The 12th Step Call (The Daily Trudge)
The 12th Step Call (The Daily Trudge)

RAW Recovery Podcast

Dion talks candidly about the fading practice of 12th Step calls, mixing humour and raw honesty as he explains how one‑to‑one help can support another alcoholic. The conversation also touches on guilt, family, higher power and practical ways to approach someone in the “gift of desperation.”

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37:56•7 Jun 2026

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Bringing Back the 12th Step Call: Old‑School Help in a Modern Recovery

Episode Overview

A 12th Step call is a direct, often urgent conversation with someone questioning their drinking, usually sparked by an AA hotline call.
Timing matters; the best moment is often the “gift of desperation” when the alcohol is wearing off and the person is finally open to help.
Going in pairs, matching men with men and women with women where possible, is stressed as a key safety measure for those doing 12th Step calls.
Guilt is presented as a useful indicator that something needs to be addressed, not a state to live in forever, with steps four and five highlighted as a way through.
Honest talk about family, harm caused, and higher power – without rescuing people from consequences – is central to making a 12th Step call effective.

“The 12th Step is where recovery leaves the pages of the book and enters the real world.”

Dion keeps things relaxed and funny (there’s even a detour into guilty grandad movie choices and midnight peanut‑butter spoons), but the core message is serious: helping another alcoholic, one‑to‑one, used to mean dropping everything with no spotlight, no social media, just “one person carrying a message of hope to another person who was suffering.” You’ll hear him walk through how a traditional 12th Step call works in real life: the AA hotline ringing, the importance of going in pairs for safety, and why timing matters – that raw “gift of desperation” when the alcohol is wearing off and someone is finally ready to talk.

What secrets to maintaining sobriety can be uncovered? This conversation on RAW Recovery zooms in on something many people in recovery say is disappearing: the old‑school 12th Step call. He explains how to build rapport with simple questions about family, school and life, then use that information to gently, but honestly, show the harm alcohol is causing.

There’s a big emphasis on honesty and boundaries: not rescuing people from consequences, keeping emotions in check, and being clear about higher power conversations instead of dodging them. Dion also breaks down practical communication tips – from letting someone talk themselves out until they repeat, to using body language mirroring to shift them from shut‑down to open.

Alongside all that, he reads a daily reflection on guilt, sharing how he refuses to live under guilt trips, yet recognises guilt as a signal that something still needs to be put right – often through steps four and five. If you’ve ever wondered what real, boots‑on‑the‑ground 12th Step work looks like, this chat gives a raw, honest walk‑through with plenty of humour, swearing and heart. Who could you carry a message of hope to today?

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