That's Me! That's Me! Episode 27 with Gary W.That's Me! That's Me! Episode 27 with Gary W.
Recovery Radio Network
Gary W. shares his journey from arrests, prescription scams, and a suicide attempt in jail to long-term sobriety grounded in AA, sponsorship, and service. The conversation highlights how meetings, spiritual practice, and honest amends shaped a life he never expected to have.
51:18•14 Aug 2026
From Prescription Pad Schemes to Peace: Gary W.’s Long-Term Sobriety Story
Episode Overview
- Returning to a second AA meeting often starts with simple sparks: curiosity, laughter, and seeing people openly share things you thought you had to hide.
- Legal trouble and withdrawal can become turning points when paired with honesty about substance use and willingness to enter treatment.
- Consistent contact with a sponsor, even when there seems “nothing to say”, can shift focus from self to others and start genuine connection.
- Accepting the description “alcoholic” and engaging with big book meetings can bring relief and a sense of finally belonging.
- Practising the serenity prayer, making amends, and continuing meetings for decades can create a life far beyond what was originally imagined.
“Just because things aren’t going my way, it’s no indication that they’re going wrong. I’m being prepared for something better.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation with Gary W. offers a raw, funny, and very human look at long-term recovery. Hosts Julia J and Monica K open the show with their own AA geekiness – swapping pamphlets, talking about 90-in-90, and laughing about how “nerdy” they are about service. Their easy banter sets the tone: this is for people in or around twelve-step recovery who want honest stories, not polished speeches.
Gary, sober since February 1987, shares what finally pushed him from active addiction into Alcoholics Anonymous. You’ll hear him describe multiple arrests, a “murder-slash-travel board” of pharmacies pinned with coloured tacks, and a failed suicide attempt in the local justice centre. His blend of humour and honesty lands hard, especially when he says, “Just because things aren’t going my way, it’s no indication that they’re going wrong.
I’m being prepared for something better.” The heart of the episode sits in his “That’s me! That’s me!” moments: walking into the wildly diverse Oak Street meeting, being welcomed by people like Little John and Melvin (who banged his prosthetic leg on the podium), and realising he finally felt both fascinated and hopeful. Gary talks about shifting from calling himself an “addict” to embracing being “a garden variety alcoholic”, and how big book meetings and sponsorship slowly changed him.
There’s plenty here for anyone wondering why people keep going to meetings after decades. Gary explains that AA is where he can “exhale”, and that sticking around lets him share the same hope that was once handed to him. If you’re craving a reminder that long-term sobriety is messy, funny, and deeply practical, this story might be the nudge you need to keep going or come back. What part of Gary’s journey sounds most like your own “that’s me” moment?
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