Podcasts about first edition

Peter Mendelsund is a writer, book designer, musician, novelist, and painter. And he has two books coming out within just a couple of weeks of each other: Exhibitionist and Weepers. We talk about both in deep, wide-ranging conversation. This is a good one. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th, 2025 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate McKean joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Write Through It: An Insider's Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life. Kate is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency and writes the extremely interesting and popular Agents + Books newsletter. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The Two Kinds of Book Auctions The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode comes over from the First Edition feed: Jeff solos his way through listing a bunch of books coming in June that, were time and space no object, would go on the TBR for sure. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Tailored Book Recommendations has the chops to find the right read for your loved one this Father's Day. Gift TBR today starting at just $18! Discussed in this episode: The Book Riot Podcast The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am working on a permanent title for this episode format, where I just run through a bunch of books I am interested in that are coming out in the current month. You get the idea. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Tailored Book Recommendations has the chops to find the right read for your loved one this Father's Day. Gift TBR today starting at just $18! Discussed in this episode: The Book Riot Podcast The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [This is an encore of Episode 101 originally released December 21, 2022.] If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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 Apple Books. It's also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback 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. 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.]

June new releases are hopping. Jeff talks to Susan Choi about her new novel, Flashlight. Then, Damon Young comes on to talk about his new anthology, That's How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black Humor. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Tailored Book Recommendations has the chops to find the right read for your loved one this Father's Day. Gift TBR today starting at just $18! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The Book Riot Podcast The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Quizheads, welcome to Takeaway Trivia your pub quiz in a podcast.Four rounds of bar trivia in the comfort of your own home. No queuing for a your beer, no sticky tables and no one heckling the answers. Play the quiz however you like. Get your gang together and play like a true quiz night or entertain yourself while you're waiting for your Switch 2 delivery!This week's rounds:>01:15: General Knowledge>04:19: Which Came First?>09:57: 54321>17:00: Final FlingCONTACT TAT> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ko-fi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We make every effort to check that the trivia presented in each episode is correct and up to date at the time of publishing however, the contents of this podcast are presented for entertainment purposes only. Takeaway Trivia cannot be held responsible for any errors. Please get in touch if you think we've got it wrong to win the ultimate pedant's prize - a shout out in the Correction Section!Takeaway Trivia is available wherever you download podcasts including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible. It's also available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New episode every Monday!#pubquiz #podcast #trivia #quiz #generalknowledge #questions #bartrivia #answers #ClarksonsFarmMusic:"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠There It Is⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0License:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Easy Lemon" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

Christoph Gelfand, Wes Sterrs, and Jeff Griecci—filmmakers behind the dynamic short documentary Final First Edition—join us for a lively and insightful conversation about collaboration, creativity, and a deep dive into pop culture history. This trio, each with impressive individual credentials in Maine's tight-knit film community, came together to chronicle a fascinating project: collector Rich Horn's mission to recreate the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic, using the same techniques and even the original negatives—first printed in Biddeford, Maine nearly 40 years ago. Christoph, founder of True Life Media, Jeff, a Biddeford-based cinematographer with a passion for indie films, and Wes, the film's director and a Belfast native, reveal how Final First Edition became a joyful exploration of fandom, nostalgia, and artistic obsession. Their camaraderie shines throughout—whether joking about their own Ninja Turtle alter egos or reflecting on the powerful lessons learned from documenting Rich's meticulous archive. Beyond the humor and energy, this conversation highlights the unique spirit of Maine's creative scene, where small communities foster big projects—and where teamwork transforms vision into reality. It's a testament to friendship, shared passion, and the magic that happens when artists unite behind a common goal. Join our conversation with Christoph, Wes, and Jeff today on Radio Maine—and don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more inspiring stories!

Gretchen Rubin returns to the show to talk about wisdom, aphorisms, and her new book, The Secrets of Adulthood. PLUS: a silent reading challenge coming in June that anyone can do. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Email jeff at firstedition (at) bookriot (dot).com. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin Read 25 Day Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[Program Note: Bud S. passed away shortly after the release of this interview in 2022 at age 94. He had 44 Years of sobriety when he died. This interview may be the last time Bud shared his extraordinary story, but it lives on in the hearts those who knew him.] My guest on today's show is Bud S., a man of remarkable longevity and long-term sobriety. At 94 years old, his 44 years of sobriety is the perfect backdrop for the story of a life well-lived through the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Though he started drinking later than most, his disease quickly branched off an alcoholic family tree that claimed the lives of his father and both sisters. Like many alcoholics, Bud built a successful career despite his growing addiction to alcohol. For a long time, he managed to keep his drinking confined to evenings and weekends with his wife and friends who shared in the glow of his good cheer. But as his drinking escalated, that glow turned into a glare from the harsh reality that he had become an alcoholic. Early attempts at rehab and short stints in AA were minimally effective as he allowed the differences in his drinking life to dominate similarities with other alcoholics. His downhill slide, abetted by more frequent binges and blackouts, culminated in expulsion from his home by his wife. Thoroughly licked by the disease, Bud came all the way in and sat all the way down in AA at the age of 49. He has never left. Bud's exceptionally long and illustrious life in sobriety contains all of the elements familiar to recovering alcoholics whose lives have been enriched by AA. His regular attendance at many meetings, combined with non-stop service work that includes sponsoring other men and participating in interventions, have made him indispensable to the groups he serves. His friendly disposition and welcoming spirit make it easy for newcomers and old-timers alike to comfortably join him in the center of the Program. At 94, Bud's well-seasoned message of hope rings fresh and true on a daily basis. And though the audio quality of this interview was slightly affected by a glitchy Zoom, I believe you'll find Bud's story immediately enthralling and quite easy to listen to. So kick back, relax, and please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, Bud S. If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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 Apple Books. It's also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback 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. 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.]

This month we've gone back further than ever before to 1967 a time when none of us existed yet and everything was psychedelic and groovy. There's proto prog, primeval punk, pop masterpieces, and whatever you'd categorise Zabadak as...We've each chosen our 10 favourite songs of the year and sent them over to Colin's wife Helen, who put the playlists together and distributed them so we were each given a playlist of the 20 songs from the other two hosts, along with our own 10. We then ranked the playlists in order of preference and sent them back to Helen, who totalled up the points and worked out the order.She also joined us on the episode to read out the countdown, which we found out as we recorded so all reactions are genuine.Now, admittedly, in parts we're a little bit brutal to some of the songs in the list as we're three separate people with differing music tastes, but please remember that to be in this episode at all the songs have to have been in one of our top 10's of that year.Bands featured in this episode include (In alphabetical order, no spoilers here!) - The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Tim Buckley, Calico Wall, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Country Joe & The Fish, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, The Electric Prunes, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, The Hollies, Jefferson Airplane, The LEft Banke, Love, The Lovin' Spoonful, Pink Floyd, Louis Prima & Phil Harris, Otis Redding & Carla Thomas, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Sam & Dave, The Seeds, Nina Simone, Stone Poneys, The Third Bardo, Vanilla Fudge, The Velvet Underground, Scott Walker, The Who, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental BandFind all songs in alphabetical order here - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5AZHbpp2zaOQoCQwI2QjDN?si=9838e165b6d94229Find our We Dig Music Pollwinners Party playlist (featuring all of the winning songs up until now) here - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45zfDHo8zm6VqrvoEQSt3z?si=Ivt0oMj6SmitimvumYfFrQIf you want to listen to megalength playlists of all the songs we've individually picked since we started doing best of the year episodes (which need updating but I plan on doing them over the next few months or so), you can listen to Colin's here – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5x3Vy5Jry2IxG9JNOtabRT?si=HhcVKRCtRhWCK1KucyrDdgIan's here - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2H0hnxe6WX50QNQdlfRH5T?si=XmEjnRqISNqDwi30p1uLqAand Tracey's here - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2p3K0n8dKhjHb2nKBSYnKi?si=7a-cyDvSSuugdV1m5md9NwThe playlist of 20 songs from the other two hosts was scored as usual, our favourite song got 20 points, counting down incrementally to our least favourite which got 1 point. The scoring of our own list of 10 is now slightly more complicated in order to give a truer level of points to our own favourites. So rather than them only being able to score as many points as our 10th favourite in the other list, the points in our own list were distributed as follows -1st place - 20 points2nd place - 18 points3rd place – 16 points4th place – 14 points5th place – 12 points6th place – 9 points7th place – 7 points8th place – 5 points9th place – 3 points10th place -1 pointHosts - Ian Clarke, Colin Jackson-Brown & Tracey BGuest starring Helen Jackson-Brown.Playlist compiling/distributing – Helen Jackson-BrownRecorded/Edited/Mixed/Original Music by Colin Jackson-Brown for We Dig PodcastsThanks to Peter Latimer for help with the scoring system.Part of the We Dig Podcasts network along with Free With This Months Issue & Pick A Disc.Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/wedigmusic.bsky.socialInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wedigmusicpcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wedigpusicpcast/Find our other episodes & podcasts at www.wedigpodcasts.com 

Growing up in a home fractured by alcoholism, Bret B. had first-hand exposure to his father's untreated disease. The physical and verbal abuse was a lot for child to handle. Unfortunately, any solace or comfort that might have been offered by Bret's mother was extinguished by a stroke she suffered in her early 30s (when Bret was 8) which left her paralyzed and unable to speak.  Like many alcoholics who survived traumatic childhoods, Brett found booze in his teens. It helped him through any troubles he faced in high school and college. As a functional alcohol abuser, he somehow managed to earn a master's degree and a high paying job right out of college. But the luster of his early achievements wore off quickly as drinking became a enslaving part of his life. Many lost jobs and two divorces provided overwhelming evidence that his life was self-destructing at a rapid pace. By the time he finally made it into AA at age 35, Bret had created a mountain of wreckage which appeared insurmountable. Fortunately, he found a strong AA community that was committed to helping the newcomer. With the help of the fellowship and a wise sponsor, Bret immersed himself in the Program. Going to meetings, working the 12 Steps, and sponsoring other men became a vital part of his life. Today, as a dedicated and active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bret has made the Program central in his life. The gifts of sobriety continue to materialize in both his personal and professional lives. I feel that Bret's story, brightened by continuous involvement in AA, is one every alcoholic should hear. So put your phone on do not disturb and enjoy the rousing words of this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Bret B. If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Our last episode on second editions of the games Santorini and Tortuga 1667 reminded me about another second edition of a family favorite game that's out now: Parks designed by Henry Audubon and published by Keymaster Games. We covered the first edition of Parks way back on episode 7 of the podcast, and I thought I would reshare that episode here on the podcast feed in honor of the new edition of Parks. In this episode, I'm changing things up a bit and recommending a great board game for couples: Parks by Keymaster Games.I'm a big fan of the US National Parks, ever since I took my kids out west on what we called the Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Tour. We saw the largest of each: we went whale-watching off the coast of San Francisco, we saw redwoods and sequoias in California, and we visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We visited three National Parks during that trip—Grand Canyon, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia—and each of them provided amazing sights and experiences.The board game Parks, designed by Henry Audubon, does a great job of capturing the beauty and wonder of the US National Parks. It is the prettiest game I own, with stunning artwork from the Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series. In the game, you take on the role of hikers, exploring the great outdoors and visiting as many National Parks as you can.We have two special guests in this episode. My wife Emily stops by for some color commentary and thoughts on why she enjoys playing Parks. Also, Matt Aiken from Keymaster Games joins us to talk about the origin of the game and why he thinks it's a great game for couples and to tell some stories of people playing PARKS in the great outdoors.See my photos of Parks, First Edition.Learn more about Parks, Second Edition.Order a First Player Token coffee mug.Visit the First Player Token website.Join the FPT Facebook group.Follow @firstplayertoken on Bluesky.Join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord.Music:“Open Road,” “Sunbeam,” and “Summer in Paradise,” https://www.purple-planet.com/.Send us a text

Given up for adoption by his 17-year-old mother, Paul B. still describes his childhood as idyllic. Growing up on a rural English farm where beer and alcohol were a normal part of every day life, any alcoholism that Paul perceived in his family had little effect on his upbringing. In fact, his own drinking didn't influence his behavior until his years at Oxford University where he rapidly became part of its rarified drinking culture. Finding everything he needed in a bottle or pint, Paul's propensity for managing his alcohol consumption belied his occasional binges and blackouts. For years after college, his professional and personal lives co-existed with his growing misuse and abuse of alcohol, Though he escaped many of the negative consequences experienced by many alcoholics, Paul's increased drinking fueled the disease that brought wreckage to his marriage and family life, and impending damage to his career. No amount of self-management could slow the downward progression of his alcoholism. Paul was forced to give up. Fortunately, he found AA before it was too late, and set upon a coarse of continuous sobriety. That was more than seven years ago and today Paul gratefully stays the course through regular meetings, good sponsorship, daily reading AA literature, prayer, and being of service to his sponsees and AA community. I believe you'll find Paul's story to be both inspiring and encouraging. It touches all the bases of a well-worked Program and provides a helpful context within which you may discover many similarities to your own story. So sitback and enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA brother, Paul B. If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

This is a study and commentary of the Basic Text book within Narcotics Anonymous. We invite you to come along this journey with us. Please get your book, a highlighter, and a pen/pencil.

Terri S. first overdosed on pain meds when she was only six years old. Living in a Brooklyn apartment with an alcoholic father and chronically ill mother, who suffered from Crohn's disease, Terri had been given a tablet for stomach pain exacerbated by her dysfunctional home life. Reasoning that if one pill eased her pain, the whole bottle would be even better, Terri found and swallowed all her mother's the pain tablets. She somehow survived, but the die was cast for a life dominated by drugs and alcohol. By 14, she was actively using and drinking to escape the harsh realities of her home life. By her late teens and twenties, she was flaunting an ability to drink and drug more than her peers. Very much the functional alcoholic, Terri continued drinking and using largely without major consequences, but her life was slowly spiraling downward. By her early 40's, at the point at which her alcoholism and drug addiction were winning the battle, Terri was faced with the cold reality that if she didn't stop, she was going to lose both her husband and her job. Making the right decision at the right time, Terri finally made it into AA in 2001 and managed to stay sober until a week-long slip on paid meds in 2003. She quickly redoubled her efforts in the Program through intensive work with her sponsor. She also became actively involved in service work for her group, which she credits with helping her stay firmly attached to AA. Over the years, Terri has made regular meetings a mainstay of her recovery. She's also sponsored many women in the Program as insurance against the next drink. In the midst of working a good AA program and passing onto to others the many gifts of sobriety she has achieved, Terri has fought her own battle with the same Crohn's disease that afflicted her mother. Fortunately, she has responsibly handled the medical interventions necessary for living with that disease, while maintaining complete accountability to her sponsor and fellow AA members. Terri's ability to stay sober through AA has very much informed her daily battle with Crohn's disease and vice versa. For those recovering alcoholics who face similar battles, Terri's experience speaks to the hope for living with whatever health challenges come our way. I'm grateful Terri agreed to share her remarkable story of healing and courage on this episode of AA Recovery Interviews. So please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Terri S. [This is an encore of Episode 83 originally released June 22, 2022.] If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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. [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.

Jeff goes over a couple dozen May new releases that he definitely might consider thinking about reading. Then, Book.io co-founder and CEO Joshua Stone comes on to talk about what the blockchain could offer the world of books and reading. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Email jeff at firstedition (at) bookriot (dot).com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLL #2499 (feat. The Love Between The Two Hosts) 04/27/2005 – Wednesday Night Show Source – Tucker Stream Recording (2025) with a KNRK CD Recording (2025) Patch This episode is 100% complete with a medium audio upgrade. In this episode Adam and Drew discuss and sing the ‘Kenny Rogers and The First Edition’ song Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) The Love Between The Two Hosts – CLL on Youtube, with Video for select episodes. https://adamanddrdrewshow.com/1743-loveline-nostalgia-with-superfan-giovanni/ https://account.venmo.com/u/GiovanniGiorgio Paid Link – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Music Provided by Rich Banks Check out His Website and Soundcloud to hear more of his awesome work and perhaps commission him for your Read More →

Jeff and Rebecca talk about still being pissed off about the 2012 non-pulitzer, Gaiman seemingly throwing in the image rehab towel, legal challenges and defenses, and more before talking about their recent reading. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky. Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter. Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations who have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this Episode: The Books of Marie-Helene Bertino...with Marie-Helene Bertino on First Edition Jane Friedman on The Business of Being a Writer on First Edition The Long History of The Simplified Spelling Movement with Gabe Henry on First Edition. The Book Riot Podcast Patreon The Book Riot Podcast on Instagram The Book Riot Podcast Newsletter Exit Zero by Marie-Helene Bertino Enough is Enuf by Gabe Henry Pronoun Trouble by John McWhorter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Jane Friedman about the new edition of her book, The Business of Being a Writer. She has been writing about the publishing industry for years (and Jeff has been reading her work for years as well), and this book is a guide for writers who don't just want to write, they want to try to make a living. It's a tremendous resource for early-career writers especially, but also has application and relevance for later-stage writers, creatives of all kinds, and people who are interested in how publishing works. The Business of Being a Writer (Second Edition) is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Links and Resources: The Spring 2025 First Edition Giveaway The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman Jane's website And please do email me with feedback here: firstedition (at) bookriot (dot)com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrating 36 years of sobriety on the day of this interview, my guest Audie M. recorded this episode of AA Recovery Interviews during some free time between meetings at a men's AA retreat.  Audie's proclivity for drinking was influenced by his father's alcoholism and his mother's helplessness dealing with it. Audie took up the family gauntlet and became a regular drinker in his teens and early 20s. His growing use of alcohol fed the disease until it was in hot pursuit of his psyche. Like many of us who were functional alcoholics, Audie held the disease at bay while he managed to sustain a job and marriage. But soon, crack cocaine entered the picture. In short order, the dual addictions of booze and crack begam ripping his life apart. By the time he had his moment of clarity, he was teetering on precipice. Providentially, it was rehab followed by AA that pulled him back from the edge. Early and constant work in the Program resulted in Audie's long-term sobriety making him dedicated to the Steps and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Audie's calm demeanor displays the gratitude and humility of a strong member of AA. His experience will be both helpful and encouraging to those in every stage of sobriety.  So please enjoy listening for the next sixty eight minutes to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Audie M. If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Jeff is joined by one of his favorite writers, Marie-Helene Bertino, and the talk about all five of her books in order, including her new short story collection, Exit Zero. Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland was named a best book of 2024 by Times, Esquire, Lit Hub and many others. Jeff included it on his list of the most recommendable books of the century so far. Her new book, Exit Zero, is available now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Gabe Henry about his new book, Enough is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell. For centuries, a series of thinkers, writers, politicians, and bankers have been advocating to make English easier to spell. It hasn't really worked. But the effort is fascinating. Enough is Enuf is available now wherever books are sold. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine trying to get sober in a country without AA meetings or the Big Book. That's what faced Ksenija when she got sober in 1992. That, plus Croatia's viscious War of Independence. Though she had grown up in a Soviet country that paid little heed to the disease of alcoholism, the rest of Kesenija's back-story is similar to those told by AA members around the world. She was raised in a culture in which alcohol is part of the social fabric and started drinking her middle teens. Finding enjoyment in the bottle and the behavior that resulted from it, Kesenija lived through her share of abusive relationships, tough marriages, single mothering, and divorce, many of the same things encountered by other AA women I've interviewed. Like other ambitious and functional alcoholics, Kesenija still managed to carve out a successful career as a singer and actress in her native Croatia, the U.S., and other countries. Unfortunately, the disease of alcoholism inevitably interceded, prevailed, and destroyed it all. Barely surviving her bottom, Kesenija was providentially led into the AA Program and reliable sobriety. That was 30 years and many achievements ago. But it was her unique abilities associated with service work that really put a shine on Kesenija's Program. She actively lobbied for and later volunteered to translate the Big Book and the 12 and 12 into the Croatian language. Such tools were simply not available to the fledgling groups in Croatia, especially before the fall of the Soviet Union. The books completed, and her career restored, Kesenija made it her service mission to travel her country, helping establish and support new and existing AA groups. To say that her service work has kept her sober, humble, and grateful would be an understatement. There are many Croatians who've been guided to sobriety by her efforts. You're going to enjoy my interview with Keseija. I do beg you to forgive the glitchy audio that Zoom's connection to Croatia provided that day. But it's still the content that counts and hers counts a lot. So please welcome to AA Recovery Interviews my friend and AA sister, Kesenija P. [This is an encore of Episode 70 originally released March 23, 2022.] If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Sooners Illustrated's Josh Callaway and James D. Jackson break down what players stood out to them and what they overall made of Oklahoma's Crimson Combine event on Saturday, April 12th at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff talks to Jon Hickey about his debut novel, Big Chief. Jon Hickey earned his MFA at Cornell University and was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. He has received scholarships from the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and the Sewanee Writers Conference, and he is an enrolled member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. His short fiction has appeared in Massachusetts Review, Gulf Coast Online, Virginia Quarterly Review, Meridian, and The Madison Review. Jon lives in San Francisco with his wife and two sons. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer S. had a rough journey getting to AA recovery. She was raised in a home where her mother's alcohol abuse was neatly ignored while frequent family parties gave Jennifer ample opportunities to sample alcohol as a child. But it was the drinking she did as a teenager and young adult to cope with family dysfunction and escape reality that turned alcohol into an unappeasable adversary. Working as an attorney, Jennifer somehow managed to integrate drinking into her daily activities with few consequences. She even managed to stay at home for several years to raise her three children. But alcoholism had inconspicuously followed Jennifer into parenthood. After divorcing her first husband for infidelity, Jennifer's drinking ramped up beyond its previous effectiveness at quelling her inner turmoil. Finally, she'd had enough and made the decision to get sober. She returned to the rooms of AA with a beaten spirit, but a willing heart, and has been sober since. Jennifer found a sponsor and started working the steps in earnest. She found herself being lovingly drawn to the center of the Program where she found spiritual solutions. She fulfilled service commitments and modeled behavior that has inspired other women to do the work and enjoy recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. I was at Jennifer's first meeting at the AA club we both attend. I've followed her progress in becoming a sober woman on whom others can depend. Given her two years of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous, Jennifer's message will be of immediate value to those in their first days, weeks, or months. Her fresh message of hope will also ring true for those AA members whose sobriety dates are further in the past. But whether you're a new-comer or old-timer, I'm certain you'll enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Jennifer S. 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Jeff talks to the great Katie Kitamura about her new novel, Audition (it is very, very good). Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks about 21 books coming out this month that caught his eye. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: I Have a Capital Suggestion for a New Pronoun by John McWhorter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Larry got sober at age 65, finally claiming his chair in AA after drinking his entire adult life. As a life-long bachelor, he was also a loner. For decades, his daily routine consisted of working long hours, then putting in a shift at the bar, literally drinking until closing time several days a week. Whatever little social life Larry had was confined to occasional barroom acquaintances. Drinking took its toll over the years as Larry lost jobs for poor performance which he attributes to the burgeoning alcoholism he was unaware of at the time. Larry sought professional help for many years through psycho-therapy. But in those sessions, his alcoholism was somehow obfuscated by other problems, such as anger and resentment, that needed to be dealt with first. Fortunately, one of his therapists helped Larry realize that alcohol was ruining his life, and that he should attend AA. The rest, as they say, is history, replete with the same fear, doubt, indignation, uncertainty, and apprehension that many AA newcomers face. Though he experienced somewhat of a slow start, Larry attended meetings and didn't drink in-between. Eventually, he got a sponsor and worked the steps in earnest, while his new-found fellowship relieved his isolation. Notably and estimably, Larry became immersed in service work through his participation in correctional facilities committees, bringing desperately-needed AA into county jails and state prisons. At 75, Larry's involvement in AA is both admirable and dependable. It models the power of AA recovery that's available to everyone, even those who've spent most of their adult lives in the disease. Proving it's never to late to pursue and achieve sobriety in AA, Larry's story is one everybody should hear, especially those who've waited too many years to get sober. So, for the next hour, please enjoy my intriguing discussion with my fine friend and AA brother, Larry L. [This is an encore of Episode 63 originally released February 2, 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 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. 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.]

Jeff is out this week reading on a beach, so we are sharing this rerun from the First Edition podcast in which Jeff talks to Stephen Graham Jones about his reading life. Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author of thirty-five or so novels and collections, and there are some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are Earthdivers and I Was a Teenage Slasher. His new book, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How passionate will this new So-Cal Rivalry be? Dave Denholm and Mario Ruiz preview this weekend's first-ever clash between LAFC and SDFC. Steve Cherundolo sits down 1v1 with Mario to talk about his homecoming match vs. San Diego Football Club. LAFC2 are back in action next week; Dave and Mario are pumped for that. Plus, a look at the biggest games around MLS this weekend.

Jeff talks to Emma Pattee about her debut novel, Tilt. They talk earthquakes, IKEA, the consequences of writing place precisely, and much more. This book is a winner, folks. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike's story is classic tale of a life dragged to the brink of ruin by alcoholism. Brought up in a mostly normal home, his introduction to booze in was similar to many of us alcoholics who started drinking in our teens. Mike liked the effects produced by alcohol and continued to drink through six years in the Navy and for years after. Negative consequences, including two failed marriages piled up around Mike's drinking. He started losing everything until he literally had nothing more than the clothes on his back. On the street and barely subsisting, Mike fell to his knees at a bus stop and asked God for help. That was his moment of clarity and the turning point in his otherwise wretched life. Mike sought out treatment at the VA hospital and sober living arrangements which tethered him to an AA Program that was his last hope for survival. But it worked. Mike finally resigned from the debating society and followed his sponsor's blue print for recovery set forth in late December 1994. He has been sober ever since. Mike's journey of sober life is not dissimilar to that of many long-term recovered alcoholics in AA. He continues to do all that the Program suggests and has been of continuous service to his fellows. His third marriage, to a woman in Alcoholics Anonymous, is a long-term and cherished gift in both their lives, made possible by active participation in AA. I believe you'll be both inspired and enriched by my interview with Mike. He and I have been close for a very long time and his authenticity as a loyal member of AA comes through every time he shares. So please sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA Brother, Mike V. 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Join Kevin Wheeler, Matt Pauley, Bernie Miklasz, and a brief cameo from Cardinals Spanish broadcaster Bengie Molina, for the first ever edition of the Redbird Rush on KMOX, before the Cardinals take on the Memphis Redbirds in the final Spring Training game before the regular season!

Jeff is joined by Jack Lohmann, author of the new book White Light: The Elemental Role of Phosphorus-in Our Cells, in Our Food, and in Our World. Plus, his editor at Pantheon, Todd Portnowitz joins the conversation to talk about positioning, crafting, and otherwise publishing non-fiction like this. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Stephen Graham Jones about his reading life. Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author of thirty-five or so novels and collections, and there are some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are Earthdivers and I Was a Teenage Slasher. His new book, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max grew up in a horribly alcoholic home with a mother who later died of cirrhosis and organ failure from drinking. To deal with the madness, Max began drinking at 13 to escape the feelings wrought by the dysfunction of her alcoholic family. Her own alcohol use escalated through high school and college well into her twenties. She admits that, at the time, she knew intellectually that drinking was connected with something terrible, but she kept on. Seeking relief from her alcoholism and co-occurring clinical depression, she was prescribed Zanex which opened the realm of drug addiction on top of everything else. By the time she hit the doors of AA nearly 22 years ago, Max was thoroughly licked, as old-timers like to say. She participated in the Program for the first eight years, while harboring her use and secret abuse of benzodiazepines. While she frantically tried to rationalize, then justify, her use of benzo's while in AA, the truth finally won out. She came clean to her sponsor and her groups, re-setting her sobriety date in 2008. From that point on, Max's Program took on new meaning and importance. She connected as never before to the spiritual and service elements of AA. She works an active Program from the inside of AA, sponsoring women with whom she has deep and meaningful relationships. With all the interviews I've done on this podcast, I'm continually impressed with the quality of sobriety and depth of commitment to the Program that my guests demonstrate. Max's story is an ideal example of a woman's redemption from isolation, self-loathing and spiritual emptiness to a life filled with fellowship and joy. So, take a few deep breaths, settle back, and relish this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Max A. [This is an encore of Episode 62 originally released January 26, 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 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. 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.]

Alissa Wilkinson joins Jeff to talk about her new book, We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine by Alissa Wilkinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martin takes the conn on this inaugural episode of the guys highlighting some of history's worst - and yet not well remembered - doucebags. (Martin came up with the phrase with his usual directness.) This go-around the guys talk about some guys that caused a whole lot of trouble back in their day, Serbian Dragutin Dimitrijević and Frenchman Phillipe Petain. 

Joe's abuse of alcohol was a big part of his teenage and young-adult years growing up in Liverpool England. By the time he moved to Australia in his early twenties, he was a full-blown alcoholic. Joe was raised in a tumultuous home, where verbal and physical abuse were a regular occurrence. Even after his parents divorced, his drunken father continued to wreak havoc on the family. Not surprisingly, by the time Joe found alcohol in his teens, it was a welcome relief for his fear and loathing. Finding comfort in the bottle, he drank at every opportunity, yet suffered few of the consequences that young adult alcoholics often experience. Like so many who escape alcohol's ruinous effects early on, he became a functional alcoholic. As an electrician's apprentice, Joe's on-the-job performance portended a promising career. But his disease had other ideas. Joe's functional alcoholism was rapidly eroded by his escalating drinking and pot smoking. Lost jobs, ruptured relationships, and other consequences were rapidly tanking his life. By age 26, Joe was sick and tired of the life he was leading and sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous. Joe's earnest yearning for a better life guided him to the right people and meetings in his hometown of Brisbane, Australia. Working with a good sponsor and studying the Big Book were augmented by frequent service commitments and sponsorship of other men in the Program. In his travels across Australia and around the world, Joe plugs into local AA meetings wherever he goes. He also has regular Zoom meetings that he attends when he cannot make it to in-person meetings. Joe's story is one of contented sobriety brought about by active participation in Alcoholics Anonymous . Though the 17-hour time difference between us made it a challenge to schedule the interview, it was certainly well worth it. So, sit back and enjoy the next 65 minutes of AA Recovery Interviews as we say g'day to my awesome Aussie mate and AA brother, Joe S. 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Jeff talks to Amal El-Mohtar about This is How You Lose the Time War getting one of greatest bookish gifts ever bestowed by the internet before talking about her new book, The River Has Roots. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on March 13th This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[This is an encore of Episode 26 originally released May 13, 2021] Some alcoholics go to AA meetings even though they haven't stopped drinking. They may fulfill AA's only membership requirement, expressed in the 3rd Tradition, by having the desire to stop drinking. But, for whatever reason, they just cannot stop. Though it may be unusual to have someone in a meeting who's actively drinking, their presence is still important to AA newcomers and veterans alike. Today's guest, Emily M., is one of those who had the desire, but simply could not stop drinking in the nearly 5 years she attended AA meetings on a regular basis. Many of her fellow members gave up on her along the way. But the spirit of the 3rd Tradition prevailed among those who really cared and they encouraged her to get sober. Eventually, she stopped drinking over 31 years ago. After finally getting sober, Emily immersed herself in the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. She got a sponsor, studied the Big Book, worked the steps, and continued to attend meetings.  She became heavily involved in service work and sponsorship. And she found a much-needed spiritual connection through her active involvement in the fellowship. Emily's powerful story is one of perseverance and determination. For those who are still drinking and/or struggling to stay sober, even while attending meetings, her message provides a useful addendum to one of AA's most popular sayings: Meeting-makers make it…sooner or later. So on this, the 26th episode of AA Recovery Interviews, I'm thrilled to welcome my good friend and AA sister, Emily M. 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Scaachi Koul joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Sucker Punch with a new little format for First Edition called "10 Notecards With..." Jeff has picked out 10 things from the new book — words, ideas, stories, etc. — written them on notecards, and then has Saachi pick them at random (at least at the start order). Turned out to be a lot of fun, so expect to hear more of these. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in This Episode: The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on March 13th Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liberty Hardy joins Jeff to talk about hosting 500 episodes of All The Books! and a host of other reading-related topics. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: All The Books! Liberty Hardy on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff S. got sober in 1998 after years of alcoholism and addiction to crack cocaine. Coming from a tough upbringing, he started drinking as a teen. Jeff spent five years in the U.S. Army which he enjoyed mainly because it allowed him to drink with alacrity and few consequences. But the boozing followed Jeff out of the service into a series of dead-end jobs with few prospects for success. As a functional alcoholic he did find career in the building trade, but the disease still dogged his every step. After a failed marriage and other unadmitted problems caused by drinking, crack cocaine entered Jeff's life. It quickly drained him financially, physically, and emotionally. By the time he reached AA, he was willing to do anything to restore his shredded life. And AA did just that. Jeff attended meetings, worked the steps, found a higher power, and helped others. It wasn't long until he had the good things in life back. But somewhere along the way, Jeff began believing that he was running the show and didn't need active participation in the Program to stay sober. And though he remained dry for a considerable number of years, he was also bereft of the many gifts that AA bestows on those who truly invest their lives in the Program. Jeff slowly realized that his increasingly hollow life without alcohol and drugs was missing what he needed most: Connection with the Program, the fellowship and the sunlight of the spirit. Since coming back into active participation in AA several years ago, the quality of Jeff's life has improved immeasurably. He has become acutely aware of what sobriety without AA is really like. He shares this rare experience with the many people whose lives have been enriched by his presence in meetings and his service  to the fellowship. For every gift of sobriety that Jeff passed up during his dry years, his reappearance and re-engagement in Alcoholics Anonymous has rapidly drawn him into the center of the herd. His cautionary tale of staying dry without AA is a story everyone should hear, especially those who think they can get sober in AA and then pull away into their own world without it. So please enjoy the next hour with my friend and AA brother, Jeff S. 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Rebecca Romney joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Jane Austen's Bookshelf. They talk about personal book collecting, rediscovering literary history for yourself, a few of the writers Austen admired, and more. Jane Austen's Bookshelf is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney Rebecca Romney on Instagram The Honey & Wax Book Collecting Contest Type Punch Matrix (Romney's Rare Book Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Beth finally got sober less than four years ago, she had made it to middle age as an active, but functional alcoholic. She grew up in a family where alcoholism was present, but largely unaddressed. Beth moved nine times with her military family while still in elementary school, casting the die of a lonesome outsider. When she found alcohol early in her teens, Beth found the key to coping with life in both good times and bad. Though it took several decades to wear away the facade of normal or social drinker, Beth's ability to both work and raise a family ignored the facts of her burgeoning disease. As her functional alcoholism gave way to increased problem-drinking, she knew she had to make a change. Fortunately, her aunt was a long-time member of AA and accompanied Beth to her earliest AA meetings. The damage done by her years as an alcoholic was revealed in working the Steps with a strong sponsor. She found the center of the herd and dug-in, attending daily meetings, reading the Big Book, praying, and sponsoring other women. Working the Program with her feet, Beth is also a trusted servant to the large and vibrant club she attends. Coming up on four years in July, Beth's experience as a sober member of AA is exemplary for those early in sobriety. Her inspiring words engender the reality of working a solid Program by utilizing the simple set of tools available to all. So whether you're measuring your sobriety by weeks, months, or years, you are certain to get a lot out of the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Beth F. 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. [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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

Sarah Chihaya joins Jeff to talk about her new memoir, Bibliophobia. They talk life-ruining books, the enormous weight of all the books that are out there and how we cannot read them all, and other less-talked about parts of the reading life. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born and raised in London, Leigh's love affair with alcohol began in neighborhood public houses, or pubs. These establishments were and still are the centers of gathering in the town where Leigh grew up. Despite the fact that he was underage, having a pint or two of beer at the local pub was an unremarkable occurrence largely ignored by those around him. But, as he came of age, Leigh's drinking in and outside of pubs escalated above and beyond the realm of normal drinking. He quickly found himself drinking much more than his mates. Like many budding problem drinkers, he became a functional alcoholic, achieving scholastic success by day, while drinking and often blacking out during the evenings and on weekend binges. By the time he was well into his first job after college, Leigh's drinking had become problematic and obvious to everyone but him. After moving to Texas early in his career in the oil industry, his daily alcohol consumption and blackouts were mostly managed, though his first marriage succumbed to the ruinous effects of alcoholism. But the moniker of “functional alcoholic” faded quickly as his drinking spiraled out of control. Finally, after a two-week blackout, he awoke strapped down to a psychiatric hospital bed and realized he was finished. A visit shortly thereafter by a responsible fellow of AA coincided with a brief interval of clarity for Leigh. He soon found his way into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. He started doing the work and the results followed. In many ways, Leigh's story is cut from the same cloth as many recovering alcoholics, and his 26 years of sobriety reflect the very fundamentals of AA. Whether his service work was taking AA into prisons or working with sponsees, Leigh combined those commitments with regular attendance at AA meetings to create a Program centered in the “middle of the bed”, as many of my British friends like to call it. As you take in Leigh's simple, yet practical, wisdom for working the Program, I think you'll sense his quiet confidence that his Higher Power is indubitably running the show. Though it's the product of 26 years in AA, Leigh's story may likely inspire and invigorate your experience in the Program no matter how long you've been sober. With that, I give you today's AA Recovery Interview for the next 65 minutes with my friend and AA brother, Leigh P. [This is an encore of Episode 43 originally released September 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 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. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]