Kirsten Johnson Podcast

Today we're unpacking a #CultyComment I got recently. To me, this is the biggest (or one of them!) mindf*cks in AA ideology.

Timestamps:

00:00 Biggest Mindf*ck in AA Ideology intro

03:22 1 - Disagreement is used as proof

06:14 2 - Denial isn't a diagnostic criterion

11:05 3 - Doubt as a symptom is a trap

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

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📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

HAMS (Harm Reduction, Abstinence, and Moderation Support) is a peer-led and free-of-charge support and informational group for anyone who wants to change their drinking habits for the better.

Kenneth Anderson founded HAMS in 2006 / 2007. There's free downloadable worksheets on the HAMS website, there's a HAMS Facebook group which is also where they announce their Zoom meetings, and there is a HAMS book "How to Change Your Drinking" that details the HAMS principles and information about alcohol in general.

Timestamps:

00:00 HAMS intro

01:15 What is harm reduction?

03:24 How to drink less

06:43 Harm reduction + moderation difference

10:15 Why Ken started HAMS

17:15 The "choice" theory of addition

27:06 History of addiction treatment, Prohibition + AA

38:33 Substance use harm reduction

41:49 Mainstream addiction narrative misleading

50:06 How to get started with HAMS

57:19 Treatment history + belladonna

1:04:32 Can you cure alcoholism / addiction?

1:16:08 Harm reduction, moderation or abstinence?

1:18:00 Most surprising things since starting HAMS

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

Brad Pitt announced today in Esquire magazine that he's drinking again after 7 years sober. This comes after last year when he said on Dax Sheppard's podcast that he went to Alcoholics Anonymous.

So today we're talking about how influential people, here specifically Brad Pitt, indeed to contribute to the public narrative on alcohol addiction recovery.

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

Today we have Tara Grace from Burn The Stigma back on the pod to talk about harm reduction including how Naloxone saved her life.

Timestamps:

00:00 Live saving convo intro

00:33 What is harm reduction?

03:10 Harm reduction goal

04:10: Who benefits from harm reduction

08:00 Alcohol harm reduction

12:39 Abstinence violation effect

13:49 Naloxone (Narcan) saves lives 1

7:43 How to respond to an overdose

24:54 Meeting people where they're at

30:14 Harm reduction advice + services

34:47 Harm reduction for loved ones

36:37 Harm reduction stigma

38:28 Harm reduction easier ask than abstinence

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

Tara Grace from Burn The Stigma and I are diving into AA ideology's doctrine to "look for the similarities, not the differences" - and how this can delay understanding of who or how we are and therefore adequate support, strip us of our individuality, and block us from getting better.

Timestamps:

00:00 Similarities not differences intro

01:22 Differences + getting better

03:44 Neurodivergent differences

05:31 Terminal uniqueness

13:25 Being told who you are

16:04 Belonging, connection, acceptance

23:16 The differences are interesting

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

Today we're exploring the top 5 things I wish I had known when I left AA. Feel free to join the conversation in the YouTube comments if you'd like to share what you wish you'd known when you left.

Timestamps:

00:00 Leaving AA Intro

01:11 It's safe to leave AA

06:51 Most people leave AA

09:29 AA is a cult religion

13:08 Deprogramming can set you free

19:02 Speaking about it can transform you

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

When I got to AA, like in my first week, I heard people saying "we're not a cult but we need the brainwashing" or "I needed brainwashing when I got here."

But what does that actually mean? And what are the potential longer term consequences or downside? And what do AA members and deprogrammers think about this now?

Timestamps:

00:00 Do AA Members Know It's Brainwashing Intro

0:54 What is Brainwashing?

6:02 Can brainwashing help someone sober from alcohol?

9:05 The Costs of AA Brainwashing

11:25 What Do People Think of AA Brainwashing?

34:27 What Do You Think About Brainwashing?

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

This week we're diving into AA ideology's claim that selfishness and self centeredness are the root of the "alcoholic's" problem.

Timestamps:

00:00 AA Says You’re Selfish Intro

01:08 1. Self Centered In The Extreme

03:29 2. Self-Will Run Riot

05:36 3. Running The Show

07:59 4. You Make Your Problems

16:04 5. Getting Out Of Self As Solution

20:33 Recovery or Anti-Self?

🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

Last week we explored some of the doomsday prophecies in AA's Big Book. This week we're diving deep into death threats that come from AA members directly.

I do believe most of these people have good intentions and say that leaving will kill us because they actually believe it.

The problem, of course, is that the fear AA instills in us isn't a fact.

Leaving AA does not mean we are going to die, even if some do.

Leaving AA and "graduating" recovery is something I believe should be celebrated. We finished our addiction recovery journey. This is great news. A huge victory in fact.

Or some may decide to always have support. Also great.

The point is that we have choice. Recovery is so individual.

Timestamps:

00:00 AA Member Death Threats Intro

04:01 AA Member Threatened I'd Die

07:14 The Actual Comment

08:30 1. Leaving is equivalent to drinking again

09:15 2. Leaving means death

11:11 3. There are only two outcomes: stay in AA or die

12:08 4. Your judgment can't be trusted

14:43 5. The AA member knows your future

15:32 6. Your fate is already determined

16:40 7. Fear is an appropriate tool of persuasion

20:03 8. Staying doesn't lead to funerals

24:13 9. Survivorship bias in the funerals

27:01 Believing The Threats Traps Us

🔥 Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

Today we're going to unpack the doomsday and death threats inside AA's Big Book. This is part of how some of us can become what cult psychology calls "phobia indoctrinated" or afraid to leave the group.

Timestamps:

00:00 AA's Doomsday Prophecies Intro

01:20 AA's Might Not See The Threats

03:41 What Counts As "AA"?

06:22 Death, Insanity, Doomsday Threats

16:19 Hopeless, Incurable, Powerless Threats

30:55 Institutions, Asylums, Permanent Collapse Threats

34:15 Phobia Indoctrination

🔥 Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here

🧠 Brain optimization tools → here

❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here

Come vibe with me:

Kirsten's Facebook

Kirsten's Instagram

Kirsten's TikTok

📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here

💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care.

💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.