Showing results by author "History of Recovery" in All Categories

Listen to the pre-history of Alcoholics Anonymous, told by two of the people who were part of its most important, formative events. Ebby Thatcher, the man who brought the message to Bill Wilson, tells how he was helped to sobriety by Rowland Hazard and other Oxford Group members, how he carried the message to Bill, and the early developments of the AA fellowship. AA co-founder Bill Wilson talks about the two streams of influence that led to AA.

One of the first longtime sober members of AA talks about the people, events, and development of ideas and practices that created AA, including Ebby, Bill Wilson, and the Oxford Group; Hank Parkhurst, Ruth Hock, and the writing of the Big Book; how AA got the name Alcoholics Anonymous; Jack Alexander and the Saturday Evening Post article; The 12 Traditions; and more.

Tom Powers got sober in early New York AA. He was a friend and confidant of Bill W and many pioneer era AAs. He shows by his own experience what alcoholism does to a person. A lot of his talk is about getting sober in AA; his experiences in AA. Tom founded All Addicts Anonymous to help people with complicated addictions and pioneered a recovery community (East Ridge).

Marty Mann The first woman to get sober in Alcoholics Anonymous tells her story in a 1968 talk at San Francisco, CA. This is the best example of Marty Mann recovery story I have heard. The sound quality is very good, which is unusual for a 1968 AA recording. Great audiobook about recovery - historic and enjoyable. Marty was the first woman to achieve lasting sobriety in AA, founder of National Council on Alcoholism, author of at least two books on alcoholism, author of AA's The Big Book story "Women Suffer, Too", and co-founder of The AA Grapevine.

Speaking to an enthusiastic AA crowd, Father Joseph Martin talks about AA and then proceeds to talk in order about the 12 Steps. A very good example of Father Joseph Martin's excellent AA message.

In the Family Meeting Desert Roundup 1970, Father Fred introduces Terry M, the Alateen Speaker. She tells her story. Chuck C talks about alcoholism and how his drinking and recovery have affected his family. Elsa Chamberlain talks about being a person deeply affected by alcoholism in a loved one, how Alanon has helped her, her alanon work with others, and how alanon and alateen can help the families of alcoholics.

Very popular in her day, Ramona B, gives a great talk. The stories she tells of trying to fix her husband Bob are full of the wisdom of experience, strength and hope; served up with a generous helping of Rule 62 humor. She has a very powerful Al-Anon message that is very popular with alcoholics.

A very insightful look at each of the 12 steps by a very spiritual guy with long term sobriety in early AA. John shares his own experience taking the 12 Steps and insights learned while taking hundreds of other alcoholics through them. This is a very good AA talk, an enjoyable presentation of 12-step wisdom with some humorous parts.

He opens with a very funny drunk joke that I was surprised that I hadn't heard. Clarence tells his own story, his drinking and how he came in contact with his sponsor Dr. Bob. He talks about his early sobriety some of which qualifies as AA history. How the Cleveland contingent of the Akron Oxford Group broke away because of its many Catholic members and the need for a group made up solely of alcoholics and their families.

Bill W. recounts the stories and talks about the principles and people who shaped Alcoholics Anonymous and its program of recovery from alcoholism.

Mrs. Delaney’s first introduction to AA was when her brother, Oscar, sobered up with the help of Bill Wilson. It was seven years later, after battling her own alcoholism that she found herself, one of the first women, in the rooms of AA. Mrs. D was a pioneer in the field of alcoholism treatment and was instrumental in the treatment and recovery of many alcoholics and their family members.

Lois Wilson Shares About the 12 Traditions Lois Wilson, founder of Alanon and wife of AA Co-Founder Bill Wilson, shares about each of the Twelve Traditions. From the Recording. So, when finally Alanon came into being, we had the Twelve Traditions all set up for us. In fact, that's been our experience right from the beginning. And we've grown so fast primarily because we've just followed AA's footsteps.

Chuck says, "So, we gotta go to our people and say, Look, I'm not the big shot I would have had you believe. I'm an alcoholic. And I found a way to live that might let me live one day at a time for a lifetime without taking another drink. And one of its conditions is that I make amends. And that's why I'm here. I've done you wrong. And I'm not only here to apologize, but to tell you I will make restitution just as quickly as possible.