Scott's adversities during his 20 years of sobriety seemingly outweigh many adversities he suffered while on his way to AA recovery. Scott emerged from an abusive and traumatic childhood into an adolescence where he found alcohol and music to soothe his anxieties and repressed feelings. By 17, his downhill slide into alcoholism was severe enough to convince his Scott’s newly sober father to join him in AA. Many half-hearted attempts at sobriety peppered Scott’s late teens, until he finally compiled 9 years sober. But a lifestyle filled with non-stop touring, song-writing deadlines, and long days producing his own and others’ music, lead to a sharp drop-off in meetings. Scott relapsed. By the time he finally stepped back into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, Scott’s alcoholism had depleted him physically, mentally, and spiritually. Fortunately, AA held the solutions Scott desperately needed and he put himself to working the steps with a sponsor and sponsoring other men. As the years passed, Scott enjoyed the gifts and faced the challenges that AA offers. Late into his sobriety, however, Scott faced the biggest threat to his sobriety in the form of metastatic cancer. Determined to not let the “other disease” stop him Scott submitted to multiple surgeries and years of sickening chemotherapy. Slowed, but undeterred by his illness, he dug into his AA program by gathering his fellows into a tight circle of support and by remotely participating in as many as three Zoom AA meetings a day, as well as live attendance his home group when he feels well enough to travel.

Scott’s remarkable story is one of perseverance and faith and is proof positive that active and unceasing participation in AA is the key to a life of personal healing, service to others, and unfailing hope. I believe you’ll find much inspiration in Scott’s words and works. His is a multi-faceted tale sure to please newcomers and old-times, as well as anyone else seeking a solid testimonial that AA recovery really works.

So keep your feet on the footpath, your eyes on the road, and your ears open for many similarities in the next hour as we dive into another fine episode AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Scott S.

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 Paperbackfrom 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 and no one receives financial gain from the show. 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.]