Our Primary Purpose

Two home group members, one lost meeting space, and Twelve Traditions put to the test. This immersive A.A. radio play brings us along on one group’s search for a new location while teaching the spiritual principles that keep Alcoholics Anonymous unified and alive.

For five decades, the GSO Archives Department has preserved the story of Alcoholics Anonymous. Through one member’s remarkable 66-year journey in sobriety, we uncover how those records deepen our understanding of A.A.’s past.

Self-support in Alcoholics Anonymous goes beyond financial contributions; it also reflects a deeper guiding value. This episode explores A.A.’s 7th Tradition, its benefits, and the spiritual principle behind turning down outside contributions through interviews, testimonials and…poetry.

Ninety years after its founding, many people have heard of A.A., but not everyone understands how it works. In this episode, we hear how non-alcoholic professionals, A.A. members and GSO Staff help open the doors to recovery by dispelling misinformation about A.A.

Service not only sustains A.A. – it transforms the lives of the members who participate in it. Go inside the General Service Structure of A.A. to see how groups, delegates, and the GSO work together to protect the future of recovery.

From handwritten letters in war zones, radio waves and Morse code at sea to virtual campfires in VR space, hear how A.A members go to any lengths to carry the message of recovery.

What happens when A.A. members say, “We need this now”? Discover how expressed needs within Alcoholics Anonymous lead to new publications, ASL interpretation, and culturally relevant literature while helping newcomers find identification and hope.

Experience the 2025 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous in Vancouver, B.C., Canada where 33,000+ people from 89 countries gathered to celebrate 90 years of recovery, and global unity in A.A.

Welcome to Season 2 of Our Primary Purpose , the official podcast of the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. This season brings you closer to the voices, service, and stories that keep A.A. growing and connected across generations. From global gatherings and trusted servants to history, humor, and heartfelt experience, discover new perspectives on how the Fellowship continues to carry...

As the excitement builds for the A.A. 2025 International Convention in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, July 3-5, we take you behind the scenes to chat with A.A. Board members and our convention coordinator about what to expect at this gathering of more than 40,000 A.A. members, families, and friends. Find out what makes this global event so memorable and how you can join the celebration.

In our season finale, we meet Bob W., the General Manager of the General Service Office. Bob shares his thoughts on servant-leadership and the vital work of translating A.A. literature into numerous languages. Roberto, a recovering alcoholic from Miami, tells us about his powerful experience serving the Spanish-speaking A.A. community and his service trip to Mexico.

Dive into how A.A. members and GSO Staff share the A.A. message with professionals who work with individuals struggling with a drinking problem through ‘Cooperation with the Professional Community’ committees. Plus, Wallace R, a recovering alcoholic and social worker from Vancouver, Canada, shares his A.A. journey and the power of connecting professionals with A.A’.s life-saving program of re...

Tour the A.A. Archives with our GSO archivists who give us behind-the-scenes access to rare collections and artifacts from A.A. history and learn more about A.A.’s beginnings, growth, and impact around the world.

A.A. reaches behind the walls to bring hope and recovery to persons in custody in the U.S. and Canada. GSO staff member Eileen A. shares powerful stories of how A.A support from the “outside” helps carry the A.A. message to alcoholics on the “inside.” We also hear from an A.A. member who found sobriety while in custody, as he shares the transformative impact of A.A. meetings and fellowship in corr...

Many people struggling with a drinking problem first encounter A.A. through our numerous pamphlets, books, flyers, and other material. Learn all about the critical role and impact of A.A. publications in a conversation with Publishing Director David R. And hear how the most recent publication, the Plain Language Big Book , is designed to so that the A.A. Twelve Step program of recovery from alcoho...

In this episode, discover the powerful role of Public Information in carrying the A.A. message of recovery. Meet GSO Staff member Patrick C, who discusses how the principle of “attraction rather than promotion” guides A.A. in the digital age. Hear from co-founder Bill W. and learn more about the important role of anonymity. Plus, a sneak peek at the 2025 A.A. International Convention in Vancouver,...

Take a tour of the General Service Office in New York City and meet the people who support A.A. groups and members in the U.S. and Canada. Get an inside look at how work at GSO helps advance the mission of carrying the message of A.A.

Kicking off the season, we dive into A.A.'s history and structure with words from co-founder Bill W. and interviews with GSO staff. Learn more about the unique and central role of self-support, the organization’s diverse membership, and the importance of service, revealing how this worldwide fellowship carries the message of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services (AAWS) is thrilled to announce the launch of Our Primary Purpose, the official podcast from the General Service Office (GSO) of Alcoholics Anonymous for the U.S. and Canada. Through engaging interviews with GSO staff and A.A. members—and voices from A.A. history—this new podcast explores how GSO supports A.A. groups and members to carry the message of recovery t...