Mark S

Call us at 1-734-288-7510
email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com
Subscribe to Premium
Sober Life Mouthwash Website 
Promo Code PODCAST
for 20% Discount
The Big Book
The 12 and 12
24 Hours a Day
This is Part 2 of Joe and Charlie’s Big Book Study.  Part 1 of this Big Book Study is exclusively for our Recovered App owners.  Thanks for the support!  If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.  

Check out this episode!

Call us at 1-734-288-7510

email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com

Subscribe to Premium

Give us an iTunes Review

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

Promo Code PODCAST

for 20% Discount

The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

Tonight, we are going to talk about women in recovery.  

We have women in the studio who are familiar with AA, NA, and Al-Anon as well.  

For those who are new, AA and NA are for people who have a desire to quit, and Al-Anon are for people who have been affected by someone else’s using.

But tonight, we want to explore the unique challenges for women in recovery,

whether you are an alcoholic or if you love one.  

We hope to discuss the barriers to recovery.  

We also plan to discuss the difference between the programs,

and we will probably discuss some similarities.

Hopefully, there will be surprises.

Ok Chrissy, let’s start with you.  Let’s start with you just before you came into the fellowship

Did you have any fears as a woman entering recovery?

Just before program, what were your relationships like with other women?

What about after program, has your attitude changed?  How?

What was it like as a women in early recovery?

and is it different for you now?

What is it like to be at a meeting with all women?

What are some discussion topics that are easier to talk about with all women?

What are some discussion topics that are difficult with all women?

What is it like to be at a meeting where you are the only women?

What are some discussion topics that are easier to talk about with men?

What are some discussion topics that are difficult with all men?

What are your opinions of single gender meetings?

Why is Al Anon predominantly women?

Why is AA predominantly men?

What are the barriers to women coming into program?

What steps, prayers, slogans are challenging to women?

What kind of expectations do women feel (from society, from family, etc) and how do we use the 12 steps and the program to navigate those expectations?

How is recovery from alcoholism and addiction different for women?

How do women in Al-Anon and women in AA relate to each other? (There’s a juicy topic!)

Are you mindful of how you dress to meetings (HOT TOPIC)?

What about giving out phone numbers?

What about sponsorship? Do you have a women sponsor and what about a women having a man sponsor or vice versa?

Bronte from Paris

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/14d48c04b58b14ac?projector=1

Nicole

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_Cwxj76Fy8KCcbCJ0an0hUkN3lt1SXy4Axd91oIBQ2LUK2E-avfA_sxd6xWAIIZhcr8k3JXIx-BVQznUWGung9yWvHWc9UoOVxPqt4JID3JieB7YrU30xKEsUMMHOQXS9niZATrJTfeMHyw6zTwOExN5Grw6w

Kathy

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_D35dU_K9mBzBE5yJf28eveTPrXEmTf55xMnpnXecRZSAfPWZ3RRco81f5PI59GdjN3a_pJyJB1v_0IQkGSgceR1QWFmlAxm56g10yLc8B8nTq1ehV7VlV-ZcU5YN66d-fBrQnlkTfX3N1mOwusRxuDdBdHcQ

Jackie

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_CMGt-IoqMfeESGpZ07N9F8lDnJWQqhA-ei8yCnIharnMCaAoBV8ct8iKq3FEEtQGuSuHmT3EFVODuC6VKhnwsQ2dfdXoLUWdCGsTwEsSX8uyWbAn5OA_hbvdwiOK3qmzKViMha8ezIuxTwEbWG_TRijjNNkw

Shanni

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_Bd7BvVb3Sw1Ewcf9nHiPdKNGqpTTfuW4xnSKKjktyQdsQbhjclPmiHZSipsABcQW5qHiGeTTrYIlzL4TiNBeZEKaBt0tS_wL8xRJ9DJXHuQKHxWBJ0Qr48o-HQOjE5g0CZTKbsT3eUy_C81ZUOxMlJ0lZuIQ

Laura C

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_AuEwCHNh2X90-xYQg23FecQK5U86fx5a6q_icfgBB1aelVvAV17wAeZsY0YMs-ewCYNrx2nwW17q0KBj4QL1vqLlw_bQw3CKcF5LTmAN1jDTJQKuPYcozH6tsCIy8ogqLS6GQbM5RFw8e-3VJigeQpOFEXQg

Talk to the woman who is new to the program, what words of encouragement would you give?

What would you tell a woman who has never been to a meeting or is early in recovery.

Check out this episode!

Call us at 1-734-288-7510

email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com

Subscribe to Premium

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

Promo Code PODCAST

for 20% Discount

The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

This Open Talk is exclusively for our Recovered App owners.  Thanks for the support!  If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.  

Check out this episode!

Call us at 1-734-288-7510

email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com

Subscribe to Premium

Give us an iTunes Review

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

Promo Code PODCAST

for 20% Discount

The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

Creativity can be defined as the ability to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities.

Is it possible to be creative in recovery without having to stimulate your mind with alcohol or drugs?

My Opinion?

Of course it is!

The problem is that you may have to convince your brain of this at first. And that can be a bit of a challenge.

But I want to know what you think.

Let’s go to you matt

what types of creative things are you involved in?

Where you afraid that your art would suffer?

Did you know any creative types in recovery before you came in?

What was it like when you first came into recovery and you were new?

Did your creativity suffer?

Did recovery take time away from your art?

What about fuzzy thinking in early recovery, how did that affect you?

What about PAWS? Did you suffer from Post Acute Withdrawl Symptom?

What were some of your experiences?

What were your fears?

How did others in the field react to your sobriety?

Did you have support from fellow sober artists?

Did you have to give up some relationships?

WE HAVE CALLS!

Liz Lemmon – Creative

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_DVJUKRN_1QnGC4RgffXmVCs5y8Yde9LMjWZDa6Y6WwAHM1llZGUrvsZEbOUg-AWFRNGXdlInk_R5Sgw4m_xoNlcNmL9Q_BI9lfkSW3i_0_ZgaUJfx7mpecjo0oROGXie4uuQ5KOUQE_g1d_W69RZ7ntH49Rw

Josh k – Creativity

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_DCALZ_aRdGqpAbhcHr9p2ogGF_nOmyU5B5IFoKeVQc5GsiWncykPVhKIqfnVO7a5e7i5UOTjzGkUPmxBIEndY97kMN0dnBEZBorKt_1CpNQsuYO1nWwXADnjr82mEBqW7DzzNHk2g8TOnyRawvkMx8gJNFMg

Alex from Austin

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_BUFJ_usxD0x_WHhrfze0IilSLouCiOBmdqsLpfm8SqhMnlSGJgOmLBCF8asv9w8WwMQD4f8G5kjv-xePVrY5bZU9kX8n0h9WqSbMC-HNU_Ue-jW4xwgTwRP-tU-5ugRZZTnkmPNAzin1Noy9iZrdfMNg-avQ

What about now, what has happened to your creativity now that you are sober?

What about relationships now?

How do you work a program about your artistic endeavours?

What do you do now to increase your creativity?

What kinds of creative things are you involved in?

What was it like before recovery?

How did your disease affect your art as it progressed?

Did you consider recovery before you came in?

What were some of the fears you had regarding recovery?

Talk to the new guy who is afraid of what sobriety may mean to his art.  What words of encouragement do you have?

http://alcoholrehab.com/addiction-recovery/increased-creativity-in-recovery/

http://www.spiritualriver.com/stimulate-creativity-recovery-without-using-drugs-alcohol/

http://www.spiritualriver.com/10-ways-to-embrace-creative-recovery-and-take-your-sobriety-to-the-next-level/

http://creativepeopleinrecovery.com/

Check out this episode!

Call us at 1-734-288-7510

email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com

Subscribe to Premium

Give us an iTunes Review

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

Promo Code PODCAST

for 20% Discount

The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

ThisOpen Talk was given at the 2015 March Roundup in Dearborn, Michigan.

This is exclusively for our Premium Subscibers only.  Thanks for the support!  When you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.  

Check out this episode!

Call us at 1-734-288-7510

email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com

Subscribe to Premium

Give us an iTunes Review

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

Promo Code PODCAST

for 20% Discount

The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

When I came into recovery, I was not on a winning streak.

And neither was my family on a winning streak.

As a matter of fact, my family was on the rocks.

I thought my loved ones would be thrilled when I came into the program, but as far as I could tell, they were just as pissed as ever.

Chrissy, Tell us a little about your family life before coming into the program.

What about your parents, your siblings, your loved ones.

Tell us a little about what family life was like for you before program.

What family members were affected by your drinking?

How were they affected?

Did they try to help?

Did they know anything about recovery?

Sue and Marty, welcome to the studio

For the benefit of our listeners, tell us a little about yourself

what is your sobriety date, who’s your sponsor, where is your home group?

Tell us a little about what family life was like for you before program.

What were the conditions when you came into recovery?

What family members were affected by your drinking?

How were they affected?

Did they try to help?

Did they know anything about recovery?

How did recovery initially affect your relationship?

Page 124 of the Big Book

This painful past may be of infinite value to other families still struggling with their problem. We think each family which has been relieved owes something to those who have not,

What has been your experience with taking the painful past family life and making something positive with it?

What did your family know about recovery when you came in and how did they react?

How did family relationships change after recovery?

Did your recovery upset the family after recovery?

What were their expectations?

What were your expectations?

Was the family jealous of recovery?

How is it changing today?

WE HAVE CALLS!

Let’s listen

Matt

http://www.speakpipe.com/messages

Josh

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_CdKb1IANMcbqJZYMoM2350miuQB_hMm6dYQcm3lTEtk4a-BLrVbruL4lLuP6lUQSW7WG8ryFv0RgkNIFzzqhIDXleN880938-ZmsZSqBBEgBMWGkj8n4S5loFNvgoIDhdI3UJ2ouIryjW6wCTzCHmqk1MpvQ

From Cathy

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_Aw1Hc7m4jkNr5WsR4vD-sGiH8A1BFi8qOb-dnBFGO2pXni5DrVAnKPuEky3vs0_WuWKbSwIZpKKKWfzHAovuZeees3Ctrbe1CMkGI5szxBJDdw0SIOom5hc5vIlFzl9t1Ghf7EwXjBhPx5BX1b18-qrSnyLQ

Alex

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_B-qkaA6UYGRb-0YvXTUdvVGsbUsacYqYTXQd8fElfvWk-n_NIJOvacNOT_D798rZG-5dXacwXDjHXB9-kEo_G_vy4lnIAVm80vdatpE62IiOuZ_aDFpvZ7x8navZEDJCvXHprfBsCJOwkIvELHzZ9ruakRcw

Have you ever tried to talk about your addiction and recovery to your family?

How about your children, what discussions have you had with them about your alcoholism and recovery?

How have these discussions changed as they got older?

Do you have any family members in recovery?

Have your loved ones ever describe what it was like for them when you were using?

How did you react?

What about the amends process, have you done this with your family?

The Recovered Podcast is really for the new person in recovery.

What would you say to the new guy who is struggling with family relationships and is early in recovery?

Check out this episode!

Call us at 1-734-288-7510

email at mstapletonpe@gmail.com

Subscribe to Premium

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

Promo Code PODCAST

for 20% Discount

The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

In Michigan, we tend to do things different.

We, in Michigan, have small table discussion meetings

We, Michiganders, don’t usually have cakes at sobriety anniversaries

Apparently, we in Michigan, don’t go to International Conferences, more on this later.

And, we have Barefoot meetings, Russ’ favorite

– “Barefoot meeting” is a term used to describe a meeting where discussion is not focused on a particular topic; each member who shares chooses what he or she wishes to discuss.

Let’s keep the discussion on the solution.  

Greg, you suggested this format, you get to lead the segment.  Greg, where do you want to start?

We have calls

Alex

https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_BrBIo8I53hxs90b6x-iWLoKOaNimRJAKnpflYGenHbwlfw2YurwMty7msKZJazCeuvrzquCr5IfVzP9yvhy1IZcn9J43CdACKDkzlzQgPwHE3zuAsmkR-cYbkGu5QKUHdK7ZqLTLETVfGozgHYLbnNVp-jLQ

Possible things to discuss:

• step you are currently working – step 6 – were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

• step your sponsee is working on – step 2, been hurt by religion, so working on spirituality

• your current spiritual condition – great period, did a lot of work on happiness and what that is and what that is not.  Pleasure, satisfies in the moment, happiness not so satisfying in the moment but the positive feeling lasts.

• what tradition is currently in play at your home group – thinking about looking at traditions

• current difficulties/challenges and possible recovery solutions. my family

• current recovery literature you are reading – breathing under water. Richard Rohn a spiritual advisor and not alcoholic reflects on the 12 steps

• recovery movies –

• recovery music

• recovery art

• relationships and steps/prayers/slogans that help

• meetings

What would you say to the new guy?

Check out this episode!