Living Free

Janina returns to Living Free in this episode to chat about long-term recovery in Al-Anon. Janina grew up in an unpredictable household dominated by her parents' alcoholism, mental illness and trauma. Having experienced several forms of violence she found she had to confront her own trauma and anger in order to live a peaceful, fulfilling life.  Practising the 12 Steps and supporting others to do...

Trinity grew up in a family affected by rage, addiction, abuse and mental illness, all untreated. The children carried dysfunctional attitudes and behaviours into their adult lives, with each family member, including Trinity, locked into their own patterns of isolation and individual illness. Trinity married an alcoholic and, a few years ago, at the end of her rope, found Al-Anon. Next she found a...

Left to fend for himself, Michael sat in the studio all alone (wrapped in the enthusiasm of the 3CR family), spoke much too much, pleaded for donations to the radio station and played clips from Alcoholics Anonymous guests who had come in to the studio over the past 12 months. Thanks to the donations from our loyal listeners & supporters, we are sooooo close to reaching our 2026 Radiothon budget....

It is Radiothon time again. The budget set for the Living Free team has been raised after a better than expected result last year. The team (Ann, Bill, Mitch & Michael) are all in the studio to thank the listeners for their donations, ask for more donations, play clips of their guests and discuss how much 3CR means to them and how important it is to keep the radio station funded. Thanks to our lis...

When David found himelf sick and lying on the floor of his garage, he decided to seek treatment for the drinking that had kept him isolated from his family. During his time in rehab a counsellor asked him three questions that changed his life. He knew then that he was an alcoholic and committed himself to recovery. He has not had a drink since. David has found over his years of recovery that atten...

Jacquie married a man whose drinking became problematic, but it was her daughter's abuse of alcohol that led her to seek support in Al-Anon. With her daughter's additional struggle with mental illness Jacquie found the dilemmas about how to best help her daughter difficult to navigate. Al-Anon gives her the support she needs in often distressing situations and has helped her to establish boundarie...

Jason joined Michael in the studio to chat about the consequences of his gambling and how life looks after 7 years without gambling and 18 months in Gamblers Anonymous. Taking to gambling in his mid 30's, after his wife's passing, it soon took hold of his life and started a spiralling descent. Spending money he didn't have, leading to shame and guilt around dishonest behaviour and eventually a mom...

Rose joined Michael in the studio to share her story. From a young age, feeling uncomfortable in her own skin and wishing to be different to finding a solution to the internal discomfort with her first glass of red wine, Rose told her story which included battles with mental health issues and time in psychiatric facilities. Missed opportunities, unhealthy relationships and behaving in ways that di...

As a young child Chris was in a situation that was traumatic for him. As a musician in his young adulthood he found himself suffering from anxiety and drank alcohol to be able to perform comfortably. Through his work as a guitar teacher he came into contact with someone in whom he confided his anxiety and through this person he was introduced to  Jung-informed and trauma-informed therapy. He now p...

Bill and Michael sample some old Living Free and Stone Free shows from the 3CR ArchivesIf you would like to find out more about Narcotics Anonymous or need to talk to somebody, then please call 1300 652 820 at any time or go online at www.navic.net.au. If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, then maybe Gamblers Anonymous could help – phone (03) 9696 610...

Julie is a mental health and alcohol and drug therapist trained in dual diagnosis and family therapy. She works primarily with families who are suffering the effects of substance abuse. As a member of Al-Anon, Julie tells her story of being affected by her husband's addiction to alcohol - including her loss of self and having to watch the effect on her children. As a therapist with an interest in...

Hayley joined Michael in the studio to chat about her life and her recovery from alcoholism with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous. Hayley speaks about growing up as the youngest of 3 daughters in a household where her father was working away on a regular basis, a 10 year age gap between she and her older sisters and being given everything a child could want when young. Her drinking came with some...

Don joined Michael in the studio and shared his experience of growing up as a shy, introverted boy and the freedom he experienced when he started drinking. As his drinking started to play a bigger role in his life the consequences became more serious. Health problems presented at a young age but medical advice suggesting he quit was not enough to convince him to stop. Front bar drinking, early ope...

Brenda grew up in the 1950s in Daylesford, the only child of a kind, compassionate mother and a father who drank too much. She married at 19, moved to the city and met with discrimination when she found that, as a married woman, she could not longer be employed by the bank where she worked. She moved to the suburbs to build a typical 1950's family but grew apart from her husband and divorced. Her...

The daughter of parents in the entertainment industry, Sianna enjoyed a lot of freedom in her childhood and grew up amongst interesting people. There was lots of alcohol around and rules and routines were not important in the family. In her early adulthood, Sianna found that she was having difficulties in intimate relationships; in particular she found herself willing to sacrifice herself in order...

Rick joined Michael in the studio to discuss life with addiction, finding a solution in Narcotics & Alcoholics Anonymous and what life looks like now. From a disfunctional family living in a small country town, becoming a father at a young age and then making a decision to provide a better upbringing for his son. Rick describes the lengths he was/is willing to go to to be the best version of himse...

Lisa joined Bill & Michael in the studio to share her experience of life in recovery with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous. Lisa describes how a normal childhood where she was good at school, sports and family life descended into a life of drinking, dishonesty and feeling like a burden to those around her. Time in rehab and then finding a purpose in Alcoholics Anonymous. A great chat and a message...

Di was born the eldest child in a family of girls to a mother who favoured boys. This, and other dysfunctional attitudes and behaviours, affected Di's sense of her self and caused fragmentation amongst her siblings. Di was determined to not repeat the mistakes of her own parents, but found herself married to an alcoholic. Devastated and fearful, she sought the help of Al-Anon where she has gradual...

Brian grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne at a time when heavy drinking with other men was a rite of passage. His mother and stepfather introduced him to AA when he was only 17 but Brian drank for many years until he himself knew he needed to seek help. He decribes a spiritual experience in his first AA meeting. Brian later joined Al-Anon when he realised that he needed support to deal with other...

Connor joined Michael in the studio to share his experience of recovery from alcoholism in Alcoholics Anonymous. His drinking was different from a young age and he was taken to his first AA meeting, by his father, as a 16 year old. Connor describes the consequences of his drinking, what early recovery looks like and what difference being sober has made to his life. If you would like more informati...

Steve joined Mitch and Michael in the studio to share his story of recovery from gambling addiction. Starting as a youngster betting on horses at the track with his dad, Steve got a taste for gambling with an early win and chased the feeling until it brought him to his knees. Finding hope in Gamblers Anonymous, Steve spelt out what he did in early recovery and what his life looks like now. If you...

Lucy knew from a very young age that she was different from other kids and her siblings and felt anxious and a bit depressed.  She found concentrating at school difficult and today acknowledges that this is probably related to her neurodivergence.  Lucy gravitated to alcohol and drugs to compensate for her feelings and to fit in, often with the wrong crowd. By late teens Lucy was ready to leave ho...

Carol joined Michael in the studio to chat about life in Alcoholics Anonymous. Carol has visited the studio before and shared the details of her drinking with Bill & Mitch in October 2023. https://audio.3cr.org.au/3cr/living-free/2023/10/19/1300/202310191300_living-free_64.mp3On this show we discusssed what life looked like at the end of her drinking, what Alcoholics Anonymous offered when she arr...

Brenden shares his gambling journey and insight into his poker machine addiction and his recovery through Gamblers Anonymous. Now over six years without gambling he shares his insight into how his early behaviour, anxiety and attraction to excitement led him seek out pokies and gamble obsessively for 13 years. If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, the...

Mark joined Michael in the studio to share his story of recovery from alcoholism through the AA 12 step program. He described his early life during "The Troubles" in Ireland before moving to Australia. His drinking took over his life and the lives of those he loved the most. After admitting he had a problem, discovering in rehab that his problem is called Alcoholism and his introduction to a solut...