AA Recovery Interviews

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:01:24 — 52.1MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:17:56 — 61.1MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:41 — 44.9MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:31 — 45.9MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:10 — 68.8MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:10:19 — 48.3MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:18:06 — 53.6MB)With nearly 20 years of sobriety, John relapsed after an extended period of good fortune had convinced him that he was cured. The admitted alcoholism that had brought John to the Program at age 24 had been arrested for years through his hard work in…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:55 — 41.8MB)Joining us from Nairobi, Kenya, Kassie recently celebrated seven years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised amidst the pomp and circumstance of the diplomatic corps, large, formal parties were a weekly occurrence in her family and she learned about alcohol’s importance early in her upbringing….

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:37 — 49.2MB)As a medical doctor who secretly battled his own addiction to alcohol and drugs for many years, Jim’s alcoholism literally affected the lives and well-being of others. Jim grew up with an abusive father whose military career relocated the family many times during Jim’s childhood…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:17 — 48.9MB)By the time he got sober, the dark cloud of alcoholism had engulfed Guy’s life. After years of heavy drinking and drug use, that cloud all but obfuscated Guy’s best efforts to manage the disease. The cleverly-crafted lies and innate charm that had worked so…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:18:49 — 54.1MB)Jails, institutions, or death. These are the three bleak outcomes from alcoholism and drug addiction that faced my guest on today’s show, Ro Y. Actually, he fulfilled the first two in his late teens and early twenties after being incarcerated multiple times and being court-ordered…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:10 — 41.3MB)Mary joined Alcoholics Anonymous 35 years ago, shortly after her father picked up his 20 year chip in the Program. Her father’s longevity and experience in AA was reflected in his willingness to let his daughter find her own way through the alcoholic mire in…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:06:08 — 45.4MB)At age 13, Charlie suffered hydrocephalous and underwent the first of 5 brain operations over the next 8 years. By 15, he had begun using alcohol and pot both recreationally and to relieve his head pain. With sports out of the question, Charlie learned guitar…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:57 — 45.3MB)Chimene’s story will resonate with those in their first few years of sobriety. It will also ring familiar with those who drank for many years before alcoholism took control of their lives. In Chimene’s case, drinking was part of her life for over 30 years,…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:06:53 — 45.9MB)Originally from England, Martyn immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1970’s bringing along his predilections for excessive drinking. Insecurities from his earlier life, fueled by fears of not measuring up, stoked his drive to succeed. And for years, while Martyn’s drinking morphed into alcohol abuse,…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:10:33 — 48.4MB)Chris G. found AA over 15 years ago, but after the first year and a half, he decided to go back out. Relapse for some is a sad and tragic story. Many alcoholics are claimed by incarceration, institutionalization, or death before they have the chance…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:17 — 43.5MB)Walt was raised in a military family who moved every couple of years. The transitory nature of Walt’s childhood and adolescence meant making and losing friends on a frequent basis. A sense of impermanence drove his desire to excel in whatever short-term opportunities the relocations…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:17:03 — 52.9MB)With 51 years sober in AA, today’s guest, John C., shares a story chocked-full with experience that will resonate with newcomers, old-timers, and folks in-between. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, John’s childhood and adolescence were indelibly influenced by his overbearing alcoholic father and pill-addicted mother….

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02:42 — 43.1MB)Diana’s love of AA is unmistakable. In her words: “AA is at the center of my life. It keeps me sane. It gives me structure, a sense of purpose. It teaches me about myself. It gives me fellowship.” When I first met Diana L. on…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:31 — 47.7MB)Sober since 2020, Kevin’s backstory of drinking belied his ultimate identification as an alcoholic who needed help from AA. Raised in a successful family where neither parent was an alcoholic, various ancestors had suffered from the disease, though a few had gotten sober in AA….

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:03 — 43.3MB)The wisdom MaryCeline conveys is that of one who’s fought hard and suffered much in her battle for sobriety. With multiple stints in AA since 1999, her relapses became increasingly miserable and hopeless. When she finally claimed her current sobriety date in 2013, it was…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:26 — 43.6MB)Steve first got sober in the early 80s. But five difficult and prolonged relapses over the next 25 years delayed his current sobriety date until July 2008. As bad things got after each relapse, Steve somehow managed to make it back to AA with plenty…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:55 — 47.3MB)Alcoholic, drug addict, and crazy are three of the self-proclaimed monikers Preston D. wore as a teenager. I first met him when he got sober seven years ago. Since then, we’ve attended many of the same men’s meetings, both in person and on Zoom. Though…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:20:07 — 55.0MB)When he first came to the U.S. from India at age 21, Sachin was eager to build a lifestyle fueled by alcohol and partying.  Actually, it was a continuation of the life he lived in India where the shame, guilt, and low self-esteem created by…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:50 — 49.3MB)[This is an encore of Episode 46, originally released September 29, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 46 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. At age 13, Amanda was challenged by her parents to…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:39 — 38.2MB)Raised in a politically powerful family in a major eastern city, Patrick’s privileged upbringing in the public eye was belied by his alcoholic father’s physically abusive and destructive behavior behind closed doors. That sacrosanct family secret tormented Patrick and his siblings, as they were forced…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:27 — 47.0MB)Can someone be too smart or important to get sober in A.A.? My guest, Scott B. had his Ph.D. in neurobiology and an accelerating career in medical research to dispel any notions of being an alcoholic or drug addict. His superior intelligence, unflappable ego, and…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:17:50 — 53.4MB)[This is an encore of Episode 5, originally released January 6, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 5 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. Tom’s incredible story is one of a man whose life…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:13:57 — 56.3MB)Greg’s envied life before sobriety was one of booze, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. Raised in California in a family rife with alcoholism, dysfunctional behavior infested his home during his childhood and adolescent years. Struggling to fit in among kids his age, Greg joined…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:31:54 — 63.1MB)[This is an encore of Episode 25, originally released May 5, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 25 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. Gordon R. got sober AA four months before Neil Armstrong…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:36 — 47.1MB)[This is an encore of Episode 21, originally released April 8, 2021]  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 21 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. After a difficult adolescence, prison sentence, and series of dead-end…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:16:02 — 52.2MB)[This is an encore of Episode 17, originally released August 18, 2021]  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 17 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. Diane G. first met her husband, John, in AA nearly…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:07 — 47.5MB)Scott’s adversities during his 20 years of sobriety seemingly outweigh many adversities he suffered while on his way to AA recovery. Scott emerged from an abusive and traumatic childhood into an adolescence where he found alcohol and music to soothe his anxieties and repressed feelings….

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:10:37 — 48.5MB)Doug’s story begins with a childhood during which he enjoyed all the opportunities to succeed in life. Unfortunately, a learning disability, combined with a short stature made for an academic struggle in school and a struggle with bullies after school. Feeling left out and disregarded…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:45 — 45.1MB)Dennis got sober in AA in May of 1962 and has enjoyed more than 61 years as a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the Fellowship. At 86, Dennis is actively engaged in all aspects of the program, sharing his depth of experience in the daily…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:08 — 46.1MB)Chris’ life was ruled by alcoholism until he got sober in AA in 2011. Raised by loving parents, he had a spiritual realization of the universe at age 5 that was cut short at age 9 with the tragic death of his 12-year-old sister. As…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 59:24 — 40.8MB)[This is an encore of Episode 41, originally released August 25, 2021]  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 41 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. Dan D. showed up in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:16 — 46.2MB)Felice W’s journey in AA has greatly inspired other alcoholic women to try our way of life. Growing up as an adopted child whose older brothers made good at home and school life with seemingly little effort. Meanwhile, Felice struggled and was drawn to errant…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:27:44 — 60.2MB)A standing ovation of nearly 100 men erupted when Myles recently picked up his 40 year chip. To many, this kind of AA milestone seems inconceivable, but the story of his journey is chock-full of similarities with which anyone with any length of sobriety will…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:20 — 49.7MB)With a little over two years sober, Ryan’s story is especially compelling for those AA members who are newly or recently sober. It is a story with which many will identify. His father was an alcoholic and seldom home, and Ryan and his brother were…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:24:01 — 57.7MB)  [This is an encore of Episode 10, originally released February 23, 2021]  The original episode description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 10 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:08 — 47.5MB) [This is an encore of Episode 38, originally released August 4, 2021]  The original episode description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 38 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:55 — 44.6MB)Diego R. grew up in Venezuela in a fear-ridden household with an alcoholic father whose rage left an indelible mark on the only child. Though his father left when he was five, Diego had learned how to use rage and rebellion to compensate for his…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:54 — 46.6MB)[This is an encore of Episode 36, originally released July 21, 2021]  The original episode description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 36 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:03 — 47.4MB)Joseph found recovery in AA entirely on Zoom during the Covid Pandemic. As of the date of this interview, that was over two years ago. Since then, he has enthusiastically embraced the Program in a way that will inspire those AA members in their early…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:14 — 44.8MB)Chris W. shares a story of alcoholism’s unimpeded march through a man’s life, sweeping aside all of the talents and abilities to dominate his daily living. While alcoholism showed up clearly in his family tree, it skipped his parents and landed squarely on Chris with…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:02 — 46.0MB)Joanie’s story is full of similarities with which many alcoholics will readily identify. Her early drinking at age 14 escalated during her high school and college years. It rapidly became an indispensable part of her life during her first marriage. As a young mother of…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 58:21 — 40.1MB)[This is an encore of Episode 16, originally released March 14, 2021] The original program description is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 16 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com. Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:59 — 50.1MB)Growing up Cajun in South Louisiana, Jason’s tough childhood was punctuated by drinking at age 8 and smoking crack by 14. His predilection for rageful and violent behavior was fueled by daily use of alcohol and drugs. His life spun rapidly out of control when…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:18 — 49.7MB)Kim’s story begins with a dysfunctional family in which there was verbal and physical abuse. With a family history rife with alcoholism, Kim’s childhood solution to the domestic chaos was to run away from home multiple times, only to be found and returned to the…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:54 — 39.1MB) As one of our most senior members of the Fellowship, George is now 89 years old and approaching 40 years of sobriety in AA. Like many other guests who got sober later in life, George’s story is a dichotomy between a well-lived life before…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:12 — 46.1MB)Today’s show is an encore of Episode 9, my interview with Sally G. in 2021. I believe you’ll enjoy listening to it again, or for the first time, if you missed its original release in January 2021. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:11 — 46.1MB)Chris lived a relatively contented life until the disease of alcoholism took over and landed him in AA at age 48. Unlike many in the rooms of AA who grew up in dysfunctional families where alcoholism and abuse riddled their formative years, Chris describes his…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:01:23 — 42.2MB)After nearly 50 years in AA, Pat’s sobriety correlates beautifully with his half-century of his active service and continuous participation in Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised in a dysfunctional family where alcoholism was rife, Pat found ease, comfort, and a sense of belonging by drinking and using…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:31 — 45.0MB)Every alcoholic raised in a dysfunctional family will readily identify with George’s story. The unpredictable rage of his father and an emotionally deficient relationship with his mother set George on-track for alcoholism and drug use from the very start early in his teens. Lacking the…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:08 — 46.1MB)Bill’s turbulent life was ruled by alcoholism and nearly ended in suicide before he was saved by AA. Trouble started early for him when his father died of alcoholism when Bill was 18 months old. Any lessons to be learned were snuffed out by his…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:58 — 45.3MB)Radha’s battle with the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction was complicated by an eating disorder and clinical depression. Growing up in Great Britain, her East African/Asian roots uncomfortably stood out among the mostly white children with whom she grew up. Using food, and later…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:16 — 44.1MB)With two years of AA recovery, Mark’s story may strongly resonate with newer members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Longer-term sobriety enjoyed by many AA’s I’ve interviewed may seem unattainable or out-of-reach to people with less than a year or two. But the recency of Mark’s experience…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:15:21 — 51.7MB)Shawn’s story should be required listening for any recovering  alcoholic facing a devastating loss early in their sobriety. In Shawn’s case, he was three years into the Program when he got word in the middle of the night that his brother had been a passenger…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:48 — 43.8MB)Susan’s story draws into sharp focus just how damaging family secrets can be and how they can pave the road to alcoholism and drug addiction. Like some of us recovering alcoholics, Susan experienced a traumatic event when she was a child. The natural need to…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:04 — 43.3MB)Aside from jumping into a crocodile-infested harbor in Darwin, Australia and swimming naked in the sea amongst deadly sharks off the coast of Sydney, Kristen’s story is not unlike many that you hear in AA. Though she grew up in a home where her father…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:57 — 50.1MB)Faisal’s remarkable success in business is closely aligned with the success he enjoys as a daily meeting-maker in Alcoholics Anonymous. For over 16 years, he has worked his Program from the middle of the herd with ongoing service commitments to his AA club and continuous…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:15:07 — 51.6MB)Kelvin’s life was defined and dominated by booze and drugs. Though there are similarities to other sobriety tales, many parts of his story contain things that most alcoholics must be referring to when they say, “There but for the grace of God go I” or…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:16:59 — 52.9MB)Janet’s family of origin was rife with alcoholism. but also some recovery. Her father remained sober in AA for nearly 50 years. When she was a little girl, Janet even attended some AA meetings early in her father’s sobriety. But like so many alcoholics, Janet’s…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:52 — 50.0MB)Though Don didn’t start drinking until his late teens, his first drunk was a harbinger of things to come. Drawn to the quixotic allure of the hard-drinking, tortured artist, Don’s painting created a solitary lifestyle that nurtured his growing alcoholism. Ironically, painting houses became his…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:16:39 — 52.6MB)** Please leave a rating on your podcast app. Thanks! ** Kyle’s hard-fought battle with addiction and alcoholism was one he thought he could win on his own. He even managed to stay dry without AA for five years. But they were miserable years packed…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:15:38 — 51.9MB)Lauren rose to the top of her profession as a prima ballerina and enjoyed international acclaim during her 23 years of thrilling audiences around the world. But the career she had built through years of intense training and dedication were absolutely no match for the…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:30 — 49.1MB)[This is a replay of Episode 22, originally released April 15, 2021] Sue C. is one of those rare people whose presence in my early meetings was an important factor in my willingness and desire to keep attending AA. She was not only welcoming to me,…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:14 — 46.9MB)[This is a replay of Episode 19, originally released March 29, 2021] Would a court-mandated breathalyzer and the fear of going to prison be enough to keep Matt dry? Or should he embrace AA’s spiritually-anchored Program of sobriety based upon proven steps of action, fellowship, and…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:21:22 — 55.9MB)[This is a replay of Episode 14, originally released Feb. 28, 2021] Ever heard anyone say, “Getting arrested was the best thing that ever happened to me”? As crazy as that sounds to normal people, if you’ve been around AA long enough, you’ve heard it,…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:15:30 — 51.8MB)Alejandra’s story is a heart-wrenching tale of alcoholism at its worst. Originally from Venezuela, Alejandra was raised from a baby by her grandparents while her mother’s alcoholism derailed her family. Later, after her mother got sober through AA, Alejandra accompanied her to meetings as a…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:18:03 — 53.6MB)This is the incredible story of Tom D., whose life was turned inside out and upside down by alcoholism, drug addiction, and crime. From a difficult childhood, he emerged into a troubled adolescence, drinking at 14, shoplifting, and getting kicked out of high school. Hanging…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:50 — 49.3MB)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…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02:12 — 42.7MB)Blayne’s path to alcoholism began at age 10 with loneliness, isolation, and, ultimately, bitterness towards God after his beloved grandfather died. Living near his grandfather’s ranch in a small east Texas town, Blayne learned about hunting, fishing, and how to act like a man. When…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:15:05 — 51.6MB)April’s road trip of terror began during a drunken 4-hour drive on a major interstate. Halfway into the trip, while drinking vodka from a plastic bottle, she crossed the median at over ninety miles an hour. She crashed head-on into a car of three people,…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:37 — 46.4MB)Dhom grew up in a poor village in the Philippines. Regularly drinking alcohol by age 14, he joined a gang and was involved in violent and illegal activities. The power of his growing alcoholism and disregard for his own life were acted out in various…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:14 — 49.6MB)Marianna’s story that will resonate instantly with those of us who’ve been raised in families in which frequent moves disrupted the process of simply growing up. In Marianna’s case, her family moved numerous times around the United States and Europe when she was young. Her…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:16:40 — 52.6MB)Paul’s older brother and sister both died of liver disease caused by their intravenus drug use and untreated alcoholism. Paul’s own liver disease surfaced years into his AA recovery, but the irreparable damage he had done with heroin and heavy drinking in his teens and…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:01 — 49.5MB)Ryan grew up in a chaotic home where addiction was a best-kept secret. As an only child, Ryan’s family had also moved more than ten times by the time he was 12. Dealing with the constant loss of whatever brief friendships he experienced, the impermanence…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:45 — 43.8MB)Tilda B. is an AA member from the other side of the world in Nairobi, Kenya. She grew up in London, where she did most of her alcoholic drinking before getting sober over 28 years ago. Within her first several years of sobriety among London’s…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02:27 — 42.9MB)Gary grew up in a family in which his father was a well-known band leader and his mother was literally the singer in the band. But, the chaotic lifestyle and his mother’s alcoholism were a constant source of conflict between his parents. High school at…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:22 — 49.0MB)When Chris attended meetings at our AA clubhouse in 2007, many of us watched with concern as he slipped a half-dozen times before locking in his sobriety date two years later. What’s unusual about Chris’ story is that he very seldom drank until he was…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:46 — 43.8MB)Amy’s fascinating story is one of early exposure to her father’s alcoholism and her mother’s active involvement in Al-Anon. But her parents also divorced when she was very young and she and her sister were shuttled back-and-forth to fulfill the terms of joint custody. Like…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:19 — 46.2MB)Corby first entered AA in 2017, only to be sidetracked by a relapse in 2020. Fortunately, he survived that slip and was able to claim a new sobriety date two years ago. Corby’s relapse story is one that’s grown more common these days, as the…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:09:30 — 47.7MB)Kirkland’s family of origin was a difficult place to grow up. Alcoholism was rife and the cause of constant stress and chaos. Wracked with fear and isolation, he inevitably turned to alcohol and marijuana for solace. It didn’t take long for the disease of alcoholism…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:11 — 46.1MB)Courtney’s backstory is not dissimilar to those who grew up in tumultuous families in which alcoholism was present. The seeming frivolity and celebratory aspects of drinking cloaked the actual dysfunction that was occurring in the family. By the time she was drinking on a regular…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:33 — 45.0MB)Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Gerry’s road to utter ruin began with pot, pills, and intravenous drug use at 15. Living as a heroin addict for the next ten years, his sordid lifestyle supported his addiction until he was able to stop heroin through…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:12 — 2.2MB)Today’s episode is to announce a 3-week summer break I’m taking before releasing my next episode on August 3, 2022. In the interim, please enjoy my back catalogue of 85 episodes which are available by scrolling down on your podcast app. Each episode features a…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:10:52 — 48.7MB)Robert got sober when he was just 13, after a brief, but vicious, struggle with alcoholism and hard-drug addiction. Twenty-two years later, he’s a living testament to what long-term recovery in AA can mean for those who get sober young. Robert’s family tree was infested…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:16:04 — 52.2MB)Alcoholism nearly ended Justin’s marriage and his career as an airline pilot. Then he found sobriety and recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous.  Raised in a family rife with alcoholics, Justin’s role model was a father who suffered with alcoholism and co-occurring mental health issues, and ultimately…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02:48 — 43.1MB)Terri S. first overdosed on pain meds when she was only six years old. Living in a Brooklyn apartment with an alcoholic father and chronically ill mother, who suffered from crohn’s disease, Terri had been given a tablet for stomach pain exacerbated by her dysfunctional…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:07 — 46.1MB)At an early age, JB aspired to going to prison. Using at age 12, amidst alcoholism and drug addiction, both in his home and his community, his heroes were neighborhood drug dealers who drove fancy cars and swaggered with large amounts of cash from their…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:30 — 49.1MB)William’s story speaks to the devastating effects of alcohol on a life already afflicted with mental health issues. Raised in a drug-infested part of London, William describes his childhood as horrible amidst family members who were sex workers. Rather than be shielded as a child…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:00 — 43.9MB)Sarah’s remarkable story begins with a relatively happy childhood in a family with little connection to alcohol. While other addictive behaviors may have been present, Sarah experienced issues with anorexia and bulimia years before her first drink. It manifested into feelings of low self-esteem and…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:10:32 — 48.4MB)Matt J. describes his family tree as “littered with problem drinkers”, of which he became one all too quickly. As an only child, Matt grew up in a home where verbal and physical abuse reigned supreme. By the time his parents got divorced, his coping…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:14 — 44.1MB)Incredibly, Tom hadn’t had a drink in over nine years when he joined AA. He was “dry”, but his behavior during those years was every bit as alcoholic as if he’d been drinking the whole time. Growing up in a very dysfunctional home, Tom’s early…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:11 — 48.9MB)Nadia’s personal story was published in the 4th Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous in 2001. She’s the first AA member I’ve interviewed whose backstory can be read by anyone with a Big Book. Combined with today’s interview, Nadia’s story comes alive in many ways, beginning with…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:11:14 — 48.9MB)Jay’s foray into alcoholism stemmed from a difficult childhood in a home where his father drank, and fear and confusion reigned. By the time he started drinking in his early teens to quell the fear and ease his dissonance, he had set the pattern for…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:10:14 — 48.2MB)Jeff B. rose to very top of major league baseball, only to find alcoholism waiting to take him down. For years, his extraordinary achievements on the field thrilled millions of fans. Off the field, his growing consumption of alcohol set the stage for the disease…

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:25 — 47.0MB)By age 15, Kristine had already been in treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, self-harm, and a suicide attempt. It took another 14 years for her to find lasting and contented sobriety in AA. Kristina’s struggles with addiction, alcoholism, and mental illness began with a…