That's Me! That's Me! episode # 16 with Lucy L.
That's Me! That's Me! episode # 16 with Lucy L.

Recovery Radio Network

Hosts Monica and Julia talk with long-sober AA member Lucy L about what drew her back to a second meeting, how ego and fear played a part, and how amends and fellowship reshaped her relationships. The conversation mixes humour with candid stories of parenting, cocaine, ageing, and spiritual growth in recovery.

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45:45•22 May 2026

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Lucy L’s Second Meeting: Ego, Cocaine, and a Surprising AA Homecoming

Episode Overview

Ego and fear of public embarrassment can be powerful early motivators to seek help, even before genuine willingness fully forms.
Hearing unexpected topics like love versus lust in AA can create a strong sense of identification and belonging beyond just alcohol.
Staying for fellowship after the meeting and seeing familiar faces can make returning to AA feel safer and less intimidating.
Ninth Step amends can shift relationships deeply, revealing how secrecy and guilt have created distance over the years.
Long-term sobriety still benefits from meetings, literature, and connection, even as life changes with ageing, family, and new activities.

“"The war is over, you know, I'm surrendering to win."”

What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This chat on Recovery Radio Network’s “That’s Me! That’s Me!” brings together long-time friends and AA members for a warm, funny, and honest look at what actually brings someone back after their first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Hosts Monica K and Julia J keep things relaxed and relatable, opening with real-life updates about ageing parents, Zoom meetings, porch sitting, and the chaos of kids’ sports.

Their easy back-and-forth sets the stage for guest Lucy L, whose sobriety dates back to 27 March 1984 and who still surprises herself by taking kung fu classes at 70. Lucy talks openly about drinking and drug use as a young mum, from leaving her kids asleep in the car outside a bar to getting a DUI in an upmarket neighbourhood. She explains how ego and fear of public shame pushed her toward help more than any noble motive.

A key turning point came when a counsellor suggested AA and she walked into a noon meeting expecting dreary talk about alcohol, only to hear a discussion on “love versus lust.” That moment of recognition made her think, that’s me. She shares how returning to a second meeting, being pulled into the “meeting after the meeting,” and seeing familiar faces from her drinking days gave her enough comfort to stick around.

Later, making amends to her grandmother for stealing money showed her how guilt had quietly built distance in relationships: “I realized that I had actually created a space between me and my grandmother that whole time.” This conversation suits anyone curious about AA, second-guessing whether they belong, or struggling with ego, fear, and the idea of a higher power. It asks a simple, gentle question: what might happen if you just kept coming back one more time?

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