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John I joins Matt J to talk about Living Sober.  This is not about the book "Living Sober," but what it means to put the plug in the jug and change yourself where being sober, happy and free is a reality.  First, Matt J talks about his latest sobriety anniversary and talks about how his life changed.  Then they give their definition of what living sober really means and how it is different than just stopping drinking.

Please visit our website at https://notalonerecovery.com/ where you can listen to the show, find links to your favorite podcatcher, social media and email.  You'll find Recovery links and things like recommended podcasts.

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Matt J's father passed away at the end of January.  He had not seen him since December 25, 1982 at the age of 7.  Matt's father had untreated alcoholism and it led to his parent's divorce.  It also led to Matt's obsession with never becoming an alcoholic and yet failing.  Matt wanted to share this story to talk about two paths, the eventual end that alcoholism presents and the path of recovery.

Check out our website at https://notalonerecovery.com/ 

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

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Hannah got sober after COVID shut down the planet, including most AA meetings in early 2020.  She came to her first AA meeting on Zoom and has only started attending 12 step meetings recently.  Hannah is in her early 20's and talks about her brief run with alcohol, what made her think she had a problem, how she found her first meeting and what she feels she's missing with the fellowship since it's changed with the pandemic.  If you are new to recovery or just feel like you might have a problem, regardless of age, Hannah's story will inspire you.

If you think you have a problem, help is only a weblink away and resources to find a 12 step meeting are on our website at https://notalonerecovery.com/

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

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John I and I continue the conversation from last week about the history of AA.  The theme for these two episodes are the unsung heroes of Alcoholics Anonymous.  The talk moves to Ebby Thatcher, who Rowland Hazard helped avoid jail.  Through the Oxford Groups, Ebby "found religion," and went to spread the message to those sick and suffering.   Ebby shares the concept of God of your understanding, which changed things for Bill.  Then, a twist of fate leaves Bill W in a place where he can choose to drink or chose to help another alcoholic.  Bill chooses to help someone still sick and suffering, leading him to Dr Bob, the other co-founder of AA.  John and Matt end the podcast talking about their own successes in life after getting sober.

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John I joins me to talk about the early history of AA.  But first, we celebrate another year of John's sobriety (his anniversary date is Feb 14, 1990).  I this podcast, we focus on the unsung heroes of AA, like Rowland Hazard, who had the resources to consult with Dr. Carl Jung in an attempt to treat his alcoholism.  Although Rowland Hazard never joined Alcoholics Anonymous, his connections to the Oxford Groups led him to Ebby Thatcher.  This led Thatcher to share the idea with his friend Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, the concept of a God of your understanding.

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Author Gigi Langer, the author of the book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now is the guest on this week's podcast.  She's also a guest on one of my favorite podcasts, Recovered with Mark S. (Highly Recommended).

You can purchase Gigi's book at https://gigilanger.com/ where she also has a recovery blog.

In this podcast we hear Gigi's story of sobriety, her challenges at maintaining relationships, despite being in a highly competitive academic program, how she found her way into the rooms of AA and how life changed.

We talk through her book including:

• Honesty, especially becoming honest with yourself
• The Golden Key
• Using your Higher Power for help and overcoming that "God" fear
• Healing relationships

And so much more.

Find us online at notalonerecovery.com
Find us on social media:
Twitter - @notalonepodcast
Instagram - @notalonepod
Facebook - @notalonerecovery

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com

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There is nothing more divisive to the newcomer than the role of "God" in in AA.  Is AA a cult?  I had someone reach out to me who said their General Practitioner said they were.  Will you be forced to kneel as soon as you walk in and give yourself to Christ?  I never had to.  I asked John I and Steve C to join me to tell their perspective on a "Higher Power."  Both have very different views and something I hope you can identify with.

If God or a Higher Power has made you hesitate to go to your first 12 step meeting, this is the show for you.  We could do 20 shows on this and never scratch the surface.

Find us online at notalonerecovery.com
Find us on social media:
Twitter - @notalonepodcast
Instagram - @notalonepod
Facebook - @notalonerecovery

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com

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📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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Greg (Gig) is a friend of mine from my old podcast.  He has a Youtube Show talking about life in Maine.  Greg has been sober over 2 years and talks about his journey.  He has not attended a 12 step meeting and we talk about what he does to remain sober.

Find us online at notalonerecovery.com
Find us on social media:
Twitter - @notalonepodcast
Instagram - @notalonepod
Facebook - @notalonerecovery

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com

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📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

Send us a text

Greg (Gig) is a friend of mine from my old podcast.  He has a Youtube Show talking about life in Maine.  Greg has been sober over 2 years and talks about his journey.  He has not attended a 12 step meeting and we talk about what he does to remain sober,

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com

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📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.

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It's not uncommon for alcoholics in recovery to gather at someone's home after the first of the year to start their Joe and Charlie meetings.  But what exactly are Joe and Charlie and why do some people in recovery do these workshops.  John I joins the program to talk about Joe and Charlie and the other Joe.  It's a history of the big book and AA and we've dropped some of the best of Joe and Charlie in the episode.

Find us online at notalonerecovery.com
Find us on social media:
Twitter - @notalonepodcast
Instagram - @notalonepod
Facebook - @notalonerecovery

Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.

👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com

Support the show

📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.