Mike's qualification for AA was honed by years of alcohol and drug abuse. Like so many others in our Program, Mike’s experience with alcohol started as a young teenager who drank to overcome feelings of being “less than”, despite his being raised by his grandparents in a strict, but loving home. Mike’s grandfather was the local Baptist minister. Any abhorrent behavior Mike engaged in was quickly and harshly dealt with, thus maintaining Mike’s dutiful position as the pastor’s son (grandson). Of course, Mike continued to drink throughout high school and later during his job as a machinist. Finding that his acumen for fixing machinery meant good earnings and steady employment, he kept up his alcohol consumption. But Mike’s ability to function at his job, despite heavy drinking evenings and weekends, only delayed the inevitable confrontation with his worsening disease of alcoholism. Adding crack cocaine to the mix only accelerated the deterioration of his career, marriage, and personal relations. Facing the grim realities of his situation and a bottom that likely would have turned deadly, Mike had a moment of clarity and was able to check himself into an in-patient rehab facility. He emerged ninety days later as a beaten, but newly teachable, man who was ready to continue the AA meetings he’d experienced in the three months of rehab. Finding an AA club and sponsor, Mike attended as many as three meetings a day and worked the 12 Steps with enthusiasm. He got involved in service work and sponsorship along the way and today is the product of 34 years of continuous sobriety.

Mike is one of those people who demonstrates gratitude and humility as a steady member of Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you’ll find his story to be both inspirational and encouraging. So please enjoy listening for the next sixty minutes to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA brother, Mike J.

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.]