 25, Dennis had done a lifetime of damage to his mind, body, and spirit. That ominous bottom towards which he’d been digging was beginning to resemble a grave. He finally called AA and attended his first meetings during a time when the fledgling Program was just beginning to take root in the U.K. Since day one in AA, Dennis’ involvement, commitment, and service have touched thousands of lives and, no doubt, saved lives in the process.
With more than six decades of AA recovery, Dennis’ story is rich, colorful, and chock-full of experiences that speak to the ups and downs of living life according to the principals of Alcholics Anonymous. His tale is a rare glimpse of how successfully AA can work over the long-term. I think you’ll find Dennis’ words to be most enlightening. So listen carefully over the next hour and you’ll hear through Dennis’ thick Manchester accent, how one man’s life can be so profoundly influenced by active involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous. And now, without further ado, I’m pleased to welcome to AA Recovery Interviews my friend and AA brother, Dennis B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From ...Wed, 16 Aug 2023 - 1h 05min - 139 - Chris L. – Sober 12 Years
Chris' life was ruled by alcoholism until he got sober in AA in 2011. Raised by loving parents, he had a spiritual realization of the universe at age 5 that was cut short at age 9 with the tragic death of his 12-year-old sister. As inconsolable grief upended his family, Chris’ spiritual and religious beliefs were mostly severed while drinking became his respite during his adolescent years. Finding additional solace in music, Chris embarked on a successful career as a musician whose functional alcoholism only accelerated his inevitable plunge to the bottom. Though the well-known frontman for the band in which he played had gotten sober and invited Chris to do the same, Chris refused to admit his own alcoholism. He kept drinking for many years, despite additional tragedies and horrible outcomes. As the disease rapidly drained any regard for his own life, Chris reached the end of a long rope and he finally uttered the three words that have saved countless alcolholics: “God help me”.
Chris’ long journey to the doors of AA culminated in the start of a new life. He gave himself wholeheartedly to the Program and the fellowship, and has stayed sober amidst triumphs and tragedies along the way. His commitment to service work and practicing the principals is unmistakable as he continues his passionate work in the music business. His easy-going demeaner and enthusiasm for sobriety are readily apparent and create a warm, friendly attraction to what Alcoholics Anonymous has to offer.
I believe Chris’ story will touch the hearts of those who listen to his words. So please enjoy the next hour with my friend and AA brother, Chris L.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace.Wed, 09 Aug 2023 - 1h 07min - 138 - Dan D. – Sober Since February 1986 (Encore of Episode 41)
[This is an encore of Episode 41, originally released August 25, 2021] The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 41 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
Dan D. showed up in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous at the tender age of 18. His undeniable qualification for the Program was gleaned from a difficult childhood that included divorced parents at age 3, after which a rageful alcoholic became Dan’s stepfather at age 6. From a childhood rife with family dysfunction, fear, and uncertainty, Dan emerged into adolescence where he found alcohol and drugs to sooth the inner-turmoil and emotional pain. Left largely unchecked by his disarrayed family, Dan was free to run the streets as a teenager while his budding alcoholism and drug addiction paved the way to certain ruin. By the time he was an older teen, cocaine had taken over his Dan’s life, and he started stealing from his employer and robbing houses to support his habit. At age 18, he’d stepped over the line by robbing his parents’ home for the umpteenth time Their ultimatum to Dan was either go into treatment or be booted out onto the street. He spent 90 days in treatment followed by an intensive AA program in which he was guided by a thorough sponsor and several old timers into service-oriented sobriety that continues to this day.
But Dan’s story became truly extraordinary in 1994 when, with eight years in AA, he somehow managed to stay sober after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is an incurable and disabling disease that attacks the brain, spinal cord, and the entire central nervous system. After eight years of sobriety, Dan’s prospects with MS were those of certain pain, constant struggle, and debilitation of his entire body. But he has endured MS by utilizing the spiritual tools of the Program with to battle that chronic disease. What amazes me most about Dan is how he has taken his experience fighting MS and put it into practical use in his AA program. Residing in the center of “double A”, as Dan calls it, his service work with newcomers and as a sponsor is incredibly inspiring to anyone seeking sobriety. I’ll let Dan tell you the rest of the story. I’m confident you’ll come away with a new perspective of experience, strength, and hope told from Dan’s unique and inimitable point of view. So listen closely for the many gifts over the next hour served up from my friend and AA brother Dan D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 02 Aug 2023 - 59min - 137 - Felice W. – Sober 31 Years
Felice W's journey in AA has greatly inspired other alcoholic women to try our way of life. Growing up as an adopted child whose older brothers made good at home and school life with seemingly little effort. Meanwhile, Felice struggled and was drawn to errant behavior and alcohol use at age 14, after her parents divorced. The escalation of family dysfunction that followed launched Felice into an adolescence in which alcohol, and later drugs, became her main coping tools. She continued to use until she finally got sober in AA at age 26. Her classic “what it was like” story was fraught with increasingly dire consequences until she finally hit a bottom deep enough to convince her to join AA. Though she stayed sober in the ensuing years, Felice still experienced two divorces, as well as other major challenges to her sobriety. But she stayed involved in the Program and AA’s core constituents pulled her through each time. As the years passed and the gifts of the Program continued to materialize, Felice found new meaning and purpose in her life, including her current marriage to a man whose long-term and rock-solid involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous continues to enrich both of their lives.
Felice’s story conveys a strong message of hope for anyone seeking long-term sobriety, whether they’re struggling with life’s challenges or currently basking in the sunlight of the spirit. Her upbeat enthusiasm and unabashed confidence in her own Program adds a good deal of power to Felice’s message. It certainly touched me and I believe it will touch you, too.
So please enjoy the next hour and five minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Felice W.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful,Wed, 26 Jul 2023 - 1h 07min - 136 - Myles S. – Sober 40 Years
A standing ovation of nearly 100 men erupted when Myles recently picked up his 40 year chip. To many, this kind of AA milestone seems inconceivable, but the story of his journey is chock-full of similarities with which anyone with any length of sobriety will identify. Raised in a suburban family with a history of alcoholism, Myles’ mother suffered the disease, but never sought help. By the time his parents divorced when Myles was 11, the die had been cast for his future of drinking and using drugs. Amidst the turmoil of his home life, Myles took refuge in the various jobs he worked to make money for the pursuit of what he wanted in life. The solid work-ethic he forged was largely unaffected by his growing dependence on alcohol and drugs. In a perverse way, however, his abilities to earn money and afford more drugs only accelerated his emotional and spiritual slide to the bottom. It was at that point, Myles finally asked for and accepted help. At 22, he landed in an inpatient treatment center, followed by sober living and IOP. AA was the logical and all important next step and thus began his extraordinary journey to long-term sobriety.
Myles’ story is more than an instructive cautionary tale. It’s a fascinating amalgam of life’s lessons learned the hard way, both before and after getting sober. His experience as an action-oriented, yet selfless, member of AA continues to reassure everyone he touches. His success in building a solid family life while achieving remarkable business accomplishments is proof positive that staying centered and active in AA can truly help dreams come true and stay true for years to come.
So please enjoy the next hour and twenty minutes of AA Recovery Interviews as you listen to the uplifting and inspiring words of my good friend and long-time AA brother, Myles S.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
In addition to my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible,Wed, 19 Jul 2023 - 1h 27min - 135 - Ryan D. – Sober 2 Years
With a little over two years sober, Ryan's story is especially compelling for those AA members who are newly or recently sober. It is a story with which many will identify. His father was an alcoholic and seldom home, and Ryan and his brother were raised mostly by his mother. The rageful behavior inflicted on Ryan by his dad during his formative years abruptly stopped upon his father’s suicide when Ryan was in middle school. Seeking solace and support from the Catholic church in which he'd grown up, Ryan’s tragedy elicited no sympathy from the largely indifferent priest, who missed the opportunity to help a grieving adolescent. Marred by that event, Ryan’s religious and spiritual life was fractured, and became one of reckless abandon.
Ramping up his drinking and pot smoking after his father’s death, Ryan’s life was one of alcoholic and drug addled chaos for decades to come, with the associated wreckage of relationships and careers. As his life was caving in around him, his wife started attending Al-anon, a clear signal to Ryan that he’d likely lose the marriage, along with everything else if he didn’t get sober. He chose AA recovery and has never looked back. He ensconced himself in the middle of the Program, actively working the Steps, attending meetings, having a spiritual awakening and working with others. Personally, it’s been a joy to watch Ryan’s progress over the past couple of years.
I believe Ryan’s story will resonate with listeners on many levels. Especially for those in young sobriety, his simple and straightforward approach to AA will be both instructive and encouraging. For those listeners with more time in AA, Ryan’s story is sure to trigger reminiscences of early sobriety.
So relax and settle in for this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Ryan D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”.Wed, 12 Jul 2023 - 1h 12min - 134 - Bob B. – Sober Since January 1974 (Encore of Episode 10)
[This is an encore of Episode 10, originally released February 23, 2021] The original episode description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 10 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]Wed, 05 Jul 2023 - 1h 24min - 133 - Jane P. – Sober Since June 1995 (Encore of Episode 38)
[This is an encore of Episode 38, originally released August 4, 2021] The original episode description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 38 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out I invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]Wed, 28 Jun 2023 - 1h 09min - 132 - Diego R. – Sober 5 Years
Diego R. grew up in Venezuela in a fear-ridden household with an alcoholic father whose rage left an indelible mark on the only child. Though his father left when he was five, Diego had learned how to use rage and rebellion to compensate for his fear and lack of self-confidence. By the time he started drinking, the alcohol combusted with his attitude and egoism to stoke a fast and reckless lifestyle. Working as a mechanical engineer, Diego’s job had two, three, and four week rotations that allowed him to drink and chase women unimpeded while he was off the job. Working at facilities around the world, he was a functional alcoholic fulfilling many critical roles. But his around-the-clock work commitment meant he couldn’t drink for or up to 28 days at a time. As the disease progressed, he spent much of his time on the job devising elaborate plans for his inevitable benders once off-duty. Drinking soon occupied all his hours off the job and started to bleed into Diego’s ability to perform his work while on the job. Ironically, one of Diego’s roles involved monitoring other employees for alcohol and drug use. But working in an environment where drinking and alcoholism were rife continued to make life more miserable for him. Hitting bottom in 2018, Diego committed to AA’s Program of recovery. He has been a sober, active, and engaged member of the Program ever since.
Staying sober for five plus years has generated many gifts for Diego and countless opportunities to be of service to other sober alcoholics. I think you will find his testimony to be of great value, especially those of you in the early years of your AA Program. And though it may take a few seconds to acclimate to Diego’s Venezuelan accent, your investment of one hour to listen to Diego’s awesome story will be time well spent. So please enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews con mi amigo y AA hermano, Diego R.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available onWed, 21 Jun 2023 - 1h 04min - 131 - Alisha C. – Sober Since April 2009 (Encore of Episode 36)
[This is an encore of Episode 36, originally released July 21, 2021] The original episode description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 36 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book or as a Paperback book from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me.Wed, 14 Jun 2023 - 1h 07min - 130 - Joseph L. – Sober 2 Years
Joseph found recovery in AA entirely on Zoom during the Covid Pandemic. As of the date of this interview, that was over two years ago. Since then, he has enthusiastically embraced the Program in a way that will inspire those AA members in their early years to stay the course and recover from the disease of alcoholism. Joseph came from a strict upbringing during which he followed all the rules for being good but did so at the expense of his self-esteem, confidence and general enjoyment of life. By the time he found alcohol late in his teens, it rapidly became his best friend and constant companion. Deep into his successful career in the corporate world, where he drank all the time, the alcoholism that had always been in tow morphed into a full-blown destroyer. It ruthlessly sank every opportunity for happiness and left him bereft of all hope for the future. By the time he called for help, his life had become increasingly hopeless and suicidal thoughts recurred on a daily basis. Fortunately, the man he called had been sober over 30 years who lived the AA life. He took Joseph under his wing, initiating a rigorous program of action and accountability. Today, Joseph credits his sponsor for literally saving his life and AA for safeguarding his future.
Though we live states away, I can reliably count on seeing Joseph at the Zoom meetings we both attend. I look forward to meeting him in person and sharing some in-person meetings with him. I think you’ll find Joseph has wisdom beyond his years of sobriety and those of you with less than two years will find much to be inspired with in his story.
So gather up your friends and enjoy AA Recovery Interviews with the AA brother I gratefully found on Zoom, Joseph L.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out I invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939.Wed, 07 Jun 2023 - 1h 09min - 129 - Chris W. – Sober 18 Years
Chris W. shares a story of alcoholism’s unimpeded march through a man’s life, sweeping aside all of the talents and abilities to dominate his daily living. While alcoholism showed up clearly in his family tree, it skipped his parents and landed squarely on Chris with his first drink at 17. Though he excelled at sports, especially golf, his family’s move to Texas in his senior year in high school created a struggle to fit in. Fortunately, alcohol entered the picture and created the comfort and camaraderie he sought. Frequent drinking and marijuana use during his college years and early career accompanied Chris’ soaring talent on the links. But his growing use of booze, weed, and, later, cocaine, became toxic and infiltrated all of his decisions and ambitions. By the time he found AA at age 29, Chris’ life had deteriorated around him to the extent that his handicap no longer meant anything, compared to the handicap his alcoholism and addictions had created. As he dragged into his first meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chris was clearly ready and willing to follow AA’s formula for sobriety and a better life.
Since getting sober, Chris has burnished his sobriety by immersing himself in many of the service opportunities available in the AA community, most notably his involvement in a sober recreation committee in which he helps organize and promote sporting and social events for AA members throughout the area. He leads by example from the center of the Program, attending regular meetings and sponsoring other men. His enthusiasm for all things AA is infectious and leaves all who know him with a broad smile on their faces to match his. He is, without a doubt, one of the most upbeat people I know in AA and it was a joy to interview him.
So crank up your old podcast player and indulge yourself in AA Recovery Interviews for the next 65 minutes as you listen to my conversation with my fine friend and AA brother, Chris W.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out I invite you to check out my latest audio book,Wed, 31 May 2023 - 1h 05min - 128 - Joanie M. – Sober 6 Years
Joanie's story is full of similarities with which many alcoholics will readily identify. Her early drinking at age 14 escalated during her high school and college years. It rapidly became an indispensable part of her life during her first marriage. As a young mother of two, Joanie’s budding alcoholism became entwined with her home and social lives and caused mounting problems in both areas. Fortunate to have a husband who took over the parental roles that Joanie was increasingly oblivious to, her daily drinking inevitably led to divorce. And, of course, divorce led to more drinking and irresponsibility. As her life became more isolated and miserable, Joanie tried to stop drinking many times. At first, she tried using psycho-therapy and multiple treatment centers, only to start drinking again. With few options left and self-loathing becoming a greater part of her existence, Joanie found AA as a last resort. After some fits and starts, she finally caught the hand of Alcoholics Anonymous over 6 years ago and has been sober since.
Joanie’s journey in sobriety started with lots of meetings and working the 12 steps under tutelage of some great sponsors. Her success has grown into sponsorship of other women and reliably fulfilling service commitments, including involvement in local non-profits dealing with alcoholism and drug addiction. She continues to occupy her hard-earned position in the spiritual center of the Program and demonstrates daily the gifts AA offers to all who seek it.
I believe Joanie’s story is important to hear for new-comers, old-timers, and folks in between. So get comfortable to listen for the next hour to this week’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Joanie M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover,Thu, 25 May 2023 - 1h 07min - 127 - Larry E. – Sober Since 2007 (Encore of Episode 16)
[This is an encore of Episode 16, originally released March 14, 2021] The original program description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 16 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Bookis available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book or as a Paperback book from Amazonif you’d like to read along with the audio.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]
Wed, 17 May 2023 - 58min - 126 - Jason S. – Sober 2 Years
Growing up Cajun in South Louisiana, Jason's tough childhood was punctuated by drinking at age 8 and smoking crack by 14. His predilection for rageful and violent behavior was fueled by daily use of alcohol and drugs. His life spun rapidly out of control when he stole a car at gunpoint and led police on a high speed chase through the streets of New Orleans. Jason was sent to prison where he managed his fear and boredom by staying high every day. His one attempt at prison escape ended after an 8-hour pursuit by guards on horseback who caught him in the undergrowth of a nearby forest. When he was released after 13 years behind bars, Jason went right back to his old life of drinking and using, during which time he was in two abusive marriages that ended in divorce and two children in the balance. As his life spiraled downward, Jason somehow managed to keep a job where he happened to know a few men who had gotten sober. By the time he hit bottom in early 2021, Jason’s meager knowledge of rehab was enough to inspire a drive to Houston where he knew no one. He detoxed alone for seven days in a motel room. Emerging shaky and broken, he was somehow able to get a bed in a state-sponsored men’s rehab facility and, later, a sober living house. It was in those places that Jason found and embraced the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
After the sordid life he had led, Jason knew the odds were stacked heavily against his ever staying sober. But, so far, he has beaten those odds by establishing and maintaining a close connection to AA. Two years sober, Jason has worked the steps with a sponsor and goes to daily meetings where he has developed many relationships with other men. Prayer, reading AA literature, and being of service to his groups and sponsees have all girded his ability and resolve to stay sober one day at a time. As you listen to Jason’s story on today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews, I believe you will sense the humble nature of the wisdom he has earned at the high cost of experience. For listeners with limited tenures of sobriety, there is much to learn from his words. So I invite you to relax and enjoy the next hour and 10 minutes with my friend and AA brother, Jason S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and inWed, 03 May 2023 - 1h 12min - 125 - Kim J. – Sober 7 Years
Kim's story begins with a dysfunctional family in which there was verbal and physical abuse. With a family history rife with alcoholism, Kim’s childhood solution to the domestic chaos was to run away from home multiple times, only to be found and returned to the maelstrom . When she finally found alcohol, the solutions to her problems were quickly expunged by a can of beer or bottle of hard liquor. Toss in street drugs and the die was cast for a future of alcoholism and drug addiction. As all aspects of Kim’s life became ruled by the disease and she considered herself an alcoholic from the start. After a difficult time in high school and an alcohol soaked college experience, she continued heavy drinking and dangerous relationships well into her twenties. With the tenacity of an active drug user, Kim managed to keep her various jobs and functioned well-enough to support herself. But the disease eventually damaged all aspects of Kim’s life. Finally, beaten down and ravaged by her 28 years of emotional, physical, and spiritual damage of drug and alcohol abuse, Kim found the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Though it took a while for her to embrace the Program, Kim finally allowed herself to be surrounded by fellow AA members who offered her friendship and support. The rest of her story is both inspiring and informative, and spoken from seven years of hard-won experience. I believe you will enjoy Kim’s words of wisdom and invite you to get comfortable while you enjoy today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Kim J.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us onWed, 26 Apr 2023 - 1h 12min - 124 - George M. – Sober 39 Years
As one of our most senior members of the Fellowship, George is now 89 years old and approaching 40 years of sobriety in AA. Like many other guests who got sober later in life, George’s story is a dichotomy between a well-lived life before getting sober and a life in AA. As a heavy drinker, yet highly functional alcoholic, he was able to successfully juggle his career in the financial sector and a marriage with raising four children. As alcoholism grew more ominous in his life, George found himself divorced and married two more times before he quit drinking. The impending, yet inevitable, loss of his family and career at nearly fifty, was enough to convince him to get sober. He found Alcoholics Anonymous in mid-1983 and has been sober since. His sobriety gave him the key to a whole new life, rich with as many experiences in sobriety as before, but infinitely happier and much more meaningful.
I believe you will find George’s story of fine interest and invite you to enjoy his rich and inspirational words of hope. So get comfortable and immerse yourselves in today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my close friend and AA brother, George M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show...Thu, 13 Apr 2023 - 56min - 123 - Sally G. – Sober Since April 1998
Today’s show is an encore of Episode 9, my interview with Sally G. in 2021. I believe you’ll enjoy listening to it again, or for the first time, if you missed its original release in January 2021.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]Wed, 05 Apr 2023 - 1h 07min - 122 - Chris S. – Sober 35 Years
Chris lived a relatively contented life until the disease of alcoholism took over and landed him in AA at age 48. Unlike many in the rooms of AA who grew up in dysfunctional families where alcoholism and abuse riddled their formative years, Chris describes his childhood and adolescence as idyllic. Despite drinking in college and later the Navy, Chris’ adulthood was largely unscathed by his drinking. While he managed to marry, raise a family, and build a successful career, his generally moderate use of alcohol slowly escalated into full-blown abuse by his forties. Drinking with greater frequency and ferocity, he sought to hide the growing disease, but with waning effect. By the time Chris’ employers confronted him on his drinking, his career was in serious trouble and his marriage was strained. To save both his livelihood and his family, Chris entered AA. He immediately and enthusiastically embarked on a Program that became integrated into every facet of his life. The charmed life he had been living, until alcoholism took the helm, was reinvigorated by his work in AA and he now gratefully claims the happiest years of his life have been in sobriety.
I’ve had the blessing to know Chris since we first got sober 6 weeks apart in 1988 and the privilege to attend literally thousands of meeting with him over the years. My relationship with Chris exemplifies the “brother” in brotherhood and I’m grateful to share his cheerful approach to the Program and his optimism for a future of contented sobriety. So please settle back and enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my close friend and AA brother, Chris S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions.Wed, 29 Mar 2023 - 1h 07min - 121 - Pat C. – Sober 49 Years
After nearly 50 years in AA, Pat's sobriety correlates beautifully with his half-century of his active service and continuous participation in Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised in a dysfunctional family where alcoholism was rife, Pat found ease, comfort, and a sense of belonging by drinking and using drugs. Use, overuse, and abuse of these substances quickly progressed. Pat’s life devolved into the morass that is alcoholism. By his late teens, the disease was controlling every facet of his existence. Reaching AA at age 20, he dug into the Program with “old-timers” who taught him the very fundamentals of staying sober and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. Remarkably, Pat’ unwavering involvement in AA has impacted countless people over the years. He has served as a model for other who aspire to all the gifts God fulfills for those who work the Program. That he stayed sober through divorces, grave illnesses, and family-of-origin upheavals is proof-positive that help and support sought from AA fellows is there for all.
In the process of staying sober, Pat has become expert at passing on what he has learned to others. In a humble and loving way, he has given back to AA that which he was given so freely over the decades.
With 49½ years of AA recovery, Pat’s story is a joy to listen to and packs a wallop of inspiration and hope for new-comers and old-timers alike. Frankly, no introduction I could do would pay sufficient tribute to the accomplishments that Pat has graciously gleaned from his on-going involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous. I believe you will find this episode of AA Recovery Interviews of great interest and I invite you to listen carefully for the next hour to the words of wisdom expressed by my good friend and AA brother, Pat C.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover,Wed, 22 Mar 2023 - 1h 01min - 120 - George Y. – Sober 30 Years
Every alcoholic raised in a dysfunctional family will readily identify with George's story. The unpredictable rage of his father and an emotionally deficient relationship with his mother set George on-track for alcoholism and drug use from the very start early in his teens. Lacking the basic direction and support from his parents, he migrated toward a life in which solace and comfort were provided by the substances he used and the people with whom he hung out. Dropping out of school after the 8th grade, George’s direction in life followed the route of wrong decisions made under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Brief stints in two rehab facilities in his teens ended with no handoff to AA and inevitably failed. Finally, a third rehab experience connected him with AA when he got out. That was over 30 years ago during which time George became firmly ensconced in an active and accountable AA Program.
George’s success with personal recovery in AA has manifested itself in service to young people. Sharing his experience as an alcoholic teenager strikes a responsive chord with kids facing that very real prospect in their own lives. In the process of making his AA-guided service to others both a mission and vocation, George’s impact on the recovery community is broad, admirable, and transformative. As you listen to his story, you’ll gain a perspective of what it takes to use success in AA to make a difference to those young people who need it now or sometime down the road.
I believe you will find enjoyment and inspiration in the next hour of AA Recovery Interview with my friend and AA brother, George Y.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions.Wed, 15 Mar 2023 - 1h 05min - 119 - Bill C. – Sober 8 Years
Bill's turbulent life was ruled by alcoholism and nearly ended in suicide before he was saved by AA. Trouble started early for him when his father died of alcoholism when Bill was 18 months old. Any lessons to be learned were snuffed out by his step-father who spoke badly of Bill’s biological dad. The journey to ruination accelerated through Bill’s childhood and adolescence, as he found relief from alcohol for his unhappiness, self-loathing, and fear. With his problems exacerbated by bad behavior and drinking, Bill found himself kicked out of the house and on his own at 16. He somehow managed to cobble together a life amidst a disease that addled every decision. By the time he was in his mid-20’s, Bill had endured multiple DUIs and 3 trips to prison. He’d even been sentenced to treatment and AA meetings, but didn’t believe he had a problem. Even working off-shore on an oil rig, where no drinking was possible for weeks at a time, did little to abate the escalating disease every time he was back on shore. By the time he was in his mid-30s, Bill’s life was unravelling quickly as he became more and more isolated. His moment of clarity came on the verge of self-annihilation when he finally realized his powerlessness over alcoholism and the unmanageability of his life. Fortunately, the thought of AA divinely supplanted his use of the gun and he finally came into the rooms for good and all.
Bill’s 8+ years in Alcoholics Anonymous have rebuilt his life in many ways. Diligent work in the Steps allowed him to address lingering resentments from his earlier life and make amends for his alcoholic behavior over so many years. With sincere humility, he acknowledges the service work in his Program and the importance of regular meeting attendance. Bill’s life-tale since getting sober is one filled with God-given gifts and sober awareness of the significance of living the Program one day at a time. I think you’ll find much to be gained by listening to Bill’s story and invite you to enjoy the next hour and 10 minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Bill C.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the ...Wed, 08 Mar 2023 - 1h 07min - 118 - Radha B. – Sober 8 Years
Radha's battle with the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction was complicated by an eating disorder and clinical depression. Growing up in Great Britain, her East African/Asian roots uncomfortably stood out among the mostly white children with whom she grew up. Using food, and later alcohol, Radha blunted the ever-present feelings of fear, isolation, and self-loathing. Those feelings and her desperate desire to fit in, drove her intense efforts in athletics and school. Unfortunately, popularity for her achievements on the playing fields did little to mitigate feelings of emotional isolation from others. Escalating abuse of food, alcohol, and drugs emerged as major mental health disorders controlling much of Radha’s daily life. While years of subsequent therapy were increasingly focused on her eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia, her alcoholism was left largely unaddressed. Radha was still functional in her career despite her drinking. But her job performance inevitably began to decline as her alcoholic behavior carried over into her work. By the time she realized what a sick alcoholic she was, Radha was already in an extensive therapeutic program for her other mental health issues. Confronted by her room-mate, her one and only true friend, Radha was finally convinced that no amount of therapy was going to sufficiently help her out of her alcoholic malaise. Fortunately, a series of higher-powered coincidences occurred that led Radha into a London meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.
In the past 8½ years, Radha has immersed herself in the Program, beginning with the good orderly directions she received from her sponsor and earnest work on the 12-Steps. She sponsors other women and has gratefully accepted various AA service commitments. In addition to regular attendance at AA meetings, Radha has availed herself of other 12-Step programs to deal with her co-occurring addictions. All in all, it’s a formula for recovery that works well for Radha and greatly inspires others.
Moving the New York City about a month before our interview, Radha dove right into AA in the Big Apple finding vital meetings and meaningful fellowship. It’s another important demonstration of the amazing portability of Program. So, I invite you to enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my new friend and AA sister, Radha B.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 01 Mar 2023 - 1h 05min - 117 - Mark D. – Sober 2 Years
With two years of AA recovery, Mark's story may strongly resonate with newer members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Longer-term sobriety enjoyed by many AA’s I’ve interviewed may seem unattainable or out-of-reach to people with less than a year or two. But the recency of Mark’s experience with alcohol has an immediate and compelling impact. Raised by divorced parents, Mark’s early life before alcohol reflected many of the same fears, self-doubts, and loneliness familiar to all too many of us. By his early and later teens, liquor became the antidote to his problems and opened new vistas to life. From college on, alcohol loomed ever-larger in his life. Complicated by concurrent food and work addictions, his toxic lifestyle morphed into more than a few miserable years. Mark had accomplished brief stints of sobriety, and even attampted AA for a brief time, yet his half-hearted attempts predicated on wanting to please others met with failure. His opportunities to drink and use Adderall were unleashed by owning his own company with no outside accountability to family or friends. Spiraling out-of-control towards rock-bottom, Mark finally made the decision for himself to quit drinking. He crawled into AA in late 2020 and has been there since.
Unlike his first forays in AA, Mark found a solid group of men who embraced and helped him work his way into the “middle of the herd”. Working the steps with a sponsor, going to daily meetings, enlarging his spiritual life, and sponsoring other men have become Mark’s recipe for success in the Program. The model of AA sobriety he follows has worked undeniably and is available to all who seek it.
Please enjoy today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my relatively new friend, but solid AA brother, Mark D.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
Check out my Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Pe...Wed, 22 Feb 2023 - 1h 04min - 116 - Shawn S. – Sober 8 Years
Shawn's story should be required listening for any recovering alcoholic facing a devastating loss early in their sobriety. In Shawn’s case, he was three years into the Program when he got word in the middle of the night that his brother had been a passenger in a helicopter that crashed on the East Coast. In the frantic hours that followed, Shawn’s sponsor directed him to a 6:30 AM meeting at a local AA club. By the time he arrived, Shawn learned that there had been one survivor of the crash, but it wasn’t his brother. Crushed by the reality of his brother’s death, Shawn tearfully shared with the group about the horrible loss of his younger brother with whom he’d been incredibly close and had just seen the previous weekend. Immediately after the meeting, Shawn was enveloped by a group of people in a cocoon of love, empathy, and support. By the time he reached New York to bury his brother, Shawn had received more than 100 texts and phone calls of support, including those from AA members he hardly knew. The lessons that Shawn and his AA fellows learned from that terrible event ultimately turned out as a blessing to all. To me, the God-part of it all is that it was Shawn’s brother who’d convinced him to go to AA in the first place.
Shawn’s tale of becoming an alcoholic, despite both his father and sister being long-term AA members, will be readily identifiable to those who were functional alcoholics years before coming to the Program. Like many of us, he was seriously challenged by feelings of low self-esteem and unworthiness. Shawn still managed to carve out an incredibly successful career on Wall Street, albeit as a drunk. But the escalation of his problems related to drinking overtook that success and he quickly spiraled downward. And though he somehow managed to stay dry without AA for four years, and then sober in AA for five years before he relapsed, it wasn’t until he buckled down to the Program eight years ago that his life turned around with the grateful acceptance of God and AA into his daily life.
I’ll leave the rest of the story for you to savor during this episode AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Shawn S.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and inThu, 16 Feb 2023 - 1h 15min - 115 - Susan A. – Sober 15 Years
Susan's story draws into sharp focus just how damaging family secrets can be and how they can pave the road to alcoholism and drug addiction. Like some of us recovering alcoholics, Susan experienced a traumatic event when she was a child. The natural need to tell someone and seek understanding and comfort, was quashed with a “not now” attitude by her parents. Having no one to turn to, she repressed the feelings as yet another horrible secret. The continuous fear and self-recrimination darkened the ensuing years, until she found alcohol and drugs as a teenager. Instantaneously, they had the desired effect of obfuscating the negative feelings Susan had bottled up for years. Subsequently, she became a daily user, but still functioned despite the debilitating disease. That made for a life fraught with two failed marriages. It also meant serious parenting issues, while she was befogged alcoholic blackouts, and increasingly dangerous behavior.
By the time Susan finally made it to Alcoholics Anonymous, the disease had essentially whipsawed every aspect of her life. Despite a bleak outlook, Susan went to meetings where she met her sponsor and started working the Steps. However, a couple more traumatic events occurred at five years sober. Her AA life-line was stretched almost to the breaking point. Thanks to another alcoholic who observed the fraying strands, Susan was able to hang on. But for as many meetings as she regularly attended, some of Susan’s most regrettable behavior occurred while she was in AA. Some of her darkest hours ensued during sobriety when lost virtually everything of value and meaning. Thankfully, at some point during the past several years, Susan doubled down on her Program and ardently reworked the steps to address the bad behavior and personal losses during sobriety. That work paid off, as today she lives free of secrets and loss, while imparting her hard-won experience to the women she sponsors. Those noble efforts have grown through the years and helped her establish a stronger connection to her higher power.
With 15 years sober, Susan’s daily life in AA is frequently augmented with insightful spiritual experiences. Her demonstration of the ability to pass that wisdom and hope onto others is a beauty to behold.
So sit back and enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Susan A.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 08 Feb 2023 - 1h 03min - 114 - Kristen C. – Sober 20 Years
Aside from jumping into a crocodile-infested harbor in Darwin, Australia and swimming naked in the sea amongst deadly sharks off the coast of Sydney, Kristen’s story is not unlike many that you hear in AA. Though she grew up in a home where her father was a practicing alcoholic, she didn’t start drinking until she was 18. But from that time until she quit more than 20 years ago, her personal and work lives were the stuff of alcoholic chaos, with intermittent periods of soft-willed attempts to stay dry. Though she functioned in her job and home duties, Kristen’s alcoholism got steadily worse. It reached a crescendo of despair when her marriage and parenting of two small children were hanging in the balance by a very thin thread. After one false start with AA, she got sober and came into the Program willing to do whatever was necessary to maintain sobriety.
Here’s something that intrigues me about Kristen’s story. Because AA didn’t truly evolve in Australia until the 1950s and 60s, the growth of the Program, especially in rural areas, was both slow and tedious. Perhaps it was the geography of the enormous, but sparsely populated, continent where drinking is sewn into the cultural fabric. Or maybe it was the pervasive anti-Yank sentiment that was common in the country. Whatever it was, Kristen found that her early days were spent in meetings with AA members who were staying sober, but largely not working the steps. Among the limited number of women in the Program at that time, she encountered difficulty finding a sober AA woman who would sponsor her through the steps. Finally, at 5 years sober, Kristen asked a senior male member who subsequently worked her through all 12 steps under the condition that she would pass it on to others by taking them through the steps. Learning how she has fulfilled that service promise over and over again is to both admire her commitment and marvel at the growth of the Program in a country where it is very much needed.
In many ways, Kristen’s story illuminates the joy she takes in helping others, while strengthening AA’s vital place in her country. So, while I ask you to ignore the technical glitches of my Zoom call to the other side of the planet, I invite you to relish the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my new friend and AA sister, Kristen C.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aThu, 02 Feb 2023 - 1h 03min - 113 - Faisal N. – Sober 16 Years
Faisal's remarkable success in business is closely aligned with the success he enjoys as a daily meeting-maker in Alcoholics Anonymous. For over 16 years, he has worked his Program from the middle of the herd with ongoing service commitments to his AA club and continuous sponsorship of other men. Though he functioned with the disease for years and built an outstanding business, alcohol and cocaine abuse dogged him on his road to personal ruin. Along the way he added workaholism to the toxic mix, which made him oblivious to the needs of his family and friends. But it was the fear of not getting what he wanted and/or losing what he had that drove his frantic desire to succeed. By the time Faisal hit the rooms of AA at the age of 37, he was finally ready to concede to his family and his innermost self, that he was indeed an alcoholic in desperate need of help.
Faisal’s story begins with a Pakistani boy raised in a strong, good family whose religious convictions forbade the use of alcohol. His family moved to Beirut when he was 3. After a civil war broke out in Lebanon, Faisal was sent to an elite boarding school in England from ages 7-18. There he encountered, but learned how to overcome, the prejudice leveled at him by students whose aristocratic parents were as absent as his. By the time he was 18, he was ready to shed the image of second-class citizen imposed on him at school. He came to the United States where he attended college and really learned to drink. After college, he founded a company and set out to slay the business world. His familial role and duties as the oldest son created additional pressure on his ceaseless, yet anxious drive to succeed. Unfortunately, alcohol, and later drugs, hitched along on that drive and started the slow, but steady decline. Lost weekends and benders, on top of 16-hour workdays eventually exacted a terrible toll on his life and he found himself in jeopardy of losing his wife and kids. After seriously contemplating suicide, enough was enough for Faisal and he crossed the threshold of the last house on the block, AA. He’s been sober since.
There’s a lot more to Faisal’s story that will enthrall you for the next 70 minutes. I invite you to settle into another excellent episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Faisal N.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time.Wed, 25 Jan 2023 - 1h 12min - 112 - Kelvin S. – Sober 5 Years
Kelvin's life was defined and dominated by booze and drugs. Though there are similarities to other sobriety tales, many parts of his story contain things that most alcoholics must be referring to when they say, “There but for the grace of God go I” or “That could have been me”. Drinking, smoking crack, gang membership, desperate crimes, jail, broken probation, prison, and parole violations all occurred in within five years after his first drink. Raised in a home rife with family secrets, Kelvin’s mother did her best to help keep her kids out of trouble. But desegregation during his middle school years had Kelvin bussed across town to schools where he struggled to find a persona with which he could fit in. Back in his neighborhood he was bullied for that and had to adopt a different persona to fit that environment. Confusion, lack of direction, lost identity, and low self-esteem inevitably became the drivers to drinking and smoking marijuana at 17. He soon joined a gang and started smoking crack cocaine. Purse-snatching, shop-lifting and other crimes put him at odds with the legal system and put Kelvin in jail, and later prison. He mostly ignored or dismissed alternatives to incarceration, such as rehab, though he did attend some AA meetings in his early twenties.
The next 20 years until Kelvin got sober in AA are an odyssey of drug and alcohol addled behavior. He floundered in a sea lost jobs, multiple treatment centers, bitter divorce, crime, jail, and many failed attempts to get and stay sober. He finally found AA in 2017. Ernest in his efforts to stay sober through AA, he wasn’t completely convinced that AA would work. So he set up a contingency fund into which he made regular deposits. If AA didn’t work, he’d have enough money saved to drink himself to death. Fortunately, Kelvin went to meetings, got a sponsor, did service work around the AA club, and worked the steps sufficient to claim a place in the middle of the Program. After a year of AA recovery, Kelvin liquidated the contingency fund, bought a watch, went to the next meeting.
The rest of Kelvin’s story is captivating, fascinating, and colorful. My interview with him enriched my sobriety and I hope it will do the same for you. So sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my friend and AA brother, Kelvin S.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time.Thu, 19 Jan 2023 - 1h 15min - 111 - Janet H. – Sober 39 Years
Janet’s family of origin was rife with alcoholism. but also some recovery. Her father remained sober in AA for nearly 50 years. When she was a little girl, Janet even attended some AA meetings early in her father’s sobriety. But like so many alcoholics, Janet’s own foray into drinking was undeterred by family history or her father’s experience, though, years before quitting herself, she did ask him for a copy of the Big Book. At 17, Janet started drinking and progressed through high school, college, and early work life with few consequences from her increasingly frequent drinking. But her pattern of alcohol consumption showed the usual signs of trouble: Steady withdrawal from relationships, isolation from friends and family, and growing depression. Though she sought treatment for her co-occurring depression, it wasn’t until Janet’s realization that alcohol was running side-by-side with that depression, with derailment of her life not far ahead. By the time she came into AA in 1983, she had become emotionally, physically, and spiritually wrecked, with little hope of redemption. But she persevered during her early days of sobriety by attending meetings and just not drinking. Over time, she got a sponsor, worked the steps, and commenced her service work as a sponsor. Janet claimed her seat in the middle of the Program and she’s worked through many challenges over nearly four decades to stay there. Her commitment and dedication to AA is evident to all, as is her willingness to help other alcoholics.
I believe you’ll find Janet’s story to be exemplary of good long-term recovery in the Program. Her approach to sobriety is both instructive and inspiring. So please enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my friend and AA sister, Janet H.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 11 Jan 2023 - 1h 16min - 110 - Don M. – Sober 28 Years
Though Don didn’t start drinking until his late teens, his first drunk was a harbinger of things to come. Drawn to the quixotic allure of the hard-drinking, tortured artist, Don's painting created a solitary lifestyle that nurtured his growing alcoholism. Ironically, painting houses became his chief means of funding his daily drinking in neighborhood bars. Though alcohol consumed more and more of his life, Don still managed to function well enough to support his growing family. But his drinking inevitably became a source of major damage to his marriage. Half-hearted attempts to stay sober over the years consistently failed. The hole he’d excavated was taking on the appearance of a grave. But an unexpected realization about his alcoholism and its effect on Don's young son provided the moment of clarity Don desperately needed to change his life. He quit drinking and went to AA the next day. That was 28 years ago.
As he attended meetings, worked the steps with a sponsor, and began to sponsor other men, Don’s journey in AA steadily improved his life. Though true spiritual awakening didn’t occur until years into the program, he persevered and gradually found spiritual connection from which many gifts have arisen. Taking him through both tragedies and times of struggle when he wanted to drink but didn’t, his sobriety demonstrated the impact of a well-worked Program. Don’s long-term marriage and other gifts over the decades provide proof against doubt that the Program really does enrich life one day at a time. Don’s story is both informative and captivating. Even if you’ve been able to piece it together by listening to his podcast, I think you’ll enjoy hearing it in the context and emotional resonance of the AA Recovery Interviews podcast. So get comfortable and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my new friend and AA brother, Don M.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.Wed, 04 Jan 2023 - 1h 12min - 109 - Kyle G. – Sober 3 Years
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Kyle's hard-fought battle with addiction and alcoholism was one he thought he could win on his own. He even managed to stay dry without AA for five years. But they were miserable years packed with trouble in every aspect of his life. So, back to drinking he went for ten more years, during which his disease rode him hard to the bottom. As his life swelled with problems and his options were dwindling, Kyle finally found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous three years ago. Though his period of continuous sobriety is relatively brief compared to double-digit sobriety, the “how it was” and the “what happened” parts of his story are every bit as powerful as those of AA members who have enjoyed decades of sobriety. For many of us, the recency of Kyle’s experience is a stark reminder that the disease is as brutal as ever, offering little respite to those who suffer. In Kyle’s case, a difficult childhood led into early drug and alcohol use. As alcoholism and addiction surfaced during is later teenage years, Kyle was placed in rehab as a high school junior, but it had little effect on the burgeoning disease that he resumed immediately after.
A hoped-for recovery in the U.S. Air Force largely failed as Kyle’s behavior and an alcoholic black-out during deployment caused more trouble. Once out of the service, he resumed his addictions, though, like many, he was still able to marry and have children and job despite his active disease. He even managed to stay dry for five years. But without a Program, he was mostly miserable along the way. By the time he got to AA, he’d been thoroughly beaten by the disease and ready to take “certain steps” toward recovery. Three years later, through working the steps with a sponsor, Kyle’s sobriety is demonstrated by his sponsorship of other men and his attendance at daily meetings. It’s a far cry from where he was when he got to AA, but he’s taking nothing for granted as his disease resides around every corner.
Kyle’s is a cautionary tale, instructive of many of the “do’s” and “don’ts” that are so prevalent in Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you will get a lot out of this interview and invite you to enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Kyle G.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time.Wed, 28 Dec 2022 - 1h 16min - 108 - Lauren A. – Sober 13 Years [New Episode]
Lauren rose to the top of her profession as a prima ballerina and enjoyed international acclaim during her 23 years of thrilling audiences around the world. But the career she had built through years of intense training and dedication were absolutely no match for the alcoholism and drug addiction she encountered along the way. Her early forays with alcohol and marijuana were not unlike the experiences of most of us. She found they provided physical relaxation, sociability, and soothing mental calm amidst her grueling schedule of training, traveling, and performing. But soon Lauren passed the invisible, though inevitable, line between casual use and addiction, and she found herself a hopeless alcoholic. Fortunately, her unmitigated talent, ceaseless training, and unmatched dedication somehow kept up with her disease. She was a highly functional alcoholic. And she continued to excel as a premier dancer, though her ability to hide her alcoholism began to wane. As her work-life began to suffer, the disease continued to pull Jenga pieces from the tower of success she had built. Her personal and professional lives began to teeter. Facing the completely disheartening collapse of all she had strived for, an unexpected run-in with the legal system turned into the divine nudge she needed. As the curtain was falling on a beautiful life nearly extinguished by alcoholism, Lauren found AA in 2009 and has been sober ever since.
Though Lauren’s backstory as a ballet superstar has literally been the subject of many articles, as well as a theatre production and upcoming book, the most meaningful and impactful gifts in her life occurred after she found AA. Working the steps with a sponsor, attending regular meetings, spiritual practice, sponsoring other women, and indefatigable service work both within AA and the dance community, have enriched her life beyond compare. Lauren’s AA recovery story is sure to touch your heartstrings and I’m glad I can bring it to you in this podcast. So sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my good friend and AA sister, Lauren A.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available onWed, 21 Dec 2022 - 1h 15min - 107 - Sue C. – Sober Since 1986 (Replay of Episode 22)
[This is a replay of Episode 22, originally released April 15, 2021] Sue C. is one of those rare people whose presence in my early meetings was an important factor in my willingness and desire to keep attending AA. She was not only welcoming to me, but the way she shared about the steps and traditions; sponsorship and meetings; and service to others and to God, was one of my first realizations that I wanted what another alcoholic had. She exemplified how the promises always materialize if we work for them.
Throughout her more than 36 years of sobriety, Sue has stayed close to the Program, using what she learned in the beginning to undo the damage to her family and herself. Facing severe challenges along the way, she engaged the fellowship through meetings and her sponsors and sponsees to meet those challenges and demonstrate the life-saving benefits of AA. One of the greatest gifts she has sustained has been a fifty-year marriage, the last 14 years of which have been happily bolstered by her husband getting sober in 2008.
Sue has been a friend for many years and the success of her Program is greatly informative to both single and married members of our fellowship. So please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my AA sister, Sue C.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book if you’d like to read along with the audio.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large.Wed, 14 Dec 2022 - 1h 11min - 106 - Matt M. – Sober Since 2016 (Replay of Episode 19)
[This is a replay of Episode 19, originally released March 29, 2021] Would a court-mandated breathalyzer and the fear of going to prison be enough to keep Matt dry? Or should he embrace AA’s spiritually-anchored Program of sobriety based upon proven steps of action, fellowship, and service?
My guest today, Matt M., faced that choice. His life today reflects the decision he made. As my first Millennial guest, Matt has 5 years of sobriety and, at age 31, he demonstrates AA’s effectiveness at reaching across the generations of alcoholics to provide answers and the hope of a better future.
I met Matt when he first got sober. He attended our men’s meeting on a weekly basis, but after a while, I stopped seeing him. Curious as to where he was, I learned from some men who knew him that, although he was still sober, he hadn’t been attending meetings regularly as he had in the beginning. When I next saw him, I asked him about that hiatus and he told me of the distractions to his Program. You know, jobs, relationships, and the other things that take people out every day. Fortunately, he recommitted to AA, redoubled his work in the program, and ultimately picked up a sponsee. Most importantly, he didn’t drink.
As you listen to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, take note of the progressive nature of Matt’s disease and the choices he faced along the way. Should he use the court-mandated daily breathalyzer and the fear of going to prison as the reason to stay dry? Or should he embrace spiritually-oriented sobriety based upon a proven program of action and fellowship? Matt’s experience speaks to both, but the way he lives his life today demonstrates his commitment to his AA program over any easier, softer solution. I invite you to share the next hour AA Recovery Interviews with any boomer, millennial, or any Gen X, Y, or Z alcoholic you know. I believe Matt’s perspective offers good orderly direction and a lot to be grateful for. So, I welcome my AA brother, Matt M., to AA Recovery Interviews.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible,Thu, 08 Dec 2022 - 1h 08min - 105 - George J. – Sober Since 1981 (Replay of Episode 14)
[This is a replay of Episode 14, originally released Feb. 28, 2021] Ever heard anyone say, “Getting arrested was the best thing that ever happened to me”? As crazy as that sounds to normal people, if you’ve been around AA long enough, you’ve heard it, usually expressed along with gratitude. I’ve heard my guest, George J, say it many times over the years. His arrest on federal drug charges at age 19, after seven chaotic years of addition and alcoholism, was truly a blessing and marked the start of a new life based in sobriety and service. Now, nearly 40 years later, George’s remarkable story of continuous sobriety in AA is one that demonstrates the gifts that are possible by working the Program and practicing its principles on a daily basis. Overcoming many challenges along the way, his years of AA service also inspired a successful career in the recovery field helping lots of people. Yet his work in Alcoholics Anonymous has remained his top priority. I’ve witnessed that priority in action over the last 30 + years and George still inspires me, and many others, with his dedication to AA and its primary purpose of helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. I hope you will relish this next hour and 15 minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, George J.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Bookis available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aThu, 01 Dec 2022 - 1h 21min - 104 - Alejandra W. – Sober Since 2009 (Replay of Episode 11)
Alejandra's story is a heart-wrenching tale of alcoholism at its worst. Originally from Venezuela, Alejandra was raised from a baby by her grandparents while her mother’s alcoholism derailed her family. Later, after her mother got sober through AA, Alejandra accompanied her to meetings as a little girl. But that exposure to AA was not sufficient to keep her from becoming an alcoholic, and she ended up in AA herself at 15. She stayed sober until she relapsed at 22 and then began a tragic odyssey of full-blown alcoholism, traumatic experiences, and forays in and out of the rooms of AA.
When she finally got back to Alcoholics Anonymous in 2009, she was physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted. But, by following the Program and the guidance of her sponsor, she slowly rebuilt her life of sobriety. Today, she stays in the center of the Program by attending regular meetings, maintaining the 12 Steps, and demonstrating her recovery though selfless service work in AA.
At 11 years sober, Alejandra’s life reflects the many blessings she has received through her active involvement in AA by serving others and passing those blessings onto anyone who reaches out to AA for help. So please lend your ears to the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my lovely friend and AA sister, Alejandra W.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Bookis available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as aWed, 23 Nov 2022 - 1h 15min
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