Sober Sunrise - AA Speaker Podcast

AA Speaker - Patti O. - Palisades, CA - 2015

Patti O. from Laguna Niguel, CA speaking at the Palisades Speaker Meeting in Palisades, CA - December 20th 2015
Visit our website: Sober-Sunrise.comPatty O. shares a deeply moving and humorous account of her journey through alcoholism, beginning with her first blackout at 13 and spiraling through decades of drinking, arrests, and spiritual disconnection. Despite her intelligence and academic success, alcohol dictated every part of her life until a judge’s unexpected act of grace led her to AA in 1975. With raw honesty and wit, Patty emphasizes the power of storytelling in recovery, the necessity of sponsorship and spiritual principles, and the miraculous transformations available through the 12 steps. Today, with 40 years of sobriety, her life is filled with love, service, and meaning—proof that even the most unlikely can recover if they stay in the center of Alcoholics Anonymous.

AA Speaker - John K. - Fort Worth, TX - 2006 - Part 3

John K. from Dallas, TX speaking at the Eastside Group in Fort Worth, TX - February 2006
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John K. delivers a powerful and direct message about recovery, sharing his journey of repeated relapses, failed attempts to control his drinking, and ultimate surrender to the AA program. Speaking at the Eastside Group, he emphasizes the necessity of following the Big Book precisely, rejecting half-measures, and fully conceding to alcoholism’s grip. After years of unsuccessful attempts at sobriety, he finally reached a breaking point in 1999, realizing he was powerless and on the brink of destruction. Guided by a firm sponsor, John learned that recovery requires more than just attending meetings—it demands rigorous honesty, precise action, and complete commitment to the 12 Steps. His message is clear: for real alcoholics, anything short of full surrender and spiritual action is a death sentence. With humor, intensity, and conviction, he calls on newcomers to stop trying to outthink their disease and instead embrace the solution that has worked for thousands.

AA Speaker - John K. - Fort Worth, TX - 2006 - Part 2

John K. from Dallas, TX speaking at the Eastside Group in Fort Worth, TX - February 2006
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John K. delivers a powerful and direct message about recovery, sharing his journey of repeated relapses, failed attempts to control his drinking, and ultimate surrender to the AA program. Speaking at the Eastside Group, he emphasizes the necessity of following the Big Book precisely, rejecting half-measures, and fully conceding to alcoholism’s grip. After years of unsuccessful attempts at sobriety, he finally reached a breaking point in 1999, realizing he was powerless and on the brink of destruction. Guided by a firm sponsor, John learned that recovery requires more than just attending meetings—it demands rigorous honesty, precise action, and complete commitment to the 12 Steps. His message is clear: for real alcoholics, anything short of full surrender and spiritual action is a death sentence. With humor, intensity, and conviction, he calls on newcomers to stop trying to outthink their disease and instead embrace the solution that has worked for thousands.

AA Speaker - Nicole H. - Phoenix, AZ - 2020

Nicole H. from Phoenix, AZ speaking at the Friday night young people's 1st anniversary meeting in Phoenix, AZ - September 11th 2020
Visit our website: Sober-Sunrise.com
Nicole shares her powerful journey from trauma, addiction, and self-destruction to healing through faith and the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Despite facing sexual abuse,heroin addiction, near-death experiences, and the loss of a loved one, Nicole's turning point came through spiritual surrender and finding purpose in sponsoring other women. She highlights how AA helped her confront resentment, fear, and pride, and gave her tools to rebuild relationships and rediscover trust in a Higher Power. Her nearly five years of sobriety stand as a testament to perseverance, transformation, and the importance of helping others on the same path

AA Speaker - Doug M - 2008 - Part 1

Doug M. from Fernandion Beach, FL taking people through the step in 5 hours at the CPH12 v10 convention in Copenhagen, Denmark - May 31st 2008
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AA Speaker - John K. - Fort Worth, TX - 2006 - Part 1

John K. from Dallas, TX speaking at the Eastside Group in Fort Worth, TX - February 2006
Drop a couple dollars in our virtual basket: Sober-Sunrise.com
In Part 1, John K. delivers a powerful and direct message about recovery, sharing his journey of repeated relapses, failed attempts to control his drinking, and ultimate surrender to the AA program. Speaking at the Eastside Group, he emphasizes the necessity of following the Big Book precisely, rejecting half-measures, and fully conceding to alcoholism’s grip. After years of unsuccessful attempts at sobriety, he finally reached a breaking point in 1999, realizing he was powerless and on the brink of destruction. Guided by a firm sponsor, John learned that recovery requires more than just attending meetings—it demands rigorous honesty, precise action, and complete commitment to the 12 Steps. His message is clear: for real alcoholics, anything short of full surrender and spiritual action is a death sentence. With humor, intensity, and conviction, he calls on newcomers to stop trying to outthink their disease and instead embrace the solution that has worked for thousands.

AA Speakers - Mary T. - Donna D. - Catharine D. - Aaron M. - Copper Mountain, CO - 2013

Mary T. from Espanola, NM, Donna D. from Aurora, CO, Catharine D. from San Angelo, TX and Aaron M. from Chayenne, WY speaking on the topic of Step 2 at the Fellowship of the Spirit convention in Copper Mountain, CO - June 27th 2013
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Mary T. shared her journey of coming to believe in a higher power, rooted in a life-changing experience with her daughter's illness and later reinforced through AA. Donna M. initially struggled with the idea of insanity in Step Two but found faith by witnessing the strength of others in the program, realizing she was loved and supported. Catherine D. recounted her transformation from self-reliance and despair to discovering a loving higher power that brought her out of darkness. Aaron, after years of skepticism and resistance, found willingness through desperation, leading him to embrace spiritual help and ultimately experience a profound return to sanity. Each speaker highlighted the transformative power of faith, willingness, and community in their recovery.

AA Speaker - Jay S. - Estes Park, CO - 2008 - Part 4

Jay S. from Redondo Beach, CA speaking at the "Living Fearlessly Men's retreat" in Estes Park, CO - April 18th 2008
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In Part 4 of the men's retreat, Jay and his wife Adele explore the themes of perception, love, relationships, and the transformative power of meditation. Adele shares a deeply personal realization about how she had never truly seen Jay for who he was, but rather through the lens of her own expectations, judgments, and stories. Through years of meditation and spiritual practice, she found peace and clarity, allowing her to love him fully without the need for change. Jay then shifts the focus to relationships in sobriety, discussing his conscious approach to dating after divorce, the importance of integrity in intimate relationships, and the profound trust-building process he and Adele cultivated before marriage. He highlights the role of meditation, patience, and mutual support in fostering deep connections, contrasting it with the impulsive and often destructive patterns of relationships in active addiction.
Jay also shares his experiences with spiritual awakenings, emphasizing the difference between sudden, profound moments of clarity and the more gradual, educational variety of spiritual development. He recounts his own encounter with an overwhelming presence of love and knowledge, reinforcing that such experiences are available to anyone willing to seek and remain open. Tying it all together, he challenges attendees to embrace meditation, deepen their faith through action, and recognize their role in carrying the message of recovery. The retreat closes with a powerful call to live with purpose, reminding each man that they are destined to change lives through their sobriety. The final moments are spent in five minutes of shared silence, reinforcing the weekend’s theme of deep spiritual connection.

AA Speaker - Deandre M. - Ventura, CA - 2008

Deandre M. from Lancaster, CA speaking in Ventura, CA - April 4th 2008
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DeAndre shares his powerful journey from the streets of Watts to long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, blending humor, raw honesty, and deep insights into the nature of alcoholism and recovery. He recounts his early struggles with denial, manipulation, and self-destruction, leading to a moment of surrender at a rehab facility. Through the guidance of a tough but transformative sponsor, he learned not only how to stay sober but also how to live a life of service and spiritual growth. DeAndre emphasizes the importance of long-term sobriety, commitment to the steps, and resisting complacency, urging newcomers to embrace the process fully. His message is clear—true recovery comes from humility, action, and a willingness to serve others in the fellowship.

AA Speaker - Jay S. - Estes Park, CO - 2008 - Part 3

Jay S. from Redondo Beach, CA speaking at the "Living Fearlessly Men's retreat" in Estes Park, CO - April 18th 2008
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In Part 3, Jay delivers a powerful message on forgiveness, transformation, and the deep impact of unresolved resentments. Through his wife Adele’s moving story about writing a long-overdue letter of forgiveness, Jay highlights how clinging to past wounds can silently consume us, and how true healing only happens when we release the narratives we've built around our pain. He shares his own journey of confronting and ultimately forgiving his father, illustrating how Alcoholics Anonymous provides the tools to show up, make amends, and face even the most difficult moments—whether it’s reconciliation, loss, or the responsibility of being present at life’s end. Jay’s experience witnessing his father’s passing on the anniversary of his own sobriety serves as a profound reminder that everything is unfolding as it should, and that true peace comes when we surrender control and embrace grace. This session challenges the men at the retreat to let go of their deepest resentments, making space for healing by symbolically writing names down and committing to forgiveness.