AA Grapevine's Podcast

Madeline, who found AA through another 12-Step program, talks with Don and Sam about her quirky home group that doesn't take itself too seriously, but does take sobriety very seriously. The three talk about getting through tough times sober by letting others know you with honesty and perseverance. In this week's feature, the three discuss a Daily Quote from co-founder Bill W. While we provide the...

Doug, whose story appears in the August issue of Grapevine magazine, talks to Sam and Olis about the events that brought him to AA. He also shares about a very different life that he has today, and how he balances work, family and the AA program. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept contributions, so to support the AA...

Tomy, who serves as a Delegate to the General Service Conference, shares that all his life he wanted to be a part of something and in community with others, but he did not have those things until he found AA. Tomy also shares with Don and Sam his experience growing in service and his work chairing the Conference Literature Committee this year. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have...

Nyla shares with Don and Sam about reading Bill's Story in the Big Book and thinking "hello me." Nyla grew up a little girl with grown up secrets, and trust was an issue when she came to AA; but she did feel a pull from the program, found long-term sobriety and now sees how important it is to keep her seat and help the next person. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Gr...

Reggie shares about coming into AA, getting sober, getting too busy and letting his program lapse. When tragedy struck, his foundation was shaky and he relapsed for 16 years. Now he's been back for seven years with a new commitment to the program and to helping others. Reggie joins Olis and Sam is discussion of some recent #heardinameeting posts. Cary calls in on the Listener Feedback Phone. While...

Lynna talks to Olis and Don about jumping in to AA with both feet. She got a sponsor right away, a sponsor who spoke out of the Big Book, and she started on the Steps too. Lynna found a large group of young friends in AA and that helped her too. In A Newcomer Asks Jen asks when should one get a sponsor. Olis, Don and Sam discuss Listener Feedback from Gerry, Heather, Jen, and Tracy — with an exten...

Andrea, who's story appears in the July Prison issue of Grapevine, talks to Don and Sam about getting sober while incarcerated. She recalls a women who brought a meeting into the facility saying to her "you don't ever have to feel this way again," and it made a huge impact on her. Andrea also tells about giving her Fifth Step to a guard. Andrea helps answer a question in "A Newcomer Asks" as well....

Sam and Olis host Don and Chris to answer listener questions about the podcast following AA's Twelve Traditions. The questions include: "Who gets to say what constitutes a good AA program?" "Is sharing an online AA meeting's login credentials Grapevine promoting a particular meeting?" and "Is it wrong for the AA Grapevine podcast to have AA celebrities as guests?" There's also a newcomer question...

Tracy describes to Don and Olis how she came to AA by way of the Al-Anon Family Groups and how she could see alcoholism in everyone but herself. Tracy says she only had to change one thing—everything. Now she strives to live a sober life of service. In a Blast from the Past , we hear a recording that Ernest M. gave to the Tudor Group in 1952. Alan contributes a joke to Wits End . While we provide...

Scotty, who got sober before he was old enough to drink, talks to Don and Sam about hitting his bottom while dry and learning the value of working AA's 12-Step program. He started to listen, and the Steps brought him closer to God in many areas of his life. There's also an Ask it Basket question about chips and medallions. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine i...

AA Grapevine Magazine celebrates 80 years of member-to-member sharing of experience, strength and hope this month. Grapevine has helped alcoholics each month since that first issue in June of 1944 and in recent years has grown into a multi-media outlet reaching members and potential members on a weekly and even daily basis through our apps, podcast, Instagram account, e-publications and our YouTub...

Dawn from Port Coquilam, BC and Patrick from Vancouver, WA share with Don and Olis about coming into AA and finding general service to be a great way to enhance their lives in sobriety. Both serve as District Committee members and they share how they participated in helping bring more people into service in their districts. This discussion resulted from a listener suggestion from Carolyn. While we...

Nathan joins Sam and Don and talks about how in his early days in AA he found the laughter and fun to be annoying. In time though he too found joy in sobriety. Nathan describes starting a new young persons' group and finding that service is the path to long term sobriety. There's an Ask it Basket question from Craig too. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is...

Sam and Olis have a frank conversation with Debbie and Scott about sex in sobriety. They all discuss such topics as new relationships in the first year, different takes on the "3Ms," and thirteenth stepping. Olis sums it up well, "we came to have a conversation about sex and we ended up having a conversation about faith and about honesty and about courage." While we provide the podcast at no charg...

Todd, whose story "New Guy in Town" appears in the May issue of Grapevine, talks to Olis and Don about becoming willing to go to any length to get sober. First, though, he experienced a last drunk that convinced him he was powerless over alcohol and that his life was unmanageable. Jon W., now the Editor-in-Chief of Grapevine, Inc., comes on to discuss the new Grapevine book Our Twelve Steps. See t...

Mily talks with Don and Sam about trying to get sober on her own, but drinking every day. Some folks suggested she try AA, and her first meeting was a 4,000-person roundup. The three discuss the early history of women in AA, including two women who worked on the original Grapevine. You can find photos of the original Grapevine, and other items mentioned in this podcast on Grapevine's Instagram acc...

Jimmy D. talks to Don and Olis about the difference between going to AA and being in AA. Jimmy says the most profound AA job he has done was putting signs out for his group. The three then discuss the power of group commitments in AA. There's also an "Ask it Basket" question about June 10 as AA's anniversary date. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the onl...

In this episode Kristen talks to Olis and Sam about learning to socialize and some of the changes in the family after she stopped drinking. Over time, Kristen found a special man who is amazingly supportive of her AA program. The three then discuss some posts and emails from #heardinameeting. On the Listener Feedback Line we hear from Jerry and Jack, and there's jokes from Matt and Chris. While we...

Brothers Ralph W. and Ronald W. talk with Olis and Don about the combination of grace and surrender that brought them in to A.A. They talk about service people working in the hospitals and institutions committees that helped them, and discuss a Big Book study group they participate in. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not acc...

Kathy, whose article appears in the April issue of Grapevine magazine, shares with Olis and Sam about her experience with reading the Big Book for the first time in two days and thinking to herself: "this is me, this is me" throughout the book. Her book today is marked up, torn and taped together. Kathy also discusses the uncommon honesty she found in AA and how finding the right sponsor was a key...

Ramon shares with Don and Olis his experience with the Twelve Steps and how he continues to work them, to the extent of putting an inventory on paper each week. Olis and Don inform listeners about the Grapevine's Traditions Checklist. At the end you'll hear excerpts from Grapevine's new audio book Prayer and Meditation . While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is...

Mary shares with Don and Sam the good advice she got from a professional who recommended AA, that she not try to figure it out all at once. She talks about the benefits of her slow recovery. Mary shared a photograph with the podcast hosts of a note she scribbled at an early meeting, where she heard tips for avoiding the first drink. In "Listener Feedback" David also shares a photo of Lake Michegan...

Chris talks with Sam and Olis about Bill W.'s early writings that defined self as the root of our troubles. They discuss the differences and the cohesion of the fellowship and the program, and there's a funny story about drunk dialing. In Listener Feedback we hear from Donna and Jeremiah. While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not...

Nadja, who's article appears in the March issue of Grapevine, discusses her journey to AA and her work in bringing Spanish-speaking and English-speaking members together. Paz, the Chair of the AA Grapevine Board, talks about La Viña magazine and connecting with the Spanish-speaking community. In a bonus section, Aaron talks about his Big-Book-quote tattoo and his gratitude for an upcoming sobriety...

Cindy tells Don and Sam that while early on she admitted powerlessness, deep inside she had the thought that some day, some how she could drink again. Eventually she did have a relapse. It took more, she needed to admit at her inner-most self that she was an alcoholic. The three also discuss honest and being useful even during hardship. "Stump the Thumper" is this week's feature. While we provide...