"A head full of AA and a belly full of booze” describes that terrible feeling experienced by those who’ve been to AA, but chose to go back out and drink. My guest today, Sally G., thought that all the knowledge she had gleaned from a couple years of a half-hearted commitment to AA would be enough to keep her sober. But it wasn’t. She slipped rapidly back into an alcoholic abyss that consumed her life for most of the 1990’s. By the time she was intervened on in the spring of 1998, on the verge of losing her husband and children, Sally had hit a dark-bottom that was her turning point to a new life of real sobriety. Sally has been sober nearly 23 years now and has been a good friend of mine for many of them. Whenever I’ve heard her share in AA meetings, my hope has been that everyone in the room who was struggling was also tuned into her vital message. My hope today is that Sally’s cautionary story of getting and staying sober will resonate with all who hear it. It’s an investment in listening for a little over an hour to her captivating tale of experience, strength, and hope.

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 word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and more than 50 original stories most people have never seen. If you’ve only read the Fourth Edition, these amazing stories will be brand new to you. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com

[Disclaimer: In accordance with 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.]