AA Recovery Interviews with Howard L.

Craig came to AA later in life, getting sober at 63. For years he appeared to manage his drinking while building a highly successful business and providing a rich lifestyle for his family. But alcoholism is patient—and progressive. As control slipped and cocaine entered the picture, the consequences grew harder to ignore. Anxiety mounted. Relationships suffered. The very abilities that built his success began to erode. In a courageous moment of clarity, Craig walked into an AA meeting and asked for help. He found a strong sponsor, committed himself to the work, and has built nearly five years of solid sobriety. Today, you’ll find him calling other men, working with newcomers, and living the principles that once saved his own life. This is a compelling story of late-in-life surrender, willingness, and transformation. Settle in, listen closely—and let hope do its quiet work. I’m honored to introduce my friend and AA brother, Craig S. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen to a free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. 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 for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

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 many adolescents of divorced parents, Amy sought relief and release through the alcohol and marijuana she started using in 8th grade. The habitual use of alcohol carried her through a wild and colorful journey until she briefly tried AA in her early 20’s to ease her growing troubles. Unfortunately, she saw only the differences and few similarities in the infrequent meetings she attended. Deciding she could handle it herself, she spent the next couple of decades up and down in her addictions while raising four children and dealing with her husband’s escalating alcoholism. By the time she hit the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous, Amy’s life had been turned upside-down. A lengthy and difficult divorce in the early days of her AA membership nearly took her out. Had it not been for the AA women who surrounded her with tough love and constant support, Amy likely would not have made it. She immersed herself in the steps and service work sufficient to gird her against the continuing allure of her previously glamorous, yet alcoholic, life style. Listening to Amy’s story it’s clear she is a woman who takes her sobriety and spirituality seriously. She imparts her hard-won wisdom to other women who reach out for help and can be seen at meetings making sure everyone feels welcome.   Amy was quick to agree to my invitation to share her story, which we recorded directly after a meeting we both attend. Because she chaired that meeting, her demonstration of service to her group service was top-of-mind and a great starting point for the interview. Please enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews as you soak up the words of active recovery gleaned from my friend and AA sister, Amy B. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen to a free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. 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 for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

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 to take hold and thrive. Kirkland’s subsequent use and abuse of alcohol and grass throughout high school and college affected every area of his life. By the time he was in his mid-20s and early 30s, he was gradually losing his ability to be a functional alcoholic. Despair from that realization, plus periodic bouts with depression and suicidal ideation, finally overwhelmed him. His moment of clarity and divine intervention appeared in the form of memories of his late grandmother and her words of wisdom to him earlier in his life. He reached out to a friend, who brought him to his first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Seeing former friends and business colleagues in the rooms did much to bolster Kirkland’s early commitment to sobriety. He quickly found a sponsor and by three months, he’d already completed his 4th step. He finished with his steps by the end of his first year and continued active involvement in meetings and in the fellowship. With amends to his parents made along the way, Kirkland discovered the freedom and peace that accompanies the willingness to do the work. To this day, and certainly in the interview, he exudes a quiet confidence and enthusiasm for the Program. Kirkland’s story is one I think you’ll enjoy listening to. It speaks to the gifts of hope and redemption available to those who are willing to embrace the AA way of life. So, please enjoy the next sixty-five minutes with my friend and AA brother, Kirkland V. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book if you’d like to read along with the audio. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. 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 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 methadone treatment for the next ten years. With his life spiraling out of control after two decades as a dope addict, Gerry was finally able to get off the drugs thanks to vodka. Unfortunately, drinking upwards of two quarts of vodka, while still smoking marijuana and snorting cocaine, soon confirmed how out-of-control his alcoholic life had become. By the time Gerry found AA in early 1990, he entered the local AA club a broken and desperate man. Fortunately, the members of that club gathered him in and showed him through tough love the work he would need to do in the Program to stay sober. With little faith that Alcoholics Anonymous would work, Gerry did what was asked, including attending the men’s meeting in which I first met him. Frankly, it took me a while to get used to this guy with the gravely voice and thick New York accent, but, eventually, his story melted my heart and we became very close friends. He’s stayed sober the entirety of our friendship. Gerry’s life in sobriety has always been chock-full of meetings and service work, mostly at his home AA club. I’ve seen him face some very difficult situations over the years with the kind of hope and perseverance that genuinely inspire other people. He never hesitates to welcome new-comers and those returning from a slip. His booming laugh in conversation manifests the joy Gerry gleans from sobriety and is a healthy invitation for others to share his mirth and his enthusiasm for the Program. I’m always glad when I see Gerry in a meeting and, though I’m usually sure I know what he’s going to say on any given topic, I never tire of hearing it. His relaxed and jocular way of relating his experiences in sobriety is steeped in hopefulness and wisdom. His absolute assurance that AA works, if you work it, comes through loud and clear every time he’s called on a meeting. I think you’ll get a meaningful kick out of my interview with Gerry R. and invite you to gather up others to listen to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews. Prepare yourself to be both entertained and enlightened over the next hour by the words of my close friend and AA brother, Gerry R. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen to a free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. 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 for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

Kelvin's life was defined and dominated by booze and drugs. Though there are similarities to other sobriety tales, many parts of his story contain things that most alcoholics must be referring to when they say, “There but for the grace of God go I” or “That could have been me”. Drinking, smoking crack, gang membership, desperate crimes, jail, broken probation, prison, and parole violations all occurred in within five years after his first drink. Raised in a home rife with family secrets, Kelvin’s mother did her best to help keep her kids out of trouble. But desegregation during his middle school years had Kelvin bussed across town to schools where he struggled to find a persona with which he could fit in. Back in his neighborhood he was bullied for that and had to adopt a different persona to fit that environment. Confusion, lack of direction, lost identity, and low self-esteem inevitably became the drivers to drinking and smoking marijuana at 17. He soon joined a gang and started smoking crack cocaine. Purse-snatching, shop-lifting and other crimes put him at odds with the legal system and put Kelvin in jail, and later prison. He mostly ignored or dismissed alternatives to incarceration, such as rehab, though he did attend some AA meetings in his early twenties. The next 20 years until Kelvin got sober in AA are an odyssey of drug and alcohol addled behavior. He floundered in a sea lost jobs, multiple treatment centers, bitter divorce, crime, jail, and many failed attempts to get and stay sober. He finally found AA in 2017. Ernest in his efforts to stay sober through AA, he wasn’t completely convinced that AA would work. So he set up a contingency fund into which he made regular deposits. If AA didn’t work, he’d have enough money saved to drink himself to death. Fortunately, Kelvin went to meetings, got a sponsor, did service work around the AA club, and worked the steps sufficient to claim a place in the middle of the Program. After a year of AA recovery, Kelvin liquidated the contingency fund, bought a watch, went to the next meeting. The rest of Kelvin’s story is captivating, fascinating, and colorful. My interview with him enriched my sobriety and I hope it will do the same for you. So sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my friend and AA brother, Kelvin S. 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.

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 negative body-image, causing further shame and fear. By the time she found alcohol at age 16, she was able to ease her negative feelings and fit in, but such escape lead to problems. With difficulties at home and a stint at college cut short by alcohol, Sarah set off on the road to destruction, adding cocaine and crystal meth to the deadly mix along the way. Fortunately, her exposure to recovery for her eating disorders many years earlier left her with a friend who encouraged Sarah to attend AA. After some fits and starts, she finally made it into the Program in 1996. From the start, she worked a Program of diligence and meaning. That early anchoring in AA allowed her to continue to work safely in a bar. She earned enough to pay for education that extricated her from that same tavern job several years later. As her life was steadily improving as the result of Alcoholics Anonymous, she was faced with a major crisis, her husband’s cancer diagnosis, just three years into her marriage. For the next three years, until he passed, Sarah worked two jobs and cared for her husband while amazingly finding time to attend AA meetings. She credits those meetings and her selfless service work as her means to survive those difficult years without slipping. Sarah’s story points to the insidious nature of the disease which allows it to find its way into the lives of even those who enjoyed happy childhoods. In Sarah’s case, alcoholism did not discriminate. That she was able to survive a booze-soaked and drug infused lifestyle was most certainly by the grace of God. That she thrives today and enjoys a relatively contented life is directly correlated to her involvement in an active AA Program. The women she sponsors find solace and hope in the experience she shares with them, while she, in turn, bolsters her solid Program to withstand the ups and downs of long-term sobriety. There’s a lot to learn from Sarah M., and I invite you to tune in this especially poignant episode of AA Recovery Interviews. So, please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my dear friend and AA sister, Sarah M. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. 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 for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

Dan C.'s story challenges conventional wisdom about alcoholism and recovery. We often think of alcoholism/addiction as a young person's struggle, a disease that wrecks lives early and publicly. But what happens when a cunning, baffling, and powerful disease lies dormant for decades, only to combust when a seemingly successful life hits an unexpected turn? This is Dan C.'s powerful and eye-opening story. For more than 45 years, Dan lived what many would call a remarkable life. A highly respected criminal justice attorney, he built a prominent career, earned accolades, and navigated the world with confidence and control—or so it appeared. Alcohol was always present, but never, in his mind, the problem. Like so many of us, Dan believed he still had power over his drinking. He managed it, justified it, and folded it neatly into his version of a successful life. And for decades, that illusion held. Then, in his mid-60s, the illusion shattered. A convergence of pressures and losses created a storm he could no longer manage. The disease he had outmaneuvered—or thought he had—finally took center stage. What followed was a rapid descent into chaos, fear, and hopelessness, until Dan was brought—reluctantly but mercifully—into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. What you’ll hear in this interview is the moment Dan recognized the difference between his lifelong reliance on self and the simple, spiritual principles of AA’s Program of Recovery. Instead of turning away in pride, he leaned in. Fully. Dan attended meetings, got a sponsor, began working the Steps, and immersed himself in the Fellowship. What began as willingness grew into joy. Today, those connections remain a cornerstone of his three years of continuous sobriety. Some who got sober young may marvel at how long Dan avoided obvious consequences. But his story is a powerful reminder that alcoholism is patient, progressive, and no respecter of age, intellect, or success. It is a great equalizer. The stories shared on AA Recovery Interviews are more than personal reflections—they are lifelines. They carry a simple but vital message: recovery is possible at any stage of life and at any stage of the disease. I invite you to listen, learn, and be inspired by this extraordinary story of recovery and redemption with my friend and AA brother, Dan C. And if this episode resonates with you, please share it. Your share could be the spark that lights someone else’s path to sobriety. 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.]

Kyle’s hard-fought battle with addiction and alcoholism was one he thought he could win on his own. He even managed to stay dry without AA for five years. But they were miserable years packed with trouble in every aspect of his life. So, back to drinking he went for ten more years, during which his disease rode him hard to the bottom. As his life swelled with problems and his options were dwindling, Kyle finally found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous three years ago. Though his period of continuous sobriety is relatively brief compared to double-digit sobriety, the “how it was” and the “what happened” parts of his story are every bit as powerful as those of AA members who have enjoyed decades of sobriety. For many of us, the recency of Kyle’s experience is a stark reminder that the disease is as brutal as ever, offering little respite to those who suffer. In Kyle’s case, a difficult childhood led into early drug and alcohol use. As alcoholism and addiction surfaced during is later teenage years, Kyle was placed in rehab as a high school junior, but it had little effect on the burgeoning disease that he resumed immediately after. A hoped-for recovery in the U.S. Air Force largely failed as Kyle’s behavior and an alcoholic black-out during deployment caused more trouble. Once out of the service, he resumed his addictions, though, like many, he was still able to marry and have children and job despite his active disease. He even managed to stay dry for five years. But without a Program, he was mostly miserable along the way. By the time he got to AA, he’d been thoroughly beaten by the disease and ready to take “certain steps” toward recovery. Three years later, through working the steps with a sponsor, Kyle’s sobriety is demonstrated by his sponsorship of other men and his attendance at daily meetings. It’s a far cry from where he was when he got to AA, but he’s taking nothing for granted as his disease resides around every corner. Kyle’s is a cautionary tale, instructive of many of the “do’s” and “don’ts” that are so prevalent in Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you will get a lot out of this interview and invite you to enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Kyle G. Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. 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 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.] Share Podcast: TwitterFacebookRedditLinkedinWhatsAppGmailEmail

Patrice T. has known alcoholism from both sides—first as the child of an alcoholic, and later as an alcoholic herself. For a time, her drinking overlapped her father’s struggle, until both of their lives were transformed by sobriety. Patrice grew up amid the turmoil of her father’s disease, yet like so many of us, she began drinking as a teenager anyway. Alcohol offered relief and escape as her life grew more chaotic. By her early 20s, while working as a nurse, drinking had shifted from social to daily—and felt impossible to stop. Around the same time, her father found Alcoholics Anonymous, and his life steadily improved. Patrice saw the change, heard the hope, but wasn’t ready. Not yet. It took hitting bottom for her to finally surrender and walk into AA herself. That was in January 1979. Over the next four decades, Patrice shared the gifts of sobriety with her father, who passed away with 32 years sober. Today, her life is firmly rooted in AA through meetings, sponsorship, and service. The challenges she’s faced—and overcome—are powerful testimony to the healing found in the rooms. Her commitment to helping other women reflects a devotion she learned early and still lives by. I’ve known Patrice for several years, and her grounded, honest way of living the Program is deeply impressive. Her story of long-term sobriety is inspiring and unforgettable. Set the world aside and join me for this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Patrice T. [Note: This interview was originally released as podcast 72 in April 2022.] If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews strictly follows AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for maintaining online anonymity. I cover all production costs. There is no advertising and no financial gain for anyone involved. Neither the podcast nor its guests speak for or represent AA as a whole. This show is simply my way of giving back what was freely given to me.—Howard L.

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 with alcoholism, so his life seemed pre-destined to the ravages of the disease. Fortunately, both his parents and grandfather were active members of AA and they intervened early before they would have lost him to booze and hallucinogens. Miraculously, treatment and an alternative peer group took hold in his young life. He soon found himself sitting alongside his father and grandfather in a men’s AA meeting, where I first met him.  Though his father struggled with multiple relapses through the years, Robert never stopped working his AA Program. Incentivized by his grandfather’s promise of a fully-paid college tuition, Robert took the skills and maturity he had gained from AA into his higher education. He ultimately earned a Ph.D., launching a 17 year career in the field of addiction and mental health that encompasses private practice, clinical supervision, and the creation and management of clinical programming. He still credits AA with this gift and others in sobriety, including a loving wife and four children, close friends, and a spiritual practice that keeps him centered on helping others. With such a busy and fulfilling life, Robert still makes time for the very same basics he learned in AA when he was barely a teenager. Meetings, sponsorship, fellowship, and prayer continue to serve him, and are a model for others seeking long term sobriety in AA. Robert is one of many members of Alcoholics Anonymous whom I’ve known from their first days of sobriety. Watching him grow into a man of integrity, intention, and purpose while staying sober has been a huge blessing for me and countless others. His story is remarkable in many ways, but absolutely epitomizes the impact AA can have for those who want what we have, young and old. It’s a story you’ll likely want to listen to more than once. So, please lend your attention for the next hour and ten minutes to my excellent friend and AA brother, Robert H. 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.

Victoria started drinking early to deal with the strife of abuse she suffered as a child and the trauma she experienced at 15 witnessing the aftermath of a bloody massacre in the Philippines. Living with the shock and horror were more than enough propel her alcohol-dominated life for the next 20 years. Then she found AA. Victoria is the first guest on AA Recovery Interviews whose spouse, Wes H., shared his story on an earlier podcast. They got sober together within days of each other over 30 years ago. Hearing both their stories provides unique context to their journeys before and after getting sober. Victoria’s story stands very much on its own. Raised in a military home by a mother with bi-polar disorder and a physically abusive father, her life as the oldest of 3 children was further complicated by frequent moves around world. The alcohol she found early helped ease the madness and numb the traumatic events she experienced along the way. Access to alcohol by hook or crook on military bases fueled self-destructive behavior that followed her into adulthood. By the time she found AA sobriety in 1992, alcoholism had taken a huge toll on her body, exacerbating medical conditions that required 31 surgeries over the years. Through it all, Victoria’s unceasing involvement in AA, and working with others, helped her survive death’s numerous importunities. One of her last surgeries during the past year was literally do or die. She credits Wes and her AA family for pulling her through with prayers and the collective healing energy of love. My interview with Victoria on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast runs a little longer than others, but flies by as her story unfolds. It’s a story that helps further define the phrase “Experience, strength, and hope.” So grab a cuppa and become engrossed for the next hour and ten minutes in the story of my friend and AA sister, Victoria H.   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.

Jackie's story illustrates one of the most cunning aspects of alcoholism--the erroneous belief that going to AA meetings without necessarily doing the work is enough to stay sober. In Jackie’s case, she had survived her dysfunctional family and alcohol-infused failures at higher education, only to emerge as a full-blown binge drinker. As escalating alcoholism continued to addle her decisions, she escaped her first toxic marriage with two young children only to find herself drinking more than ever. Her second marriage produced three children and one still born baby. The early-onset deterioration of that marriage caused by alcoholism persisted for 17 years until Jackie had finally had enough. She found AA and somehow stayed sober 8 years, even though her ever-diminishing involvement in the Program continually pulled her farther away from it. Her mistaken belief that she could find and maintain AA-type sobriety in church ultimately resulted in her getting drunk. It took her until 2015 to get back to AA. Beaten by the disease into a state of reasonableness, Jackie finally embraced the Program and its principals wholeheartedly. She remains sober to this day. Jackie’s story will not be unfamiliar to AA’s who thought they could find an easier, softer way to work the Program, only to slip in the end. I’m grateful she made it back to AA and has continued to do all of the simple, but not easy, things necessary to assure daily sobriety and a happy life in the center of the Program. I think you’ll find her story to be most engaging and offer you 60 minutes of listening pleasure on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast with my friend and AA sister, Jackie 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, 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.

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 from this dysfunctional environment, he was exposed to it to learn the harsh realities of life. Seeking relief from the daily horrors, William found alcohol at 11, and proceeded on an 8-year odyssey during which he lived on the streets of south London. For years, he remained isolated in worsening mental illness that was increasingly fueled by his alcoholism. Sleeping on cemetery benches and hustling just to stay alive, William slipped through all of London’s social service nets available at the time, and was completely ignored by society. As he became sicker from alcoholism and his life on the streets, his options evaporated and suicide appeared as the only way out. Fortunately, the bottom William hit didn’t kill him, but left him on the doorstep of Alcoholics Anonymous at age 19. He entered the rooms shirtless with piercings, an orange mohawk, and floor-length black leather coat. He was unexpectantly welcomed by a well-dressed middle-aged woman who simply offered him tea. That small gesture of kindness was enough to keep him coming back for days and weeks to come. Still feeling the outsider, even within AA, William’s response to AA was largely anti-social for a number of years during his early sobriety. He kept largely to himself and his relentless study of the Big Book and AA literature. Over time, however, William’s self-imposed boundaries lowered enough for him to experience the gifts of fellowship and service to others. From that point until today, William has become a valuable member of several home groups and purveyor of service throughout his London AA community, as well as online via Zoom. Throughout his 23 years of sobriety, he has often considered himself an “odd duck” in AA. But, his actual work in the Program has kept him firmly anchored to his own sobriety while facing his life with growing humility borne of actual experience of working with others. William’s story is a fascinating journey from physical, mental, and spiritual destitution to total redemption at the hands of AA fellowship. His well-worked program and daily presence in AA meetings has uplifted many whom he has touched with his simple message of hope. I’m grateful for William’s friendship and believe his story on this episode of AA Recovery Interviews will touch listeners on many levels. So gather your biscuits and tea, sit back, and enjoy the next 65 minutes with my mate and AA brother from across the pond, William 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, 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.

A Viet Nam veteran from a family fraught with alcoholism, Bob’s post-war progression into the disease of alcoholism accompanied a long and hard-driven business career in the banking industry. But, by the time he had raised three children and accumulated a great deal of material success, Bob’s alcoholism and other addictive behaviors severely bit into his home life. His marriage unraveled and his relationship with his adult children deteriorated. Completely dispirited by his late 50’s, Bob contemplated the same deadly exit plan his father had taken some 25 years earlier. Fortunately, his turning point was towards sobriety and AA. Interestingly, Bob’s sobriety through active participation in the Program had little impact on his other addictive behavior, which he struggled with for years after he got sober from alcohol. But, with the help of a sustained AA program, Bob finally surrendered his other addiction on his road of recovery. There’s a lot more to this story that you’ll hear shortly. After nearly 14 years of west coast AA, Bob made it back to Houston in 2016, which is where I caught up with him. Though divorced and estranged from his family in California, in the past nearly 5 years he has re-built a new and happier life for himself. His story is one that I admire greatly. I think you will, too. So settle back and enjoy the next hour of my interview with my good friend and AA brother, Bob W. 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.

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 life was fraught with daily fear, shame, and lack of direction. His years in the army during the Viet Nam war and his early business career were soaked in alcohol and abhorrent behavior. By the time he was married and had two young children, Tom’s bitter and self-righteous temperment had recreated the same kind of toxic environment in which he’d grown up. As Tom’s burgeoning alcoholism was fracturing his marriage and family, he somehow managed stopped drinking. However, his dry years provided little relief from the madness. He found himself living on a miserable decline in mind, body, and spirit. The suggestion that he join AA, despite being dry, finally struck a responsive chord in his otherwise demoralized life and he started to attend meetings. Tom’s tenuous hold on the Program eventually became a tighter grip on all of the tenets necessary to live an AA-enriched life, including regular meetings, prayer and meditation, and unceasing service work. Tom has always stated his sobriety date as the day he entered AA, rather than the date he stopped drinking. This important difference between simply being dry and staying sober in AA has been well-demonstrated by Tom over the years. I’ve personally heard him share those differences with newcomers in countless meetings we’ve attended. His is an important message that needs reemphasis whenever alcoholics consider just getting dry in lieu of getting sober. The many gifts in Tom’s life since sobriety are proof-positive of the power of a spiritually-centered and active Program. As you listen to his story on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I believe you’ll be moved to truly appreciate what a life of sobriety looks like compared to a life of just staying dry. So, please relax and enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my dear friend and AA brother, Tom W. 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.]

Rosemary started drinking at age 6 with a sip of beer. But unlike other children, whose experience with beer was an occasional sip, Rosemary's beer drinking became an everyday occurrence. Her parents, distracted by their own severe alcoholism, allowed her to continue drinking daily from age 6 until she got sober in her 20’s. As the oldest of five children in a very dysfunctional family, Rosemary also became the chief caregiver for her younger siblings, essentially raising them while her parents’ disease made them oblivious to the needs of their own children. When she finally escaped the alcoholic madness of her childhood home, Rosemary’s daily drinking, bolstered by a variety of drugs, left her on the streets of New York City where her alcoholism and drug addiction flourished. But an early marriage to an alcoholic led to a pregnancy that was the turning point in her life. Scared by the prospects of having a baby with medical problems, Rosemary quit the alcohol and drugs cold turkey. Ironically, the DTs she suffered were mistaken for symptoms of morning sickness and neither she nor any of her doctors connected the dots. Fortunately, the baby was born healthy and Rosemary was sober for the first time in her life. A brief stint in Al-Anon re-directed her to the doors of AA, where she became a compliant and active member of the Program. Rosemary’s story has quite a few twists and turns, including a period of sobriety during which she attended few meetings. But she never strayed too far. Years of intensive trauma therapy helped realign her ability and willingness to both share in meetings and work with others. Her experience in therapy combined with a strong AA program, is one that many of us sober alcoholics have in our sobriety stories. In Rosemary’s life, that experience has been indispensable. Interestingly, she directly credits her success in business to what she learned at the hand of alcoholic parents, as well as what she experienced on the streets of New York. As you listen to Rosemary’s story, her soft-spoken words convey the importance of coming to terms with past demons. The sobriety she’s crafted over the past 40 years reflects both hard work in the program and a heart-felt desire to help others. So sit back and enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Rosemary 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.]

My guest on today’s episode of AA Recovery Interviews is David D., a man whose story of descent into alcoholism—and steady climb back through the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous—reminds us that no one is immune to the reach of this disease. Born into a relatively normal family and raised in a stable environment, David’s early life was free of the turmoil that marks so many stories of addiction. His introduction to drinking came later, during college, where fraternity life provided both the social setting and the permission to drink freely. In those years, his drinking appeared typical, part of the camaraderie and celebration that defined young adulthood. After college, David built a promising career and enjoyed the outward signs of success. Drinking remained a social habit—something to accompany professional events or ease life’s minor stresses. But over time, that manageable pattern shifted. When business setbacks and personal losses began to mount, David found in alcohol the false comfort and control that every alcoholic comes to know too well. The very solution he trusted soon became the source of his greatest problems. Relationships faltered, opportunities slipped away, and his health began to deteriorate. What had once been a coping mechanism became a slow-motion collapse of body and spirit. By early 2016, David’s drinking had ravaged his liver and other organs, and the prospect of death was no longer theoretical—it was imminent. In February of that year, faced with the stark reality of what alcohol was doing to him, David reached out for help and found Alcoholics Anonymous. There, among others who had walked the same road, he discovered the grace and guidance that began to restore him to life. Nearly a decade later, David’s story stands as living proof of the hope that resides in our fellowship and the redemptive power of a Higher Power. His journey from quiet suffering to purposeful sobriety offers strength and reassurance to anyone still struggling in the shadows. So please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, David D. 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.]

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 basis in her teenage years, Courtney’s budding alcoholism had become yet another family secret to bear. Though she was mostly a binge drinker, the negative effects of the disease were happening more frequently when, at 21 years of age, Courtney checked herself into an inpatient treatment center in Canada. Ironically, despite her emotional gloom and desperate need for help, her family tried to dissuade her from going into treatment. Fortunately, Courtney’s desire to get help prevailed over the family denial of her problem. She got the help she needed in treatment and actually stopped drinking, for a while. But, like many alcoholics who believe inpatient treatment and some aftercare are an all-sufficient solution, she failed to truly engage with AA. She found herself drinking again within months. It took Courtney many more years of living in alcoholic despair and emotional turmoil for her to hit bottom. By mid-2014, with a waning desire to even stay alive, she entered AA and found hope at last. She began regular attendance of meetings and found a dedicated sponsor with whom she worked the steps. Her daily surrender to a higher power, combined with a close fellowship of women and regular service work, moved her into the proverbial center of the Program where she resides one day at a time. The many gifts she has given and received are indicative of her active involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous. In all respects, they are proof-positive of the change the Program can create for those who are ready and willing to go to any lengths to stay sober. Courtney’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 has enough similarities for everyone to identify with, yet enough differences to assure even the most skeptical listeners that the program of Alcoholics Anonymous is effective beyond any shadow of a doubt. As you listen to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, I hope you’ll find Courtney’s story as intriguing as I have. So, please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Courtney P. 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.]

A "Man of the Cloth", Jimmy G.'s earliest aspirations were to be in service to the Episcopal Church. Though strict in many ways, when it came to drinking, Jimmy and his friends found plenty of opportunities to raid liquor cabinets across their neighborhood. By his teens, Jimmy was outdrinking his friends. His years in college and then seminary were rife with drinking as Jimmy wrestled with deep-seated feelings that left him at odds with Church teachings. By the time he was ordained as a priest, with the accompanying stress and strain of the job, Jimmy’s use of alcohol flew past ordinary use. Without stopping at misuse, he crashed head-on into abuse. Alcoholism that is.... Subsequent years saw Jimmy as a functional alcoholic, doing his very important job with more and more daily support from the bottle. Married with children, Jimmy and his wife somehow managed the outward perception that all was fine in their lives while the upheaval caused by his worsening disease was tearing the family apart.                                                                                                  By 2018, Jimmy had had enough and surrendered to AA and the divine intervention of the higher power demonstrated to him through the people and Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. By working the 12 Steps in earnest, Jimmy has bolstered his spiritual condition to be of maximum service to both his AA family and his parishioners. But I’ll let him tell you about that in the next sixty minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Jimmy G.         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.]

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 mechanisms included locking himself in his room with books and baseball cards upon which he could obsess. Such means of escape followed him into his teenage years when he found alcohol as a ready-made solution to his feelings of isolation, fear, and shame. Curiously, at a relatively young age, he reflected on his own drinking and wondered if he needed AA. But such introspection soon passed as he continued to drink more heavily throughout his college years and early business career. With drinking-related problems mounting, Matt’s solitary drinking damaged his marriage and job to the extent that suicide appeared an attractive option. Subsequently, though diagnosed with clinical depression, the prescribed medications did little to help as he continued to drink. Financial ruin, in the form of personal bankruptcy finally backed him into a corner from which there was no escape and Matt entered the rooms of AA in 2014. Finding that some of his obsessive nature accompanied him into AA, Matt set about mastering the literature to the point of self-isolation in the Program. Fortunately, some old-timers convinced Matt to get involved in a balanced Program with service and fellowship as the core elements in his sobriety. Since then, Matt’s involvement in AA has emanated from the center of the Program. In addition to regular meetings, Matt co-hosts the podcast, Sober Friends, on which I’ve had the opportunity to appear.   Considering his background, Matt’s success in Alcoholics Anonymous is encouraging evidence of the healing and gifts AA holds for those who really want it and who are willing to do the work. Matt’s personal level of contentment correlates beautifully with the level of service work he does within his Program and admirably reflects his desire to carry the message to other alcoholics. So please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my podcasting friend and AA brother, Matt J. 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 Paperbackfrom 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 so freely been given to me.