Happy Joyous and Free episode 11 with JohnHappy Joyous and Free episode 11 with John
Recovery Radio Network
John shares a candid account of his alcoholism, from shame-filled drinking and family breakdown to finding support in AA and rebuilding his life. He reflects on sponsorship, amends, gratitude, and why making recovery central helps him live "happy, joyous and free."
43:49•23 Sept 2026
From Booze as a ‘Solution’ to Living Happy, Joyous and Free with John
Episode Overview
- John describes how alcohol briefly turned an "intolerable" emotional state into something he could tolerate, showing why he drank despite severe consequences.
- He shares that guilt and shame over past harm, including a partner’s death, fuelled his drinking until AA offered another way to cope.
- A sponsor’s simple promise that he would "never have to feel this way again" helped him commit to AA, the steps, and regular meetings.
- Through amends and consistent sobriety, John rebuilt relationships with his children, his ex‑wife, and his father after 27 years of no contact.
- He emphasises that making AA central in his life allows him to treat the present moment as the most important thing, and that working with other alcoholics brings ongoing healing.
“I don't drink because it's a problem. I drink because it's a solution.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This talk from John on Recovery Radio Network’s *Happy Joyous and Free* series walks through the raw reality of alcoholism, the chaos it creates, and the unexpected grace of long-term sobriety. You’ll hear John contrast his own drinking with the completely different habits of his non‑alcoholic children, using humour to make a serious point about powerlessness.
He shares harrowing moments, including the murder of a former partner and the crushing guilt that followed, and how alcohol became his go‑to way to turn the "intolerable" into something he could bear: "I don't drink because it's a problem. I drink because it's a solution." The heart of the talk lies in his journey into AA, guided by his sponsor Bart, who offers simple, practical help rather than lectures.
John describes being unable to read the Big Book at first, learning to trust sponsorship, and the relief of hearing, "You'll never have to feel this way again." He stresses that working with other alcoholics doesn’t just keep him sober; it heals him. Family life features heavily: a marriage that ends in divorce, parenting as a sober single dad, and powerful amends to his ex‑wife and his father after 27 years of silence.
There are funny moments too, like the 92 naked Barbies around the bathtub and a chainsaw misadventure that nearly ended in disaster. For anyone curious about how AA actually feels in real life—sponsorship, meetings, amends, and the quiet miracles of everyday gratitude—this talk offers an honest blend of pain, humour, and hope. It might have you asking yourself what the "most important thing" in your life really is today.
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