Sober Sunrise - AA Speaker Podcast

Kent L. from Montgomery, AL, USA speaking at the 5th Anniversary of the Happy Hour Group in Montgomery, AL - June 5th 2013
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From a high-achieving yet fear-driven alcoholic whose drinking destroyed ambition, marriage, and career in the Army, to a man who embraced AA’s program of action, sponsorship, and daily spiritual disciplines to build a life of freedom and service. He rebuilt his education, earning degrees and a strong career with the Air Force, made peace with his past military shame through deployment service, and deepened his spiritual life through ongoing study and conscious contact with God. Today, Kent thrives in recovery by sponsoring others, practicing humility, and finding joy in service, proving that through AA and God’s grace, even a seemingly hopeless life can be reborn into purpose and inspiration.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Edie C. from Sacramento, CA at Sacramento Spring Fling, Sacramento, CA - February 18th 2000
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Edie shares her journey of survival and recovery, marked by a childhood of trauma, abandonment, and witnessing alcoholism destroy her mother and guardian. Despite being told she’d never succeed, she found Alcoholics Anonymous at 24, where fellowship, sponsorship, and service gradually healed her wounds. Through hard work, she transformed from a broken, angry young woman into a 16-year sober professional, becoming the first woman hired as an industrial inspector for California, later a superintendent at UC Davis, and a respected leader in diversity and service. Her story highlights forgiveness, resilience, and the miracle of AA—turning pain into purpose, brokenness into strength, and granting her “the keys to the kingdom.”
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

"Blind" Dave A. speaking at the 14th Annual Mouth of the Brazos Conference in Lake Jackson, TX - May 15th 2009
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After decades of alcoholism, relapse, and failed attempts to quit on faith alone, Dave finally surrendered to Alcoholics Anonymous in 1998 and discovered that God could reach him through the fellowship and the Big Book. He described powerful spiritual experiences, including a fifth step that lifted a lifelong burden, moments where God intervened to keep him sober, and even being miraculously freed from a 40-year chewing tobacco addiction. By fully embracing service, meditation, and helping other alcoholics, he found that AA is not just about sobriety but a whole adventurous way of living—one filled with purpose, miracles, and a deep conscious relationship with God.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

David R. from Atlantic Highlands, NJ speaking on steps 1-12 at the NCCYPAA Young Peoples Conference in Raleigh, NC - September 2nd 2006
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David shares how he grew up in a broken and violent home, found alcohol at 14, and quickly spiraled into decades of destruction, losing jobs, relationships, and even his health—eventually ending up drinking mouthwash, homeless, and pronounced dead before being revived. His first attempt at AA failed when he coasted without working the steps, but after a relapse he met a sponsor who walked him through the Big Book and the program in depth, leading to a true spiritual awakening. Through completing amends, he reconciled family relationships, found long-lost relatives, and rebuilt his life. Today he works on Wall Street managing a computer department, earned his degree, is pursuing graduate studies, and lives with faith, service, and peace, emphasizing that AA’s promise of recovery comes through action, honesty, and reliance on God.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Bill L. from Dunellen, NJ and Mike L. from West Orange, NJ speaking at a workshop titled "Maintaining Conscious Contact During the Holidays" in Albany, NY - December 6th 2002
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Barefoot Bill and Mike L. from New Jersey shared their journeys of discovering that simply not drinking was not enough—both described the misery of untreated alcoholism despite time sober, until they embraced the 12 steps and a spiritual solution that changed everything. They spoke of how alcoholism is more than a drinking problem—it’s a spiritual malady that requires growth, service, and ongoing conscious contact with God to maintain peace of mind and freedom. Through humor, fellowship, and quoting the Big Book, they emphasized that recovery is about living in the present, enlarging our spiritual lives, and helping others—not just avoiding alcohol. Their stories highlighted transformation from restless, self-centered lives into contentment, usefulness, and a deeper spiritual awakening.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Travis A. from Spruce Grove, Alberta speaking at the Lethbridge & Southern Alberta Roundup in Lethbridge, Alberta - April 9th 2010
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Travis shares his journey from a troubled youth and early alcoholism—marked by chaos, crime, treatment centers, and homelessness—to finding lasting sobriety at age 22 through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. He spoke of the powerlessness he felt, the transformation that came from working the Steps, and how service, honesty, and a higher power gave his life meaning. In recovery, he rebuilt relationships with his parents and sister, married the love of his life, became a father, pursued his trade as a millwright, bought a home, traveled, and gave back through AA service and public information work. His story highlighted how faith, responsibility, and spiritual growth turned a life of hopelessness into one of family, purpose, and peace of mind.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Kerry C. from Tannersville, PA speaking at the Windsor conference in Windsor, Ontario, Canada - July 25th 2010
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Kerry shares her journey of getting sober at 18, growing up fearful, insecure, and restless, and finding in AA both a spiritual solution and a true home. She described how the steps transformed her from a dishonest, angry, isolated girl into a woman of faith, service, and presence, with a marriage, four children, and deep ties to her fellowship. Through sponsorship, commitments, and daily spiritual practice, she’s learned to live free of crippling fear, see herself as worthy, and be an asset rather than a burden. Her message was clear: the gift of sobriety is not just abstinence, but a spiritual awakening that brings connection, freedom, and a life worth wanting.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Barefoot Bill L. from Westfield, NJ speaking on the topic of Help Others at the Westfield Big Book Workshop of the Spiritual Awakenings Group in Westfield, NJ - August 19th 2012
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Bill shares passionately about the importance of helping others in AA, emphasizing that true service flows only after trusting God and cleaning house. He highlighted how the Big Book repeatedly stresses being of maximum service, not just for relief but for transformation, and that sponsorship should guide people toward independence rather than dependence. Through personal stories—driving hours to work with sponsees, organizing conferences, sending daily inspirational emails, and preserving AA history—he showed how service has become his life. His message was clear: sobriety is not about half measures or complacency but about quick, deep work in the steps, full presence with others, and carrying the gift of awakening forward so both we and others may truly live free.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Sean A. from Vancouver, Canada speaking at West Edmonton Beef dinner in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - June 11th 2008
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Sean shares his journey with honesty and humor, describing how drinking and drugs once consumed his life despite outward success in acting, real estate, and appearances of stability. After hitting bottom, he was 12-stepped into AA in 1974, where he found safety, identification, and a path through the steps that helped him rebuild from despair. He spoke about the power of amends, spiritual growth, and carrying the message, stressing that real recovery comes from one alcoholic helping another. With decades of sobriety, he has faced life’s ups and downs—divorce, health challenges, success and failure—yet remains deeply grateful for AA, a spiritual awakening, and the chance to live with peace, dignity, and purpose.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu

Scott P. from Elyria, OH speaking at the North Ridgeville Sunday Night Men's group in North Ridgeville, OH - December 4th 2005
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Scott shares a raw and powerful account of his life shaped by alcoholism, beginning with early drinking, blackouts, and growing up in a family where dysfunction felt normal. His drinking escalated into broken relationships, jail time, and deep shame, until a DUI and moment of clarity pushed him to seek real help in AA. He described learning to surrender his ego, work the steps honestly, make amends, and rely on God and fellowship instead of willpower. Today, sobriety has given him peace, a renewed sense of self-worth, marriage to his best friend, and full custody of his son—proof that through honesty, spiritual growth, and service, life can be rebuilt with purpose and hope.
Music: Deep by KaizanBlu