Podcasts about howard l

[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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

[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.]

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.]

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.]

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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 24 originally released April 29, 2021]. As the daughter of a Louisiana bar-owner, Teska's father would spike her Coca Cola with whiskey when she was a child. But, though her family was rife with alcoholism within a culture where drinking was a way of life, Teska lived most of her life as a normal or social drinker. It wasn't until she retired, after a long and successful career as a lawyer, that alcoholism bit into her life with ferocity. Teska's self-admitted workaholism kept her use of alcohol and occasional binges confined to weekends throughout her legal career. But after she retired in her fifties, alcoholism took over with vengence where her work addictions left off. Like the man in the Big Book who retired to his carpet slippers, bathrobe, and irrepressible drinking, Teska headed down the same road to ruin. But unlike the man in the story, she didn't have to die to stop drinking. Instead, she came to AA. Sober in AA for nearly 5 years now, Teska's journey in sobriety is a tale worth hearing. Finding AA in her early 60's, centering herself in the Program, and working the 12 Steps has enriched her quality of life. She clearly embodies what a woman transformed by Alcoholics Anonymous can be, irrespective of age. Her hopefulness for a happy and service-oriented future as a member of AA comes through loud and clear. On this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, I'm delighted to welcome my AA sister, Teska M. to the show. 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.]

My guest today is Ryan M., who was given tequila at age nine by his father to induce an aversion to alcohol. But Ryan actually liked it, especially the warm and wonderful feeling of being drunk. That set the ball rolling in a life in which the pursuit of ease and comfort would morph into serious addiction to alcohol and drugs. Raised as an only child, Ryan describes a happy childhood and adolescence largely unaffected by alcohol use. His accelerating use of liquor, and later pills and cocaine, carried him through high school and years after with few negative consequences. But the disease was right around the corner and caught up with him during his early adult years. Ryan was seduced by the common belief that he didn't have a problem. By the time he did have a problem, his short forays of abstinence convinced him that he could stop whenever he wanted. The insidious nature of functional alcoholism had him believing that he could carry on indefinitely. However, each year on this merry-go-round took a greater toll and by time his disease got out of control, Ryan realized that he couldn't stop. As is often the case, he made numerous attempts to stop, including multiple detoxes and half-hearted AA attendance. As his Jenga tower of a life was beginning to fall, he was finally ready and checked himself into his second rehab facility. From there, Ryan integrated a strong, solution oriented AA recovery into every facet of his life. More than 14 years later, Ryan's reliance on AA remains strong, with active service work at the core of his Program. I believe you'll get a lot out of hearing Ryan's story. Especially those listeners who have relapsed or faced uncertainty about staying sober. His encouraging words illuminate AA's simple Program of action and the life-altering effects AA can create. Regardless of 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 Ryan M. If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, 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. While you're there, 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. [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.]

In his late teens, Bruno R. initially attended Alcoholics Anonymous to satisfy the terms of probation after his first DWI. His half-hearted attempts resulted in short stints of sobriety. But he wasn't ready to do what AA suggested. Even after violating his probation with another DWI, Bruno remained resistant to AA recovery and continued to drink. Facing felony charges after his third DWI in Texas, Bruno was looking at ten years in prison. Somehow, the courts another chance to embrace AA. After years of drinking and regular drug use as a functional alcoholic, Bruno finally reached the bottom of the bottom. The next time he walked into Alcoholics Anonymous, he was ready to get a sponsor, attend meetings, study the Big Book, and be of service to his fellow alcoholics. That was twelve years ago and Bruno has remained a ready and willing participant in his own recovery. I've had the pleasure of knowing Bruno for a dozen years and it's gratifying to see him be of service to other men. I am happy to share his enthusiasm for the Program and his cheerful approach to the very basics of staying sober one day at a time. So please sit back for this new episode of AA Recovery Interviews while you soak up the words of my friend and AA brother, Bruno R. If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, 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. While you're there, 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. [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 an encore of Episode 61 originally released January 19, 2022]. It was 1996 when Brent first attempted to get sober. But like so many others, it took him several attempts to fully embrace AA and do the work necessary to achieve solid and contented sobriety. Those earlier attempts at sobriety included significant stints in AA over the years, during which time he went to meetings and actually got to know members of the fellowship. But his half-hearted efforts, and a belief that he could still smoke pot, thwarted his efforts at sustained or meaningful sobriety. He slipped time and time again. Though his marriage and job remained largely intact through the years, his slow descent into hopelessness and despair were marked indicators that he indeed needed help. It took two interventions, three treatment centers, multiple forays in AA, and a threatened divorce before Brent's desire to stay sober finally surfaced from within. It was at that point that he experienced the spiritual impetus to get sober for good and all. And that meant no more marijuana, prescription drugs, or alcohol. In the three years of Brent's current sobriety, he has worked the Program as suggested while staying in the middle of the herd. He goes to daily meetings, studies the Big Book, works the 12 Steps with his sponsor and sponsees, prays, and does service work for his AA groups. And, unlike earlier periods of faint sobriety, he ignores marijuana's beguilement as a harmless threat to his sobriety. It's an approach that has worked successfully for many people with whom Brent surrounds himself. I found significant similarities in Brent's story with my own, especially those pertaining to marijuana's persistent, baffling and insidious allure. You may find such similarities as well. So clear your schedule for the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA Brother, Brent 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.]

Claire H. arrived in America from Great Britain 32 years ago as a full-blown alcoholic. It took her another three years before she got sober in AA. Growing up in England, the ubiquity of social drinking found in countless local pubs lead her to start drinking at 14. That constant exposure to alcohol, plus her father's untreated alcoholism at home, seemed to predestine Claire's future addiction to alcohol and drugs. By the time her father died from the disease at age 46, Claire had found the grief-numbing relief offered by booze and drugs. From there, her life became prey to the disease, though she managed to stave-off many of its deleterious effects well into her twenties. But heroin entered the picture and accelerated Claire's abuse of alcohol. She somehow skirted the worst consequences of that deadly mix only to find herself at the edge of the abyss at age 30. Thoroughly beaten by the disease, with little reason to go on, Claire finally found the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous. Though somewhat resistant to the Program in the beginning, she constantly attended meetings. That, plus intensive Step work with her sponsor and service work along the way, inevitably changed the trajectory of her life to one of meaning and purpose. Claire attributes her success in the Program to the same continuous work and involvement that kept her sober in the first place. As an active member of her vibrant AA community, she personifies her love for the Program by continually doing the simple things we tell newcomers to do if they are to stay sober. What's more, her participation in various Zoom meetings around the world has attracted many people to her enthusiastic approach toward sobriety. Claire'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. So, please enjoy today's episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Claire H.   If you've enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, 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. While you're there, 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 [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 an encore of Episode 45 originally released September 22, 2021]. Jason's moment of clarity materialized with the barrel of a cocked revolver resting against his head. That he didn't pull the trigger, and managed to un-cock the hammer of the pistol while still drunk, gave him a singular pause to ask his higher power for help. That he's still sober some 27 years later is proof positive that a good sober life can be built and sustained by active participation in AA. Jason's journey to the doors of AA is similar to other alcoholics I've interviewed: Drinking in early adolescence, followed by marijuana and beer through high school, lead to his often drunken participation in a college fraternity. His problem became so evident and acute that his fraternity brothers actually tried to stage an intervention to get him help. When that didn't happen, Jason continued the all too common metamorphosis into a functional alcoholic. He finished school, got a good job, and got married, only to find his drunken blackouts getting worse and literally dissembling every aspect of his life. By the time his second wife told him she was leaving, his alcoholism had progressed to the point of a gun aimed at his own head. Fortunately, the resulting wake up call became a call for help which AA answered immediately. As you listen to Jason's story, you'll also hear about a malady both he and I share in our otherwise solid AA-driven lives, clinical depression. Perhaps you'll identify with our experience of the fighting the mental illness of depression while trying to maintain sobriety. Fortunately, for Jason and me, outside medical intervention was sought and applied. Today, while living enriched sober lives, we both are unhesitant to discuss our experience with depression inside the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. Though I've known Jason for about a year-and-a-half through a weekly Zoom meeting we both attend, I feel as if I've known him for years. His calm wisdom and the quiet confidence expressed in his sobriety is that of a man who found AA right at just the right time, thanks to a power greater than himself and his earnest work in the program one day at a time. So, without further delay, please enjoy the next 55 minutes with my friend and AA brother, Jason G. 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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 100, originally released November 9, 2022]. Paul's award-winning achievements in the music industry are beyond compare. His work has woven itself into the fabric of 20th and 21st century popular culture. His memorable songs have touched multiple generations around the world. But, as with many alcoholics, Paul's genius grew out of a Dickensian childhood, full of family upheavals and physical challenges that left him with little solace, save his song-writing. By the time alcohol and drugs entered the picture in his early 20's, his musical talents had been honed into a career in which he enjoyed unbridled creativity and massive success during the 1970's. But Paul's burgeoning alcoholism cunningly resided off-stage, in the shadows of his own denial and the enabling of those around him. By 1989, after a decade lost to the disease, Paul faced the bleak reality of his alcoholism and its devastating effects on his life and those he loved. As the gates of hell loomed ever-larger with each passing day, a series of “God-moments” occurred that brought Paul to his knees at the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous. Willing to embrace AA's Program of action, he embarked on a spiritual journey that ultimately saved him. Over the years, he has offered his experience and hope to countless alcoholics, both inside and outside the rooms. Infusing his own fame and fortune with the humility of one who has thoroughly worked a spiritually-guided Program, Paul enjoys his broad role as a trusted servent to those who need AA now or may need it in the future. His gentle, yet powerful, words of encouragement and hope are every bit as inspiring and heart-felt as the songs he created over the years. The challenges of producing an anonymous interview with someone so well-known were considerable. But both Paul and I turned the final outcome over to a power greater than ourselves. I believe you will be pleased by the results. Unfortunately, the sound quality is less than stellar as Zoom was somewhat glitchy the day of the interview. But give it a few minutes. Paul's story will whisk you away to a clear and wonderful awareness of his words. So please enjoy the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews, my one hundredth podcast, as you listen to the insightful and exhilarating words of my friend and AA brother, Paul W. 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.]

Mike's story is an inspiring testament to the critical importance of having an AA sponsor. In fact, my story is so intertwined with Mike's that you're likely to learn more about me in today's podcast than you have in any other interview. When we first met in late 1988, I'd been sober only about 10 months. I had all but given up on AA and was headed towards relapse. You see, though I attended meetings and not drinking, I also wasn't doing the steps nor any of the work to stay sober. Worst of all, I didn't have a sponsor to guide me and to whom I could be accountable. Mike had been in AA a year longer than I, but he'd gotten a sponsor at 3 months who worked him through the 12 steps very methodically, with an emphasis on the spiritual nature of our Program. The deep and collective wisdom that Mike imparted to me was gleaned from his sponsor who had a great sponsor. No sooner had Mike begun to sponsor me and put me to work then my program took off and soon became very sober-centric. To this day, Mike's guidance in AA has been indispensable to my sobriety and an integral part of my personal story.  Interestingly, Mike hasn't lived in my same city since 1994, yet we've remained closely in touch over all these years. Frequent phone calls, emails, texts, and Mike's business visits to Houston, have made the miles between us irrelevant to our relationship. So much of what I know about living an enriched sober life and carrying AA's message to other alcoholics, I learned from Mike. His own story is both meaningful and intriguing. So in this, the 27th episode of AA Recovery Interviews, please enjoy my good friend, sponsor, and AA brother, Mike 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. [This is an encore of Episode 27, originally released May 19, 2021]. [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.]

Alcoholism's tornadic sweep through Brian's life laid waste to his prospects for a happy future. Brian was raised in a family deeply rooted in alcoholism, a disease that ultimately took his father's life. Brian's his childhood and adolescence were further complicated by a severe skin allergy that physically and emotionally isolated him from others. By the time he started drinking at age 13, Brian's pent-up frustration and pain were immediately soothed the magical effect of alcohol. With the ball in motion, he forged ahead in school and career fueled by the relief booze offered. Into his late 20's and early 30's, Brian's growing use and abuse of alcohol were obfuscated from self-examination by his ability to achieve and succeed as a functional alcoholic. But, sadly, it didn't last. Brian's disease escalated as his life crumbled around him. Stuck in a quagmire of delusion and self-pity, Brian finally relinquished his illusions of power and manageability, and sought help from a therapist who told him to go to AA. With the fog lifted enough to get his emotional and spiritual bearings, Brian brought himself to a meeting over 31 years ago. He has been a non-stop active member of Alcoholics Anonymous ever since. Since getting sober, Brian has buttressed his sobriety by steady attendance of meetings and continious sponsorship of other men. He leads by example from the center of the Program by enthusiastically fulfilling a wide array of service commitments.  His enthusiasm for all things AA is infectious and, together with his wife in the Program, has found a satisfying way to match sobriety with serenity. He is one of the most upbeat and friendly people I know in AA and it was a joy to interview him. After you hear his story I'm certain you'll agree. So crank up your podcast player. Indulge yourself in AA Recovery Interviews for the next 65 minutes as you listen to my conversation with my fine friend and AA brother, Brian A. 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.]

Wes' love of writing songs as a kid grew into a hectic, alcohol-infused career in the music business. Whether it was writing, performing, or producing, daily drinking was just part of the gig. For a while, alcohol was unobtrusive and often served his creative endeavors. However, by the time alcohol turned on him, its debilitating effects on his body, psyche, and spirit had pushed him to the brink. Short periods of abstinence, but without recovery (“so-dry-ety” Wes calls it), became miserable intervals in his alcohol addiction. With all hope seemingly lost, Wes found himself staring down the barrel of a cocked Derringer looking for a way out. But a moment of clarity moved his finger off the trigger and finally gave him the desperate desire to get help. With the aid of his wife and the man who later become his sponsor, he found AA and sincerely embraced its new way of life. Wes' story of recovery will resonate deeply with listeners, as will his inspiring way of working the Program. His deep dive into a sponsor-driven and spiritually-based approach for working all 12 steps on a daily basis, drew him to the very center of the Program. From there, he has imparted the collective wisdom of AA to the men he sponsors and other AA members he helps. For anyone who is new to sobriety or is struggling to stay sober, Wes' hard-earned experience provides an extraordinary blueprint for working the Program with maximum results. I think you'll find Wes' story to be both captivating and enlightening. It's as easy to listen to as a well-written song and as memorable as a melody from a humble heart. I first met Wes on a California Zoom meeting in early 2020. Sober for 30 years, he is one of those members of the fellowship whom I feel like I've known forever. Perhaps it's because of our similarities growing up in physically and verbally abusive families. Or maybe it's the language of the heart we share on the road of happy destiny. Whatever it is, it's a fascinating tale of sobriety with which I identify. So, I invite you to relax for the next hour or so and enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Wes H. 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. [This is an encore of Episode 56, originally released December 10, 2021]. [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.]

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, 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.]

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. [This is an encore of Episode 7, originally released January 16, 2021]. [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.]

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, “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.]

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. 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.]  

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, 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.]

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. 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.]

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, “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.]

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 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.]

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. 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.]

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The Ultimate GOAT Showdown: When Facts Made LeBron Fan Howard L. Young Leave Mid-DebateWe recently hosted an intense debate on the "Real Talk with Kingsley Ogwudire" podcast, featuring Howard L. Young, a staunch LeBron James fan. The discussion centered around the age-old question: Who is the true GOAT of basketball? Despite Howard's unwavering support for LeBron, the facts and numbers spoke volumes and led to an unexpected conclusion — Howard leaving the debate mid-way.Here's a recap of some of the critical points that cement Michael Jordan's status as the GOAT:1. Championships and Finals MVPsMichael Jordan: 6 NBA Championships, 6 Finals MVPs. Jordan never lost in the Finals, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record.LeBron James: 4 NBA Championships, 4 Finals MVPs. LeBron's Finals record stands at 4-6, showing resilience but not the same level of dominance.2. Scoring Titles and AwardsMichael Jordan: 10 Scoring Titles, 5 MVP Awards, and 1 Defensive Player of the Year. Jordan was an offensive and defensive powerhouse.LeBron James: 1 Scoring Title, 4 MVP Awards. While LeBron has been consistently great, he hasn't matched Jordan's scoring dominance.3. Playoff Performance Against Top TeamsJordan's Record Against 50 and 60 Win Teams:24 series played against 50+ win teams, with a record of 20-4.7 series played against 60+ win teams, with a record of 4-3.Playoff scoring average: 33.4 points per game.LeBron's Record Against 50 and 60 Win Teams:24 series played against 50+ win teams, with a record of 10-14.10 series played against 60+ win teams, with a record of 5-5.Playoff scoring average: 28.7 points per game.4. Clutch Moments and Killer InstinctMichael Jordan: Known for his "killer instinct," Jordan's clutch performances are legendary. From "The Shot" against the Cavaliers to his game-winning shot in the 1998 Finals, he thrived under pressure.LeBron James: While LeBron has had his share of clutch moments, he has often faced criticism for passing the ball in critical situations instead of taking the shot himself.5. Global Impact and Cultural InfluenceMichael Jordan: Revolutionized the NBA's global appeal. The "Air Jordan" brand is iconic and transcended basketball, making him a global cultural icon.LeBron James: Has used his platform for social justice and philanthropy, significantly impacting off the court. However, in terms of cultural influence within basketball, Jordan set the bar.During the debate, it became evident that while LeBron's versatility, longevity, and off-court contributions are commendable, the sheer dominance and impeccable record of Michael Jordan in the most critical moments of the game give him the edge as the GOAT.Howard L. Young, faced with these compelling arguments and undeniable facts, chose to leave the debate early, possibly overwhelmed by the mountain of evidence in favor of Jordan.The Verdict: Numbers, accolades, and legacy don't lie. Michael Jordan remains the GOAT of basketball, with a legacy that continues to inspire and define the sport.Tune in to "Real Talk with Kingsley Ogwudire" for more heated debates and in-depth discussions on the biggest topics in sports and beyond!

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. 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.]

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, “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.]

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, 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.]

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 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.]

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. 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.]

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 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.]

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 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.] If you enjoy today's episode, I invite you to listen to my guest appearance on Bladder Cancer Matters, a podcast produced by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, or BCAN for short. As a cancer survivor myself, I discussed dealing with bladder cancer while working the AA program. I offered  insights on surviving these two fatal diseases, and how AA helped me through the cancer diagnosis without losing hope. For patients, families, care givers, and medical providers, I talked about Alcoholics Anonymous and its life-saving importance for those who want to get sober. I think you'll enjoy the interview. To listen, simply search for Bladder Cancer Matters on your podcast app or BCAN.org.

Tune in to Episode 70 of Bladder Cancer Matters podcast in which Howard L., a bladder cancer survivor and recovering alcoholic, candidly shares his inspiring journey. Howard discusses his battle with alcoholism, the pivotal role Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) played in his recovery, and his challenging path to a bladder cancer diagnosis, including the critical steps of misdiagnosis and the pursuit of a second opinion. He underscores the vital support provided by resources like the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) and draws compelling parallels between AA and BCAN's supportive communities. Howard's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of reaching out for support and the difference it can make in overcoming life's toughest challenges. Join us to find encouragement and understanding through his profound insights and experiences.

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, 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.]

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. 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.]

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 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.]

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, 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.]

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. [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.]

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. 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.]

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, 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.]