JB B. – Sober 33 Years

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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 illegal trade. Even those who served time for their crimes became role models to JB as he watched them emerge from prison buffed and ready for more action. Though he spent his teenage years becoming a star football player in northern California, he still managed to reap cash and cars by dealing drugs on local street corners. Jailed at least a dozen times for his illicit behavior, JB twice landed himself in prison in his twenties. Aspiring to his earlier role-models, JB used his time behind bars to condition his body in the hopes of playing pro football at some point. Though that opportunity came and went, prison had provided his first experience with AA. But each time he was released, the old life of beckoned him back. By his mid-20s, JB finally had enough and spent part of his probation in Oklahoma. He emerged with just the right amount of desire to get sober once and for all. The caring people JB had met during prison AA meetings and throughout his probations coalesced to help him build a new life in the Program. During his sobriety of more than 32 years, JB has turned his life completely around. In addition to coaching football and impacting the lives of many young men, JB is also a self-proclaimed “foot soldier” on the streets. His mission of serving others involves helping addicts, alcoholics, and the mentally ill find community resources for recovery. He also helps the homeless and displaced veterans find shelter and assistance from social service agencies.

In the midst of very full life of helping others, JB stays quite close to his AA program and never forgets what it took to save him from despair and ruin. His special brand of experience, strength and hope are revealed daily, both in AA meetings and on streets. With raw courage, JB goes into places of destitution and hopelessness with the message the hand of AA is always there for those who reach out for help. In the process of giving it away, he has crafted an admirable message of service that attracts others to him and the Program.

I’m grateful I get to see JB at a weekly men’s meeting. His infectious smile and good cheer brighten that meeting. He brings strong testimony to the power of AA and its impact on fellow alcoholics. I think you’ll enjoy JB’s story on this episode of AA Recovery Interviews. It’s the 82^nd interview in this podcast series. Coincidentally, 82 was JB’s number on football jerseys throughout his career.

So, I hope the next 65 minutes are as enjoyable to you as they are to me with my good friend and AA brother JB B.

Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. No advertising is allowed. And no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]