ESH: Noreen LESH: Noreen L
Sober Cast: An (unofficial) Alcoholics Anonymous Podcast AA
Noreen L shares an honest account of moving from childhood trauma, street life and crippling fear into long-term sobriety through AA. Her story focuses on meetings, service and relationships as the foundations of her recovery and ongoing life in Alcoholics Anonymous.
1:14:10•31 Aug 2026
From “Fuck You Noreen” to 33 Years Sober: A Candid AA Journey
Episode Overview
- AA can support people who arrive angry, fearful and resistant, as long as they have a desire to stop drinking.
- Showing up regularly to meetings, even when life is chaotic, is central to Noreen’s long-term sobriety.
- Service work and home group commitments helped her rebuild dignity and learn how to show up for others.
- Special composition groups (such as women’s and gay and lesbian meetings) offered extra safety and connection.
- Working the steps and traditions allowed her to replace lifelong fear and isolation with genuine relationships and a sense of purpose.
“All I simply had to do was be someone that was in need that had a desire to stop drinking.”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of recovery, as Noreen L shares an honest and sometimes raw journey from fear-filled childhood to long-term sobriety. Speaking at the 55th Connecticut State Convention, she offers what she calls "simply what Alcoholics Anonymous and what my story is" – and it's anything but dull.
You’ll hear about growing up in a South Boston family marked by alcoholism, violence and secrecy, where Noreen says, "There was not one person that I called friend." Early trauma, drug use, and chaotic relationships led her to life on the streets, volatile partners, and eventually to being so paralysed by fear she couldn't open her post or answer the phone.
Her turning point comes through a psychiatrist who notices "alcohol" on her list of problems and hands her a pass to AA.
From there, a tiny woman named Donna walks into the psych ward and takes her to 405 Oak Street in Cincinnati, a clubhouse where Noreen starts going to beginners’ classes and piling up sober days despite feeling "absolutely terrified." Noreen’s story is packed with humour that takes the edge off the pain – including being nicknamed "fuck you Noreen" by AA friends who still patiently shared the programme with her.
She talks about changing "he" to "she" and "God" to "goddess" in the Big Book, finding women’s and gay and lesbian groups, and slowly learning that she could form real relationships and show up for commitments. Her later life includes marriage, raising a son, facing domestic violence sober, grieving the death of a stepson from alcoholism, and returning to education to earn multiple degrees.
Through it all, she keeps coming back to one simple gift from AA: "I got to form and develop relationships with other human beings." If you’re wondering whether AA can handle your fear, your anger or your defiance, this story might make you think again – what could change for you if you just kept showing up?
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