Series 1, Episode 8: In this episode I begin with a few important reminders and a recent unwelcome email. Then we finish up the chapter “We Agnostics.” I use a lot of personal experience to finish it up. It’s a rough chapter...

Series 1, Bonus: This is the beginning of an interview by John S. from AA Beyond Belief the Podcast. He asked me to speak with him last week after hearing my talk on YouTube from The Wilson House a few years ago. We had a fantastic conversation! You can listen to the whole interview on the website aabeyondbelief.org or in iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/aa-beyond-belief/id1039643427?mt=2

Series 1, Episode 7: In this episode, we finish up "More About Alcoholism," and begin to examine [insert suspenseful music here] "We Agnostics." I have a lot of opinions on the chapter and I don't shy away from giving voice to them. But they are opinions, to be clear. This is how I see the chapter--what it means to me. You're welcome to disagree. Question everything. Always. We are nothing if we don't.

The most important conclusions in this episode from my perspective are:

1) Morality is within us, it does not need to come from anywhere else. Practical experience has shown me as much. And many great thinkers before me have said as much.

2) Reframing the idea that we are doomed to die if we do not find god. Rather, we are doomed to the misery of alcoholism (drinking or not) if we don't become willing to make some changes to the way we think. Change is uncomfortable. So the choice becomes: death or discomfort?

3) Agnostic and atheist are not the same thing. They're not even really synonyms.

4) In order to effect change we must commence growth. God not necessary.

5) Reframe step 2: Am I willing to believe that I cannot quit drinking alone but that I can with the help of others?

Series 1, Episode 6: In this episode I take a brief look at the new book published by aagrapevine.org called “One Big Tent” that includes stories from atheists and agnostics who have used the steps to get and stay sober. And then I begin to look at the chapter “More About Alcoholism.” Not gonna lie, I really like this episode!

Series 1, Bonus: A little more personal and opinionated. Probably my favorite to date. Why and how shame can be a motivator.

Series 1, Episode 5: In my personal experience there WAS a huge emotional displacement and rearrangement NOT in order to get sober, but as I stayed sober. I wanted it. And I was the one who did the work and paid attention to the “defects” that were keeping me from being my best self. I made a conscious effort to change and I did it all while not believing in anything supernatural.

Series 1, Episode 4: In this episode we finish up the second half of Bill's Story and reframe some of the ideas in the chapter. One of the most important take-aways from this episode should be the reframing of the idea of the "destruction of self-centeredness." I want you to think of it more as the construction or reparation of self-worth. Replace arrogance with confidence. In my opinion, while many of us behaved in self-centered way when we were active, we were not self-centered people. We were driven by self-loathing, shame, and fear. ...

Series 1, Episode 3: By unabashedly sharing with others, who you trust will not judge you because they have empathy, you will help yourself to heal. But, you will also help others to overcome their own guilt, shame, and remorse about their own wrongdoings. ...

Let shame, without martyrdom, be a motivator.

Series 1, Bonus: Hey guys! Yesterday I recorded episode 2 and when I listened to it later I was disappointed in myself. I felt as if I had let you down by being lazy and trying to rush through important information. So this bonus episode is an apology as well as little bit of the history I never should have skipped over in the first two episodes.

Series 1, Episode 2: Welcome to Away: A Podcast for Anyone Interested In a Secular Approach to 12-Step Recovery and The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. In this episode I briefly review The Forward to the Second Edition of the Big Book and take a quick look at The Doctor's Opinion. I think I'll need to go back over some of this later in the book. And, in part, I keep it brief because a lot of the history is repeated later in the book when it becomes more relevant. Happy listening!