A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery!  I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.

Hey — it’s Andy. I’m sharing my messy, honest story about how Alcoholics Anonymous took me from blackout tequilas and prison cells to ten years of waking up sober and actually enjoying life. I’ll admit I was stubborn, sneaky, and convinced I wasn’t the ‘real’ alcoholic — until the Big Book hit me like a revelation and the people in the rooms showed me a different way.

This episode walks you through the early stumbles, the ridiculous excuses I made (yes, even the bakery ruse), the first shaky meetings, finding a sponsor who stuck with me, and learning how spiritual principles like humility, patience, and service slowly rewired me from the inside out. I talk about cravings, the ‘phenomenon of craving,’ the power of the pause, and how AA isn’t about perfection — it’s about practicing a new way of life, one day at a time.

If you’re curious about what real recovery looks like — the laughs, the relapses of the ego, the little miracles, and the long arc of change — this is for you. It’s intimate, raw, and hopeful. Pop in for some experience, strength, and humor, and maybe bring a friend who needs to hear that it’s possible to live a joyful, sober life.

If you love the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.

You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at [email protected] and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.

Listen in wherever you are, and let these voices remind you that recovery is a shared journey. 

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. Hi, I'm Lisa, the host of A Shotglass of Recovery, and this is our speaker series. Let's sit back and get ready for some more experience, Strength, and hope

Welcome to A Shot Glass of Recovery — where raw stories meet real hope. In this episode, Hannah takes us through her life: a childhood marked by abandonment and trauma, early success as a singer, the creeping shadow of addiction through her 20s, and the intense pressures of motherhood during COVID. She shares the terrifying lows, the moments that changed everything — her first AA meetings, the life-changing step work, and the discovery of purpose through service. Hannah’s voice is vulnerable, honest, and full of humor; she reminds us that recovery isn’t about perfection but about showing up, one day at a time. If you’ve ever felt alone in your struggle, this talk is a warm, living testament that you’re not. Join us for a moving, candid conversation about growth, community, and learning to be a grown-up — and stay for the hope.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. Hi, I'm Lisa, the host of A Shotglass of Recovery, and this is our speaker series. Let's sit back and get ready for some more experience, Strength, and hope

Welcome to 'A Shot Glass of Recovery' — Lisa M.'s speaker series where real people share raw, powerful stories about sobriety. In this episode, Mary from Eugene, Oregon, opens up about early trauma, being raised around alcohol, and decades of blackout binge drinking that led to multiple accidents, health crises, and losing their home. She describes hitting rock bottom — becoming blind and bedridden — and the slow, miraculous climb back through treatment, AA, and a personal, spiritual relationship she calls her higher power. Mary's talk is full of hard truths, moments of dark humor, and heartfelt gratitude: how Zoom meetings expanded her world, how prayer and spiritual practice transformed fear into serenity, and how small daily actions help her stay sober one day at a time. She also shares practical wisdom — like the "to-do vs. to-da" list — and the image of trust as getting into the wheelbarrow on the tightrope. This episode is for anyone who needs hope, connection, and proof that recovery can bring purpose, friendship, and unexpected miracles.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. Hi, I'm Lisa, the host of A Shotglass of Recovery, and this is our speaker series. Let's sit back and get ready for some more experience, Strength, and hope

Welcome to "A Shot Glass of Recovery" — I’m Lisa M., and today’s speaker is Sarah. She opens up about a childhood surrounded by alcohol, a desperate need for control, and how the pursuit of perfection led her down a painful path. From early relationships and becoming a young mother to pastoring under heavy expectations, Sarah shares the raw, honest moments that shaped her struggle and her waking-up call.

Her journey from hiding hangovers behind smiles to finally claiming June 29th, 2019 as her first sober day is both heartbreaking and deeply hopeful. Sarah talks about the hard truths: trying to fix everything, the crushing demands of a conservative church, and how she kept pouring alcohol into the cracks until the cracks almost swallowed her whole.

But this isn’t just a story of loss. It’s about finding AA, re-learning faith without the pain it once caused, and discovering a community that actually sees her. Sarah shares how doing the steps changed from a checkbox task to a genuine design for living — how surrendering control and embracing connection helped her heal and reconnect to herself. She now runs an addiction counselling practice and gives back, carrying the hope she received into others’ lives.

If you’re listening and feeling that same ache, know this: you’re not alone. Sarah’s story is messy, real, and ultimately full of life. It’s a reminder that recovery can lead to forgiveness, purpose, and a richer kind of faith — one that welcomes you as you are.

Enjoy the episode, and if her words land with you, consider supporting the show so these stories keep reaching people who might need them.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

Welcome to the speaker series on a shot glass of recovery. Welcome to a shot glass of recovery, the speaker series. I'm your host, Lisa M. This is where we share powerful, real stories from the speakers of AA Solution Seekers Toronto, my home group, people who are living the solution and walking the path of recovery one day at a time. If something you hear here resonates with you, we invite you to show your support by dropping a dollar or two into our PayPal virtual basket. It helps us keep carrying the message and making these recordings available to others who may need them.

Now let's get into today's speaker. AA, it's the last place Rob ever wanted to be in his life. One of the things that he realized when he got sober was what it used to be like and how abnormal it was. Even before alcohol entered his life, even as a little kid, he always had this knot down in his stomach. He always had a feeling down deep inside that something was wrong in there. And it was something that always held him back in life.

If you can relate, this story may be of some help to you. 

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. Hi, I'm Lisa, the host of A Shotglass of Recovery, and this is our speaker series. Let's sit back and get ready for some more experience, Strength, and hope. I'm Jen R, not Jen M. My sobriety date is 2-17-21, and I'm sharing my messy, honest story about alcoholism and what recovery looks like for me. I used to be stunned to see familiar faces at evening meetings — I only went mornings — but here I am, a little nervous, reminding myself I'm among friends and we've all got the same purpose. I discovered I had the disease of alcoholism even though I hated it and vowed I would never be like my family. Drinking started socially and turned into a slow, rolling slide into isolation, foggy thinking, and shame. I went through stints in AA before — pink cloud moments, relapses, and lots of denial. I blamed others, took inventories of everyone but myself, and even crossed lines I swore I never would. I drove drunk with other people

nd kids in the car — thank God no one was hurt. Recovery has taught me to stop fixing people, to pause before speaking, to practice love and tolerance, and to work on myself daily. I attend meetings twice a day, work steps, sponsor others, and keep coming back after relapses. Parenting has been a wild ride with one child struggling and one thriving, and I'm learning to let go and support them without controlling outcomes. My sister still rents space in my head, but small acts like sending a card show willingness. If you're in the program, hang on. This disease is progressive, and if you slip, come back. Work the steps, be honest, and you'll find a calmer, more sane version of yourself. Thanks for listening — subscribe, leave a review, or pop into AA Solution Seekers at 7 a.m. to say hello. Every dollar helps keep the podcast going.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Hey friend — if you’ve ever wondered what real recovery looks like beyond just not drinking, this episode is for you. Holly walks us through her wild, heartbreaking, and ultimately beautiful journey from early chaos to a life filled with joy, connection, and purpose in Alcoholics Anonymous. She talks about how loving others became the secret to her joy, the power of steps 10 and 11, and how recovery isn’t just sobriety — it’s a way of living that sets you free.

She’s honest about the hard stuff: childhood trauma, blackouts, dangerous years on the road, loss, and relapse. But she’s equally honest about the miracles — sponsorship, service, and the daily practices that keep her grounded and grateful. If you’re new to recovery or have years under your belt, Holly’s warmth, humor, and fierce love for others will remind you why we keep showing up.

Tune in to hear about the small, daily actions that build a big, joyful life — and to be reminded that love given is joy received. Stick around for uplifting moments, real talk about how step work changes everything, and a powerful reminder that you don’t have to white-knuckle through life: joy is possible, and it’s contagious.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

Hey friend — meet Vic. He’s honest, raw, and real about the wreckage his drinking left behind and the way recovery slowly rebuilt his life. From childhood and family pain to running the streets, prison scares, heartbreaking losses, and relapses, Vic doesn’t sugarcoat a single thing. But he also shares the miracles: the people who loved him back into the rooms, the second chances, the steps, and the faith that finally stuck.

This episode feels like a long conversation with someone who’s been through the worst and still shows up for others — sponsoring, bringing meetings into treatment centers and even the penitentiary, and keeping open space for newcomers. It’s not polished — it’s human, fierce, and full of heartbeat. If you’re tired, scared, or wondering whether getting clean is even possible, give this one a listen. Vic’s story is a reminder that even when you burn everything down, rebuilding — with help — is real.

We’re sharing these stories from AA Solution Seekers Toronto to keep hope alive. If something in Vic’s talk touches you, consider leaving a dollar or two at paypal.me/a-shot-glass-of-recovery to support the show and the message being carried.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Hey friend — this episode is a warm, honest conversation you’ll want to press play on. Lisa welcomes Sunshine, an AA member who shares her real-life journey from Brooklyn/Bronx party culture and hard living to a life she calls “beyond my wildest drunken dreams.” She walks us through the moment she finally surrendered, the hospital and recovery program that followed, and the everyday steps that rebuilt her life.

Sunshine talks about the Big Book like it’s a trusted recipe — a textbook for recovery — and how following that recipe (yes, the whole thing) changed everything. She gets candid about hitting rock bottom in California, entering detox, finding a sponsor who asked the hard question — "Are you willing to go to any lengths?" — and answering with a sacred yes.

We get a heartfelt look at spiritual awakening, the idea of a Higher Power that doesn’t have to look like the God you grew up with, and how learning to listen to that still, small voice saved her from drinking again. She celebrates 39 years sober (since Jan 10, 1987) and explains why honesty — rigorous, soul-clearing honesty — is the foundation of the whole thing. Vulnerability, owning mistakes, and speaking truth out loud: that’s what cleared the way for connection, freedom, and real recovery.

Sunshine uses real, down-to-earth metaphors (like a cake recipe you can’t half‑bake) to show why shortcuts don’t work, and she reminds newcomers and longtime members alike that AA is a we‑program, not an I‑program — we trudge this road together. If you’re curious, hurting, or just open to hope, this episode is an invitation: dig into the steps, get a sponsor, practice honesty, and take it one day at a time.

Want to help keep these stories alive? If this resonates, consider dropping a dollar or two in the PayPal basket at paypal.me/a shot glass of recovery and subscribe or leave a review. Our speakers come from AA Solution Seekers — we meet every day at 7 a.m. — so pop in sometime and say hello. Until next time, you’re not alone.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟

If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.

Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. In this intimate talk, Ed shares a raw, heartfelt story of growing up in coal country, hitting rock bottom, and finding a life-saving path in Alcoholics Anonymous. Through honest moments—from first drinks at age 10, multiple DUI crashes, and hospitalizations, to the powerful turning points in rehab and the support of AA—you'll hear real experiences of struggle, surrender, and steady recovery. Ed walks us through how the 12 Steps reshaped his life, the miracle of medical interventions, and the daily practices (prayer, meetings, sponsorship) that keep him grounded. Full of humor, humility, and hope, this episode is a reminder that it’s never too early or late to change, and that every act of service and each amends can bring deep freedom. Tune in for practical insights, moving memories, and encouragement for anyone touched by addiction—plus a warm invitation to join the recovery community.