AA Grapevine's Podcast

Josh, the creator of the Get the App Rap joins Olis and Sam on this week's episode. Despite 22 visits to detox, Josh had lost family and jobs and was living under a bridge, bringing him to his breaking point. Random kindness from a woman, giving him a place to stay, led to Josh reentering AA. Now he's been sober over eight years and devotes his life to helping others. We hear an email from Chris,...

Carol and Alex join Don and Sam to discuss their understanding of a power greater than themselves, and the process of surrender. Carol was viewed as too sick to help at one treatment center; Alex's drinking was manageable for years, but then a switch went off and he was drinking in the morning and at work. Both found different paths to AA, but both have enjoyed sobriety by working the 12 Steps. Al...

Allan got sober while in the military, three days before his 39th birthday. He tells Don and Sam that he was free from alcohol after a profound spiritual experience, but had to work the spiritual probram to be free of other baggage. You can hear more from Allan on the Military Audio Project — aa.org/military — under Veteran, Allan W., Royal Canadian Navy Veteran. Allan, Don and Sam answer an Ask i...

Mike, whose article appears in the April issue of Grapevine Magazine, describes his first drink to Olis and Sam. He felt a radiant warmth inside and a feeling of connection to the group. But drinking caused problems too: a lost scholarship, a court martial in the military. Mike also describes a period of quitting drinking on a non-spiritual basis and resulting troubles. He found his way to AA, whe...

Julie tells Don and Sam about a tragedy she experienced as a teen that kicked off her drinking. Though drinking did much damage, Jule now feels that with the help of AA her relationships have healed, especially with her children. She's learned the benefits of being of service, and not just in AA. Julie shared a photo with us and we'll share it on our Instagram: alcoholicsanonymous_gv. In Language...

Lois talks to Olis and Don about getting sober at the age of 70. She thought she had it hidden (she would toss her bottles in other's garbage cans) but her family caught up to her. Her daughter confronted her and Lois admitted that she hated what she'd become. In AA she realized "these people are me." Lois also now knows that she can't change the past, but can change the future. The three discuss...

Emily describes to Olis and Sam the terrible consequences of her drinking and the repeated promise to "never do that again." It took Emily a while to admit to herself "maybe I do have this problem," and in AA her quiet desperation led to an alternate way to fix her problem besides alcohol. Emily talks about her love for the podcast too. The three discuss a Daily Quote about growth in AA. Don catch...

Tina tells Olis and Don that she was living in a sports car and had to drink whether she wanted to or not. Alcohol was like a magic elixir and made her willing to give up everything in her life that mattered. Tina learned in AA that if she focused on suggestions and working the steps, all her big concerns would melt away. In the feature Using the Traditions in Our Lives we hear from Mark, Suzy, De...

Geoff, whose article appears in the March 2026 issue of Grapevine Magazine, shares with Don and Sam about starting drinking early, and though this behavior got him in trouble, he was always eager for the next time he could drink. Geoff says that college didn't work because he was always at the bar. He describes how his alcoholism talked to him, and how sponsorship saved him when he was going down...

Courtney joins Olis and Sam and tells them about shying away from drinking as a teen, but then taking to it around her graduation from high school. With the progression, it got to the point where she couldn't function without alcohol. As a member of AA she values her sponsor because she does not always trust what she thinks. We hear Listener Feedback from Charlie. In a new feature, Language of the...

Sean tells Don and Sam about getting sober at 15, never having had a legal drink. Sean's early exposure to AA was through a rehab. He remembers going to a meeting which was just the leader and the other folks from his rehab. He was impressed when the leader said he was serving in the role because he didn't want to drink. There's a History Snippet with Mily, and Martina shares her love for Grapevin...

Deb tells Don and Sam about being a blackout drinker at an early age. Over the years she became hopeless, not knowing about a way out. A suicide attempt brought Deb to a hospital and that brought her to AA. In AA she found a modicum of hope that kept her coming. After many years of sobriety, Deb's life now is filled with service to alcoholics in many forms. Check out Grapevine's Instagram for a ph...

Susie tells Olis and Don about coming into AA as a young person. She was a tough girl in the back of the room, fighting the program, until someone asked, "how is your way working? After several years of sobriety and building a life, she hit a difficult depression. Now she's learned to take good care of herself and not try to do too much. Gary shares about his affinity for Grapevine. While we provi...

Martha joins Olis and Don and shares about getting sober at the height of party season. Martha's home group recently shut down, and she describes what she's looking for in home group as she visits many different meetings. Martha shares her gratitude that her husband and daughter give her support in her service work. In the Ask it Basket Jay asks about getting sober in later years. Mike shares in L...

Nora tells Olis and Don about the insane thinking that started the second she picked up a drink. It got so bad that Nora would bring a water bottle filled with vodka to the bar so she wouldn't have to wait as long to get drunk. Her bottom came when Nora could no longer get drunk. She came to AA through a side window, but stuck around even though she couldn't figure out what making coffee had to do...

Rick first came to AA supporting a friend mandated to attend. He didn't think himself an alcoholic, but read some literature and heard from some members and eventually understood his own problem. The Second and Third Steps came easy, but the Fourth presented a problem until he heard "it's just a list." Don and Sam introduce a new podcast feature, Using the Traditions in Our Lives, and Suzy and Ang...

Greg, whose article "A Well-Made Bed" appears in the January 2025 issue of Grapevine magazine, tells Don and Olis about getting to AA with the help of a patient twelfth stepper. Greg shares a bit of history about the beginnings of his home group — the Princeton Alternative Group in New Jersey. We learn Greg's take on the secret to being "cool," and one difference between alcoholics and non-alcohol...

Felicia tells Olis and Sam that when she was in legal trouble her attorney recommended AA. He wasn't the first to say she needed help, but he was the first one she heard. Felicia says she came into AA comparing herself to others, but with the help of experienced members she learned how to identify and not compare. Her service life began on a hospitals and institutions committee and she found happi...

Mike says that having "just one more" not only brought him to a place he never thought he'd be, but also opened his mind for getting help. Mike tells Olis and Sam how his first meeting had smoking, gross couches and uncomfortable folding chairs — just what he needed. He's grateful for the gift of desperation. We hear Listener Feedback from Nevada about her love for the Grapevine podcast. While we...

Danica talks to Olis and Sam about when she was an active drinker how easy it was to forget the consequences of alcohol. Early on as a sober AA member she recalls noticing how others took their service commitments very seriously, and she decided to do the same thing. When faced with a dilemma, she got a suggestion from her sponsor to seek out the experience of other AA members and that helped her...

Antonio shares with Olis and Sam that alcohol worked for him — until it worked against him. In sobriety Antonio learned to really show up as a father-figure for his niece. He's also learned to remember that his core thoughts about himself are not real. In #Heardinameeting Aaron shares from his collection he keeps in a journal. Darlene shares about her support for Grapevine. While we provide the po...

Steve, whose letter "Happy New Year" appears in the December 2025 issue of Grapevine, tells Don and Sam about detoxing in the rooms of AA. Steve used AA principles to not drink while he survived a serious illness. Now he uses that experience to help others, offering hope. We play the article "Remedy for a Lonely Holiday," also from the December issue. The audio for all magazine stories is availabl...

In a special "Corrections" episode, podcast editor Bob joins Don as a host. Olis, Bob and Don hold a quiz about the top 5 ways to stay sober during the holidays. This week's guest, Suzy, tells Bob and Don about going to prison as a sober member of AA. She learned from members of her group that she had an opportunity to help others while incarcerated. Suzy tells of her experience with service in pr...

David tells Don and Sam about coming into AA in 1986. He was struck by being told to keep coming back — no one had invited him back anywhere for years. The men in the group took him to multiple meetings a day, and stayed with him constantly; David explains why. David learned that going through tough times gives us wisdom to help others. The three discuss a question in A Newcomer Asks . Nikki talks...

Lizz talks to Olis and Sam about coming in to AA at an early age and sticking around even though she did not always feel welcome. Lizz also talks about getting through a traumatic time while staying close to AA, staying sober and finding the outside help she needs. The team discuss two Grapevine Daily Quotes . In The News we hear from AA World Services Treasurer John W. about Gratitude Month. On L...