An All Night Place - Secular AA

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PLEASE NOTE: This episode is part of our "One Year On" series, two ESH shares recorded approx. 1 year apart. Janis's first share can be heard here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a47cgJOVHXpMczvB287tp?si=jk1kObrKT42eKs0ElwabzA In this episode, Janice shares her story of addiction, recovery, and rebuilding a life beyond alcohol. From a deeply personal rock bottom that threatened he...

PLEASE NOTE: This episode is part of our "One Year On" series, two ESH shares recorded approx. 1 year apart. Matty's first share can be heard here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VBTIblM2nEFcsrQBIzcKH?si=zPDorE3DTGuTYyVgNBxKtw Matty shared at AANP in January 2024, and as part of our One Year On series, we thought it was time to check in and see how life has unfolded since then. Wh...

This speaker-share was recorded during the Collaborative New Year's Marathon 25/26, presented by An All Night Place, Secular Together, and The 505 Secular Marathon Meeting. During one of the 505 hours, Mike shared. In this episode, Mike takes the mic and brings a share shaped by time, honesty, and sustained sobriety. With a five-digit day count, what AA circles affectionately call a “zipcoder”...

In this powerful share, Stacy traces a lifetime shaped by family history, survival, and the long shadow of alcohol. Growing up in Washington DC during a turbulent era, she navigated strict expectations, deep wounds, and moments of unexpected grace. Her drinking spanned decades, taking her from survival mode to collapse, and finally to a moment of clarity that brought her through the doors of Alcoh...

This episode can be listened to in tandem with Episode 85, also featuring Ash K, recorded almost two years later — offering a striking and meaningful comparison of early recovery and long-term growth. Recorded at the Tus Nua meeting when they were just under 11 months sober, Ash K shares a raw, searching reflection on what it meant to finally get sober for real . Rather than focusing only on not d...

In this powerful episode, Tina shares her remarkable journey from a chaotic childhood in Miami to more than 11 years of continuous sobriety. Born in Honduras and raised in a family marked by addiction, trauma, and instability, Tina describes the early experiences that shaped her, the escapism she clung to long before substances entered the picture, and the decades-long cycle of addiction that foll...

In this deeply honest share at AANP, Chelsea Hermsen speaks about life with cerebral palsy, sobriety, and learning to accept the reality of who she is and where she belongs. Born with brain damage that led to progressive physical disability, Chelsea reflects on a childhood shaped by low expectations from medical professionals, fierce advocacy from her parents, and a lifelong struggle against being...

In this deeply personal and unflinchingly honest share, Andrew reflects on nearly three decades of alcoholism, the chaos it created, and the hard-won clarity he’s found in sobriety. From a traumatic childhood and early exposure to drinking, to years marked by homelessness, addiction, and repeated attempts to get clean, Andrew traces the winding path that eventually brought him to recovery. He spea...

Honesty, Humility, and Mushrooms: Sarah Jane's Evolving Sobriety In this candid and funny share, Sarah Jane opens up about her winding journey through addiction, recovery, and rediscovery. From her first drink in middle school to cross-country moves in search of peace, she reflects on the running, the pain, and the ultimate relief of finding a program that helped her face herself honestly. Wit...

This is a powerful, raw, and deeply human AA share. Ralph’s story traces the full arc of alcoholism—from denial and destruction, through surrender, to recovery—and then shows how recovery tools sustain him even through the unimaginable grief of losing a daughter. A few things that stand out: The turning point: His surrender moment in the back of the patrol car is described with visceral clarity—he...

In this powerful share, Jack opens up about his journey through addiction, homelessness, and the turning point that led him into recovery. From days spent in a tent behind a motel, cut off from family and consumed by alcohol and methamphetamines, to finding hope in detox, rehab, and the rooms of A.A., Jack’s story is raw, honest, and inspiring. He reflects on the pain of living in constant need, t...

From a Catholic schoolgirl to a crack house, from a promising engineer to a ditch in Georgia: Alex’s story is a raw and harrowing journey through addiction, trauma, and mental health crisis. After multiple DUIs, psych wards, and a terrifying psychosis, she found herself completely broken. But through the unexpected strength of her family, the love of a loyal dog, and the structure of recovery, she...

In this raw and deeply personal share, Charlie—an alcoholic and addict with a tumultuous past—opens up about his decades-long struggle with addiction, identity, and recovery. From his first drink at age five to his last, which finally made him confront his self-destructive behavior, Charlie’s story is one of repeated cycles of sobriety and relapse, self-sabotage, and hard-won redemption. He recoun...

Michael’s Journey – From Sobriety to Relapse and Back Again Michael’s story is a raw, powerful reminder of addiction’s grip—and the resilience it takes to break free. From his first drink as a teenager, alcohol became an obsession, leading to DUIs, stolen cars, and fractured relationships. After finding sobriety in AA, he rebuilt his life—only to drift away from the program, convinced he had "beat...

"From Chaos to Connection: Mary Beth’s Story of Recovery" In this powerful share, Mary Beth—sober since November 10, 2015—takes us through her tumultuous journey from a childhood marred by family dysfunction and alcoholism to her eventual surrender in AA. With raw honesty and humor, she recounts: Growing Up in Chaos:  Raised in a seemingly "normal" family with an alcoholic fath...

In this deeply personal and reflective episode, we hear from Chris — a member whose story reminds us that healing rarely follows a straight line. Chris shares his early experiences with alcohol, how it became both a refuge and a destructive force, and how a complicated relationship with his father shaped his understanding of connection, masculinity, and emotional survival. Though his share is cut...

Alyssha: Show Up, Stay Sober, Be Honest In this powerful and unflinchingly honest share, Alyssha opens up about the realities of recovery after her first year of sobriety—navigating grief, motherhood, relationships, and the slow unravelling of deeply rooted survival mechanisms. From the loss of her father just before her first sober anniversary to the heartbreak of losing her husband and becoming...

The Best Gift I Ever Gave Myself – Maggie’s Story of Sobriety In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Maggie shares her journey through addiction and recovery. From her first drink at 15 to waking up in treatment on her 38th birthday, she recounts how alcohol and Adderall gradually took over her life—despite a successful career, a loving family, and everything to live for. Maggie speaks cand...

From Rock Bottom to Redemption: A Raw Journey Through Alcoholism and Recovery In this gripping and unfiltered episode, Luke shares his harrowing descent into alcoholism—from romanticizing the 'tortured artist' lifestyle to waking up covered in spit, blood, and regret. He recounts the delusions that kept him drinking (thinking booze made him 'more interesting'), the isolation of hiding bottles in h...

Recorded on 14 May 2025 In this moving AA share, Ash K reflects on recently passing the 1,000-day sobriety milestone — a journey marked not just by abstinence, but by profound personal growth. With clarity and grace, she opens up about one of the hardest decisions she’s had to make in her relationship — a step that seemed impossible until she chose to honour her truth. Once she found the courage t...

Recorded on 28 May 2025In this raw and emotional share, Phill recounts his harrowing journey through addiction—from teenage drinking to meth dependency, lost marriages, and criminal threats. He describes the manipulative cycles of addiction, the heartbreak he inflicted on his wife, and the moment he hit rock bottom: jobless, homeless, and facing an EPO. A desperate call to rehab (after showing up...

Recorded 7 May 2025 In this powerful share, Jeff Taylor—an alcoholic with 38 years of sobriety—reflects on his journey from traditional AA to secular recovery. He discusses how Alcoholics Anonymous gave him "wings to fly," then took away the sky, and how he found freedom by embracing a non-theistic approach. Jeff opens up about childhood trauma, bipolar disorder, failed relationships, and the heal...

Recorded on Wednesday 18 June 2025 In this moving episode, Jill shares an intense life experience — at times harrowing, at times uplifting, but always deeply sobering. With remarkable humility and courage, she takes us through moments that challenged her spirit and reshaped her path. What unfolds is not just a personal story, but a universal one: of pain, perseverance, and profound transformation....

Recorded on 3/19/2025 Speaker : Jennifer