Scott S. AA MaleScott S. AA Male
Recovery Radio Network
Scott S. shares his journey from violent street life and untreated alcoholism to a service-focused AA recovery grounded in sponsorship and spiritual practice. His story touches on deep amends, ego reduction and learning to live as a committed student of the Big Book.
59:38•17 Sept 2026
Scott S.: From Street Chaos to a Life of Service in AA
Episode Overview
- Sponsorship is presented as crucial, with an emphasis on staying a student of the Big Book instead of acting like a spiritual authority.
- Scott stresses that untreated alcoholism can exist even in sobriety and shares how deeper step work changed his thinking and behaviour.
- He highlights that making thorough amends, wherever possible, is closely tied to staying sober and becoming truly free.
- Daily spiritual practice and God-consciousness are shown as practical tools, including prayer, reading and contemplation.
- A shift from chasing happiness to living by duty and service is described as a path that unexpectedly brings genuine joy.
“I don’t live for happiness today, I live for duty and I get to experience joy.”
Curious about how others turn a chaotic life into one grounded in service and sobriety? This talk from Scott S., shared on Recovery Radio Network, follows an AA member who openly describes being “walked out of the cave” of untreated alcoholism and into a different way of living. Scott speaks to people in recovery who want more than just staying dry; they’re looking at sponsorship, the Big Book, and spiritual growth as daily tools.
He jokes that he showed up to AA like “a clenched fist” and admits he once swung the Big Book around “on the end of a chain like a mace” in meetings. That mix of honesty and humour makes the story relatable for anyone who’s ever tried to look spiritual while still running on ego. A big part of this episode is the role of sponsorship and being a lifelong learner.
Scott insists he’s “a student of the big book and not a teacher,” and talks about his sponsor Mickey M. and others such as Mike Lorenz, Gary Brown and Peter M., who helped build Fellowship of the Spirit conferences. You’ll hear about the question that changed everything for him: “Tell me where it hurts,” and how hard it is to answer that when life feels broken everywhere.
He speaks directly to people who’ve harmed others and are scared to make amends, sharing detailed stories of facing those fears, including returning to a jeweller he once robbed.
He also talks about moving from self-centredness to God-centred living, saying, “I don’t live for happiness today, I live for duty and I get to experience joy.” The tone is raw, kind, and down-to-earth, ideal if you’re already in recovery or wondering what deeper AA work looks like beyond just attending meetings. It might leave you asking: what would happen if you truly became a student of recovery, not the expert?
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