This episode is another deeply personal story—one that reflects the courage it takes to face alcoholism head-on and the transformation that becomes possible through recovery. My guest, Rudy T., has been sober for 27 years. What he shares is not just a timeline of events, but a lived experience of what it means to surrender, to grow, and to stay the course over time. It’s also a brilliant  example of revealing one’s own higher power, by praying for another.

As always, we honor the principle of anonymity. You won’t hear last names, see photographs, or find links tied to our guests. What you will hear is something far more valuable: truth. Unfiltered, experience-based truth that carries the power to reach another alcoholic right where they are.

If you’re new, you may hear parts of Rudy’s story that sound familiar—feelings, behaviors, or consequences that resonate in a way that’s hard to ignore. If you’ve been around a while, you may recognize the deeper themes: willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness. These are not just slogans—they are lifelines. They are the essential ingredients that allow recovery to take root and grow.

Over the years, I’ve received countless messages from listeners who say this podcast helped them stay sober one more day… or gave them the courage to walk into their first meeting… or reminded them why they chose this path in the first place. With over 500,000 listens across more than 250 episodes, it’s clear that these conversations matter. Lives are being changed. And in some cases, quite possibly saved.

But none of that happens without you—the listener—showing up, pressing play, and being willing to hear something new… or something you may not have wanted to hear before.

So I invite you to listen closely today. Not just to Rudy’s words, but to what might be underneath them. Look for the similarities, not the differences. Listen for the hope, even if it’s quiet at first. And most of all, stay open to the possibility that what you hear could strengthen your own journey—wherever you may be on the path.

This is AA Recovery Interviews. And this is Rudy T.’s story.

If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.”

This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen to a free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon.

I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human.

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 for those who wish to read along while listening.

Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.