Max grew up in a horribly alcoholic home with a mother who later died of cirrhosis and organ failure from drinking. To deal with the madness, Max began drinking at 13 to escape the feelings wrought by the dysfunction of her alcoholic family. Her own alcohol use escalated through high school and college well into her twenties. She admits that, at the time, she knew intellectually that drinking was connected with something terrible, but she kept on. Seeking relief from her alcoholism and co-occurring clinical depression, she was prescribed Zanex which opened the realm of drug addiction on top of everything else. By the time she hit the doors of AA nearly 22 years ago, Max was thoroughly licked, as old-timers like to say. She participated in the Program for the first eight years, while harboring her use and secret abuse of benzodiazepines. While she frantically tried to rationalize, then justify, her use of benzo’s while in AA, the truth finally won out. She came clean to her sponsor and her groups, re-setting her sobriety date in 2008. From that point on, Max’s Program took on new meaning and importance. She connected as never before to the spiritual and service elements of AA. She works an active Program from the inside of AA, sponsoring women with whom she has deep and meaningful relationships.

With all the interviews I’ve done on this podcast, I’m continually impressed with the quality of sobriety and depth of commitment to the Program that my guests demonstrate. Max’s story is an ideal example of a woman’s redemption from isolation, self-loathing and spiritual emptiness to a life filled with fellowship and joy. So, take a few deep breaths, settle back, and relish this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Max A.

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: 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.]