Right now, we look ahead to 2024. Freethinkers in Orlando Alcoholics Anonymous are preparing to host the International Conference of Secular AA. This will mark ten years since our first International gathering of AA, for and by atheists and agnostics.

This show is a replay of Episode IX - highlights of the first ever We Agnostics & Freethinkers International A.A. Conference from Santa Monica California, November 6th to 8th, 2014.

Rebellion Dogs Radio # 9 includes segments from the keynotes given and a snap-shot of what was happening ten year ago, as all AA eyes were drawn to Los Angeles, historians, nonbelievers in recovery from addiction, fundamentalist AA's who overtly opposed Atheist/Agnostic AA at this critical juncture and the greater addiction/recovery community.

On the trip, I was one of several members who came a day early to visit the Pacific Group on the Wednesday night, to see what all the fuss was about. I stayed a day longer to visit my first (the first) Refuge Recovery meeting in LA.

Depending when you're listening to this, some of the Orlando ICSAA 2024 host committee will be sharing their recovery stories and updating us about the upcoming conference on the monthly ICSAA First Sunday International secular speakers Zoom Meeting January 7, 11 AM Pacific, 2 PM East, 7 PM UK/IE, 8 PM Central Europe. A link (if you missed it) to the ICSAA podcast can be found below. Registration for ICSAA 2024 is now open.

It's been a helluva decade.


A link to Rebellion Dogs Radio talk with Ward Ewing about his book 12 Steps to Religiousless Spirituality

Show notes and links from Episode IX from December 2014

More information about the September 20-22 Orlando International Conference of Secular AA

ICSAA audio archives: https://secularaa.buzzsprout.com/

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

A significant portion of this Rebellion Dogs Radio Episode 20 was the first interview we conducted with recovery friend/history lover, and writer Bob K, also known as Bobby Beach, originally aired in January 2016.

It is with sadness that we share the news that Bob passed away at the age of 75 on August 12, 2025, in the early morning hours. This recording, the first of two on Rebellion Dogs Radio (the second being about his historical fiction called The Secret Diaries of Bill W.

The whole episode talks about history, the history of agnostics and atheists in AA, remembering Erinest Kurtz, PhD, who Bob and I share the honour of Ernie-Freaking-Kurtz having written the Forewords to our books (Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life + by Joe C, + Key Players in AA History, by Bob K).

So, let's remember Bob K. Feel free to fast forward to 20 minutes to listen to my chat with Bob.

The inside joke of Bobby Beach:

The now-defunct TheFix.com (oh, how I miss this town-square of topical issues in the recovery community) first recruited me to write an article was early in the "Toronto De-listing Debachal." In May of 2011, Toronto Intergroup took draconian measures to eliminate growing atheism in AA by voting to remove the two (at the time) agnostic/atheist meetings: Beyond Belief Agnostic & Freethinkers Group and We Agnostics. TheFix editor knew or heard about me from somewhere, called me, pitched me and made an offer. The article would use this event as a news peg, and it was titled around the larger question: "Do Atheists Belong in AA?"

In the addiction/recovery/healthcare world, I use the pen name Joe C. They didn't like that; they wanted a full name. I asked, "Does it have to be a real name?" "No," they answered, "just a first and last name." So, I replied, "So, how about Jesse Beach?" This was a stroke of good luck; the article was all over social media, and I had complete anonymity in my AA hometown and Area.

Then we learned that the alleged "anonymous author" of The White Paper on Agnostics, a Mein Kampf-esque manifesto on how and why to rid AA of the infectious threat of freethinkers, and our meetings--the word around AA History Symposium was that this was Sandy Beach, conference speaker. So inadvertently, Sandy Beach and Jesse Beach were family, divided by a family squabble. Well, Bok K joined the fray, evoking the pseudonym Bobby Beach, which is right in Bob's wheelhouse for sense of humour.

Visit the writings of Bob K @ https://aaagnostica.org

Visit Rebellion Dogs Radio page for more bob k when we talk about The Secret Diaries of Bill W. This is also right in Bob's sense of humour wheelhouse.

EPISODE 72 The Secret Diaries of Bill W by bob k

More History: September 27, 9 AM at Secular Ontario AA Roundup in Ottawa, Canada https://www.soaar2025.ca/ Joe C on the history of agnostic and atheist (secular AA) meeting and gatherings in AA.

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

Rebellion Dogs Radio episode 83 broadcasts within the 90 years of AA in Vancouver, Canada, from July 3 to 6, 2025, at the International Convention. Because COVID-19 prevented the in-person 2020 Detroit I C from happening, it’s been ten years since we all met in Austin. Estimates put the attendance at 38,000 in Vancouver; others enjoyed 8 hours of hybrid “Language of the Heart” – the convention theme – by logging on privately or participating in watch parties with AA members at home groups, clubhouses, or online via Zoom and other communities.

"The Language of the Heart" was the theme for this quinquennial gathering, which featured a diverse program offering sessions on Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, LGBTQIA+, young people's, women's, career-specific (pilots, lawyers, doctors, first responders) groups, and more. Atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers tended to the hospitality suite of the International Conference of Secular AA. They presented three panels for everyone: "We Agnostics," "One Big Tent," and "What Makes a Secular AA Meeting Format?" which were shared with over 2,000 AAs in attendance.

One Big Tent offers the experiences of Michel from Ottawa, Stephanie from New Zealand and Rady, presently in Cleveland. We’ll also hear from members from Ireland, Poland and around the USA. AA members came to learn more about “AA with—or without—God.”

Joe C participated in and recorded "One Big Tent." You can get your recordings of this or another 700 panellists and speakers who shared at the Convention Centre or in BC Place, the stadium, downtown, for a few dollars each. AA contracts the recording, and they will happily provide some or all of the recordings via CD or MP3.

Visit AA.org for AA International Convention FAQ

or visit/Google Multiview Recording Services

https://2025ic.sclivelearningcenter.com/MVSite/Default.aspx

You can buy individual meetings or packages of some or all recordings from 2025. Prices for panels range from $3 to $5 for convention panels to $10 for individual stadium sessions.

AA for agnostics and atheists, or secular AA, is part of AA as a whole, referred to as one of many special composition groups. For more information about secular AA (humanists, agnostics, freethinkers, atheists, or anyone who prefers a practical AA approach without a supernatural/religious component) visit Secular AA

https://www.aasecular.org/

Check out Rebellion Dogs Publishing online for our recent blogs, books, merch, upcoming events and links. For more expansive links and thoughts about Vancouver 2025, Language of the Heart, click HERE

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

The magical mystery tour of AA storytelling came to Atlanta in 2015, where 60,000 attendees at the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous gathered from July 1st to 5th. “80 years – Happy, Joyous and Free” was the theme.

Diggins, Big Mike, and Jeff Y spoke to 1,500 and 2,000 people at the We Agnostics Panel held at the Convention with three speakers.

2025's AA celebration will include a Secular AA Hospitality Suite, which you can find in your 2025 AA Vancouver program. We are open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; come and visit us. There will be another "We Agnostics" panel + all about being part of a secular AA group in another panel called "One Big Tent." Who knows what other panels of the 700 +/- speakers among our secular members will participate?
https://www.aa.org/international-convention

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

This recording is the first-ever "We Agnostics" panel at AA's International Convention, held in Seattle to celebrate 55 years of AA in 1990.

At the time of recording, we are a couple of weeks from the 90th Anniversary of AA, held in Vancouver, Canada, from July 2nd to 6th. There will be another We Agnostics Panel at 9:30 AM on Saturday, and also, "What is a secular AA format?" Friday afternoon and "One Big Tent" named after the Grapevine booklet of Atheist and Agnostic Experience, Strength and Hope. The International Conference of Secular AA will have a hospitality suite from Thursday to Sunday. Check the program for details and come see us.

This recording included Bruce and Sarah from the We Agnostics group in Seattle, Charlie P from Hollywood, Mary N from Florida and Phylis from New York.

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

In 2000, Minneapolis featured the third rendition of non-believers at the quadrennial International convention of AA. In 1990 We Agnostics was part of the Seattle AA program. In 1995 We Agnostics was hosted by the San Diego AA World Convention; there has been such a panel every world convention since, in Toronto 2005, San Antonio 2010, Atlanta 2015. Detroit 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When posting this, there are less than 70 days to Vancouver 2025, The Language of the Heart, July 3 to 6. Visit https://www.aa.org/international-convention for registration and information. In the Vancouver program, you'll find the "Secular AA Hospitality suite. " Come and visit us. We will have two freethinker/agnostic meetings in Vancouver: We Agnostics + One Big Tent. Hope to see some of you there.

• Chaired by Bob F, NY City We Agnostics Group,
• Gwen G,, Miami,
• Fred C., British Columbia, Canada, sober for 48 years at the time. Sober from about 1952?
• Richard B, Cleveland

Any locals, Rebellion Dogs is curious about any record of Fred, a freethinker in Canada AA from the 1950s. If anyone knows someone who knew him, we'd love to hear more about his biography.

VIsit https://aasecular.org for more information and recordings, and/or see more Rebellion Dogs @ https://rebelliondogspublshing.com

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

The AA World Convention is a quinquennial gathering to celebrate the anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Since 1990, there has been a “We Agnostics Panel." At the time of posting, we are 80 days away from Vancouver 2025, July 3-6. AA World Convention with the theme “Language of the Heart.”

2025's AA celebration will include a Secular AA Hospitality Suite, which you can find in your 2025 AA Vancouver program. We are open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; come and visit. There will be another "We Agnostics" panel + all about being part of a secular AA group in another panel called "One Big Tent." Who knows what other panels of the 700 +/- speakers among our secular members will participate?

Rebellion Dogs will share some of these previous recordings. In 1995, in San Diego, we celebrated 60 years since Bill W. met Dr. Bob, the birth of AA. There is no society of one person; therefore, two sober people equals the birth of this peer-to-peer society.

The moderator was Jacques F, AAWS Director and freethinker from the Serendipity Group in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. Speakers included Merl E. from Hollywood We Agnostics group, Mel D from New York City and Linda F from the Freedom Group Tuscon AZ who had a coming-out as a non-believer at the podium.

Following the formal speakers, we heard from the crowd: Bill, Allan, Quad-A, Chicago, Pete, Matt, Norma Jean, Adrian, John, Katie, Carrie, We Agnostics of Passedina, CA, Elizabeth from Back to Basics in San Francisco and Melanie.

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page

Connection

Hope

Identity

Meaning

Empowerment

These commonalities of most people who thrive (vs. cope) in recovery from addiction and mental health comes from the research of Mary Leamy, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Recovery and Staff Wellbeing, and Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research programme, Kings College in London

https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/mary.leamy

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22130746/

How CHIME applies to people in recovery has been the basis of research for Rebellion Dogs Publishing for three years. We continue to present and encourage participation in workshops with people in recovery, through 2025. Previous workshops have included Vancouver BC, Savannah GA, Kingston ON and presented at the International Conference of Secular AA in Orlando, September 2024.

Joe C is the author of Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life

Please join the conversation; for social media, contact info, links and show notes, info on Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and other great books etc, visit:

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/home-page