Steve L. AA Male
Steve L. AA Male

Recovery Radio Network

AA speaker Steve L. shares a humorous yet unflinching account of middle class alcoholism, court-ordered treatment, and long-term sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous. His story highlights the power of honesty, sponsorship, and simple spiritual principles in rebuilding life, marriage, and self-respect.

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1:12:08•16 Apr 2026

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From Amaretto to Acceptance: Steve L.’s AA Journey

Episode Overview

Consequences alone – legal trouble, shame, and family fear – were not enough to keep Steve sober; he needed a programme, not just willpower.
He found that his most valuable contribution to AA was telling the unvarnished truth about his story, rather than trying to sound impressive or “tough enough.”
Big book study, sponsorship, and active service helped ground his recovery far more than simply attending discussion meetings.
Letting go of old ideas did not mean throwing away everything he knew, but being willing to put them down so better ideas could take their place.
His understanding of God shifted from something to define or debate to something “deep within” that connects him to other people and guides daily living.

“The primary thing of value that I bring to Alcoholics Anonymous is the truth about me.”

What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? This talk from Steve L., recorded for Recovery Radio Network, follows one man’s funny, self-aware, and deeply honest account of how Alcoholics Anonymous changed his life. Steve introduces himself as “the poster boy for middle class alcoholism,” and then proves that alcoholism doesn’t need a dramatic backstory to be devastating.

From his “terribly embarrassing” last drink — an amaretto on the rocks — to multiple DUIs, blackout “time travel”, and a wreck that totalled four cars, he walks through the progression of his drinking with sharp humour and zero self-pity. You’ll hear how a court-ordered stay in treatment accidentally opened the door to AA, and how two AA members visiting the facility simply shared their experience rather than trying to sign him up.

That low-pressure honesty stuck: “The primary thing of value that I bring to Alcoholics Anonymous is the truth about me.” Steve talks about learning that lack of power, not lack of will, was his real problem, and why fear, love, or shame couldn’t keep him sober for long. Instead, big book study, sponsorship, and service became his foundation.

He jokes about needing a personal invitation just to go to Shoney’s after a meeting, capturing how socially anxious early recovery can feel even for an outgoing guy. Along the way he reflects on bankruptcy, marriage strain, and rebuilding his relationship with his sober wife, Connie, through AA principles rather than grand gestures.

His description of God as something “deep within” that connects him to other people offers a simple, practical take on spirituality for anyone who struggles with the more religious language. This is aimed squarely at people in or near AA, family members trying to understand, and anyone who wonders, "Is my drinking really that bad?" You might leave asking yourself a better question: what could change if you told the full truth about you?

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