The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Ryan A. – Sober Since April 2017

   Ryan grew up in a chaotic home where addiction was a best-kept secret. As an only child, Ryan’s family had also moved more than ten times by the time he was 12. Dealing with the constant loss of whatever brief friendships he experienced, the impermanence of his relationships fueled not only feelings of loneliness and isolation, but also the need to act out. Believing that alcohol and drugs would fix what was wrong with his life, Ryan opened the throttle on his growing disease during his teenage years. By 19, Ryan’s behavior warranted a short stint in AA where his half-hearted attempt was largely ineffective. Five more years of drinking and drugging landed him at inpatient treatment, followed by IOP, but once again prideful intellectualism and ego conspired with his alcoholism, and forced another slip. Landing in the same mire as before, Ryan continued to flail the disease and the mounting problems it caused during the next five years. By April of 2017, his quality of life deteriorating, Ryan finally came to AA with the willingness and desire to do whatever was necessary to achieve sobriety. With a new commitment to stay sober, Ryan implemented all of the tools needed to succeed at sobriety. He got a sponsor and worked the steps. He attended daily meetings. He took on service responsibilities, including staffing the coffee bar four days-a-week at a large AA club. He also found time to sponsor men and attend AA retreats. The net effect of all his sincere efforts was a spiritual awareness and awakening that wholly enriched the quality of his Program. I’ve learned a lot from Ryan during the time we’ve spent together and am pleased to see his outstretched hand of welcome to those who attend the meetings we go to each week. But for those who are relatively new in sobriety, Ryan’s demonstration of a well-worked Program will provide significant hope and inspiration for a brighter future. So please enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews as you spend the next 65 minutes with my good friend and AA brother, Ryan A. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen to a free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. 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 for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

   September 03, 2026·1h 13min
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   Number 2: Ray G. – Sober 20 Years

   “Crazy Ray” G. shares his remarkable journey from a booze-soaked, drug-addled life and mounting DUIs to recovery. After years of failed attempts and a final shot at redemption, Ray found AA. Twenty years later, he’s sober, grateful, and dedicated to a life of maximum service.

   August 12, 2026·1h 6min
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   Number 3: Richard B. – Sober 2 Years

   Richard's life-long battle with alcoholism was abated for nearly two decades in AA. But he let up on his Program and ultimately relapsed on "thimbles" of moonshine in a Mississippi bar. His drinking resumed and he quickly found himself back in the same alcoholic quagmire that AA had extricated him from years earlier. Depleted physically, mentally, and emotionally, Richard found himself at the jumping off point. He was finally ready to accept help from two sober sisters and his mother, all of whom encouraged him to go s to AA. As the inevitability of an alcoholic death loomed large, Richard dragged himself back into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous a little over two years ago. But getting sober this time was further complicated by serious pulmonary disease for which he uses an oxygen concentrator to breathe. As he awaits the possibility of a lung transplant, Richard has become the very model of courage in the face of adversity. His reliable service work for the AA club we both attend has endeared him to all of its attendees and has made him a ready resource of information about the club and AA in general. Richard’s willingness to share his remarkable story of battling pulmonary attacks and alcoholism simultaneously shines a bright light on the importance of meetings to support each other in sickness and in health. I feel you will find much to be inspired about in Richard’s story. I invite you to sit back and enjoy another awesome episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my AA friend and brother, Richard B. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “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, Apple Books, or Amazon. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, 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 Apple Books. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.

   September 08, 2025·1h 9min
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   Number 4: Kassie M. – Sober 7 Years

   Joining us from Nairobi, Kenya, Kassie recently celebrated seven years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised amidst the pomp and circumstance of the diplomatic corps, large, formal parties were a weekly occurrence in her family and she learned about alcohol’s importance early in her upbringing. Spending her high school and college years in America further developed Kassie’s abilities to drink and function effectively as a budding alcoholic. Her career roles as a leader of note in a number of humanitarian organizations around the world placed her squarely in the middle of a lifestyle in which she could control people and situations around her for many years, despite her growing dependence on alcohol. Her drunken behavior and negative consequences from drinking forced the use of many escape hatches along the way. But as Kassie’s disease took firm hold of her life, she found fewer and fewer means of escape from the cruel realities of being an alcoholic woman. By the time she found AA in early 2017, the repeated beatings from the disease had finally made Kassie teachable. She found a good sponsor, worked the 12 Steps, and allowed the Program to envelop her well-being. Despite the many challenges she has encountered during her sobriety, she has found comfort in the Program and faith that her higher-power will provide what she needs to remain vital and effective in life. Kassie’s story of seven years of sobriety is insightful and encouraging, especially for those whose functional alcoholism kept or is keeping AA at-bay. Listen carefully for the next hour of so and you’re likely find many similarities in Kassie’s story and much hope for future success in Alcoholics Anonymous. So please welcome my friend and AA sister, Kassie M. 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.]

   February 28, 2024·1h 1min
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   Number 5: Aileen C. – Sober 12 Years

   Aileen's story will strike a responsive chord for many AA members: Tough upbringing punctuated with violence and abuse; early use of drugs and/or alcohol just to survive home life; difficult and dangerous relationships in adulthood mired by alcoholism of one or both parties; self-loathing and despair; and ideations of suicide. Like many, Aileen’s story looked hopeless. In the end, it took in-patient mental health treatment, private therapy, and the guidance of a good mentor to lead Aileen into AA and other 12-step recovery. Even then, she slipped after being sober 15 months, but thankfully made it back in just a couple of weeks. Thoroughly beaten by the disease, in early 2009 she returned to AA and finally got down to seriously working the Program with the sponsor who never gave up on her. Like my other guests, Aileen’s story is cautionary, but quite hopeful for anyone facing the kind of challenges she has met and overcome. Today, she demonstrates her commitment to staying sober by virtue of the service she does with the women she sponsors. Her dedication to AA is also apparent in her role as secretary of the meeting in which we first met. What’s more, Aileen practices the principles of the Program in her own community by staying actively involved with organizations that address the myriad of mental health issues facing women in need. The importance of Aileen’s story cannot be understated. In this 30th interview of my podcast series, thanks for sharing the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Aileen C. Visit the AA Recovery Interviews website for more information and to contact me, Howard L. 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 on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com Join our Facebook Group and share your own experience, strength, and hope with other AAs. To contact Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, visit aa.org. [Disclaimer: In strict adherence to A.A.’s traditions, my anonymous guests and I speak for ourselves only, not for Alcoholics Anonymous at large. We share only our personal experiences with A.A. recovery. We acknowledge that AA’s sole concern is the recovery and continued sobriety of those alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. As members of AA, our primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. – Howard L.]

   June 09, 2021·1h 4min
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