Rule 62 - Episode 02 - Honest Listener FeedbackRule 62 - Episode 02 - Honest Listener Feedback
The SHAIR Recovery Podcast
Omar Pinto reads and responds to candid listener emails about his Rule 62 rant, cussing, meeting safety, and the purpose of his show. The conversation highlights concerns about newcomers, boundaries, sex addiction and staying grounded in service rather than numbers.
37:11•5 Nov 2015
Rule 62, Cussing and Newcomers: Honest Listener Feedback on Recovery
Episode Overview
- Honest feedback helps shape the tone of recovery content and keeps ego in check.
- Newcomers, especially women, need meetings where boundaries are respected and they feel safe.
- Group conscience decides meeting norms like cussing and structure, and people can choose meetings that fit them.
- Focusing on service and carrying the message matters more than download numbers or popularity.
- Addiction goes beyond drugs and alcohol, and many listeners want more stories on sex addiction and other behaviours.
“"It's not about me. It's about carrying the message."”
Curious about how others manage their sobriety while putting themselves out there publicly? This Rule 62 instalment of The SHAIR Recovery Podcast is all about "feedback and gratitude", as host Omar Pinto reads out raw, unfiltered emails from his audience and reflects on them in real time. The episode centres on his previous Rule 62 rant, which some people loved and others found "scary and triggering".
Omar openly owns that reaction, admitting, "I found out very quickly that it's not cool for me to just get up on the air and lose my shit," and promises to pay close attention to his tone. You'll hear both sides: some listeners cheering on the humour and cussing, others worried about rage, spiritual condition and the image of 12‑step fellowships. A big thread is safety in meetings, especially for women.
One email from a woman with nearly 11 months sober describes men crossing boundaries, grabbing her hand and making inappropriate comments, and calls for people to be "vigilant and protective" of women in early recovery. Omar responds by acknowledging his own past 13‑stepping, the consequences he faced, and his commitment to protect newcomers who are "so delicate and volatile" in those first months. Another strong theme is purpose: is the show about numbers or about service?
One listener reminds him that he has to "get out of the results business and leave that up to God". Omar agrees: "It's not about me. It's about carrying the message." The conversation widens into language in meetings, group conscience, smoking bans, and whether swearing really affects newcomers. There’s also a powerful focus on wider addictions, especially sex addiction and pornography, described by several listeners as common, hidden and shame‑soaked.
They argue that "addiction is addiction" and ask for more stories beyond drugs and alcohol. If you’ve ever had strong feelings about how recovery spaces *should* look and sound, this honest back‑and‑forth might get you thinking about your own part in the groups and media that support you.
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