Living Free

Rose and Michael discuss the idea/concept that can frighten people away from a 12 Step Fellowship. A Higher Power and the need for one. Is it religious? Are they a cult? What do they mean by Higher Power? Why use the word God? Driven by the need for a power in their lives that could keep them sober, Rose and Michael discuss their reaction to the word God when they arrived in AA. How has their conc...

The show's invited guest could not make it in to the studio so Ann unexpectedly joined Michael to talk about their experiences in recovery with the help of Al Anon & Alcoholics Anonymous. The discussion included finding a place where their thinking is considered normal, after years of feeling unique, and being introduced to a new way of living that has them feeling more connected to those they car...

Ann reads from a pamphlet that tells the story of an alcoholic's progress through their illness in the form of a three-act play. The play includes a cast of characters who surround the alcoholic, deeply involved in their addiction and its consequences. Act I: The drinker acts out the obsession and the immediate crisis or heavy drinking episode, while family and friends react with shock, anger, or...

Co-hosts Michael and Ann chat about what alcoholism does to those who are addicted to alcohol and to those who are in close relationships with them. The conversation starts with an Open Letter to my Family I am an alcoholic. I need help. Don’t allow me to lie to you and accept it for the truth, for in so doing, you encourage me to lie. The truth may be painful but get at it. Don’t let me outsmart...

Daniel joined Michael in the studio to describe his life living with and in early recovery from alcoholism. Born in Canada and always feeling a little on the outside, Daniel discovered the freedom that music and alcohol provided in his teen years. Moving to Melbourne with his Australian partner, the work drinking culture was alluring and eventually his downfall. Unable to keep his commitments to h...

Rose joined Michael in the studio to discuss their own experiences of what life looked life at the end of their drinking and then going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for the first time. What were the other people there like? Did they feel judged? Did the world end? Did they find some HOPE. What was on offer at Alcoholics Anonymous that hadn't presented itself in their varying attempts to cont...

David grew up in a middle-class family in Sydney. His mother had a problem with alcoholism and David and his siblings were often in the care of a nanny while his mother was away from home seeking treatment for her condition. A quiet child who had learned to be what he calls 'a people pleaser', David found himself a victim of bullying in a private boys school. He did not confide this to anyone who...

Chrissie joined Michael in the studio to discuss her recovery from alcoholism through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. From a chaotic, violent & scary childhood with her sister, Chrissie found a solution to the chaos in the bottle. It changed the way she felt and allowed her to push down the fear. Her drinking was always different to those around her and made it impossible to achieve the thing...

Kurt joined Michael in the studio to describe the progressive nature of his gambling problem. Starting in the school yard betting on marbles, the camaraderie of underage drinking in pubs listening to the horses race after placing bets at the TAB, losing money as he grew older and took on responsibilities and eventually ending up in rehab. If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or...

Janina returns to Living Free in this episode to chat about long-term recovery in Al-Anon. Janina grew up in an unpredictable household dominated by her parents' alcoholism, mental illness and trauma. Having experienced several forms of violence she found she had to confront her own trauma and anger in order to live a peaceful, fulfilling life.  Practising the 12 Steps and supporting others to do...

Trinity grew up in a family affected by rage, addiction, abuse and mental illness, all untreated. The children carried dysfunctional attitudes and behaviours into their adult lives, with each family member, including Trinity, locked into their own patterns of isolation and individual illness. Trinity married an alcoholic and, a few years ago, at the end of her rope, found Al-Anon. Next she found a...

Left to fend for himself, Michael sat in the studio all alone (wrapped in the enthusiasm of the 3CR family), spoke much too much, pleaded for donations to the radio station and played clips from Alcoholics Anonymous guests who had come in to the studio over the past 12 months. Thanks to the donations from our loyal listeners & supporters, we are sooooo close to reaching our 2026 Radiothon budget....

It is Radiothon time again. The budget set for the Living Free team has been raised after a better than expected result last year. The team (Ann, Bill, Mitch & Michael) are all in the studio to thank the listeners for their donations, ask for more donations, play clips of their guests and discuss how much 3CR means to them and how important it is to keep the radio station funded. Thanks to our lis...

When David found himelf sick and lying on the floor of his garage, he decided to seek treatment for the drinking that had kept him isolated from his family. During his time in rehab a counsellor asked him three questions that changed his life. He knew then that he was an alcoholic and committed himself to recovery. He has not had a drink since. David has found over his years of recovery that atten...

Jacquie married a man whose drinking became problematic, but it was her daughter's abuse of alcohol that led her to seek support in Al-Anon. With her daughter's additional struggle with mental illness Jacquie found the dilemmas about how to best help her daughter difficult to navigate. Al-Anon gives her the support she needs in often distressing situations and has helped her to establish boundarie...

Jason joined Michael in the studio to chat about the consequences of his gambling and how life looks after 7 years without gambling and 18 months in Gamblers Anonymous. Taking to gambling in his mid 30's, after his wife's passing, it soon took hold of his life and started a spiralling descent. Spending money he didn't have, leading to shame and guilt around dishonest behaviour and eventually a mom...

Rose joined Michael in the studio to share her story. From a young age, feeling uncomfortable in her own skin and wishing to be different to finding a solution to the internal discomfort with her first glass of red wine, Rose told her story which included battles with mental health issues and time in psychiatric facilities. Missed opportunities, unhealthy relationships and behaving in ways that di...

As a young child Chris was in a situation that was traumatic for him. As a musician in his young adulthood he found himself suffering from anxiety and drank alcohol to be able to perform comfortably. Through his work as a guitar teacher he came into contact with someone in whom he confided his anxiety and through this person he was introduced to  Jung-informed and trauma-informed therapy. He now p...

Bill and Michael sample some old Living Free and Stone Free shows from the 3CR ArchivesIf you would like to find out more about Narcotics Anonymous or need to talk to somebody, then please call 1300 652 820 at any time or go online at www.navic.net.au. If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, then maybe Gamblers Anonymous could help – phone (03) 9696 610...

Julie is a mental health and alcohol and drug therapist trained in dual diagnosis and family therapy. She works primarily with families who are suffering the effects of substance abuse. As a member of Al-Anon, Julie tells her story of being affected by her husband's addiction to alcohol - including her loss of self and having to watch the effect on her children. As a therapist with an interest in...

Hayley joined Michael in the studio to chat about her life and her recovery from alcoholism with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous. Hayley speaks about growing up as the youngest of 3 daughters in a household where her father was working away on a regular basis, a 10 year age gap between she and her older sisters and being given everything a child could want when young. Her drinking came with some...

Don joined Michael in the studio and shared his experience of growing up as a shy, introverted boy and the freedom he experienced when he started drinking. As his drinking started to play a bigger role in his life the consequences became more serious. Health problems presented at a young age but medical advice suggesting he quit was not enough to convince him to stop. Front bar drinking, early ope...

Brenda grew up in the 1950s in Daylesford, the only child of a kind, compassionate mother and a father who drank too much. She married at 19, moved to the city and met with discrimination when she found that, as a married woman, she could not longer be employed by the bank where she worked. She moved to the suburbs to build a typical 1950's family but grew apart from her husband and divorced. Her...

The daughter of parents in the entertainment industry, Sianna enjoyed a lot of freedom in her childhood and grew up amongst interesting people. There was lots of alcohol around and rules and routines were not important in the family. In her early adulthood, Sianna found that she was having difficulties in intimate relationships; in particular she found herself willing to sacrifice herself in order...

Rick joined Michael in the studio to discuss life with addiction, finding a solution in Narcotics & Alcoholics Anonymous and what life looks like now. From a disfunctional family living in a small country town, becoming a father at a young age and then making a decision to provide a better upbringing for his son. Rick describes the lengths he was/is willing to go to to be the best version of himse...