AA Recovery Interviews

By: Howard L.
  • Summary

  • Alcoholics Anonymous members from around the world share their awesome stories of experience, strength, and hope with interview host Howard L.
    Copyright © 2020-2024 AA Recovery Interviews
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Episodes
  • Margie D. – Sober Since November 1979 (Encore of Episode 7)
    Nov 13 2024
    Originally from New England, but having lived in Great Britain for many years, Margie has over 45 years of sobriety. Having faced countless obstacles to getting to AA and subsequent challenges to sobriety during her 4 decades in the Program, Margie has remained as passionate and committed to the AA as one can be. In all those years, the longest she’s ever gone without a meeting was 10 days (during the birth of her children). The simple Program she was first told to follow by the “frigging old dudes”, as she describes them, is the same version of Alcoholics Anonymous she has embraced over these many years. It’s also the same program she has freely given to others through frequent sponsorship and a wide variety of service commitments she has fulfilled since getting to AA in the fall of 1979. As you listen to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, take note of Margie’s good humor and enthusiasm for Alcoholics Anonymous, and her non-stop work in the Program, and you will learn exactly how someone can put together so many years of sobriety. And whether you’ve been sober a long time or a short time, whether you’re brand new or have returned to AA after a relapse, Margie’s message of hope, faith, and trust is one you can take to the bank, that spiritual bank that is. And whether you’re listening while you’re driving, multi-tasking, or relaxing with your feet up, please enjoy the next hour, one minute at a time, with my special guest Margie D. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [This is an encore of Episode 7, originally released January 16, 2021]. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Mike J. – Sober 34 Years
    Nov 8 2024
    Mike's qualification for AA was honed by years of alcohol and drug abuse. Like so many others in our Program, Mike’s experience with alcohol started as a young teenager who drank to overcome feelings of being “less than”, despite his being raised by his grandparents in a strict, but loving home. Mike’s grandfather was the local Baptist minister. Any abhorrent behavior Mike engaged in was quickly and harshly dealt with, thus maintaining Mike’s dutiful position as the pastor’s son (grandson). Of course, Mike continued to drink throughout high school and later during his job as a machinist. Finding that his acumen for fixing machinery meant good earnings and steady employment, he kept up his alcohol consumption. But Mike’s ability to function at his job, despite heavy drinking evenings and weekends, only delayed the inevitable confrontation with his worsening disease of alcoholism. Adding crack cocaine to the mix only accelerated the deterioration of his career, marriage, and personal relations. Facing the grim realities of his situation and a bottom that likely would have turned deadly, Mike had a moment of clarity and was able to check himself into an in-patient rehab facility. He emerged ninety days later as a beaten, but newly teachable, man who was ready to continue the AA meetings he’d experienced in the three months of rehab. Finding an AA club and sponsor, Mike attended as many as three meetings a day and worked the 12 Steps with enthusiasm. He got involved in service work and sponsorship along the way and today is the product of 34 years of continuous sobriety. Mike is one of those people who demonstrates gratitude and humility as a steady member of Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you’ll find his story to be both inspirational and encouraging. So please enjoy listening for the next sixty minutes to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, Mike J. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Laura B. – Sober 37 Years
    Oct 31 2024
    Laura B. got sober at age 17 after 4 years of intensively developing her alcoholism into qualification for AA. In that first meeting, she picked up a desire chip that initiated her 37 years of sobriety as an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous. A compelling aspect of Laura’s story is that her father was in AA and her mother was in Al-Anon. They used the tools of their respective Programs to effectively deal with Laura’s alcoholism, neither preaching nor trying to cajole Laura into quitting. They allowed her to ride her own disease to the bottom and, when she was finally done drinking, helped her get into inpatient treatment followed by AA. From the minute she first joined AA, Laura embraced the Program, learning from older members how to live a sober life to the fullest. Though a move to a west Texas town in the early years of her sobriety disrupted the quantity and continuity of her meetings, Laura persevered and kept her Program front and center in her life. She worked hard to hone her relationships with members of her AA community. The indispensable value of AA fellowship was demonstrated after Laura’s father committed suicide (linked to his battle with clinical depression). Laura was enveloped in the same loving support she had been showing others. Meanwhile, the tragic occurrence of her father’s death gave Laura pause to understand the differences between the alcoholism her father recovered from in AA and the disease of clinical depression that AA could not address. Laura continues her passionate commitment to share her understanding with others. Back living in Austin, Laura is very active in sponsorship and service to this day. Laura’s willingness to share her story has been a fine gift to me and I’m thrilled to share it with you. It’s a story that’s both inspirational and intriguing. And though Zoom audio was somewhat lackluster the day we taped this, the content is still top-drawer. So, please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Laura B. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 5 mins

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Just finished my first interview and love it!! I can listen at work and in the car now. Thank you❤️

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