Sober Talk SA - Rosie

Sober Talk SA - Rosie

What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This AA radio share from South Australia follows Rosie, who calls herself “an alcoholic” and talks honestly about how drinking once felt like the only way to cope with panic, depression and a constant sense of not being good enough. Rosie’s story is especially relatable if the spiritual side of recovery makes you bristle.

Raised in a strongly materialist, atheist home, she jokes that she had “contempt prior to investigation” and wanted something outside herself to magically “save” her without having to change. Instead, she found herself stuck in a loop of hospitals, medications and what she calls “groundhog day” drinking. Her turning point comes with rehab, AA meetings and, crucially, finally asking for a sponsor.

Reading the Big Book with another alcoholic helps her see patterns of obsession and instant gratification, whether it’s alcohol, relationships, food or nicotine. She explains, “All my struggles would actually become assets because they would allow me to help others,” and that promise slowly starts to come true. A big theme is spirituality on your own terms.

Rosie talks about using ideas like “the force” from Star Wars, martial arts philosophy and live music to crack open the idea of a higher power. She keeps the language light and funny, calling herself an “undisciplined, lazy alcoholic” who somehow manages daily practices because they let her be useful to others. For anyone who’s sober-curious, new in AA, or blocked by the God-word, this share offers practical hope: keep coming back, get honest, clean house and help others.

You’ll hear how someone who once wanted to die now describes a “life beyond your wildest dreams.” Could the same approach work for you?