#114 INSPIRATION#114 INSPIRATION
The Gathering With Roger B.
Roger B. and members of The Gathering share how sponsors, mentors and spiritual practices have inspired their sobriety and reshaped their lives. Through candid stories, they reflect on honesty, amends and the power of inspiration to keep recovery alive.
1:00:51•2 Jul 2026
Inspiration, Sponsors and Stories That Keep Sobriety Alive
Episode Overview
- Inspiration is described as a catalyst that sparks action, confidence and new purpose, especially in creative and recovery work.
- Sponsorship or mentorship is shown as ongoing, mutual accountability rather than a one-way set of instructions.
- Abstinence alone is contrasted with spiritual recovery; change requires action, not just thinking or "putting the plug in the jug".
- Honesty is framed as the absence of any intention to deceive, but must be balanced with compassion to avoid brutality.
- True amends mean changing behaviour so the past no longer controls you, regardless of how others respond.
“Our power is in our stories. That's how God uses us with our stories.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this Gathering session titled "Inspiration", Roger B. brings together a community of people in recovery (and a few who aren’t) to talk frankly about what and who has changed the course of their lives. Roger opens by reflecting on sponsorship as inspiration in action – whether you call it a sponsor, mentor, teacher, coach or clergy.
He offers a clear definition of inspiration as something that "acts as a catalyst that sparks action, evokes emotion, or breathes new life into purpose", and links it to the 11th Step practice of prayer, meditation and uplifting reading to raise your thinking and, in turn, your actions and consequences. From there, the group shares story after story.
Doug talks about learning that "you can't think your way into sobriety" and being told he had to change his behaviour, not just his ideas. Andy describes eight years of sobriety that grew from deep shame and a powerful sign involving his late father's initials on a number plate.
Justin and Kirsten both speak about years of circling recovery before finally getting honest and committing to sponsorship with Roger, while Holly and Megan recall hiking and driving with Roger’s talks playing on repeat just to get the message into their heads. Throughout, Roger keeps returning to a simple theme: the people who inspired them are still alive in their words and actions.
He stresses that abstinence alone isn’t recovery, that "our power is in our stories", and that genuine amends mean not repeating the old behaviour. The mood is warm, candid and often funny, even as they touch on death, illness, fear and shame. If you’re curious about how inspiration, honest sponsorship and spiritual practice can make sobriety feel possible – and even meaningful – this honest group conversation might be just what you need today.
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