Cross Talk

Corey and Claire get all cozy and reflect on the past years learnings, whats happening for them right now, and how they are applying the Al-Anon program for this upcoming year of 2026.

We hear it at the end of most meetings, Keep Coming Back it works if you work it and your worth it. Claire, Corey, and their guest Cal believe in the having smart feet, progress over perfection, and how regularly coming back to program in all its forms will bring you serenity and peace. 

So many of us that grew up in alcoholism identify or relate to the concept of being an adult child of an alcoholic (someone who was a child while growing up in alcoholism and is now an adult). Today's episode focuses on how working the 12 Step Program of Al-Anon can impact the relationship you have with your parents but first and foremost the lifelong relation ship you have with yourself. Corey, C...

Buckle up and get ready for this supercharged episode of Cross Talk as the hosts hear from one of their favorite old timers all about keeping the focus on yourself and how to stay in your own lane. If your ready to get to work, your in the right place. Richard's enthusiasm, grit, and genuine compassion for himself and others will motivate and encourage you. 

In one way or another, we have all tried to abandon our troubles on the roadside of life and take off to start fresh, only to find those same issues, dilemas, and conflicts waiting for us when we arrive at our new destination. Many of us have found after time in Al-Anon, much of our problems are a source of something internal that needs healing and attention as opposed to something external not do...

Like a boulder blocking a pathway, it's often in program we find we have had or may currently still have, obstacles preventing us from moving forward. For this episode's guest, her journey has recently been bringing up a few. And believe it or believe it, Corey and Claire can relate to this deeply. So lace up your hiking boots and join us on this episode's journey to explore the group's boulders,...

It's said in Al-Anon that you can find relief in the rooms and recovery in the steps. In this episode, Claire and Corey get cross-talk-tastic with their guest Dean to find out what kind of recovery he has found in the steps and why he most certainly will "keep coming back". 

Relieve me of the bondage of self?! Yes please! In this episode Corey and Claire get to take a look at what it might mean to build a life with higher power instead of trying to do it alone. Nina, this episodes guest, shares her insights into how having everything isn't really anything if you don't have yourself. And the three of them discuss vulnerability and sensitivity as an intuition instead of...

Step 7: We humbly asked god (Higher Power (you name it)) to remove our shortcomings.  WOWZA For an Al-Anon, asking for help in any way can be daunting. In this episode Corey and Claire get down on their knees, metaphorically peaking, to interview their guest Siena and humbly ask for her insights on...well, being humble. We find out it's not always that easy to know if our shortcomings have been li...

Season Two's episode Four couldn't be more exciting! Gedina, this episode's guest, brings a humdinger of a conversation to the CrossTalk pod. What could happen if we looked at Feminine and Masculine Energy in the rooms of Al-Anon recovery, identified it within ourselves and went forth honoring the areas that need more love and attention? We might be very surprised by what we find. This episode bro...

Brad joins the duo this week with a real thinker of a topic, how our unrecovered selves can sometimes be our most recovered. Claire and Corey get real, real with their guest with some serious ponderings. What if relapsing is not a failure? What does Al-Anon relapsing look like? Is our SHAME (Should Have Already Mastered Everything) the one in control? And there's some serious cross-talk about bage...

What's a spiritual awakening? How do you know if you've had one? How do we carry the message to others? It's all about to be discussed and the rest of Step 12 for that matter, in this episode of Crosstalk. On this beautiful blooming spring day, Corey and Claire have so much fun with their guest Dino whose jovial attitude, optimistic perspective, and compassionate self-love is totally contagious. ...

After a few months, away Claire and Corey are officially back with a fresh season and hot guests with ninja recovery! Andy joins the zany duo this week to talk about mistakes, how we make them, why we're afraid of them, and hey! what is a mistake anyway? Something everyone seems to agree on is that we want to keep trying when we fail and The Program is a welcoming place for "mistakes" of all shape...

Hello listeners! Claire and Corey are back! And of course, they brought a wonderful guest along on this episode to talk about OBSESSION! Aaron has a lot of insight on what obsession can look like and how it can sneak in even when we think "the problem is gone for good". But fear not, this episode is full of wonderful solutions and deep conversation around how these three manage their own obsession...

Our 7th tradition states that "Every group ought to be fully self‑supporting, declining outside contributions." In this way, we are able to support the group without any conflict of interest or obligation to an outside cause or influence. Corey, Claire, and this episode's guest Davonna explore the vast concept of being self-supporting, how this can affect our self-esteem, and the beauty of showing...

We've all heard about it and many of us do it. It comes in all shapes and sizes from reading literature at a meeting to taking an outreach call, being the secretary, or setting up chairs. It's not about what you do they say, it's just about doing it! So....what is it about being of service that is soooo important to the program? Aside from it being in our steps, traditions, and literature of cours...

At times, the grief in the rooms can be daunting. For so many of us, we come to Al-Anon in a state of grief without knowing what to do with it, how to let it go, or even how to work it out. Join Corey, Claire, and their beloved guest, Betty, for this vulnerable hour on living in and with grief, finding acceptance, and allowing it to flow without expectations.  

"I tried Al-Anon one time...it wasn't really my vibe." We won't deny that Al-Anon might not be for everyone, but how can you know if you only go to one meeting? In program, there are so many different rooms to explore with so many different vibes and experiences and this is why it is suggested to the newcomer to try at least 6 different meetings. Join Claire, Corey, and their guest Ashanti to find...

Have you ever held onto something (or someone) so tightly that you lost yourself? Yeah, we can relate, and so can Julia! Thank HP she's here to offer her wisdom and experience around detachment. Detaching isn't always easy but it's always worth it. Even though letting go around the alcoholic (or any person, place or thing) seems like the exact opposite thing to do, it is -- in our experience -- th...

"The Al-Anon Welcome" reads "The family situation is bound to improve as we apply the Al-Anon ideas." Is this really true? What about keeping the focus on ourselves? In this episode of CrossTalk, guest David shares all about the family disease from his perspective as both the Alcoholic and the Al-Anon in all aspects of his family affairs. We get a full spectrum of experiences as a child of an alco...

There's a phrase used in Al-Anon: "Self-esteem is built through esteemable acts." Claire and Corey needed some tips so they brought in their superstar guest, Tory! On this episode of CrossTalk, it's all about what self-esteem is, and how to find it within ourselves.

Have you ever experienced G.O.D.? Ya know, the Gift Of Desperation? Claire and Corey sure have! On this episode of CrossTalk, they explore the ins and outs of desperation with their guest, Cathrine. We thought Claire knew the slogans and acronyms of Al-Anon but wow, Catherine takes it to the next level! We always knew there was a lot to be found at rock bottom, who knew hope would be a part of the...

Outside issues, we all have 'em...am I right?! In this episode Corey and Claire CrossTalk all over outside issues with their guest Charley. What is an outside issue? Is there any literature about them? What happens when I talk about outside issues in the rooms? Some of these questions might be answered but what we know for sure is there's plenty of outside issue talk in this episode and gosh we ma...

It's not easy to live with an alcoholic, says the Al-Anon. Well...try being one. On this episode of CrossTalk Corey and Claire get real with double winner Brin about what it's like to come into Al-Anon after years in AA. Sometimes a different perspective can bring about wild amounts of growth, change, and awakening. 

In this crazy world we live in, who wants to listen to a podcast without knowing about the hosts???! Maybe someone, but we're giving you the low down anyway. This is the second of two unique episodes of CrossTalk where your hosts dig deep to tell you all about themselves. What it was like, what happened, and what it's like now. In this episode, Corey gets real with Claire about living and breathin...