467- David M - Dads in Recovery467- David M - Dads in Recovery
Sober Speak- Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Interviews
John M talks with AA veteran and father David Mack about how dads in recovery can repair strained relationships with kids, ex‑partners and their own fathers. The conversation highlights fear, amends and the ongoing spiritual work that keeps family connections alive in sobriety.
1:16:01•25 Sept 2026
Dads in Recovery: Healing Family Bonds with David Mack
Episode Overview
- Motivation to get sober can come from becoming a parent and wanting to show up differently for a child.
- Unresolved anger toward fathers, mothers or ex‑partners can quietly block deeper recovery, even after years sober.
- Healing estranged relationships often requires ongoing effort, prayer and willingness, rather than assuming “the ball is in their court.”
- AA’s tools—especially prayer, service and working with newcomers—help build self‑awareness and reduce fear, including fear about money.
- Letting go of old ideas, as the Big Book suggests, opens space for new experiences of family, love and a present‑moment relationship with a higher power.
“I help men not only, you know, heal their relationships and rebuild their relationships with their kids, but also their dads.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between host John M and long‑time AA member David Mack from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, focuses on what it means to be a dad in recovery and why family relationships can’t be left “on the table” once the drinking stops.
David shares that he got sober young—back in 1980—when his daughter was just six months old and he suddenly found himself a scared, unprepared father: “I had not planned to live past 25, let alone have children.” That shock became a major motivator to stay sober, and today his three adult children are all in recovery and part of his AA life, even joining him at international conventions.
The episode centres on David’s passion project, Dads in Recovery, where he works with men who have complicated histories with their kids, ex‑partners and their own fathers.
He talks about men who are active in AA but still quietly furious at their dads or estranged from children in earlier families, saying, “I help men not only, you know, heal their relationships and rebuild their relationships with their kids, but also their dads.” He challenges the idea that “the ball is in their court” and instead suggests prayer, ongoing effort and even surrounding yourself with photos of estranged children as ways to keep the heart open.
You’ll also hear David describe how fear, especially around money and family, can shape our lives: “Fear set in motion trains of circumstance we felt we didn’t deserve,” and how AA’s tools of prayer, service and sponsoring others steadily build self‑awareness.
He calls himself a lifelong student of the Big Book and reminds you of the line, “Some of us have tried to hold onto our old ideas, and the result was nil till we let go absolutely,” using it to urge dads to drop old stories and make new attempts at connection.
If you’re a parent in recovery—or love one—this candid chat might have you asking: what relationship is fear still telling you to avoid, and what small step could you take today?
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