We are doing a recap episode! Instead of doing our recap here and there as we were, we are going to try to have recap episodes every so often to talk about the feedback and add everyone's voice to the show. We talk through lots of messages that were sent our way, some of our plans for 2023, and some of the highlights of accomplishments from 2022. We also introduce our Audible sponsorship thing where we earn money from people signing up for Audible memberships. You can click here on the Audible link to sign up for a trial membership for 30 days. When you sign up for a free Audible trial using our links, we earn a commission at no cost to you. Listen in and share your thoughts with us. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

The Promises

Drug Court

Other things:

Dave's Empty Circle Meditation

Don't Count Me Out - Book about Bruce

The Weight of Air - Book by David Poses

We are exploring MARA, Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous. This program, created to address the need of a place for persons using medication assisted recovery methods, is intended to provide a space for all to feel welcomed in recovery. We have Murk on to help us understand what to expect from MARA, how to access their meetings, what might surprise us coming from a more traditional 12 step fellowship, and the importance of language in recovery. If you've ever wondered what a medication assisted recovery program could look like, or if you or someone you know is looking for a place to rest and find like minded people, listen in and then share your thoughts with us. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Big Book episode

Beginner's Mind episode

Other episodes about different programs

Episodes about steps

Other things:

MARA website

MARA facebook

We are talking about the concept of beginner's mind. Dave joins us to teach the Buddhist idea of beginner's mind. Does beginner's mind mean to not know? Does it mean to come to a situation as if you have never seen it before? What is beginner's mind useful for? Why is it good for your loved ones if you practice beginner's mind? We also talk about what is NOT beginner's mind. And when beginner's mind might not be the most useful or practical tool in your toolbox. Listen in as we explore beginner's mind, and share your thoughts with us. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Books mentioned:

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind - Shunryu Suzuki

Click the link above to access on Audible and sign up for a free 30-day trial. When you use our link to sign up, we earn a small commission!

Episodes mentioned:

Spiritual Bypassing

Zen in Recovery

Other things:

Empty Circle Meditation Group - The group Dave leads

Woody Curry

We are talking about Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. Or certified peers. Or peers. Or certified recovery peers. Whatever you want to call them, peers are making an impact in the recovery world. We talk with Jenn, from Voices of Hope, about the peer movement. We explore what a peer is, what training goes into becoming a peer, what the peer job entails, and what peers should not be doing in their role as a peer. Have questions about peers? We have answers. Listen in as we explore the world of Certified Peers and then tell us your thoughts. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Boundaries

TranqDope, aka xylanzine and fentanyl, is becoming more and more prevalent in the Baltimore/Philadelphia area. Xylazine in a tranquilizer, hence the tranqdope term. This is a dangerous mixture to anyone who does not know what they are getting, because narcan does not work on a tranquilizer overdose. Further making this terrible for anyone struggling with using, is the wounds that sometimes appear after using xylazine. We talk with Nurse Jason about this scary new mix of drugs that are on the street in place of heroin, how to recognize it, what to do with it once you know, and safest methods of taking care of the wound. Listen in and share your thoughts with us. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Wound Care 

Unconditional love. Seems like a lofty goal. We investigate and explore unconditional love as a spiritual principle. How can we practice this? Where is a model of unconditional love in the world? Is unconditional love the deepest love, or the most basic love? Is unconditional love, abuse? Is love more about the feeling, or the actions that go with it? How can we practice unconditional love when we are being harmed by the person? We dive into all this and more in our episode. Listen in and share your thoughts with us. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Openminded

Honesty

Forgiveness

Faith

We are talking about the promises from AA's big book and program. Originally a reading in the 9th step section of the Big Book, the promises have been made into a reading in AA, and separated out into 12 promises. We go through each promise to see if we believe that it's a promise we feel like the 12 steps could live up to fulfilling. Are these even possible ways of being in the world? And if they are, can the 12 steps promise that they can get us there? Join us as we talk through our thoughts on the promises, and then share your thoughts with us. 

Books referenced in this episode:

AA’s Big Book

Myth of Normal – Gabor Maté, Daniel Maté

Click the links above to access these titles on Audible and sign up for a free 30-day trail. When you use our link to sign up, we earn a small commission!

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Polyvagal Theory

Bruce

Other materials used:

12 Promises

With many states enacting medical marijuana laws at this point, and most of those also having recreational marijuana laws, we thought it was time to explore the legalizing marijuana debate. We explore some of the topics around the idea of marijuana legalization. Some of the research has conflicting results, but we talk through some of the basic points. Listen in and then tell us your thoughts. 

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Cult

Pros and Cons

Ever thought your life would make for a good book? We have Bruce come on to discuss the book written about his life. We explore what motivates someone to think a book would be useful? What intention goes into a process like this? If a book about your life is against the 11th tradition. Going public with your story of addiction recovery. And anything that might be fascinating about the book writing process. Listen in to learn more about Bruce and his book - Don’t Count Me Out. When you use our link to sign up for a free 30-day Audible trial, we earn a small commission.

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Journaling

Get The Book: Don’t Count Me Out. 

Is faith really a spiritual principle? What is it? A belief in something? What does this belief do for us? How in the world would you practice faith? Faith is defined in many ways. Some level of belief applied to a situation that you may not be able to know for sure. We discuss the spiritual principle of faith. Is faith so closely tied to Christianity that it makes our non-religious 12 step program religious anyway? We talk about what faith might be useful for, whether it's something we can increase, or just a description of where we already are, and if it's actually any different than hope or trust. Listen in as we take a deep dive into faith, and then share your thoughts with us.

How to find us and join the conversation:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Email: [email protected]

Episodes mentioned:

Moms

Self-discipline