AA Recovery Interviews with Howard L.

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.  

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 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.]

Corby first entered AA in 2017, only to be sidetracked by a relapse in 2020. Fortunately, he survived that slip and was able to claim a new sobriety date two years ago. Corby’s relapse story is one that’s grown more common these days, as the prescribed use of opioids for legitimate pain turns into misuse and then addiction. In Corby’s case, intense back pain and the ensuing abuse of pain-killers lead him back to alcohol despite all he’d been doing in AA. By the time he made it back to the Fellowship after inpatient treatment, he had been whipsawed by the voracity of the disease. Clawing his way back into the middle of the Program, he redoubled his commitment to stay sober and established new lines of accountability to his sponsor and those he was closest to AA. With a renewed spirit of service to AA, he became more active than ever in his Club and offered both newcomers and those who’d relapsed his hard-won experience and growing wisdom.

I’m grateful to have the opportunity to see Corby in a few meetings each week and observe first-hand the very real change that has come to him as the result of earnestly working the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. His involvement in the Fellowship extends well-beyond the conclusion of each meeting. I often see him sticking around to chat with newcomers and old-timers alike, with his affable manner that everyone loves.

Corby’s story will resonate with anyone who has turned to alcohol for respite from doubt, uncertainty, and fear. That he survived his disease’s attempt to permanently take him out of pain and misery is strong evidence for the efficacy of the AA Program. That he now lives each day to stay sober and help others demonstrates the transformation that can occur as the result of doing the hard work the Program requires.

I believe you’ll find Corby’s story to be both engaging and informative. His is a message that we alcoholics need to hear over and over again. So settle in for the next 65 minutes of this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Corby M.

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 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.]

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 65 minutes with my friend and AA brother, Kirkland V.  

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 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.]

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.

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, check out 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.

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

[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. No advertising is allowed. 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.]

Today’s episode is to announce a 3-week summer break I'm taking before releasing my next episode on August 3, 2022. In the interim, please enjoy my back catalogue of 85 episodes which are available by scrolling down on your podcast app. Each episode features a personal story from my AA brothers and sisters. The interview format helps present their stories in a deep and meaningful way. These interviews have certainly helped me see the similarities and common issues that all alcoholics and drug addicts face. But at the same time, each interview has its own unique feel and perspective, even among people I’ve known for 30 years or more. I’m so grateful to be able to share these stories and my hope is that they enrich the lives of everyone who listens.

When I launched the AA Recovery Interviews podcast a year-and-a-half ago, I had no idea that it would touch so many lives around the world. To date, the podcast has tallied 80,000 listens in over 50 countries. But you and I know there are millions of alcoholics, sober and active, who would benefit from hearing the stories of people who’ve gotten and stayed sober by working the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. That’s why I want to ask you to share the AA Recovery Interviews podcast with everyone you know.

Tell them how follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon, and other podcast providers. Or tell Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa “Play ‘AA Recovery Interviews’ podcast.” Or visit aarecoveryinterviews.com to listen to every interview, share your comments, and also contact me. If you want to email me directly, it’s [email protected]

If you like AA Recovery Interviews, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and other podcast apps. That will help others find the podcast more quickly.

By the way, I always want to remind listeners this 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. No advertising is allowed. 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.

Enjoy listening to the back-catalogue over the next three weeks. My next episode of AA Recovery Interviews, the 86th in this series, will drop on Wednesday, August 3. So keep coming back, it’ll be here soon.

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

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.

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

[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. No advertising is allowed. 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.]

Alcoholism nearly ended Justin's marriage and his career as an airline pilot. Then he found sobriety and recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous.  Raised in a family rife with alcoholics, Justin’s role model was a father who suffered with alcoholism and co-occurring mental health issues, and ultimately committed suicide. Though warned by his mother about the family proclivity for alcoholism, Justin continued to ramp up his drinking throughout high school and college. By the time his career as an airline pilot took off, so did his drinking. To quell any concerns from fellow pilots and crews that he might be drinking too much, Justin became a solitary drinker. He never drank on the job, but his after-hours and days off were spent drinking in hotel rooms and at home. Still, he functioned well-enough to start a family and keep his job amidst umpteen promises that he would cut back and control his drinking. But those promises turned hollow as each attempt to stop inevitably ended with still more drinking. When Justin first found AA, he made a half-hearted attempt to get sober. But four months in and none of the work done, Justin figured he’d gotten all he could from AA. So naturally, he decided he could drink like a normal man. With that first drink, his disease re-surfaced with vengeance and his life went into a tailspin. Justin hit his bottom when his wife expelled him from their home. Fortunately, he turned to his pilot’s union and employer for help. He was immediately whisked away to an inpatient rehab facility followed by an intensive outpatient treatment and aftercare program. Though his medical certification was revoked and he could no longer fly, Justin persevered in treatment. He rejoined AA and began to seriously work the Program. His new commitment to AA was replete with sponsor, step-work, meetings, book study, prayer, and service. As sober days passed, his accountability to his wife, his Program, his employer and the FAA were re-established while he concurrently fulfilled the rigorous requirements to re-instate his certification to fly.

Two years later, Justin has become firmly entrenched in AA and is a regular member of several meetings I attend. He does Zoom meetings and live meetings wherever he travels. He has a sponsor to whom he remains close, and sponsors other men to keep himself sober. The gifts that Justin has realized from the Program include getting his marriage back intact and being reinstated to his job as a trusted pilot for a major airline. Justin’s enthusiasm for AA and his infectious smile naturally draw newcomers and old-timers into his life. His story is timeless and continues to generate hope, especially for those in his profession, who reach out for his help. His two years of experience shared within the fellowship are invaluable to those who want it.

It’s with real gratitude that I offer you this exceptional episode of AA Recovery Interviews. So please enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my fine friend and AA brother, Justin M.

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

[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. No advertising is allowed. 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.]

Terri S. first overdosed on pain meds when she was only six years old. Living in a Brooklyn apartment with an alcoholic father and chronically ill mother, who suffered from crohn’s disease, Terri had been given a tablet for stomach pain exacerbated by her dysfunctional home life. Reasoning that if one pill eased her pain, the whole bottle would be even better, Terri found and swallowed all her mother’s the pain tablets. She somehow survived, but the die was cast for a life dominated by drugs and alcohol. By 14, she was actively using and drinking to escape the harsh realities of her home life. By her late teens and twenties, she was flaunting an ability to drink and drug more than her peers. Very much the functional alcoholic, Terri continued drinking and using largely without major consequences, but her life was slowly spiraling downward. By her early 40’s, at the point at which her alcoholism and drug addiction were winning the battle, Terri was faced with the cold reality that if she didn’t stop, she was going to lose both her husband and her job. Making the right decision at the right time, Terri finally made it into AA in 2001 and managed to stay sober until a week-long slip on paid meds in 2003. She quickly redoubled her efforts in the Program through intensive work with her sponsor. She also became actively involved in service work for her group, which she credits with helping her stay firmly attached to AA. Over the years, Terri has made regular meetings a mainstay of her recovery. She’s also sponsored many women in the Program as insurance against the next drink.

In the midst of working a good AA program and passing onto to others the many gifts of sobriety she has achieved, Terri has fought her own battle with the same Crohn’s disease that afflicted her mother. Fortunately, she has responsibly handled the medical interventions necessary for living with that disease, while maintaining complete accountability to her sponsor and fellow AA members. Terri’s ability to stay sober through AA has very much informed her daily battle with Crohn’s disease and vice versa. For those recovering alcoholics who face similar battles, Terri’s experience speaks to the hope for living with whatever health challenges come our way. I’m grateful Terri agreed to share her remarkable story of healing and courage on this episode of AA Recovery Interviews. So please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my friend and AA sister, Terri S.

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. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.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. No advertising is allowed. 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.]

At an early age, JB aspired to going to prison. Using at age 12, amidst alcoholism and drug addiction, both in his home and his community, his heroes were neighborhood drug dealers who drove fancy cars and swaggered with large amounts of cash from their illegal trade. Even those who served time for their crimes became role models to JB as he watched them emerge from prison buffed and ready for more action. Though he spent his teenage years becoming a star football player in northern California, he still managed to reap cash and cars by dealing drugs on local street corners. Jailed at least a dozen times for his illicit behavior, JB twice landed himself in prison in his twenties. Aspiring to his earlier role-models, JB used his time behind bars to condition his body in the hopes of playing pro football at some point. Though that opportunity came and went, prison had provided his first experience with AA. But each time he was released, the old life of beckoned him back. By his mid-20s, JB finally had enough and spent part of his probation in Oklahoma. He emerged with just the right amount of desire to get sober once and for all. The caring people JB had met during prison AA meetings and throughout his probations coalesced to help him build a new life in the Program. During his sobriety of more than 32 years, JB has turned his life completely around. In addition to coaching football and impacting the lives of many young men, JB is also a self-proclaimed “foot soldier” on the streets. His mission of serving others involves helping addicts, alcoholics, and the mentally ill find community resources for recovery. He also helps the homeless and displaced veterans find shelter and assistance from social service agencies.

In the midst of very full life of helping others, JB stays quite close to his AA program and never forgets what it took to save him from despair and ruin. His special brand of experience, strength and hope are revealed daily, both in AA meetings and on streets. With raw courage, JB goes into places of destitution and hopelessness with the message the hand of AA is always there for those who reach out for help. In the process of giving it away, he has crafted an admirable message of service that attracts others to him and the Program.

I’m grateful I get to see JB at a weekly men’s meeting. His infectious smile and good cheer brighten that meeting. He brings strong testimony to the power of AA and its impact on fellow alcoholics. I think you’ll enjoy JB’s story on this episode of AA Recovery Interviews. It’s the 82nd interview in this podcast series. Coincidentally, 82 was JB’s number on football jerseys throughout his career.

So, I hope the next 65 minutes are as enjoyable to you as they are to me with my good friend and AA brother JB B.

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. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.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. No advertising is allowed. 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.]