In this episode of the Living Clean Book Study, Mason and Francis dive into Chapter Four – “Our Physical Selves,” focusing on the section “Thrill-Seeking and Adventure.” Chris A., Justin K., Mallory S., Mo C., and Shaun join them for a raw and insightful discussion about how the drive for excitement shows up in recovery — from chasing adrenaline and chaos to rediscovering passion and purpose in healthy ways. Together, they explore how to find balance between the rush of living fully and the serenity that comes from spiritual growth.

This week on The Living Clean Podcast, we’re bringing you something a little different — and completely unplanned. Francis sat down with Pete and George from the Bristol Literature Committee to talk about their experiences at the Third World Literature Conference, a pivotal event in the history of the Basic Text. Both of them were deeply involved in putting that conference together and helping shape the chapters that would eventually define our fellowship’s foundational book.

What started as a simple historical discussion quickly evolved into a heartfelt, wide-ranging conversation. The topics naturally expanded into Step Working Guides, Living Clean, sponsorship, and the process of working the Steps — both personally and with others.

It became one of those organic moments that capture the true spirit of recovery: connection, insight, and shared experience. We hadn’t planned to release it, but it turned out too good not to share — so here it is, a bonus episode we hope you’ll really enjoy.

When the 2018 Paradise wildfires devastated Northern California, entire towns — and recovery communities — were wiped out overnight. In this episode, members of Narcotics Anonymous share their powerful stories of survival, loss, and the unbreakable spirit that kept recovery alive amid the ashes.

These are firsthand accounts of fleeing the flames, finding each other again, and rebuilding meetings from nothing. From borrowed church basements to new meeting halls, the fellowship proved that recovery is stronger than any disaster.

Paradise Strong is a story of courage, connection, and the enduring power of addicts helping addicts — no matter what burns down around them.

This week, we got to do something truly special. The inspiration for starting The Living Clean Podcast came from the struggle of getting into prisons to carry the message through H&I. When those doors wouldn’t open, the podcast became a new way to reach people on the inside.

Since then, we’ve connected with some incredible folks doing deep, meaningful work—bringing recovery meetings into prisons both virtually and in person. Because of their dedication, we finally get to accomplish something we’ve dreamed about since the very beginning.

In this episode, we’re joined by actual inmates from inside Indiana State Prison who share their experience, strength, and hope directly from behind the walls. This moment represents everything our fellowship stands for—proof that recovery knows no boundaries, and the message always finds a way.

Even in paradise, addiction finds a way in—but so does recovery. In this powerful episode, we hear one woman’s story of transformation from the streets of Waikiki to the rooms of recovery on a remote corner of Hawaii. She shares her journey through trauma, shame, and repeated relapse to a life of spiritual awakening and freedom.

Through fearless inventory work and the love of a sponsor who helped her “meet herself,” she learned to let go of the pain that once defined her and discovered what it means to live clean—body, mind, and spirit. Today, she embraces recovery as a daily practice of forgiveness, connection, and conscious contact.

From darkness to light, this is a story of healing, honesty, and the miraculous breath of life that recovery offers us all.

Clean since January 13, 1977, AJ H joins us for a candid and inspiring NA conversation spanning nearly five decades of recovery. In this episode, AJ shares stories from his early days in the Fellowship, lessons learned through service, and reflections on how recovery—and NA itself—has evolved through the years.

From the early meetings and literature development to the spiritual principles that still guide his daily life, AJ reminds us that recovery is timeless, living proof that the NA message endures: an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.

A heartfelt and historical chat filled with experience, strength, and hope.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most practical — and spiritual — aspects of NA service: making sure addicts can find us. We sit down with a trusted servant who walks us through the workshop Helping Addicts Find Us: Meeting Lists, Websites, and Flyers. Together, we explore how meeting information gets shared, the common mistakes we make, and the best practices that help ensure no addict slips through the cracks.

From flyers and websites to the new NAWS meeting search tool and virtual meeting listings, this conversation highlights why clarity, accessibility, and unity matter so much. We’ll talk about spiritual principles, share real-life examples, and discuss how members and service bodies can work together to carry the message more effectively.

Whether you’re new to service or a long-time trusted servant, this episode offers insight and direction on one of the most important questions we can ask: How do we help the still-suffering addict find us?

In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we’re joined by a powerful voice in recovery whose story is featured in the Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text. Growing up in an inner-city environment shaped by crime, addiction, and spiritual disconnection, our guest found himself chasing the acceptance and toughness of the street life—despite being surrounded by examples of success within his own family. Heroin quickly became his solution, and addiction took him down a long road of pain, isolation, and near-death experiences.

After hitting bottom and uttering the simple prayer, “Please, God, help me,” he found himself at his first NA meeting. That moment marked the beginning of a remarkable transformation. With the support of the fellowship, the Twelve Steps, and a growing relationship with his Higher Power, he rebuilt his life from the ground up. He earned a GED in his thirties, overcame barriers of age and race in academia, graduated college with honors, and went on to earn a master’s in social work. Today, he’s pursuing a PhD, runs a recovery-based nonprofit he founded, and continues to carry the message of hope to others.

This conversation explores the spiritual awakening that emerged through service, the struggle to find belonging as a Black man in both NA and academia, and the power of personal surrender. With humility, depth, and contagious gratitude, our guest reminds us that God still hears an addict’s prayer—and that it’s never too late to become who we were meant to be.

This week on the Living Clean Podcast, we bring you A Conversation with Tommy B. — a longtime member with nearly five decades clean whose story is deeply woven into NA’s early history.

Many in the fellowship know the famous story of Bo S. flying out to California for the Seventh World Convention to discover who was writing the Basic Text — a journey that led him to meet Greg P. and others who shaped NA literature. What’s less known is that Bo didn’t make that trip alone. Alongside him was our guest, Tommy B., who shares his memories of that historic moment.

In this episode, Tommy reflects not only on that pivotal story, but also on the beginnings of Narcotics Anonymous in Atlanta, his decades of service, and his personal experience, strength, and hope.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who has lived NA’s history and continues to carry the message today.

Podcast Description:

In this powerful episode, we sit down with a member of Narcotics Anonymous from Nairobi, Kenya, whose story of redemption and recovery has deeply impacted the NA fellowship both locally and abroad. Born in the heart of Nairobi's slums, he experienced a life of loss, crime, and addiction that spiraled out of control—until he found hope in an NA meeting. After years of battling heroin addiction, personal heartbreak, and living on the streets, he discovered a sense of belonging in NA, where even during lonely meetings, he found renewed commitment and purpose in his recovery.

Hear about his journey of self-discovery, from being the "junkie in sunglasses" to becoming an active member of a growing NA community in Kenya. Despite facing immense struggles, including hepatitis C and the challenges of spreading NA’s message across East Africa, he remains committed to serving others, sponsoring new members, and making a lasting impact on those around him.

This episode highlights the power of service, the growth of NA in Kenya, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from being a part of something greater than oneself. Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, recovery, and the importance of never giving up.