You Don't Know Me, But You Know Me [Season 10, Episode 25]You Don't Know Me, But You Know Me [Season 10, Episode 25]
AA Grapevine's Podcast
Trevon T. shares how growing up in alcoholism, going to prison, and losing contact with his children led him to AA, the steps, and a new way of life. The conversation also touches on sponsorship, BIPOC experiences in AA, and how stories and service help keep sobriety strong.
28:42•22 Jun 2026
Born Into Chaos, Finding Hope in AA: Trevon’s Story of Sobriety and Service
Episode Overview
- Alcohol may feel like relief from chaos at first, but untreated addiction can lead to serious consequences such as prison, broken relationships, and spiritual emptiness.
- Working the AA steps honestly, sometimes more than once, can bring relief, especially when tackling difficult resentments and admitting the exact nature of past wrongs.
- Amends are more than apologies; ongoing consistency and showing up for loved ones can be a living form of repair.
- Service work, meetings, prayer, and meditation form a daily foundation for sobriety that a recovery-related job cannot replace.
- People of different backgrounds may feel alone in meetings, yet focusing on similarities and creating spaces like BIPOC panels can support understanding and inclusion.
“Don’t try to fit in because you already stand out. Just listen to what everybody has to say and see where you can relate to that.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This half-hour chat on AA Grapevine’s podcast gives a front-row seat to Trevon T.’s story of growing up in addiction, losing almost everything, and slowly rebuilding a life through Alcoholics Anonymous. Trevon shares how alcohol felt like “a chance to breathe” in a chaotic childhood shaped by his mum’s drinking, yet that relief led to jail, prison, and years away from his children.
He talks honestly about white‑knuckling it on parole, fearing detox, and finally breaking down in treatment: dropping to his knees in the shower and saying, “God, just have your way with me in this moment. I can’t do this no more.” The heart of the episode is how the AA programme—and especially the steps—changed him from the inside out.
He admits he initially stalled at Step Four, then later went back through the steps more honestly, including facing a deep resentment toward his mother.
His amends to his teenage son bring one of the most moving moments: “There was nothing that you could have ever done to make me stop loving you.” Host duo Don and Sam keep things light with jokes and gentle teasing, but they also dig into serious themes: sponsorship, doing the work *thoroughly*, and why recovery routines (meetings, prayer, meditation, service) can’t be replaced by a recovery-related job.
Trevon also speaks about being the only Black person in many meetings, his service with young people and BIPOC AA members, and why inclusivity matters: “Don’t try to fit in because you already stand out.” Elaine from South Dakota pops in to share how reading Grapevine stories in meetings supports newcomers and deep sharing.
If you’re wondering whether AA can work for you, or how people rebuild relationships after years of damage, this conversation might leave you asking what changes you’re ready to make today.
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