recovery

Recovered 379 – Letting Go

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Join Mark, Russ, Spencer, and Joe as they discuss the Recovery Topic “Letting Go”.

Materials Referenced During This Show
The Goldern Key

Russ opened the show by sharing that  letting go is is a process, something you do.  A process much like the grieving process.  Emotions such as anger, denial, bargaining are all part of both processes.  Grief and Letting Go both get better when acceptance is achieved.  Positive steps such as putting the banner “Let Go and Let God” right on his refrigerator.

Spencer shared that AA’s have to let go of alcohol, but Al-Anons. such as Spencer,  have to learn how to let go of the alcoholic.  “Let Go” was one of the first things he could do in the program.  He put the words” Let Go” right on his phone screen.  He started to let go of trying to control some one else’s drinking.  After a period of time in the program, Spencer learned how to separate the disease from the person and to let go of the disease.  Step one was the beginning of letting go.  Spencer experienced that his loved one moved toward recovery after he let go.

Joe shared that when he first came into the program, he had a fair share of anger toward God which made letting go and letting God near impossible, so Joe  set it aside until he was able to develop a relationship with his higher power.  Joe shared that he let go of drinking, but picking up again remained an option until he could trust his higher power.

Recovered 378 – Inventory

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Tonight, Joe, Spencer, Russ, and Mark share their experience strength and hope regarding Inventory.  They discuss steps 4 and 10.

Materials Referenced During This Episode

Joe and Charlie 4th Step Worksheet
4th Step Analyzer
The Annotated Big Book Handbook
Our Recovery Library (each purchase helps the show)

Joe’s initial reaction to step 4 as a new comer was that he didn’t want to do a 4th step.  Joe was told if he didn’t do a 4th, he would likely pick up a 5th.  After a little time, Joe decided he wanted a better recovery life, so his sponsor encouraged him to continue working the steps, especially steps 4 and 5 which required writing an inventory.

Spencer, an al-anon, initially thought that the steps were for his loved one who had the drink problem, not him.  But after a little bit of time in the fellowship, Spencer wanted what others had.  They seemed to be happy.  So he decided to do what they had done, an inventory.

Russ shared that he also didn’t want to do an inventory when he first came into the program.  But he was told that he would likely drink if he didn’t do an inventory, so he decided to work the steps.  Russ found that after step 3 he was ready to launch into a rigorous course of action which included an inventory.  The downside of not doing an inventory for an AA is relapse.  Spencer shared that the downside for an Al-anon in not doing steps 4 and 5 is to be stuck in the program doing and redoing steps 1 through 3.

The process of inventory allows us to look at our faults and grow.

Step 10, the daily inventory, was also discussed by all.

Recovered 375 – Creating a Recovery Environment

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On today’s episode, Mark, Joe, and Russ discus a Recovery Environment. What things attract us to certain meetings? Russ shares that being greeted at a new meeting when he enters a new meeting creates a welcoming environment which makes him feels comfortable.

 Joe shares that as a new guy two people greeted him immediately as he entered the club. Joe thinks it’s important to address anyone who he does not recognize just in case the guy is new. Russ shared that a 90 in 90 was recommended at some of his first meetings. 90 in 90 is making 90 meetings in 90 days. This allowed Russ to find the kind of meetings he felt comfortable.

 Now Russ looks for meetings that have easy parking. Joe shares that today, he looks for meetings that are “step” focused. All of us tend to like meetings toward the end of the day.

Recovered 374 – Isolation

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The Recovery Topic tonight is Isolation.  Mark, Joe, and Spencer discuss Isolation before and after coming into the fellowship.  Joe shared that before the program, he could isolate even when in a crowd because he was disconnected with his piers.  Spencer, who is a member of Al-anon, shared that because of shame he isolated into himself so he didn’t have to face other people.

Joe shared that since he entered the fellowship, it’s important to stay connected to other recovery people so that they can call him out on his behavior.  Spencer shared that when he shares a problem at a meeting, he feels better as opposed to when he avoids sharing a problem and the problem tends to consume him.

Recovered 373 – Andrew S.

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My sponsor, Russ, and a friend of Andrew, Joe, take the time to discuss memories, triumphs, and struggles we experienced with Andrew.  Russ met Andrew in 2003 when he was 16 and Joe spent alot of time 6 years later when Joe was new. Chess, service work and humor are the things that Andrew shared with everyone he encountered.

Andrew helped me start this podcast in the fall of 2007.  I used to email demo episodes to him for his critique.  Andrew also helped me start Canton Candlelight, my home group in the fall of 2008.

Recovered 372 – In Memory of Andrew Mark S.

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Andrew S.
June 9, 1986 – July 2, 2012

On July 2,2012, my first born son, Andrew S., died suddenly.  He was only 26 years old.  Andrew took me to my first AA meeting and taught me so many things.

Recovered 369 – Meeting Etiquette

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Tonight’s Recovery Topic is Meeting Etiquette.

This episode, Mark, Aaron, and Spencer discuss some of the behaviors they have seen at meetings which make sense and some behaviors which they would rather not see anymore.  They discuss:

  • Texting
  • Cross Talk
  • Shares that have nothing to do with recovery
  • Anonymity
  • Kids at meetings
  • Hygiene
  • Revealing clothing
  • Gossip
  • etc
Let us know what you have seen at meetings and why you think its ok or not.

Recovered 367 – Recovery 2.0

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Tonight’s Recovery Topic in Recovery 2.0 – The Fellowship Goes Online

With technology, the message of Alcoholics Anonymous can go places it has never gone before; into the privacy of the new guys home at his convenience, not when we might be available.  We have listeners that are afraid to go to their first meting, but they listen to this podcast and are trying to get sober.  There is so much potential for recovery on the internet.

Aaron, Spencer, and Mark all shared the technology they use in their recovery.  Aaron shared that he used 12steps.org early in recovery which helped him overcome his problem with a higher power.  Spencer doesn’t use online resources for recovery but uses current technology as a means to communicate with others in the fellowship.  Spencer uses online resources to locate meetings.

Mark shared that it has been an AA tradition to be open to technology.  When the fellowship started in 1935, face to face communication was the norm, but the fellowship adopted the new technology of land line telephones as a tool in recovery.  In the same tradition, Mark is optimistic about using current technology as a tool in recovery. Texting may now be the norm for communication.

Twitter, Facebook, etc. have great potential to support recovery.  Follow us at  and at facebook.com/recoveredcast.  Aaron shared that he uses the 12 step AA Companion App.

See our website for more links.

Recovered 366 – Barefoot, Podcast History

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Tonight’s Recovery Topic is Barefoot, The History of the Podcast

Since none of our guest hosts were available, Mark decided to publish a solo podcast, the first one in over a year.

In 2007, I first started experimentation with recorded voice in response to an especially difficult sponsee.  I used the podcast as a way to talk to myself and I discovered I didn’t know what to do.  It was good thing that I just recorded these conversations rather than give this advise, since I didn’t know what I was doing.  This was apparent when I listened to the play backs.  These recordings were never published and I destroyed all evidence.

I started the early recordings using the software package: Castblaster.  I purchased an inexpensive dynamic microphone from Radio Shack and I was off and running.  By listening to other podcasts, I learned that Libsyn was the best place to have my audio files hosted.  This is the actual place that stores the audio files and they also established and control my RSS feed.  Libsyn provides a primitive Website and I used that feature to host my website as well at first.  The next step was to improve the website by moving to Blogger.

The next step in the show’s evolution was the upgrade in microphone and the purchase of a mixer.  These improvements made the audio quality better.  Podcasts I was listening to included: Nobody’s Listening, The Cardinal Arize Podcast, Monster Cookies, The Daily Source Code, and No Agenda.

The addition of Bill as Co-Host marked a significant point in the podcast history.  Bill’s presence, his story, his sense of humor, and his microphones all added to an improvement in the show and was reflected in an increase in listeners.

Recovered 365 – Best of Recovered

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Since we were not able to record this week, we have issued a show from last October.  We will see you on Monday 6/4/12 for Episode 366.