Sober Sunrise - AA Speaker Podcast

AA Speaker - Sandy B. - Ellenton, FL - Part 4

Sandy B. from Tampa, FL speaking at the Far Corners retreat in Ellenton, FL - December 11th 2008
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In Part 4 of Sandy B’s talk, he fields deep spiritual questions with clarity, humility, and grace—reminding listeners that true growth lies in acceptance, not control. He shares personal stories, including a touching tribute to Scott Redman and a moment with Clancy who told him, “You can’t quit—you have a gift.” Sandy explains that trying to fix others often masks our own discomfort, and instead, we should pray for the willingness to accept life exactly as it is. He speaks passionately about humility as the key to escaping self-centeredness, and describes grace as God's unconditional love that asks nothing in return. His central message: let go, trust God fully, and keep showing up—for fun and for free.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Sandy B. - Ellenton, FL - Part 3

Sandy B. from Tampa, FL speaking at the Far Corners retreat in Ellenton, FL - December 11th 2008
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In Part 3, Sandy introduces concepts like eliminating time, ego, and identity to become the “hole in the donut,” symbolizing true spiritual surrender. Using vivid metaphors and stories—from St. Francis’s radical humility to Chuck Chamberlain’s quiet spiritual leadership—Sandy draws a parallel between the 12 steps and the path to conscious contact with God. He offers a humorous yet humbling proposal for joining the “Wilsonian Order of the Present Moment,” requiring complete letting go of ego, plans, and even beliefs to access divine presence. His message reminds listeners that the spiritual awakening AA promises is not a future event, but an ongoing miracle available only in the now—a singular, eternal moment still unfolding since Bill W.’s Towns Hospital experience. It’s a call to stop waiting and start being.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Sandy B. - Ellenton, FL - Part 2

Sandy B. from Tampa, FL speaking at the Far Corners retreat in Ellenton, FL - December 11th 2008
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In Part 2, Sandy B. dives into a deeper, more reflective spiritual experience rooted in AA’s core ideas. He explores how true transformation often emerges from stillness, not striving—calling silence the space where “truth is revealed” and describing AA not just as a path to sobriety, but as a profound mystery wrapped in simplicity. Drawing from the Big Book, personal stories, and spiritual traditions, he underscores that awakening is not intellectual—it’s experiential. By letting go of the need to control, define, or even fully understand, we make room for something divine to guide us. Whether it’s reflecting on “I am” or sitting with a single powerful sentence from AA literature, he emphasizes the lifelong value of becoming a seeker. His heartfelt anecdotes—from watching a newcomer return to meetings to sitting at Bill Wilson’s kitchen table—bring the message home: AA’s magic isn’t in its words, but in the light that passes between people seeking connection with something greater.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Sandy B. - Ellenton, FL - Part 1

Sandy B. from Tampa, FL speaking at the Far Corners retreat in Ellenton, FL - December 11th 2008
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In Part 1 from the December 2008 Men's Spiritual Weekend, Sandy B. offers a powerful, humorous, and deeply grounded invitation into the heart of spiritual awakening. Speaking to a room of men gathered entirely by word-of-mouth, he honors their role as seekers—those quietly becoming beacons of spiritual energy and transformation in their communities. Through vivid metaphors and AA wisdom, Sandy explains how we often carry imaginary burdens—problems made of thought—and how awakening dismantles the self-centered trance that created them. Drawing from Chuck Chamberlain and Bill Wilson, he emphasizes that all our problems stem from one thing: conscious separation from God. True healing and clarity begin when we make spiritual awakening—not just sobriety—our highest priority. Whether through letting go, honest prayer, or seeing life differently, Sandy reminds us that everything changes when we stop being the center of the story and instead orbit around something greater.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Steve B. - Paramount, CA - 2001

Steve B. from Van Nuys, CA speaking at the Paramount speakers group in Paramount, CA - February 4th 2001
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Steve B. delivers a raw, hilarious, and heartfelt look at sobriety after over two decades of living alcohol-free since May 25, 1979. With self-deprecating humor and brutal honesty, he shares what it was like to come into AA thinking he was God, only to find out the real miracle was being willing to be rebuilt from the inside out. Steve doesn’t glamorize his drinking—he wasn’t the guy waking up in Vegas with stacks of cash and wild stories. He was the guy slowly dying in a chair, crying at game shows, ruled by resentment and fear. Through stories about ego, failed relationships, and an unforgettable 7-Eleven coffee meltdown, Steve reminds us that the real work of sobriety starts after we put down the drink. It's about letting go, owning our part, and showing up—even when we’d rather be watching The Sopranos. He closes with a powerful third step image: when we give our whole life to God, we get it all back—but now, we live it for Him.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Wayne B. - Eugene, OR - 2021

Wayne B. from Santa Monica, CA speaking at Summerfest 44 in Eugene, OR - July 16th 2021
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Wayne B. speaks with deep reverence for the long arc of recovery, having been sober since November 8, 1977. His journey—from living in a dumpster on Skid Row to becoming a police officer and respected AA speaker—is a testament to the enduring power of spiritual awakening and service. Diagnosed and institutionalized 17 times before finding recovery, Wayne shares candidly about overcoming severe trauma, addiction, delusion, and the labels others placed on him. He credits the “three-legged stool” of AA—recovery, unity, and service—with transforming his life, emphasizing that long-term sobriety reveals deeper truths over time. Wayne's story is not only one of resilience and transformation but also of deep humility, spiritual awakening, and a relentless dedication to giving back. His life reminds us that healing is possible, that we are not what we've done, and that real change comes through the steps, one day at a time.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Ilene W. - Brentwood, CA - 2015

Ilene W. from Los Angeles, CA speaking at the Brentwood Beginners Workshop in Los Angeles, CA - January 8th 2015
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Eileen W. speaks with a captivating mix of sharp humor, brutal honesty, and heartfelt wisdom, reflecting on nearly 40 years of continuous sobriety since March 3, 1975. Once a self-described terrified, angry, and broken woman, Eileen found grace and transformation through the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Her life’s arc—from teenage pregnancy and addiction, to being mistaken for someone else by a stranger who ultimately led her back to AA—is a testament to how profound spiritual shifts can stem from the smallest, most human acts. She openly shares about enduring physical pain, supporting aging parents, reconnecting with the son she gave up for adoption, and showing up for life through grief, depression, and orthopedic surgeries. Through it all, she remains rooted in service, humility, and gratitude, believing her recovery is only sustained by giving it away.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Chris S. - Toronto, Canada - 2023 - 1st Step Work

Chris S. from Pottersville, NJ speaking on step 1 at the Fellowship of the Spirit in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - June 23rd 2023
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Chris shares a gripping, deeply human story of addiction, surrender, and redemption centered around the First Step of Alcoholics Anonymous. His journey began with anxiety and unease even before his first drink at age 13, followed by a fast descent into blackout drinking, wrecked cars, violent outbursts, and a progressively unmanageable life. He powerfully explains the concepts of physical allergy and mental obsession, showing how his mind always justified the next drink, even when his body and soul were crumbling. After numerous failed attempts to control or quit drinking, a moment of clarity in 1989 led him to rehab and ultimately to AA, where he began to understand the spiritual nature of the disease and his powerlessness over alcohol. Today, Chris embraces service, connection, and a Higher Power, finding purpose in his work at a hospice and sharing the message of hope. His story is a testament to how broken spirits can be restored through honesty, humility, and spiritual awakening.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Rósa Á. - Oslo, Norway - 2022

Rósa Á. from Tønsberg, Norway speaking at the Primary Purpose convention in Oslo, Norway - November 6th 2022
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Growing up largely unsupervised in a small Icelandic fishing village, Rosa endured trauma, early addiction, and mental health challenges that led to repeated institutionalization and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Despite 13 rehabs, relapses, and a chaotic path, her surrender to a higher power on September 16, 2001, marked a turning point. Rosa’s life transformed through the 12-step program—becoming a devoted mother, sponsor, and even a police officer—while remaining deeply grounded in spiritual service.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

AA Speaker - Searcy W. - Houston, TX - 2002

Searcy W. from Dallas, TX speaking at the Houston Roundup in Houston, TX - November 11th 2002
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With warmth, wit, and deep reverence for AA’s legacy, Searcy shares a remarkable 54-year journey of sobriety rooted in humility, service, and faith. Raised in rural West Texas and shaped by a Baptist upbringing, his drinking began in semi-pro baseball and escalated through corporate life until it became a compulsion. After finding AA in 1946, he played a foundational role in spreading the program across Texas and forming lasting ties with AA co-founders, including being personally sponsored by Bill Wilson. Through humor and history, he underscores the spiritual heart of AA—“trust God, clean house, and help others”—and passionately urges both old-timers and newcomers to preserve the fellowship's traditions. Searcy's life is a testament to the power of surrender, laughter, and unwavering dedication to carrying the message forward.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu