Sobriety Bestie Podcast

There’s a term that unlocked massive freedom for me when I left Alcoholics Anonymous: Ideological Possession.In this episode, I share how I first heard the concept from Jordan Peterson, how it helped me see AA for what it truly is — a belief system, not a path to truth — and how understanding it completely changed the way I see the world.If you’ve ever felt possessed by an ideology — whether it’s AA, religion, politics, or something else — this one’s for you.We’ll talk about:00:00 Ideological Possession Intro04:15 “You don’t have ideas, ideas have you”06:02 Understanding Ideological Possession Unlocked Freedom07:56 True Believers vs. Periphery Cult Members10:17 Why I no longer try to convert anyoneJordan Peterson videoBiology of Desire book review video🌀 Deprogram AA Course📚 Deprogram Book List 🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram LoungeLet’s get f*cking free.

Is addiction a disease, a choice — or something in between? 🤔In this episode, I dive into The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease by Mark Lewis, PhD — the book we just finished in our Deprogram Book Club inside the free Deprogram Lounge community. 💬📚Mark Lewis argues that addiction isn’t a disease or a moral failing — it’s a deeply learned habit rooted in neuroplasticity and desire. In this video, I share my biggest takeaways from the book, how my view of addiction has evolved since leaving AA, and why I now see addiction as a habit of thought, feeling, and behavior — one that can be unlearned.We’ll explore:Why the “disease model” doesn’t hold up to scienceHow neuroplasticity explains both addiction and recoveryWhat studies like Rat Park + Vietnam veterans reveal about environmentWhy “recovery” is really just the beginning of something newHow AA pathologizes normal emotions and replaces self-trust with dogmaTimestamps:00:54 Core Framework01:31 Addiction as a Habit06:03 We Over Pathologize People07:51 Evidence Against The Disease Model09:40 Habit Loops12:23 Our Brains Recover On Their Own🌀 Deprogram AA Course📚 Deprogram Book List 🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram LoungeLet’s get f*cking free.

Leaving AA isn’t just about walking away from meetings — it’s about rewiring your brain.In this episode of The Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I share 7 ways Alcoholics Anonymous can hijack your thinking (often subtly, then aggressively)… and how to get your critical thinking and self-trust back.I spent 10 years in AA and left in 2020. What I’ve discovered since will blow your mind. This video is part of our Critical Thinking Series — because freedom starts with changing our minds. Timestamps:00:00 Intro – AA Brainwashing Intro01:13 1 – Authority Bias04:10 2 – Groupthink06:42 3 – Confirmation Bias13:27 4 – Learned Helplessness 18:14 5 – Negativity Bias23:47 6 – Anchoring Bias28:03 7 – Illusory Truth EffectVideos mentioned:5 Ways to Stop Second Guessing Yourself After Leaving AADeconstructing Sobriety Birthdays + AA Sober TimeLeaving AA Conversations (playlist)🌀 Deprogram AA Course📚 Deprogram Book List 🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram LoungeLet’s get f*cking free.

Have you ever caught yourself spinning on a decision — looping between “what if” and “maybe not”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 powerful ways to stop second-guessing yourself, especially if you’re leaving AA, deconstructing 12-step ideology, or just learning to trust your own thinking again.By the end of this video, you’ll understand:Why second-guessing happensHow to spot cognitive dissonance in real timeA simple move to get unstuck fastThis is for anyone who’s been taught to doubt themselves — by society, religion, recovery programs, or high-control groups — and is now reclaiming their critical thinking, intuition, and freedom.Timestamps:00:00 Stop Second Guessing Yourself in Recovery intro00:59 Why I Was Second Guessing Myself After Leaving AA03:30 1 - Cognitive Dissonance11:32 2 - Fear of Mistakes or Regrets16:45 3- Conditioning and Authority23:36 4 - Perfectionism and Control29:08 5 - Threat Mode Biology38:55 Recap 5 Ways to Stop Second Guessing Yourself🌀 Deprogram AA Course📚 Deprogram Book List 🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click hereLet’s get f*cking free.

Six months ago I finally hit publish on my first video about leaving AA—and it changed everything. What started as fear turned into freedom, growth, and a whole new life. In this episode I reflect on six months of dissenting out loud, what I’ve learned from deconstructing Alcoholics Anonymous, and why this work matters so much. From 123 videos to playlists on AA mind control, cult comparisons, grieving, and alternatives, we’ve built a massive resource for anyone ready to get AA out of their head (playlists linked below)Playlists:AA Mind ControlAA Is A CultAA Culty CommentsLeaving AA ConversationsDeprogramming BooksGrieving AAAA AlternativesAA PropagandaEscape StoriesAddiction ScienceNow, as I move from deconstruction into critical thinking and reconstruction, I’m inviting you to keep evolving with me. Team Freedom—let’s keep getting free together.🌀 Deprogram AA Course📚 Deprogram Book List 🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Victor from Quackaholics Anonymous shares his powerful journey of breaking free from Alcoholics Anonymous and finding the power to quit drinking on his own.In this candid conversation, Victor opens up about being branded a “chronic relapser” in AA, feeling isolated and hopeless, and how leaving the program set him free. From realizing AA was a scam, to rebuilding life on his own terms, to starting one of the first dissenting AA YouTube channels — this is his story of reclaiming self-esteem, critical thinking, and true sobriety.Whether you loved AA, hated it, or are just questioning it, this interview shines light on what life after AA can look like.Quackaholics Anonymous YouTube ChannelTimestamps:00:00 Intro Quackaholics Anonymous03:48 Deprogramming Out Loud, Online05:28 First Leaving Alcoholics Anonymous10:24 Seeing Old Timers "True Colors"13:58 DUI + Getting Back On Your Feet16:57 Feeling Empty After Leaving AA19:31 Deciding To Leave AA24:35 Finding The Power To Stop Drinking Without AA28:14 Realizing AA Is A Scam35:17 Starting A Dissenting + Deprogramming AA YouTube Channel47:33 The Mindset That Got Him Sober Without AA54:20 Rebuilding Life After AA1:03:13 Deconstructing AA Martyrdom + Self Sacrafice1:11:58 Best Part About AA Dissenting1:23:20 AA Disables Critical Thinking + Self Esteem1:28:14 AA Friendships After Leaving AA?1:34:00 Commenting With Trolls, Haters + AA Lovers🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I’m unpacking a culty comment that accuses my podcast of being “alcoholic thinking and behaving at its finest.”🚫 Here’s the truth: there is no such thing as “alcoholic thinking” or “alcoholic behavior” outside of literally drinking alcohol. These terms were invented and weaponized by AA to control the narrative, sell the disease model, and funnel people toward God as the supposed solution.We’ll break down:How Bill W. used Dr. Silkworth’s “fatal disease” pitch to sell GodWhy terms like “alcoholic thinking” are propaganda, not scienceHow attacking the messenger distracts from the real issue: the harmful ideologyHow critical thinking is a path to freedom🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Welcome to our sobriety birthday party podcast. Today September 29th I'm 16 years sober and Carrie (here's her Substack) turned 26 years sober on September 17th, the day we recorded this. You're in for a fun treat as we unpack all the sobriety birthday and sober time things.In this candid convo, Carrie and I unpack the status game around sober time, the shame of “starting over,” why slips don’t erase growth, and what feels actually worth celebrating now. If you’ve ever felt weird about chips, countdowns, or announcing your sobriety date, this one’s for you.We explore:What sobriety dates measure—and what they don’tThe difference between early-days momentum vs. long-term identityHow purity culture sneaks into recovery languageAlternative markers of progress (health, boundaries, critical thinking, purpose)Harm-reduction openness and letting people choose what works for them00:00 Intro deconstructing sobriety birthdays and AA sober time1:04 Carrie's sobriety birthday feels06:26 Rethinking slips, relapses and changing sobriety date10:36 AA conference slipped alcohol16:02 Rigidity around sobriety birthday announcements21:39 What does a sobriety birthday actually measure?23:04 Does drinking actually "erase" sobriety time?31:04 Why anchor to an old bad habit?36:59 Sobriety date becomes new birthday40:18 Sobriety birthday parties47:37 How long does it take to deprogram?55:18 Sobriety time "status" game57:27 Coerced into marketing AA via sobriety chips1:07:52 What feels relevant to celebrate now?1:17:22 Do sobriety birthdays matter?1:24:20 Sober time hierarchy + countdowns Carrie's Substack: https://carrieengland.substack.com/🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

In today’s Culty Comments episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, we’re breaking down a classic AA defender argument: “You got sober in the wrong country — AA is different elsewhere.”I’ve been to meetings across the U.S., Australia, Bali, India, Nepal, and Europe — and here’s the truth: no matter the culture, no matter the meeting format, it all comes back to the same book and the same controlling ideology.👉 In this episode we’ll cover:Attacking the messenger instead of the messageMy firsthand experiences in Australia AAHow AA’s “Big Book” is inherently controlling Why the 12 Steps are always the same path🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Charlie Sheen has been one of the most outspoken celebrities about his relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous and sobriety. From his infamous “winning” era in 2011 to creating his own Sober Valley Lodge, to now approaching 8 years sober, Charlie has been refreshingly candid about what worked—and what didn’t—for him.In this video, we react to Charlie Sheen’s recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, dive into his brand-new book The Book of Sheen (2025), and unpack his raw thoughts on AA, interventions, sponsorship, and making the decision to quit drinking on his own terms.2011 Charlie Sheen Interview Joe Rogan Podcast with Charlie SheenThe Book of Sheen Timestamps:00:00 How Charlie Sheen Got Sober Intro01:37 Charlie Sheen on Joe Rogan Podcast05:26 Charlie Sheen's Intervention07:33 How Charlie Sheen Got Sober (this time)14:32 Making A Decision + Sticking To It 18:21 Charlie Sheen On AA's Indoctrination Process24:51 Charlie Sheen Got Sober On His Own🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Alan Carr flips the script on alcohol. Instead of using willpower to fight cravings, he shows how to remove the desire to drink altogether. 🎉In this episode, I review Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Quit Drinking Without Willpower and share how the method connected with my own journey—both quitting cigarettes and alcohol.Whether you’re looking for an AA alternative, rethinking your relationship with alcohol, or just curious about habit change, this perspective shift might blow your mind.Get the book here.Timestamps:00:00 Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Drinking Intro02:35 How I Quit Smoking Cigarettes09:07 All Brains Can Become Addicted10:46 Brainwashed Quitting is Hard13:46 Brainwashed into Drinking Trap15:45 Little Monster (Withdrawal) + Big Monster (Desire to Drink)21:08 New Attitude on Sobriety23:07 Addictive Personality Mythology27:01 Alcohol Does Not Cause Pleasure29:56 Don't Drink Poison Ever🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Bobby C from Anonymous Addiction Podcast spent 35 years inside Alcoholics Anonymous — but he was never fully at peace with the ideology. Trapped by cognitive dissonance, he questioned the slogans, the control structures, and the religious roots even while he kept showing up.In this conversation, Bobby shares how he saw “cults within the cult,” why the chips and steps never sat right, and how he finally shifted into true freedom outside the 12-step frame.Bobby C's YouTubeBobby C's Facebook GroupBobby C's TikTok Timestamps:00:00 — Intro Bobby C Deprogramming While In AA02:05 — Joining AA + First Sponsor08:29 — In Alcoholics Anonymous 35 Years10:08 — Control structure: Steps, Traditions, Concepts, Trustees14:36 — Roots in religion: Oxford Group, Sister Ignatia, priests18:14 — Labels, DSM skepticism, and “dis-ease”23:14 — Culture & media: why AA dominates screen time39:30 — Paradigm shift away from 12-step + leaving timeline50:45 — Becoming a SMART Recovery facilitator56:05 — Boundaries, in-person community, and the “becoming” lens1:11:10 — How Bobby C and Sobriety Bestie "met"🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

AA loves to say “Your best thinking got you here.” But when I arrived at AA, I was in survival mode with my worst thinking—traumatized, anxious, medicated, and terrified. To call that my “best” is pure doublespeak. In this episode, I break down why this phrase is manipulative, how it positions members to distrust their own thoughts, and how Bill Wilson’s best thinking (propaganda, PR, Oxford Group ideology) is what actually got me to AA.We’ll unpack:Why “best thinking” is not survival mode.How AA reframes your worst mental state as your “best” to enforce obedience.The propaganda that made AA seem like the only path.What “best thinking” actually means (from a neuroscience perspective).Why leaving AA required my true best thinking.Timestamps:00:00 Your Best Thinking Got You Here Intro01:48 My Worst Thinking Got Me To AA06:49 Survival Thinking vs Best Thinking09:42 Bill Wilson’s Best Thinking + AA Propaganda13:12 What My Best Thinking Looks Like15:02 Invitation to the Deprogram Lounge🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

A random AA stranger tried to convince me that I’m powerless—that I can’t even know if I’ll drink tomorrow. He compared my choices to predicting the lottery. 🤦‍♀️ This episode breaks down the logical fallacies and culty ideology behind the powerless narrative AA keeps pushing. Of course I have no clue what YOU should or will do. But I do know I'm not drinking tomorrow.We’re powerful. We can change habits, rewire our brains, and decide our own future. Anyone trying to convince you otherwise? 🚩 That’s control, not truth.🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Welcome back to our Big Book Deconstruction series. In this episode, Kirsten and Carrie (Carrie’s Substack here) unpack The Doctor’s Opinion — the chapter that AA uses as its "medical" foundation. We explore how Dr. Silkworth’s unproven ideas about a “fatal progressive disease” became the sales pitch that trapped millions into a lifetime of dependence.🕒 Timestamps00:00 – Deconstructing The Doctor's Opinion Intro01:23 – Dr. Silkworth Traps + Converts Us04:08 – Lies AA Coerced Us Into Believing08:25 – Bill + Dr. Silkworth Fall Off The Pedestal15:56 – We Need A New "Marty Mann"22:44 – Predators in Alcoholics Anonymous29:34 – AA Opinions Are Not Facts34:29 – Deconstructing The Doctor's Opinion40:17 – Bill Becoming A Millionaire47:31 – Deconstructing Dr. Silkworth's Letter57:15 – Body + Mind "Abnormal" Mythology01:08:23 – The "Allergy" Manipulation01:13:31 – Toxicity + Learned Helplessness in AA01:19:39 – Bill's Best Thinking Got Us To AA01:29:22 – Breaking AA's Global Indoctrination🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, we’re breaking down the most common forms of abuse and mistreatment in Alcoholics Anonymous—from being told you have a “progressive, fatal disease,” to being convinced you’re powerless, to the gaslighting baked into terms like “dry drunk” or “denial.”These points come from Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey, written 30 years ago but still just as relevant today. We’ll unpack the first 10 examples from the book and talk about how AA’s harmful messaging keeps people stuck in fear, shame, and learned helplessness.This conversation is about more than deconstructing AA—it’s about critical thinking, self-trust, and freedom.Rational Recovery book: https://amzn.to/47AyGlhTimestamps:00:00 Intro Common Abuse in AA02:22 1 — "Fatal progressive disease"04:41 2 — "Can't abstain on your own"05:21 3 — "AA is the only way"06:31 4 — "AA is not religious"07:22 5 — "Must surrender to AA ideology"08:58 6 — "You'll relapse without AA"09:18 7 — "Dry drunk"11:34 8 — "Alcoholism symptoms"12:30 9 — "Leaving AA means you'll relapse"14:25 — 10 "Doubting AA means is a symptom"16:12 We save ourselves🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

In this #CultyComments episode, we’re breaking down two of AA’s most common contradictions:👉 “AA has no leaders.” Really? Sponsors, old-timers, secretaries, and even professional recruiters all lead — they just hide it behind the doublespeak of “trusted servants.”👉 “You can leave anytime.” On the surface, yes. But the ideology repeats that leaving = relapse, jails, institutions, or death. That’s phobia indoctrination, and it keeps people trapped even when they want out.This isn’t about shaming one person. It’s about exposing how AA’s own language and thought reform tactics convince members they’re free, while quietly controlling their choices.✨ In this video, I unpack:The doublespeak of “trusted servants”Why AA says you can leave while planting fear of leavingHow recruitment gets disguised as “suggestion” or careWhat cult recovery teaches us about breaking freeAny group that tells you you’ll die if you leave? 🚩 Run for the hills.🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Emma from Group Thinking Podcast left AA after nearly 13 years—and chose moderation. In this candid conversation, we unpack what made her walk away, how she rebuilt community, why “your disease is getting worse even when you’re sober” never sat right, and what deprogramming looks like in real life. We get into AA culture, Finland AA vs. international AA, sponsorship red flags, nervous system regulation, trying alcohol again (including first-week hangovers and fear), and the power of speaking out. Emma also shares how launching a deconstructing AA podcast became both purpose and therapy—and why multiple recovery paths (not one ideology) should be the norm. ⛪📘🧠Emma's Group Thinking PodcastTimestamps:00:00 Emma from Group Thinking Podcast intro01:00 Leaving AA After 13 Years07:54 ACA, 12 Step Pathologizing Culture10:38 Starting A Deprogramming Podcast13:20 Nervous System Regulation After AA15:30 Deciding To Drink Alcohol Again18:00 Podcasting To Help Deprogramming Journey22:10 Coming Out Online About Leaving AA23:54 Drinking in Front of AA Family Member27:19 Feeling Confident Drinking31:05 Steps to Leaving AA37:00 Finland AA Vs. International AA39:22 Emma's Message43:23 Rebuilding Life After AA50:37 Advice to Former Self54:20 Most Harmful Part of AA1:00:09 Best Part of Leaving AA1:04:07 Tried to Make AA Safer1:09:35 Feedback From Podcast Listeners🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

Any group that tells you you’ll die if you leave? 🚩 Run for the hills.In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I dive into the hidden danger in AA meetings — not just shady individuals or mini–cult leaders, but the ideology itself.📖 Inspired by Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction by Jack Trimpey, we’ll unpack his concept of Recovery Group Disorder (RGD) — the compulsive dependency on recovery meetings that looks and feels a lot like addiction itself.Rational Recovery book: https://amzn.to/47AyGlhTimestamps:00:00 Intro — hidden dangers in AA01:14 What is “Recovery Group Disorder”?03:06 Are recovery meetings required?05:55 Expanded definition of RGD08:08 Problems AA creates in identity + thinking10:40 How AA builds dependency14:28 Moving on with life🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.

You are powerful. You can decide your future. You don’t need AA, sponsors, or church basements to stay sober.In this episode of the Sobriety Bestie Podcast, I dive into Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction by Jack Trimpey — the revolutionary AA alternative that says: once you decide, that’s it. No “recovery process,” no lifelong meetings.We’ll explore:Why Rational Recovery rejects the disease modelThe Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT) & “The Beast”The power of making a Big PlanHow Rational Recovery success rates compare to AAWhy recovery groups can actually keep you stuckI wish I had found this book when I got sober in 2009. It’s bold, liberating, and a must-read if you’re deprogramming from AA or exploring real freedom. You can check out the Rational Recovery book here.Timestamps00:00 Rational Recovery intro03:16 Rational Recovery history04:56 No recovery meetings required07:05 Rational Recovery core philosophy10:22 Recovery reality check13:50 Addictive Voice Recognition Technique15:43 Being "in two minds" about drinking19:28 Deciding to not drink23:13 Common myths Rational Recovery challenges25:15 "Recovery Group Disorder"26:34 Rational Recovery main takeaway🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestieDM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.Let’s get f*cking free.