Sober Sunrise - AA Speaker Podcast

Robi S. from Ventnor City, NJ speaking on the topic of sponsorship at an Acts of Recovery Conference in Haddonfield, NJ - October 12th 2013
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Robi shares a heartfelt and deeply spiritual story of transformation—how years of pain, fear, and self-loathing gave way to freedom once she surrendered completely to God through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. After countless failed attempts to fill the emptiness inside with people, substances, and chaos, she found lasting peace through honest sponsorship and rigorous step work. Guided by a sponsor who told her the truth, Robi learned that recovery wasn’t about managing life—it was about being remade through spiritual action and service. She now lives a life filled with purpose, leading a thriving sponsorship family, helping women awaken to God’s love, and walking hand-in-hand with others in recovery. Her message shone with humor, humility, and hope, reminding all that the miracle of AA lies not in staying dry, but in living with grace, truth, and joyful service to others.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Kelvin D. from Fargo, ND speaking at the Salem Soberfest in Salem, OR - February 16th 2007
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Kelvin, from a life ruled by fear, anger, and self-will to one filled with faith, humility, and gratitude through Alcoholics Anonymous. Born with a deep sense of not belonging, he found temporary relief in alcohol, which led to violence, loss, and spiritual emptiness despite outward success and church upbringing. Even after years in AA, his pride and lack of connection to God left him angry and broken until a moment of complete surrender—when his family’s love and his own despair brought him to his knees. Through honest work with a sponsor, deep spiritual awakening, and service to others, Kelvin rebuilt his marriage, became a devoted father, and found real peace. His story is a testament that the true miracle of recovery isn’t just putting down the drink—it’s letting God fill the hole inside and discovering that faith with works brings a life of grace, joy, and purpose.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Part 1 of Don P. from Aurora, CO at the 6th Annual Big Book Weekend at Tanglewood in Camden, ME - June 14th 2003
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During the weekend talks, Don shares with raw honesty and warmth how, after a lifetime of restless searching, prison sentences, and spiritual emptiness, he was given a second life through the power of awakening and Alcoholics Anonymous. Once a man broken by self-centeredness, fear, and the endless need to “catch an edge,” he found peace in surrender—learning that recovery wasn’t about just not drinking but about becoming conscious that “where I am, God is.” Through his humor, storytelling, and decades of spiritual growth, Joe showed that real sobriety is not coping—it’s transformation, a rebirth into meaning, connection, and joyful service. After thirty-five years sober, he spoke not as a lecturer but as a living example of what happens when a hopeless soul lets go of everything he thinks he knows and allows love, laughter, and purpose to guide the rest of his days.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

☀️🧡Happy Friday! We hope everyone has had a great week, and has a safe & relaxing weekend 🧡☀️Jay P. from Myrtle Beach, SC speaking at the St. Cloud Roundup in St. Cloud, MN - May 14th 2005
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Jay shares an unforgettable journey of faith, humility, and freedom through Alcoholics Anonymous, showing how total surrender to the program and God’s grace turned a life of chaos into one of peace and purpose. From his early years of anger, lies, and self-centeredness, through years at sea, broken marriages, and criminal trouble, he discovered that the real disease wasn’t alcohol but a spirit cut off from God. Guided by his sponsor, he worked the Steps honestly—writing inventories, facing fears, making amends, and learning that “I can’t, He can, and I’ll let Him.” Sobriety brought reconciliation with his father, a loving marriage, and the power to face devastating loss with faith instead of fear. Now, decades sober, Jay lives in gratitude for the miracle that AA provided—a life rebuilt on honesty, love, and daily reliance on a Higher Power.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Jonathan S. from Austin, TX speaking on the topic of "Recovered versus Recovering" at the Nosara Big Book Workshop in Nosara Playa Guiones, Costa Rica - March 23rd 2012
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Jonathan shared a remarkable story of redemption, describing how years of failed attempts at sobriety finally gave way to true recovery when he surrendered fully to the Big Book’s program and God’s direction. After multiple treatments, the loss of his veterinary license, family, home, and self-respect, he entered a recovery center in Austin in 2008 and discovered that his problem was not alcohol itself but a lack of power. Working the 12 Steps honestly transformed his life—restoring his family, career, and serenity. He learned that recovery is not about avoiding a drink one day at a time but about living a spiritual way of life that removes the need for alcohol altogether. Today, Jonathan lives with humility and gratitude, serving others through sponsorship and teaching, his story proving that from complete collapse can come a life of purpose, peace, and grace.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

James T. from Auburn, CA speaking at the 39th Winter Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - February 1st 2013
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James shares with humor, heart, and humility how Alcoholics Anonymous transformed his life from restless self-centeredness into peace, gratitude, and service. After quitting drinking but clinging to marijuana, he arrived at AA not yet convinced he belonged, until the warmth and love of the fellowship broke through his defenses. Guided by his sponsor, he faced his resentments, fears, and character defects, learning that alcoholism was not about alcohol—it was about his thinking, his ego, and his separation from God. Over decades of recovery, he became a devoted husband, stepfather, teacher, and sponsor, finding freedom through honesty, humility, and laughter. His talk reminded all that the real miracle of AA isn’t just not drinking—it’s waking up, changing from the inside, and learning to live with kindness, service, and spiritual growth one day at a time.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Part 1 - Kenny D. from Seattle, WA doing a 12-step spiritual retreat in Santa Fe, NM - December 8th 2006
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Kenny shares a deeply moving account of his descent into alcoholism and his eventual recovery, showing how grace and service replaced years of self-destruction. Born into chaos and addiction, he began drinking at twelve, quickly spiraled through violence, homelessness, and IV drug use, and nearly died in motel fires and dark alleys, spiritually and physically bankrupt. His mother’s love and prayers couldn’t reach him until, by what he calls divine intervention, AA members offered him detox and a chance at life. Through their generosity and the Big Book’s principles, he found freedom from obsession and the compulsion to drink, learning humility, gratitude, and purpose through sponsoring others. Now decades sober, Kenny lives with peace, family, and faith—proof that no matter how far one falls, a life once driven by despair can be transformed into one of service, healing, and spiritual connection.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Cindy M. from Dallas, TX speaking about the 12 step at the Primary Purpose Group in Dallas, TX - January 2009
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Cindy shares a powerful journey of recovery that began after years of denial, relapse, and self-deception, despite growing up in a loving, church-centered family untouched by alcohol. From her first drink at fifteen, she chased the feeling that alcohol gave her worth and confidence, leading to decades of chaos, broken marriages, and self-justification through therapy, religion, and intellect. Even after joining AA in 1982, she struggled for seventeen years before truly understanding the Big Book and surrendering to the truth of her powerlessness. Her turning point came in 1999, when she finally grasped the nature of the allergy and loss of choice, and in 2003, under her sponsor’s direction, she followed the steps with full honesty and willingness. Today, Cindy lives in gratitude as a recovered alcoholic, anchored by faith, humility, and the daily practice of carrying the message to others.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Chris S. from Bedminster, NJ speaking on the topic of "Evolution of the Big Book experience" at the Nosara Big Book Workshop in Nosara Playa Guiones, Costa Rica - March 23rd 2012
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Chris recounts moving from blackout drinking and violence to a Big Book–centered spiritual recovery, insisting that chronically sick alcoholics need thorough step work—not meetings alone—to stay sober. He spotlights a modern AA “renaissance” that treats the Big Book as a true textbook—doing inventories, amends, prayer/meditation, and sponsoring others—with far better outcomes than mere fellowship. Personally, Joe & Charlie and Joe Hawk workshops catalyzed his daily practice and service, leading to lasting sobriety and purpose; professionally, he’s served on a treatment-conference board, interviewed leading clinicians, and now helps spearhead a traveling Big Book study to reach the still-suffering with stronger medicine delivered humbly.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Don L. from Bellingham, WA speaking at 10th annual beef dinner of the Mystic Knights of Sobriety group in Edmonton, Canada - June 9th 2010
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Don’s story is a powerful testament to the transforming grace of Alcoholics Anonymous — from a life ruled by denial, destruction, and hopeless drinking to one anchored in faith, humility, and service. After years of rationalizing his pain and hurting those who loved him, he finally surrendered, found a sponsor who challenged him without compromise, and embraced the spiritual program of action. Through the steps, he learned that sobriety wasn’t just about not drinking but about giving back — becoming a man of purpose, gratitude, and love. Now decades sober, Don honors the gift of recovery by helping others, living in service, and remembering every day how far God and AA have brought him.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu