That's Me! That's Me! episode 39 with Patrick D.That's Me! That's Me! episode 39 with Patrick D.
Recovery Radio Network
Patrick D shares how early brushes with AA, intensive treatment, sponsorship, and a growing spiritual life led him to see himself clearly in the fellowship. His story centres on returning to meetings, finding gratitude, and building a sober life around family, service, and simple daily actions.
47:41•6 Nov 2026
Patrick D’s Long Road to “That’s Me” and 36 Years Sober
Episode Overview
- Repeated contact with AA, even years before getting sober, can plant seeds that matter later.
- Treatment and detox can be harsh, but simple guidance from counsellors and peers often sticks the most.
- A clear, personal concept of a higher power can be written down and used as a practical anchor in daily life.
- Living amends may show up as concrete behaviour changes, such as giving loved ones full attention in conversation.
- Gratitude and humour in meetings help shift sobriety from grim survival to a richer, more connected life.
“"Gratitude is the hinge on which sobriety swings."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation on Recovery Radio Network’s "That’s Me! That’s Me!" brings Patrick D into the Cincinnati Public Radio studios to talk about what brought him back after his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting – and how he finally realised, "that’s me, that’s me". Hosted by Julia J and Monica K, the episode blends easy humour and everyday life with Patrick’s long-term sobriety since February 1986.
You’ll hear them chat about parenting, driving kids to school, and geeking out over the radio station’s mass timber architecture before shifting into Patrick’s story of alcoholic chaos, court-ordered rehab, and the 12-step path that changed everything. Patrick shares early brushes with AA – reading the Big Book in his twenties purely as a "really interesting philosophy book" – and the years of misery that followed before treatment at Bethesda Oak.
He recalls being nearly detoxed to death, the blunt counsellor who handed him an anger book with a "read the book" command, and fellow members whose simple lines stuck with him. One memorable phrase he still carries: "Gratitude is the hinge on which sobriety swings." The heart of the episode is Patrick’s spiritual journey.
He talks about his concept of a higher power, written out on a piece of plywood at a sponsee’s workshop, and how living amends show up in small, practical actions – like giving his wife full attention when she walks into the room. There’s also a lovely reflection on meetings in Cincinnati and London, the importance of laughter in recovery, and the way certain buildings and rooms become sacred markers in sober life.
If you’re interested in long-term recovery, sponsorship, and how ordinary moments become spiritual turning points, this one might leave you asking yourself: where have you already had a "that’s me" moment of your own?
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