444- Mike B - Good Dudes Rule444- Mike B - Good Dudes Rule
Sober Speak- Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Interviews
Mike B shares how a growing inner emptiness, a sober spouse, and a brutal hangover led him into AA, where he found sponsors, "good dudes", and a new way of living built on service and amends. His story touches on anger, father wounds, moving cities in sobriety, and learning to "flow" rather than fight life.
58:16•17 Apr 2026
Good Dudes, Flow, and Second Chances: Mike B on AA, Family, and Starting Over
Episode Overview
- Genuine desire to grow and change is crucial; simply turning up without wanting it makes sobriety much harder.
- Finding a sponsor you respect and a group of people you admire helps make AA attractive rather than a punishment.
- Facing character defects directly – like anger – and tracking progress (such as with a "composure chip") can lead to real behaviour change.
- Making amends, even when it feels impossible, can transform long‑standing resentments and family relationships.
- When moving to a new place, treating yourself like a newcomer – arriving early, doing service, and learning names – helps rebuild a strong sober network.
“"If I'm flowing and not rowing, it's a good day."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For Mike B from Charlotte, North Carolina, it was a brutal hangover in a Dallas hotel room, a tragic newspaper story about a drunk-driving fatality, and the growing realisation that his marriage and career were slipping away. This conversation paints a clear picture of a man who had it all on paper – former college quarterback, successful flooring industry salesman, husband and dad – yet felt increasingly empty inside.
Mike talks openly about his early drinking in a chaotic home, years of "fun" that slowly turned sour, and the shame of looking in the mirror and hating what he saw. You’ll hear how his wife Mary Lynn, already sober through AA, became a quiet example rather than a nagging voice.
Mike explains how seeing her grow and mature while he stayed stuck in party mode made him think, "maybe it's time to grow up." His first AA meetings, his reluctance to say "I'm an alcoholic", and the relief when he finally did are all described in plain, relatable language. One of the standout themes is his word "flow" – a family word of the year that became a spiritual tool.
"If I'm flowing and not rowing, it's a good day," he jokes, tying it straight back to letting go and trusting a higher power. He also shares the honest struggle of earning a "composure chip", admitting it took eight months to string together 30 days without blowing up in anger.
Perhaps the most moving part is Mike’s amends with his father – years of resentment, a failed confrontation, and then a seemingly impossible reunion in an Alaskan airport that changed their relationship and his faith. Along the way, you'll hear about "good dudes", sponsor Bud, golf tournaments, home groups, and why finding fellowship after moving cities can make or break sobriety.
If you’ve ever wondered whether AA can work for a busy, driven person who’s moved around and made a mess of family relationships, Mike’s experience might be exactly what you need to hear today.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.