Recovery Crone Podcast

My “Light Into Dark Places” series is to pay tribute to the speakers who carried light into my very, very dark years. Many don't resonate with me today, which is fine. I don't need them today like I did 13 years ago. In gratitude, I want to share their stories with you. 

My “Light Into Dark Places” series is to pay tribute to the speakers who carried light into my very, very dark years. Many don't resonate with me today, which is fine. I don't need them today like I did 13 years ago. In gratitude, I want to share their stories with you.  This particular talk inspired the AA booklet "Drop the Rock", which you can find here .

We're back! We had a great discussion on Tradition Eleven. Tradition 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) says, "Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films." Al-Anon includes the addition, "We need guard with special care the anonymity of all AA members."1 AA Tradition Eleven AA Tradition S...

My “Light Into Dark Places” series is to pay tribute to the speakers who carried light into my very, very dark years. Many don't resonate with me today, which is fine. I don't need them today like I did 13 years ago. In gratitude, I want to share their stories with you.     

We're back! We had a great discussion on Tradition Ten! "Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." AA Tradition Ten AA Tradition Series Speaker AA Traditions Illustrated Pamphlet

My “Light Into Dark Places” series is to pay tribute to the speakers who carried light into my very, very dark years. Many don't resonate with me today, which is fine. I don't need them today like I did 13 years ago. In gratitude, I want to share their stories with you. 

Ear H was the most important 12 Step speaker during my 'dark night of the soul' years. He understood my feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, spiritual isolation, and rage. Every time I felt too broken for recovery, I would listen to Earl. Sometimes I just listened to him all day long because that's what I needed to do to get through another day. My 'dark night of the soul' years really taught me...

I want to pay tribute to the speakers who carried light into my very, very dark years of 2006-2009 (trauma memories, health crisis, break up, laid off, bankruptcy, and so much more). Shortly after moving to Portland in 2009, I was sitting in a meeting and I had the thought, "I can't believe I made it." With the thought came a deep knowing that I did not walk through those years; I was carried. I w...

We're back! Finally, after a couple of graduations, two weddings and a funeral (not joking), we finally had the time and energy to renew our tradition study. I'm so glad we did because we had a great discussion on Tradition Nine! “Alcoholics Anonymous, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve." AA Tradition Nine AA T...

Friendly Circle Berlin hosted a wonderful Christmas marathon and I was invited as a member of OA. Several members of other programs introduced themselves as wanting to learn more about OA. Consequently, I tossed my plan to cover Steps 1-3, and just let words fall out of my mouth. 

Here is Stacy's wonderful talk on her recovery journey from "the cult of perfectionism" with exhaustion as status symbol and into deprogramming task-oriented living to finally coming home to Sacred Rest. The original was presented at Salt & Light Lutheran Church . Check out More Human for more information on Stacy's work.

This is a wonderful workshop lead by Alexandra M. She tells her story and then does a guided meditation. This recording includes the questions and comments at the end. You can find the full recording (with intro readings) and workshop outline on my Google Drive . You can find other ACA World Convention workshops here.

Sabrina was a speaker for a treatment facility and I recorded her pitch by setting my phone next to my computer. I had to excise every voice that wasn't hers or mine, so the transitions are abrupt and clunky. But who cares?! It's a great talk and very inspiring.  Sabrina introduced our local recovery community to the nonprofit organization, Go The Distance . GTD partners with local rehabilitation...

Instructions on how to write a FU letter.

We continue our "Deep Dive" into Bonnie's journey. In the prior episode, Act I, Scene 1 , we covered her family of origin and childhood experiences. Now, we start as she enters the world of 12-Step recovery.  A special thank you to those who messaged me to let me know you appreciate this deep dive approach. Especially those who felt they were "more broken" than others. You're not. Don't let that c...

There's something rotten in Denmark....or Tualatin. Whichever. This is the beginning of a new series I'm calling, "Deep Dive". It's about swimming into deeper, darker waters because some of us are adult children of alcoholics/addicts/narcissists. Our mental health requires minimal-to-zero contact with our family of origin and our trauma recovery can feel like a bait and switch: I came here for rec...

I really wish I had more time to prepare for this topic before pitching. It's so interconnected and yet essential to understand the nuances. Hopefully, I can record a follow up conversation in the new year. 

I was invited to speak at a treatment facility for eating disorders and answer the question, "Why should you leave treatment and join a 12 Step program?"  Good times.

This is my favorite ACA workshop on boundaries, also titled "Boundaries with Barb". This recording does not include the Q&A session at the end. You can find the full recording with Barb's handouts on my Google Drive . You can find other 2021 ACA World Convention recordings on the ACA website .

I was invited to speak at the Bay Street Newcomer Meeting, Wednesdays at 7:00pm. Zoom Meeting ID: 830 0871 6331 Password: bayst

At long last, our part two on the topic of Anorexia & Restricting. In this episode we focus on Anorexics & Bulimics Anonymous' focus on the powerlessness over control. I should clarify that ABA's first step is: We admitted we were powerless over our insane eating practices—that our lives had become unmanageable. However, if you read the literature, the focus becomes powerless over control....

This morning our planned speaker had to cancel due to illness, so I stepped in. In a very jumbled manner I touched on 5 different 12 Step programs for food and how recovery can create a secure attachment.    Here is the YouTube video on Secure Attachment that I reference.

In part one, Stacy, Mattie and I talk about why we want to have this discussion and touch on topics we want to explore further in part 2. (Apologies for the poor sound quality!) For more information on the Anorexics & Bulimics Anonymous program, visit their website at ABA12Steps.org . Also, I have a PDF of chapters 1-7 from their 12 Step book: ABA Ch 1-3 and  Ch 4-7 . You can find the book on thei...

Wonderful chance to hear our fabulous fellow, Denise speaking at the SE Saturday in person on 3-4-2023.

Wonderful chance to hear our fabulous fellow, Kurt B speaking at the SE Saturday in person on 2-4-2023.