That's Me! That's Me! Episode #14 with Alan O.
That's Me! That's Me! Episode #14 with Alan O.

Recovery Radio Network

Long‑time AA member Alan O talks about years of denial, a powerful moment of surrender in his kitchen, and how AA, sponsorship and service shaped his sober life. The hosts mix light chat with serious reflection, showing how fear, faith and community can all play a part in recovery.

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42:12•8 May 2026

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“That’s Me, That’s Me”: Alan O’s Journey from Denial to Long‑Term Sobriety

Episode Overview

Recognition of alcoholism can start years before actual sobriety, even if denial keeps someone away from AA.
A moment of total honesty and surrender can break through years of justification and failed attempts to control drinking.
Acting on the thought "I need help" – by walking into treatment or a meeting – can be the real turning point.
Long‑term service, such as institution meetings, often helps the sober person as much as, or more than, the people they visit.
Fun, connection and a rich spiritual life are possible in sobriety, from simple outings to early‑morning work and time in nature.

“I walked in, I said, "Will you please help me?" and boom, that started the whole thing.”

What remarkable journeys have people faced head‑on against addiction? This conversation with long‑time AA member Alan O gives a clear, grounded look at how someone goes from total denial to saying, "that's me, that's me" in a meeting.

Hosted by friends Julia J and Monica K, the chat has an easy, funny warmth – they start with family stories, Easter chaos, recycling obsessions and kids’ games – before shifting into Alan’s account of alcoholism, court‑ordered meetings and years of trying to control his drinking. He recalls first standing against the wall in an AA meeting in the 1970s, thinking, “that’s me,” while his mind insisted he wasn’t an alcoholic.

Alan talks about a terrifying drink‑driving incident, the misery of repeated failed attempts to stop, and the moment in his kitchen when the denial finally dropped and he saw himself clearly. That moment of surrender led him to drive to a treatment centre and say, “Will you please help me?”, which he describes as a turning point he could never have planned.

You’ll hear how his "second meeting" in AA felt completely different: instead of running, he sensed, "this is where you belong" and couldn’t wait to go back. He shares how fear dominated early sobriety, how asking a sponsor for help kept him from walking away, and what service in institution meetings for 25 years has meant for his own sanity.

There’s also lighter stuff: being dragged to wrestling events, learning how to have fun sober, and why early‑morning golf greens and hiking feel deeply spiritual. Alan’s love for key passages in the Big Book – especially page 164 and "The Keys to the Kingdom" – rounds things out for anyone who likes concrete references.

If you’ve ever wondered why AA keeps some people coming back for decades, this honest, down‑to‑earth story might leave you asking where you see yourself in it too.

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