Sober Sunrise - AA Speaker Podcast

AA Speakers - Dustin B. & Kelly B. - St. Peter, MN - 2008

Dustin B. from Saint Paul, MN and Kelly B. from Saint Paul, MN doing a workshop on "Questions and Answers on Sponsorship" for Area 36, District 23 in St. Peter, MN - October 25th 2008
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Dustin and Kelly share a heartfelt story of recovery, rooted in gratitude, accountability, and the power of sponsorship. Dustin, after being dragged back by a state commitment, admits his early struggles with relapse, atheism, and anger, but found freedom by fully working the steps and learning through strong sponsorship that real change comes from action, honesty, and service. Kelly, sober since July 22, 2006, entered treatment homeless and broken, but discovered hope in the Big Book and later through powerful women sponsors who showed her love, discipline, and the full circle of AA’s three legacies. Together, they emphasize that sponsorship is not therapy or friendship alone, but one alcoholic showing another “the way out of the ditch” through lived example, accountability, and the 12 steps. Their lives today—with restored relationships, joy in service, and gratitude for God’s grace—stand as proof that what once was punishment has become privilege: they don’t have to do this work, they get to.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Kenny L. - Ingram, TX - 2011

Kenny L. from Houston, TX speaking at the Outpost's quarterly speaker event in Ingram, TX - March 2nd 2011
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Kenny shares a powerful story of transformation, beginning with chaos, constant moves, and early drinking that quickly spiraled into addiction, fights, drugs, and a double life between college and outlaw motorcycle clubs. Despite achieving outward success—an accounting degree, a CPA license, a family, and material stability—he remained restless, chasing fulfillment on “the next hill” and ultimately losing everything to alcoholism. After years of failed attempts in AA, relapses, and self-reliance, he finally surrendered through a desperate prayer, experiencing a spiritual awakening that lifted the obsession to drink. Embracing the steps fully, he learned humility, service, and honesty, making amends and finding peace even when stripped of everything. Sobriety allowed him to rebuild a meaningful life, become a sponsor, find joy in service, and even retire early to open a halfway house in Houston. His journey testifies that true freedom and purpose come not from managing life, but from surrendering to a higher power and helping others.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Matt C. - Greensboro, NC - 2020

Matt C. from Long Island, NY speaking at the Radiance group in Greensboro, NC - April 26th 2020
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Matt C. shares his journey from growing up in an Irish alcoholic family, experiencing childhood abuse, and starting drinking in high school, to finding lasting sobriety at age 19. Early on, he resisted being labeled an alcoholic, tried controlling his drinking, and faced legal trouble, but consequences never stopped him. Initially involved in AA without working the 12 steps, his recovery deepened after moving to North Carolina, where a sponsor guided him through the Big Book, steps, and service work.
He describes building a life with a wife and two children, buying the same house he almost lost to drinking, and actively showing love to his kids—breaking the cycle from his own upbringing. Over the years, he’s had to re-work the steps to address “spiritual plaque,” faced depression after his daughter’s birth, and recommitted to AA after drifting away. Today, he sponsors others, practices daily spiritual disciplines, and lives in gratitude for the transformation from a hopeless alcoholic to a loving father and useful member of society.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Sigrún H. - Oslo, Norway - 2015

Sigrún H. from Reykjavik, Iceland speaking at the Spirtual progress rather than spiritual perfection convention in Oslo, Norway - November 1st 2015
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Sigrún shares her journey from a wild, self-raised childhood in Iceland to a life rebuilt through AA, describing early alcohol and morphine abuse, years of untreated sobriety filled with rage and despair, and the breaking point that led her to seek sponsorship and fully work the 12 steps. She recounts confronting past trauma, making amends that risked her reputation, learning humility through daily practice, and transforming destructive impulses into service, humor, and connection. Through losses, parenting challenges, and life changes, she maintains a deep spiritual practice, attends multiple meetings weekly, sponsors actively, and lives in gratitude for a life that has expanded from a “field of destruction” to a “field of possibilities,” grounded in freedom, love, and helping others find recovery.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA/NA Speaker - Arthur D. - Dallas, TX - 2018

Arthur D. from Dallas, TX speaking at the Whiskey & Milk group in Dallas, TX - September 28th 2018
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Arthur D. shares a powerful journey from a chaotic, addictive life—marked by abandonment, crime,  and repeated failed attempts at sobriety—to a deep spiritual awakening grounded in trust and reliance on a Higher Power. Despite 11 years in AA without true freedom, his turning point came in a moment of utter defeat when he admitted he had no connection to God, began working with a sponsor, and later surrendered again—this time letting go of even the recovery process as his “power source” to seek a direct connection with that Power. Through intense self-examination, meditation, and removing inner blockages, he transformed from self-centered fear into someone guided by intuition and service. Today, retired and living in a place of spiritual dependence rather than self-will, Arthur’s purpose is to fully give away what he’s been given, offering hope that deep freedom is possible for anyone willing to let go and trust.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Billy N. - Ontario, Canada - 2014

Billy N. from Landing, NJ speaking about the traditions in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - November 8th 2014
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Billy’s Workshop is a heartfelt journey through all 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, showing how each one shaped his transformation from a life controlled by alcoholism to one built on recovery, humility, and service. He shares raw experiences of hitting bottom, the loss of relationships, and the mental and physical toll of drinking, then highlights the turning point when he embraced the fellowship of AA, worked each step with honesty, and deepened his relationship with God. Through persistence, community, amends, and a commitment to helping others, Billy rebuilt trust, found purpose, and now lives each day with gratitude—proof that hope and change are possible.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Don M. - Moorhead, MN - 2019

Don M. from Louisville, KY speaking at One Page at a Time group's October Thing event in Moorhead, MN - October 5th 2019
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Don M., sober since April 9, 1981, shares his powerful transformation from a life of ego-driven self-obsession, professional success masking deep alcoholism, and repeated hospitalizations to decades of sobriety through divine intervention, following AA’s directions, and taking the 12 Steps as daily action. Growing up in Kentucky and becoming a successful criminal defense lawyer, his drinking and drug use escalated to devastating accidents, homelessness, and 18 stays in “asylums.” A turning point came when desperation pushed him to follow AA’s program despite disbelief, leading to restored relationships—especially with his daughter—and a renewed law career marked by ethics and service awards. His story emphasized that recovery is about consistent action over feelings or beliefs, living one step at a time, and letting God guide while serving others, resulting in a life richer than anything he could have imagined.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Clint H. - Corpus Christi, TX - 2005

Clint H. from Denver, CO speaking at the 51st Coastal Bend Jamboree in Corpus Christi, TX - January 21st 2005
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Clint H. speaks powerfully about his 38 years of sobriety, tracing his journey from a promising Marine Corps officer undone by alcoholism to a man transformed through AA’s fellowship and the Twelve Steps. He shares how repeated relapses, homelessness, failed marriages, and deep family wounds, including childhood trauma, marked his path before a bail bondsman’s unexpected act led him to the Glendale AA club, where he finally accepted he drank “no matter what.” That surrender opens the door to genuine recovery, law school, a meaningful legal career, and a renewed spiritual life. He emphasizes the miracle of sudden sobriety, the need for ongoing spiritual growth over power substitutes, and the healing of old relationships, including making amends to his mother. Even through later life challenges like cancer and loss of intimacy, Clint finds joy, purpose, and love by living in service to others, grounded in the principles that save his life.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Peter J. - Palisades, CA - 2015

Peter J. from Los Angeles, CA speaking at the Palisades Speaker Meeting in Palisades, CA - November 8th 2015
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With over three decades clean since January 8, 1982, Peter’s story traced his journey from a chaotic youth filled with addiction, car crashes, and jail time to becoming a man who prays daily, holds a deep love for his wife, discovered a long-lost daughter at 67, and continues to give back through service. His speech was a powerful reminder that no matter how far someone has fallen, a life of connection, laughter, and spiritual depth is possible when we show up, follow the steps, and stay willing to be transformed.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Bobby C. - Edisto, SC - 2007

Bobby C. from Philadelphia, PA speaking at the Edisto Roundup in Edisto, SC - April 13th-15th 2007
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Sober since June 2, 1988, Bobby recounts his chaotic rise and fall from a rowdy South Philly childhood to a reckless, blackout-drinking cop who spiraled after a line-of-duty shooting. His turning point came not in a blaze of glory, but in a moment of absolute collapse—a failed attempt to take his own life and a phone call sparked by a newspaper ad. From there, his life became a testament to the power of honesty, surrender, and service. Though he resisted AA’s message for years, Bobby eventually embraced sponsorship, worked the steps, and began helping others with the same intensity he once brought to destruction. Despite struggling with PTSD, violence, and arrogance in early sobriety, he learned to live the principles of the program—not just quote them. His life today reflects redemption through action: a man once filled with rage and fear now stays sober by helping others, facing his past, and showing up for his community with integrity. His story reminds us that recovery is possible—even for the most broken among us—and that staying sober is not just about not drinking, but about becoming someone worthy of the second chance.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu