AA Recovery Interviews with Howard L.

Alcoholic, drug addict, and crazy are three of the self-proclaimed monikers Preston D. wore as a teenager. I first met him when he got sober seven years ago. Since then, we’ve attended many of the same men’s meetings, both in person and on Zoom. Though he moved from Houston to New York City to expand his career as successful artist two years ago, we’ve stayed connected through on-line meetings and during his visits back home. As one of my younger guests, Preston has spent his 20’s in recovery after a turbulent childhood marred by suicidal ideations and teenage years riddled with alcohol and drug addiction. The marijuana, booze, opioids, and cocaine coalesced into a fast-lane lifestyle and early entrepreneurial success with clothing and sneaker design. But his addictions soon torpedoed his achievements and ultimately took him down in a very short time. By age 19, Preston’s rapid descent to the bottom was arrested by an intervention orchestrated by his long-time therapist. That lead him to IOP treatment for his many addictions punctuated by fits and starts, and lots of doubts about sobriety. When he finally got to AA in 2014, he was totally beaten by alcohol and drugs, and ready to admit of defeat. He started attending meetings and got a sponsor to help him thoroughly work the steps. As AA became a more regular part of his life, it allowed Preston to pursue his dreams of being a working artist and lead to his move to New York. Tragically, over the past year, serious health issues punctuated by debilitating and chronic pain have pushed him to the limits of sanity and sobriety. Thankfully, the lifelines he tied to the higher-powered center of his AA program have allowed him to hang on without slipping.

Today, Preston’s recuperation from chronic pain has been eased by his steady involvement in AA, including service work, sponsorship, and prayer. With a lot to look forward to, he continually demonstrates how a solid commitment to Alcoholics Anonymous can enrich the quality of life. At an age when many of us alcoholics were still deep  in our cups, Preston’s experience in AA is a fine example of what is possible for other young people who are struggling with getting and staying sober. It’s an awesome and inspiring story, and one which I think you’ll enjoy listening to. So here he is from Brooklyn, New York, my fine friend and AA Brother, Preston D.

[This is an encore of Episode 46, originally released October 6, 2021].

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 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.]

When he first came to the U.S. from India at age 21, Sachin was eager to build a lifestyle fueled by alcohol and partying.  Actually, it was a continuation of the life he lived in India where the shame, guilt, and low self-esteem created by his dysfunctional family only made Sachin want to drink more. After years in the U.S., Sachin’s daily drinking, coupled with his desire to dominate business and personal relationships, had ironically become the blueprint for his inevitable demise. For the next 15 years, Sachin’s functional alcoholism aided his relative success in his business and personal lives. Surrounding himself with a group of people who drank and partied like he, Sachin still felt something had been lost in the fog of his disease. A brief break in the fog gave him a glimpse of what had been missing--spirituality. Serendipitously, that realization coincided with his entrée into Alcoholics Anonymous, in 2020.  Sachin’s subsequent quest for a spiritual awakening became the driving force in his Program since the beginning. Today, he gratefully acknowledges that he found what he'd been looking for by active work and sincere participation in all aspects of AA. By living the Program and practicing the principles in his affairs, Sachin enjoys a rich life that he shares with his family and his fellows in AA, freely admitting that he could not have achieved what he has with Alcoholics Anonymous.

So please enjoy the next hour and fifteen minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Sachin 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 Paperbackfrom 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 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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 46, originally released September 29, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 46 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

At age 13, Amanda was challenged by her parents to drink half a bottle of Crown Royal. It left her sick and passed out on the bathroom floor in a pool of vomit. Yet she couldn’t wait to do it again, with any liquor but Crown Royal!

From there, Amanda rapidly progressed in her drinking and drug use. By 15, she had escaped her childhood home and went to live with drug-dealing boyfriend. When that didn’t work out, she moved in with her grandparents, but drugs and alcohol barged back into her life and she found herself on a downward trend into heavy drinking. She went to work in a bar, which allowed her to drink with little consequence, save the occasional firing. She somehow managed to live on her own in an apartment across the street from the bar, to cut the risk of DWI. But the darkness of the disease descended into her life and by her late 20’s, she had lost about everything and had to live with her sister, the first person to ever call her an alcoholic. A DWI lead her into the legal system, replete with court-ordered IOP treatment and twice-weekly AA meetings. It was in Alcoholics Anonymous that she finally faced her alcoholism and drug addiction, though she didn’t get sober immediately. But that belly full of booze and headful of AA was sufficient to trigger her moment of truth. She had a sudden spiritual experience of the kind Bill W. talks about in the Big Book.

That was 3½ years ago, when Amanda went “all in” the Program of AA. She got a sponsor, worked all 12 steps multiple times, attended regular meetings, engaged in service work, and sponsored other women. Today she lives a full and rich life from the center of the Program and can be seen after meetings arranging informal get-togethers at local restaurants and other fellowship. I’ve known her since the earliest days of her sobriety and am grateful to have had a front-row seat watching this fellow alcoholic really get what AA is all about.

Amanda’s story at three years sober will inspire those with less time to stay regularly engaged in AA. For those with more time, her story may trigger reminiscence of early years of sobriety. So for newcomers, old-timers, and everyone in between, settle back for a comfortable listen to the 46th interview in this podcast series with my good friend and AA sister, Amanda 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.

[This is an encore of Episode 4, originally released January 6, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 4 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs 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.]

Raised in a politically powerful family in a major eastern city, Patrick's privileged upbringing in the public eye was belied by his alcoholic father’s physically abusive and destructive behavior behind closed doors. That sacrosanct family secret tormented Patrick and his siblings, as they were forced to put on the mask of a perfectly happy family to the outside world. Seeking relief from the terror and madness, Patrick  started drinking as an adolescent. Ironically enough, the only relationship he ever enjoyed with his father was when he shared bouts of drinking when Patrick was in his early teens. But the booze-induced relationship with his father did little to blunt his father’s severe disappointment when Patrick refused to follow the career track into the family’s political machine. He left home after college and went to New York to pursue an acting career.  But that particular fantasy was supplanted by a job, and an eventual career, as a talent agent for actors. Patrick, not unsurprisingly, found himself in an industry rife with alcohol, drugs, and lascivious behavior.

From there, Patrick’s career and drinking simultaneously skyrocketed until he crashed and burned in the end. Thoroughly beaten by alcohol, Patrick found his way into Alcoholics Anonymous in 1989 and he’s still sober today. Working the steps and studying the Big Book in earnest with a gifted sponsor, Patrick’s Program became a beacon of hope to others whom he led to AA. His involvement in AA is demonstrated on a regular basis, and many lives have been touched by his heartfelt and sincere desire to be of service to them.

There’s plenty to learn from Patrick’s experience and enthusiastic approach to the Program. So, please enjoy this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Patrick O.

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 Paperbackfrom 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 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.]

Can someone be too smart or important to get sober in A.A.? My guest, Scott B. had his Ph.D. in neurobiology and an accelerating career in medical research to dispel any notions of being an alcoholic or drug addict. His superior intelligence, unflappable ego, and iron-will would shield him from the realities of a life rapidly falling apart around him. But his journey into the dark regions of substance abuse ultimately brought him to his knees as a ravaged and demoralized subject of King Alcohol and Lady Cocaine.

Increasingly frequent use quickened the downward spiral of his life and career. Intelligence and will power alone were not enough to save him. Teetering on the edge of the abyss, a single lifeline, in the form of a crafty intervention by his colleagues and friends, was thrown to him. Clinging onto it as only the hopeless can, he finally let that lifeline pull him into treatment and A.A. After nearly 33 years of sobriety, Scott gratefully reflects on that crucial turning point that grew into a brilliant career, a fulfilling life, and daily service to others. His wonderous story is one that needs to be told. More importantly, it’s one that needs to be heard by anyone, anywhere who reaches out for help.

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.

[This is an encore of Episode 4, originally released January 6, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 4 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs 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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 5, originally released January 6, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 5 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

Tom’s incredible story is one of a man whose life was turned inside out and upside down by alcoholism, drug addiction, and crime. From a difficult childhood, he emerged into a troubled adolescence, drinking at 14, shoplifting, and getting kicked out of high school. Hanging with the older boys, his drinking increased beyond sociable and his drugs got harder, culminating in ruinous heroin addiction. His 20’s and early 30’s saw him in and out of county jails and state prison, until his third felony conviction for armed robbery at age 36 finally resulted in a life sentence at a maximum security prison. With alcohol and various drugs widely available from other inmates, his life behind bars provided little chance of sobriety or parole.

Amidst the bleak realization that he’d spend the rest of his life in prison, there came a small spark of hope ignited by memories of the early AA meetings Tom had attended during his many stints in the county jails. Though he hadn’t succeeded with the Program in the past, he started going to AA meetings in prison brought there by a small group of dedicated members of the outside AA community. He found his sponsor inside, who guided him in working the 12 steps. Slowly, he began to turn his thinking and spiritual awareness around. Ultimately, he found that service to other inmates from a genuinely humble frame of mind gave his life newfound meaning and purpose.

But that’s just part of his story. You’ll hear the rest in the podcast. Suffice it to say that Tom’s AA program, forged in prison, was burnished in the years since he was released. He’s become a cherished member of the AA community and a vital part of the recovery scene. He’s a fine and trusted friend to many and one of my favorite people in the fellowship. So enjoy the next hour and fifteen minutes with my good friend and AA brother, Tom D.

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 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.]

Greg's envied life before sobriety was one of booze, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. Raised in California in a family rife with alcoholism, dysfunctional behavior infested his home during his childhood and adolescent years. Struggling to fit in among kids his age, Greg joined in their antics and began drinking and smoking marijuana by the time he was 14. That, plus his passion for rock music, helped him through his teenage years, though he drank much more heavily than his peers. Greg started a successful band at 18, only to be fired from it by band members who he thought drank as much as he did. His proclivity for over-shooting the mark became a theme in Greg’s life and early career, along with multiple divorces and trouble with the law. Fortunately, his functional alcoholism, during his years as a drummer, and later as a record company executive, allowed him to evade serious consequences. In fact, his very profession in the music industry seemed to tolerate, and often ignore, his deleterious behavior. But the inevitable downhill slide accelerated in Greg’s personal life, until a drunken assault of family member of one of his failed marriages landed him in trouble with the law from which there was no escape, save Alcoholics Anonymous. Inpatient treatment, followed by court-ordered AA, provided Greg with enough clarity of thought to propel him into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous nearly 26 years ago. He quickly embraced the Program and found the guiding hands that drew him into an active practice of AA recovery and continuous service to his fellows.

These days, Greg is as busy as ever, though a reshuffling of his priorities over the years has placed AA, and sobriety at the top of his list. The spiritual awakening he has experienced both informs his work with new-comers and those he sponsors. To hear Greg share today, many might find his pre-sobriety story nothing short of incredulous. But to like who’ve shared on this show and those who have listened on a regular basis, nothing is surprising or unusual about a Greg’s lively travails on the road of happy destiny. It’s what we recovering alcoholics do.

So relax and enjoy listening to the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Greg S.

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 Paperbackfrom 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 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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 25, originally released May 5, 2021].  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 25 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

Gordon R. got sober AA four months before Neil Armstrong put his foot on the moon. By the age of 28, in the spring of 1969, Gordon’s rapid descent into full-blown alcoholism had taken him from a burgeoning career as a globe-trotting engineer to panhandling on the streets of New York City. Fortunately, when he found the Program, the old-timers who’d been sober since the very earliest days of AA took Gordon under their care and helped him build the solid foundation on which his Program stills stands strong and thrives more than a half-century later.

Gordon’s story of sobriety is one of both triumph and tragedy, of a path well-traveled thanks to his consistent involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous. Gordon’s rich experiences in working an active program, which includes frequent meetings, are both instructive and inspirational to all who wonder about the possibility of actually achieving long-term sobriety. Today’s show with Gordon R. is about 90 minutes long with the best audio quality Zoom was able to provide on interview day. But, whether you listen to it straight-through or in segments, my hope is that you’ll find what you’ve been waiting to hear. With that, I welcome to AA Recovery Interviews my good friend and AA brother, Gordon R.

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 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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 21, originally released April 8, 2021]  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 21 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

After a difficult adolescence, prison sentence, and series of dead-end jobs, Jimmy finally hit the jackpot. He was hired by a California winery, where he worked for over 20 years. This dream job not only allowed him to drink while at work, but actually required it. His job as a wine salesman necessitated intimate knowledge of every bottle he sold and daily drinking with customers. Thus, Jimmy’s long-time alcoholism and drug abuse was fueled by the demands of his job. Then came his downward spiral replete with divorces, physical decline, drunk driving, and mental issues. Fortunately, as the bottom approached, he had a moment of clarity. After 30 days inpatient treatment, he found AA and has stayed sober ever since. Ironically, when he got sober and informed his employer, he was fired for not agreeing to drink on the job. For a functional alcoholic, this was another gift he could not ignore. Over his more than 21 years of sobriety, Jimmy has parlayed that experience into a strong program focused on constant service to the fellowship and helping people in his community.

Though I only met Jimmy about a year ago on Zoom, we formed an instant bond based on a shared love for Alcoholics Anonymous and our mutual willingness to help others. I’ve been fascinated by his story and feels like I’ve known him for years. I think you’ll feel that way, too, over the next hour as you listen to this AA Recovery Interview with my AA brother, Jimmy S.

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 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.]

[This is an encore of Episode 17, originally released August 18, 2021]  The original episode is available on this podcast by searching for or scrolling down to Episode 17 on your podcast app or by visiting aarecoveryinterviews.com.

Diane G. first met her husband, John, in AA nearly 45 years ago. As uncommon as that is, what’s rarer still is that they stayed together utilizing the tools of AA to successfully raise their family, launch their careers, and help countless alcoholics along the way. John was one of my closest friends and I had a front-row seat to witness his remarkable ability to integrate AA into every facet of his life, including his marriage to Diane. What was beautiful was to watch John channel Diane’s love into everything he did. That love was unshakeable and when John died of liver cancer almost 7 years ago, Diane’s AA Program carried her through that tragic and difficult time. After he passed, she continued to channel John’s love into everything she did.

Today, Diane’s life reflects the richness of the AA Promises in action. She is involved and engaged in helping women in the Program, many of whom identify with the abject abuse she experienced growing up. Using every tool laid at her feet by AA, and other mental health resources, Diane has dealt with an incredible array of bad times and good times and she passes onto others the experience, strength, and hope that makes her a cherished friend to many, including yours truly.

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 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.]