AA Grapevine's Podcast

Nina, a self-described raging alcoholic, tells Don and Sam that she did not understand that she could not stop and had no conception of the obsession or allergy of the body. She thought everyone drank like she did. In her drinking years Nina missed exams, lost jobs, and got arrested. The last arrest led to her getting sober in jail. There she learned about the disease and the value of service. Giv...

Even though Dana experienced anxiety, perfectionism, self hate, depression, loneliness and no hope with drinking, taking the suggestion of a therapist to try AA did not hit, because that would mean no drinking. Eventually Dana did try AA and felt it was "alright", but did come back. Putting alcohol down and learning other coping skills led to a whole new freedom and life. In the Ask it Basket C.A....

Trevon was born into alcoholism and suffered through a chaotic childhood. He tells Don and Sam that when he first drank he felt like he could breathe for the first time. Trevon's alcoholism brought troubles including prison time. His amends to his son gave him a profound experience. Trevon also talks about his service work with Young People in AA and Black and Indigenous People of Color in AA. Ela...

Jenna tells Olis and Sam that after a trauma at the age of 16 she tried drinking and that fixed it for her. But as an alcoholic she wanted to feel that way all the time. In AA she learned how to have fun sober, especially in young people's groups. Jenna learned how to be of service in all parts of life. In Stump the Thumper, the questions compare phrases from the Big Book and the Plain Language Bi...

Pedro from Portugal tells Olis and Sam about drinking in the discos of Long Island on weekends — that could last 2 or 3 or 4 days. He didn't know that binging qualified him, but in AA he learned there are many types of alcoholics. Now he lives a life of service and serenity. Pedro tells others that what happened to him will happen to them too. He says to go with the flow of love. Rick tells us why...

Bill, whose article appears in the June 2026 issue of Grapevine, tells Olis and Don that he had to learn to do what AA asks you to do. In the beginning he did not get the ideas of alcoholism as an allergy, or the phenomenon of craving, but his sponsor helped him understand these things about himself. He came in thinking his life was over, but now thinks of sober times when his face hurt from smili...

Tammy tells Don and Sam that she came into AA following a tragic car accident and felony conviction. She attended meetings long enough, for fear of consequences if she didn't, that she began to hear what AA members were saying. Tammy realized she too should be working the AA program of recovery. Tammy threw herself into service, for her group, district, local office and in corrections. She tells a...

Melody and Eric join Don and Sam to share their experience, strength and hope in recovery from alcoholism, and their recent experience with the Plain Language Big Book. Melody says even as an atheist she cried out to whatever alien to please stop her drinking, and she then accidentally ended up in an AA meeting. Eric says he came in wanting to stand out rather than fit in, and that he's been readi...

Leslie recalls being hospitalized and a doctor giving her a meeting book. She tells Olis and Don that people smiled at her at the first meeting and remembered her name at the second meeting and she kept coming back. In the Ask it Basket Danny asks about Tradition Two and Bee inquires about struggles in sobriety. Stay tuned after the closing for extra Ask it Basket questions from Joe and Yaser. Ale...

It's a new Month and Don and Sam welcome Tracy to share about her recovery and her article, The Best Day of My Life , in the May issue of Grapevine magazine. Tracy's boss brought her to her first meeting. Though she had no idea there was help, coming upon a sign at the meeting that said "You Are No Longer Alone" she got choked up and decided to stay. Sam travels to the San Diego Spring Roundup and...

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...