The Recovery Show » Finding serenity through 12 step recovery in Al-Anon – a podcast
Episodes
Stepping Stones to Serenity – 1 – Episode 158
21 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
  This is part 1 of a 4-part seminar titled “Stepping Stones to Serenity”, presented by Ellen C in 2008. This part covers steps 1 thr...
Seeing Clearly – Episode 157
14 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
“Our sight, once clouded and confused, will clear and we will be able to perceive reality and recognize truth.” Our sight, once clouded… And con...
Life on Purpose – Episode 156
07 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Can you say what is your purpose? How do you decide what to do on a daily basis? What do you want to be “when you grow up”? This episode is inspir...
Say Yes! to Life – Episode 155
24 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Last weekend, I drove back to the city I grew up in, to attend a memorial service for a childhood friend. As family and friends shared their memories ...
Mothers Day – Episode 154
17 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a mother? What did you learn from your mother? How has recovery changed your way of being a mother, or your relationship with your mother? Ins...
Ajit S Open Talk – Episode 153
10 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This open talk by Ajit S was recorded at the We Are Not Saints AA roundup in 2007. I first heard Ajit on a tape or CD some years ago, when I was new i...
Shutting down as a defense – Episode 152
03 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you retreat into yourself when problems arise? Do you prefer not to hear bad news? Maybe you are shutting down as a defense. Here's our outline: Wh...
Meditation – Episode 151
28 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
How do you meditate? Or, DO you meditate? Meditation is something of which many of us say “I need to do that!” “I've ...
Your Voice – Episode 150
18 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you sometimes feel that you have nothing to contribute? That your voice is meaningless? That you can't say anything to help others? I was inspired ...
Fourth Step Inventory – Episode 149
11 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Have you done a fourth step inventory? How did you do it? Join Mike S. and David M. as they lead a workshop on using the 4th step inventory worksheets...
Worthy of Love – Episode 148
05 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We will discover that we are both, worthy of love and loving. We will love others without losing ourselves, and will learn to accept love in return. W...
Roll Away the Stone – Episode 147
29 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
“Who will roll away the stone?” The story of Easter is one of resurrection and recovery. But, we need help to roll away the stone from the...
Emotional Safety – Episode 146
22 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel emotionally safe? Do you close out intimacy because it threatens you? Let's talk about emotional safety. Thought questions for this discus...
So, You Love an Alcoholic – Episode 145
17 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you love an alcoholic? Has that love brought you fear, anger, shame, and joy? 3 Al-Anon speakers from a session at the 2015 AA International Conven...
The 4 M’s – Episode 84 redux
09 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Have you found yourself trying to do it all? Did you take care of your loved one’s problems? Do you try to force things to work out your way? Have y...
Joy, Fulfillment and Wonder – Episode 144
01 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have joy in your life? Do you feel fulfilled? Are you finding these gifts in recovery? Or are you still waiting for them to come? In this first...
God of our Understanding – Episode 143
23 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What did you think when you saw the word “God” in the 12 steps? Did you think you would be forced to believe in some particular religion? Or did y...
Love and Alcoholism – Episode 142
16 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What does Love mean to you? Has alcoholism turned your love turned to hate? Or maybe, you feel both at once and it’s tearing you apart. The ancient ...
Intimacy – Episode 141
09 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Spencer recently was a speaker at an open panel meeting titled “The Effects of Alcoholism and Addiction on Intimacy and Sexual RelationshipsR...
Sponsorship: a prompt – Episode 140
02 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a sponsor? Do you sponsor others in the program? How has your sponsor supported your recovery? How has being a sponsor supported and enric...
It’s a We program – Episode 139
26 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The first word of the first step is “We”. It is often said “this is a ‘we’ program.” What does that really mean? How do we find recovery f...
Families – Episode 138
19 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Another conversation about families. What did you learn from your family of origin? How have you found new ways to relate to families in recovery? T...
Family – Episode 137
12 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What did you learn from your family of origin? How have you found new ways to relate to your family in recovery? Spencer and Mara talk about family, g...
Old Year New Year – Episode 136
05 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What have you accomplished in the past year? How did you work your recovery? What are you looking forward to in the new year? Reflect on your year pas...
Cooperation and balance – Episode 135
30 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you try to do “all the things” by yourself or do you work in cooperation with others? How do you keep balance and serenity while moving forward...
Holiday Survival Kit – Episode 134
22 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you dread the holidays? Do they bring out the worst in you or your loved ones? Are you not sure how you’re going to survive visiting (or visits f...
The 4 L’s – Episode 133
15 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In recovery we listen to each other; we learn from each other’s experience strength and hope; we let go of our need to control others; and find lo...
Living with Lies – Episode 132
08 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you obsess over the thought that your loved one might be lying? Do you have to prove the lies? How do you find the ability to trust in recovery? Ju...
Slogans part 1 – Episode 131
24 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Maybe you’ve heard some of these slogans. “Easy does it.” … “How important is it?” … “Think” … “Let go and Let God.” S...
Clearing a Path – Episode 130
17 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How has Al-Anon helped you to clear a path in your life? A few weeks ago, we posted a lead by June on the topic of “Clearing a Path”. Toda...
Gratitude – Episode 129
03 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard someone say they were grateful for the alcoholics in their life? How do you practice gratitude? Can you find gifts in the “punish...
Leadership – Episode 128
20 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What makes you a leader? How do you divide leadership and management? Can you set clear boundaries between your and others’ responsibilities? Spence...
Step 2 – Higher Power – Episode 127
12 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
  Spencer is traveling, so here's a favorite episode from our back catalog. Kelli, Swetha, and Spencer talk about their experience with Step 2, &...
Clearing a Path – A Lead – Episode 126
06 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Have you felt that your life was out of control, and that you'd never find a way out? Today, June shares about clearing a path in the jungle of her li...
Conferences and conventions – Episode 125
25 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Have you attended an Al-Anon or AA conference? Maybe you went to the AA International Convention this year. Or do you wonder what’s the big deal? Wh...
Randy K Open Talk – Episode 124
08 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
This week we have an Al-Anon open talk by Randy K. I (Spencer) identified with a lot of his experience. I was particularly struck by his description o...
Al-Anon Dreams – Episode 123
01 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you dream of relapse? Of recovery? Of loss of control? What are your Al-Anon dreams? Join us as Spencer, Jane, Akilah, Pat, and Brooke share some d...
Imperfection – Episode 122
25 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel that you have to be perfect? Do you go through life as if you're on a stage? Is it hard to have compassion and love for yourself? Let's ta...
Laughter – Episode 121
11 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
When you came to your first meeting, were people laughing? How did that make you feel? How do you use laughter in your recovery today? When (under wha...
Best of: Our first meetings
04 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What was your experience of your first Al-Anon meeting? Maybe you haven't been to one yet. Spencer, Kelli, Swetha and 7 other members talk about their...
Authority and Responsibility – Episode 120
22 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have trouble letting go of responsibility? Do you take on too much? Or do you give responsibility to someone for something they can’t do? If ...
Worry – Episode 119
14 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you worry a lot? Is it hard to get your mind off the terrible things that might happen? Or maybe it’s just obsessing on the stuff that is wrong i...
Life on Life’s Terms – Episode 118
07 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes life throws us a curve ball. How can we accept it and live life on life's terms? Due to some technical difficulties, the episode we had plan...
Fathers – Episode 117
24 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Fathers Day is a holiday that recognizes fathers and honors fatherhood. What is or was your relationship with your father? Are you a father yourself? ...
Gather your chairs in a circle – Episode 116
16 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
A couple of weeks ago, at church, we honored our graduating high school seniors. The sermon that day was in the form of advice to those setting out in...
Public outreach – Episode 115
28 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our 12th Step encourages us to “carry the message to others.” How have you done that? How can we reach out to sufferers who don’t even know abou...
Participation, harmony, and being heard – Episode 114
23 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In your interactions with others, how do you find harmony? Do you sometimes feel that you are not heard? How do Concepts 4 and 5 help? Concept 4 says ...
Fun – Episode 113
16 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How do you have fun? Do you have fun? Has your concept of fun changed in recovery? Join Spencer and Brooke as we talk about fun, and hear the contribu...
Do you drink? – Episode 112
23 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you drink? Did you drink with your alcoholic loved one? How has recovery changed how you drink? How you think about drinking? Did you stop drinking...
Prayer – Episode 111
07 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you pray? What is prayer? How can it support your recovery? In this episode, Spencer shares his personal journey to and understanding of prayer. I ...
Right of Decision – Episode 110
01 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have trouble letting others make decisions? Do you second guess your own decisions? Spencer and Akilah discuss the “right of decisionR...
Dry Drunk – Episode 109
18 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What is “dry drunk”? Can an Al-Anon exhibit similar symptoms? A few weeks ago, Jennifer suggested the topic of “dry drunk.” Then Ruth ...
Criticism and Self-Compassion – Episode 108
08 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a voice inside you that criticizes everything you do? Can you find compassion for yourself when your internal critic is harsher than what ...
Chaos – Encore – Episode 107
25 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Due to first my co-host and then me being under the weather, we present this encore of the Chaos episode. Enjoy! Our topic for next week is criticism...
In the Moment – Episode 106
17 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to live “in the moment?” How can I plan for tomorrow when I’m living “one day at a time”? How do I learn from past experie...
Letting go of the process – Episode 105
10 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to do recovery “your way”? Are you skipping steps because you don’t like them? Can you let go of control? Spencer and Harriet talk a...
Relapse – a “best of” episode
04 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
While Spencer is away, enjoy this “best of” episode from a year ago. Has your loved one relapsed? Did you expect it? How did you react? T...
Judgement – Episode 104
27 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How does having judgement differ from being judgemental? Can judgement be both a character asset and a character defect? How do you judge others? How ...
Boundaries – Episode 103
21 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever set an ultimatum? What did you do when it wasn’t honored? How do you deal with unacceptable behavior from your loved ones? Spencer and...
Responsibility and Authority – Episode 102
13 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Do you take responsibility for your own actions? Do you take on responsibility for the way others live their lives? Do you sometimes try to play God? ...
Looking Back, Looking Ahead – Episode 101
06 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Have you made New Year resolutions? How has that worked for you in the past? Is there a way to use our program tools instead? This is the time of year...
Guest Host Experiences – Episode 100
30 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What is it like to be a guest host on The Recovery Show? Join us as Mark, Ruth, Mara, Harriet, and Akilah talk about their experience co-hosting the p...
2 Years – Episode 99
16 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re new, do you wonder why members have been coming for years? Doesn’t there come a time when we’ve learned it all? What do we gain from k...
Tradition 12 – Anonymity – Episode 98
09 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you wonder how much to reveal about your situation? Are you afraid someone will “out” you? Do you have “idols” in the program? We’ll addr...
Gratitude 2014 – Episode 97
02 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Can you be grateful for painful events? How do you cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”? Can gratitude help you sleep better? Join Spencer...
Isolation – Episode 96
25 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you revert to isolating in times of increased stress and difficulty? Do you find it harder to work your program at these times? Today we will talk ...
Tradition 11 – Episode 95
18 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you switch the tv-channel when the commercial kicks in? Are you tired of being reminded of something which you know would be good for you but you j...
Spiritual Practice – Episode 94
13 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How do you feed your spirit? Do you struggle with prayer and meditation? What does it mean to be “spiritual?”   Spencer shares his thoughts a...
Not God – Episode 93
03 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you sometimes feel responsible for the whole world? Would other people be happy if they would do things your way? An critical part of our recovery ...
Triggers – Episode 92
21 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do words and events throw you into your past? Do you get angry when it's inappropriate? What are triggers and how do they affect us? Spencer and Akila...
Trust – Episode 91
14 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Are you afraid to trust others? Do you hesitate to share personal details? Are you trustworthy? Mara and Spencer talk about Trust. We used these ques...
Tradition 10 – Episode 90
07 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Has someone brought their different political or social opinions into a meeting? How did that feel for you? Or even outside of meetings, can an opinio...
Taking Care of Myself – Episode 89
29 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When you get sick, do you try to just “keep on going”? When you are overcommitted, do you try to “do it all”? What happens when you do that? T...
Intimacy – Episode 88
23 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Have you lost the ability to share intimately with another person? Have you found people in the program that you can trust with your secrets? What are...
Unmanageability – Episode 87
16 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you find yourself running in circles? Do you obsess over things you can’t change? Do you lie awake worrying? Spencer and Ruth talk about what it...
Tradition 9 – no organization – Episode 86
03 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How can we function without organization? Tradition 9 says, “Our groups, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or ...
Alcoholism – a Personal Journey – Episode 85
26 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What did you think when you first heard the statement that alcoholism is a disease? Did is seem like a cop-out? Did you feel that your loved one just ...
The 4 Ms – Manipulation Managing Mothering Martyrdom – Episode 84
12 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Have you found yourself trying to do it all? Did you take care of your loved one’s problems? Do you try to force things to work out your way? Have y...
Tradition 8 – Episode 83
05 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you find yourself looking for the “experts” in your meetings? Do you sometimes feel like you have nothing to offer? How do we help one another ...
Suffering is Optional – Episode 82
29 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What do we mean when we say “Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional?” What’s the difference? How can we avoid suffering? Spencer and Maria...
Cause, Cure, Control – The 3 Cs – Episode 81
22 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
We are told that “we didn’t cause it, we can’t cure it, and we can’t control it.” The 3 C’s capture our powerlessness. What does this mean...
What does it mean to work the steps? – Episode 80
17 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When you first heard “work the steps”, what did you think? Are you still confused about what it means? Or, maybe you’ve worked the steps, but yo...
Tradition 7 – Episode 79
08 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How is Al-Anon funded? Why don’t we take outside contributions? What if we all lived our lives that way? Tradition 7 states “Every group ought t...
What does it mean to “work” the steps?
26 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The topic of our next episode, number 79, is What does it mean to “work” the steps? Please share your experience, strength, and hope abou...
Stay or Go? – Episode 78
24 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Are you in a relationship with an alcoholic or addict? Have you ever thought, “My life would be so much easier without this person?” Have you wond...
Why I came to Al-Anon. Why I stay? – Episode 77
17 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Have you wondered why someone would choose Al-Anon? Or why those “long timers” keep on coming? Spencer and Amy tell their stories of coming to Al-...
Loss – Episode 76
10 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when you lose someone close to you? How can I use the tools we have learned in the program to get through a loss? I was inspired to th...
Tradition 6 – Episode 75
03 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Tradition 6 says “Our Family Groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and p...
Faith over Fear – Episode 74
27 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Does fear keep you from acting? Can you move forward in faith instead? This week, we talk about faith over fear. Spencer and Adrienne talked about t...
Tradition 5 – Episode 73
15 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Have you wondered what Al-Anon is about? Why do we keep coming when we feel better? What does Al-Anon tell us about our alcoholic friends and relative...
We claim spiritual progress … – Episode 72
06 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us exclaimed, “What an order! I can't go through with it.” Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anythi...
Recovery on the Road interview with Mara – Episode 71
01 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How do you take recovery with you when you travel? I talked with Mara about her recent experience traveling for several months, and how she kept her r...
Living with alcoholism or addiction – Episode 70
22 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you wonder how you’re going to make it through another day with the drinking and chaos? Have you had thoughts of leaving or worse? Today we have ...
Tradition 4 – autonomy – Episode 69
15 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you like some meetings better than others? Do you wish all meetings would do things the same way? Do feel you should be able to do whatever you wan...
Forgiveness – Episode 68
08 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have trouble forgiving the alcoholic or addict in your life? Have you carried hurts long after the person who hurt you is gone from your life? ...
Made a Decision – Episode 67
01 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve titled today’s episode Made a Decision. I am going to relate my the story of my journey to and through Step 3, “Made a decision to turn our...
Codependency – Episode 66
25 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
If you put your loved one’s needs ahead of your own… If you feel that others’ happiness is your responsibility… If your response to “what do...
Hope – Episode 65
18 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
“… we shall hew from this mountain of despair a small stone of hope.” — Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. What is hope? How do we find ...
Detachment – a “best of” episode – Episode 64
11 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Early on, I was told to practice “loving detachment.” I already knew how to do “middle finger detachment,” but detaching with ...
Tradition 3 – Episode 63
04 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Spencer, Ruth, and Wendy talk about Tradition 3, which states “The relatives of alcoholics, when gathered together for mutual aid, may call themselv...