Big Book Awakening

In episode #30, Isaac shares how he was raised in a cult and his whole family struggles with alcoholism. He reached the jumping-off point where he can't imagine life with alcohol or without it. "I came into the rooms and was ready to try something. And the people that I saw here were happy and free. Had something that I wanted.

In episode #29, Kristian shares his experience with practicing Step Ten on a daily basis and staying connected to his Higher Power. "Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities.”

In episode #28, Michael K. reminds us of Dan Sherman's final suggestion: "Continue to read and consider the Big Book through p. 164 looking at your experience and for instruction. Continue to ask God for guidance in practicing theses Principles you've experienced in all your affairs."

In episode #27, Jennifer shares how her life changed when she decided to turn her will and life to God. "I manipulated everybody to get what I wanted. And it was always kind of justified. I was running on self-propulsion. And that is what I had done my entire life."

In episode #26, Andres shares: "I've been clean for six months. Just coming to one meeting and being consistent with one meeting makes me feel like part of a network, with like-minded people, that are all looking for the same thing. And that gives me strength and hope."

In episode #25, Luis L. shares his experience with FEAR, self-reliance, and spending time with our Higher Power. "I had to let go of this routine that served me so well before and be present to where I was in the moment," Luis shares.

In episode #24, Jose G. shares how the biggest struggle that he's had in sobriety... is being in a relationship with a "Higher Power". In the beginning, it was the group. One year sober, Jose picked a doorknob to be his higher power. "I believe that doorknob for 5 years led to me to God. Nothing was wasted."

In episode #23, Oliver shares how something in the chapter "A Vision for You" really struck him. "My vision for my life has always been very limited. But the vision I got from reading this chapter is this...I've been given this great fellowship. My true brothers are here in this room. The people that I truly love, the people that truly know me are here."

In episode #22, Jared shares his experience with Step Twelve and twelve-step work. He reminds us how the whole concept and substance of the twelfth step is talked about pretty much throughout the whole book. "My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me."

In episode #21, Vinny shares how he had a change of heart that is just not the norm for him. He shares his experience with a neighbor who is living in chaos for the past six months. "I lost my crap. And then I started to go into prayer. Not prayer for me. Prayer for honest and earnestly praying for her...the lady above and her kids."

In episode #20, Catherine shares how when she was in codependent addiction: "I could see the problem with my behaviors but could not see what was objectionable about the underlying fears."

In episode #19, Oliver S. reads a portion from the book and then shares how he experienced God after doing the fifth step. In his experience, you want to pick a sponsor with who you truly identify. Connection and compassion are qualities you want from the person you read your fifth step to.

In episode #18, Jason shares on June 12, 2018, he surrendered his alcoholism and has not had a drink since. But he stands here tonight about 95 days sober. "The problem with pills and weed is... they're sneaky."

In episode #17, Vanessa P. shares her experience with doing Step Four: Sex Inventory and Sex Ideal. "If you are using people, using sex, love, and relationships for any reason, you are still using. You're intoxicating yourself with the drama and the chaos. You are still being selfish in this way." Vanessa also shares her experience with making amends to her ex-boyfriend who recognized her drinking...

In episode #16, Michael shares on fear, resentment inventory, and the fear grid. "If you are new and wondering why we are talking about FEAR when I just came here to stop drinking and using. Once I put the drink and drug the anxiety mostly is what came up first. And even after the anxiety was cleared away and kind of settled down, I look at how I am driven by hundred-forms of fear. And things cons...

In episode #15, Janet reflects on a statement from her early days in recovery back in Australia that read: "The depth of your anxiety is a measure of your distance from God." Janet thinks to herself: I've always been anxious. Does that means I've always been a long way from God?

In episode #14, Eric shares how used to like to drink at a bar and tell people about his problems. Then he started drinking at home and things got worse. So when he arrived to the Meetings, all he wanted to do was stay sober for six months, get a divorce and win custody of his kids. But then he changed his mind and started his journey through the Twelve Steps.

In episode #13, Karla shares how from a young age she didn't feel like she fit in this world. As an adult she became successful and still had a feeling of emptiness. Her life was a mess and then one day her psychologist of many years suggested she go to a twelve step meeting. This was his suggestion after $25,000 of therapy.

In episode #12, Jose shares how he believes Step Three is the basis to the beginning of the process of recovery. "What Step Three asks us to do is to make a decision. And that's all it's asking us to do. And a lot of us I think pretty much complicate it. I didn't have the understanding of Step Three really until maybe close to ten years ago. And I began to see one word that changed everything for...

In episode 11, Oliver shares how the base of this program is first step. "It is a miracle for me to see where I am today and where I was when I first started this program. My spiritual battle is not there anymore. The hardest thing that I've done in AA of all the steps is Step Two."

In episode #10, Vinny shares on Step One: The Spiritual Malady. When I'm in a situation and running on self-will I'm looking over my shoulder like what's the repercussions of this one. They say 52 is the barometer to see my spiritual malady in action. Page 52 in the Big Book of A.A. talks about all the stuff that's on the outside: relationships, depression, anxiety, jobs... But what's really going...

In episode #9, Luis L. shares how he's been fighting his whole life. How his problems were a result of an internal conflict. Luis shares how towards the end of his drinking career he was constantly waking up at 6AM from a total blackout thinking: "there's no way I'm going to this again." And by 6PM he had 100 reasons/excuses to pick up the first drink,  setting off the vicious cycle in motion...

In episode #8, Octavio shares how an earthquake shook the ground on Easter and that was the day he stopped drinking. Next, he called a guy and asked him to be his "temporary" sponsor. Octavio's share is followed by participation from the group.

In episode #1, Jose G. shares why the smallest stuff we do matters. How it's the tiny stuff that gets us to begin to live a life of freedom, a life of joy, and a life of happiness. Jose's share is followed by participation from the group.

In episode #2, Michael K. shares his experience, strength, and hope of going through the Twelve Steps program of recovery the Big Book Awakening way. Michael’s share is followed by participation from the group.