vol 304. Cute & Funny with John W.vol 304. Cute & Funny with John W.
Keep Coming Back Podcast
John W. shares how blackout drinking, an unexpected 12th‑step from a colleague, and working the AA programme as written led to over two decades of sobriety. His story blends humour with practical detail on sponsorship, the steps, amends, and learning to ask for help.
1:06:13•9 Jul 2026
Cute, Funny, and Dead Serious: John W. on Blackouts, Sponsorship and 25 Years in AA
Episode Overview
- Hearing another alcoholic describe the physical allergy, mental obsession and spiritual decline around drinking helped John recognise his own problem for the first time.
- Showing up and working the steps straight from the Big Book with a sponsor gave structure and momentum that simple meeting attendance never could.
- Detailed fourth and fifth step work revealed repeating patterns and showed that his real issues went far beyond alcohol itself.
- Carefully prepared Step Nine amends, without using the words "I'm sorry", taught John to take responsibility, stop guessing what others think, and experience real relief.
- Sponsoring men through the same simple, “boring” process of reading the book and following the instructions continues to change both their lives and his.
“"Don't talk God to a drunk. You got to talk drunk to a drunk."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This Keep Coming Back episode brings John W. to the mic for a long-term view of Alcoholics Anonymous that’s equal parts sharp, self-aware and quietly hilarious. John talks through his history as a blackout drinker who loved “the quiet of blackouts” and assumed everyone drank the way he did, from teenage New Year’s disasters to waking up on top of his bed in shoes and checking the car for damage.
A key turning point comes in a car ride with his colleague Luca, who casually describes the allergy, obsession and spiritual decay of alcoholism straight out of the AA “doctor’s opinion” – and accidentally narrates the inside of John’s head. You’ll hear how one open AA meeting, a cup of coffee, and a simple question – “Did you hear anything in the meeting that you could have said?” – slowly crack his denial.
John then walks through early sobriety: white‑knuckling the holidays, that infamous “one glass of wine” plan, and finally getting a sponsor who takes him through the steps directly from the Big Book. His stories about fourth and fifth step work, high-speed amends, and learning he’s an “excuse‑making explainer and manipulator” add humour to some very honest truth.
He explains how strict guidance on Step Nine amends, avoiding “I’m sorry”, and asking, “Is there anything I’ve left out?” completely changed his relationships and freed up huge amounts of mental space. For anyone questioning their drinking or stuck on the fence about AA, John’s main message is simple: don’t wait to be certain before you try. As he puts it, the cost of checking it out is far lower than the cost of waiting.
Could hearing one drunk talk to another be the nudge you’ve been hoping for?
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