Features four secular OA sponsors describing their approaches including how they knew they were ready to sponsor, what they expect from sponsees, where they start with new sponsees, and how they work the Steps with secular sponsees. There’s also an overview of the OA brochure “A Guide for Sponsors,” and a Q&A with the panelists (starts at 58 minutes). Future and current secular sponsors will get a lot out of the panelist shares!

This recording is from Secular Overeaters third Community Gathering. Guest speaker John Sheldon started his podcast, Beyond Belief Sobriety, in 2015. He shares his involvement in the secular AA community and history of agnostics in AA, and takes questions from the gathering.

In this look at Step 11, Allie describes her own quick meditation practices.

Alan leads the group through a Trigger Inventory Management Exercise (TIME) to identify triggers that lead to compulsive food behaviors and to learn ways to manage them. Includes Q&A. Form: https://bit.ly/TIME_Sheet-PDF (4 pages, pdf)

Sponsor Allie talks about her own Step 4 and 5 experience, Standout quote: “If I don’t share it, I wear it.” Includes Q&A. Handout: Allie's Notes (https://bit.ly/3xifcwY)

New sponsor Lisa shares her own story and then resources that helped her as she began working with her first sponsee. Q&A and a long discussion about whether people of a different gender or same sexual orientation should pair up!

Sponsor Alan talks through four warning signs of relapse (OA Program, Physical, Emotional/Spiritual, and Life Triggers) and offers suggestions for recovery. Link: Relapse Prevention Support Group Workshop (https://docs.google.com/document/d/10WDMdIqqm5OAd97Oes7oQnILfqjIZ7FHzboMpjSb8P0/edit?usp=sharing )

Sponsor Rachel is back again and she shares favorite slogans and role models with a sponsee how to apply one to everyday problems. Handout: Slogans that have helped - https://secularovereaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Workshop17_Slogans-That-Have-Helped-Us_trifold-v9-112419.pdf

Sponsor Rachel leads us through available resources that can help us form Step Study groups. Resources: 12 Step Workshop and Study Guide (https://bookstore.oa.org/pc_product_detail.asp?key=D7B6AEEA18764C6F9C7CF1CDDAF80866 ), OA 12 Step Workbook (https://bookstore.oa.org/pc_product_detail.asp?key=A8844F63049045A09067A421AFB3D33C ), and Exploring Abstinence through Writing (https://oanova.org/manage/assets/uploads/2021/03/Short-Workbook-Getting-Abst-031321.pdf ).

Sponsor Paula shares the importance of service in recovery which can include simple acts such as putting away shopping carts and volunteering to reading at meetings or taking on a weekly service commitment.

Handout: Forms of Service (PDF) - https://secularovereaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Workshop15_Service-guidance_030821.pdf