A Shot Glass of Recovery

A Shot Glass of Recovery
Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
Hey friend — this episode is a real, unfiltered walk through someone’s life before and after finding AA. Jess takes us from dusty off-license bottles and blackout nights to the small, steady practices that actually changed her life: meetings, sponsorship, service, and the hard work of honesty.
She shares the odd little moments that felt like salvation (that first fearless night) and the later, harsher truth when alcohol stopped working. Jess talks about growing up in an alcoholic home, trying to control everything, and the strange relief of finally admitting she was the problem — and the solution she found in community.
This is about more than just stopping drinking. It’s about learning to live differently: doing step work, showing up for others, letting go of pride, and discovering a sense of belonging and a relationship with a power bigger than yourself. She’s honest about the messy stuff — panic when her group dissolved, the temptation to coast, and why she doubles down on the program when life gets rough.
If you’re new, curious, or carrying someone else’s pain, Jess’s story is a reminder that recovery can be surprising, slow, funny, devastating and beautiful all at once. She’ll tell you: reach out, ask for help, and don’t try to do it solo.
Stay for the warmth, the truths, and the practical humility — and if the talk lands with you, consider popping into a meeting or giving a little support so these stories keep getting shared. You’re not alone in this.

A Shot Glass of Recovery
Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.
Hey friend — meet Steven: a kid from a big church family in Philly who spiraled into drugs, violence, and a life spent on park benches as “Crazy Reds,” before a raw, heartbreaking wake-up call pushed him toward recovery. This episode walks with him through the losses, the wild youth, the family drama, and the hard-earned gifts of sobriety — a spiritual awakening, decades in AA, and a life rebuilt with faith, service, and laughter.
He talks honestly about the darkest moments (losing a son, losing himself), the small mercies (a t-shirt with a scripture, a hand to pull him into treatment), and the daily practices that keep him steady — prayer, meetings, and simple acts of service. It’s equal parts painful and hopeful, and a reminder that recovery isn’t a straight line but a practice of showing up, forgiving yourself, and helping others.
If you’re curious about the raw realities of addiction, the power of AA traditions, or you just need a human story about staying sober one day at a time, Steven’s voice is warm, funny, and real. Grab a coffee, press play, and stay for the closing bit where he breaks down the steps and what they mean to him now.

A Shot Glass of Recovery
Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
SHOW NOTE: Like the shows? Consider showing your support 
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
Hey — thanks for listening in. This episode features Joe from Scarborough, a guy who used to drink on streetcars, fall asleep in snowbanks, and live off the next dopamine hit. He gets real about how the chaos he caused his family, employers, and friends finally pushed him to ask for help and step into recovery.
Joe walks us through the moment that saved him: a treatment stay up north, a Big Book with his name and date written in the corner, and the slow, stubborn work with a sponsor. He describes how Step 11 — prayer and meditation — and honest step work changed his nervous, reactive life into something manageable. The details about walking around with eyes closed, slowing down his speech, and swapping anger for simple spiritual practices are gold.
What really lands is the messy human stuff: family-law fallout, humiliating mistakes, amends that made him vulnerable, and the hard-earned humility that followed. He shares the moment his ex told him she and the kids were afraid of him — even when he wasn’t drinking — and how making heartfelt amends and inviting a higher power into the room repaired parts of his life he thought were gone.
Joe talks about the home group that saved him, One Paragraph at a Time, and why small, steady service matters. He highlights the value of sponsors, rotation, Tradition 10 (stepping back from outside controversy), and why showing up as yourself — not a chameleon — is recovery’s quiet miracle.
If any of this resonates — whether you’re in early recovery, dry but brittle, or just curious — Joe reminds you that recovery is a series of small, brave choices: slow down, be honest, work with others, and put recovery first. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about showing up and letting the God of your understanding do the rest.
If you want to support the podcast and keep these stories available, drop a dollar or two at paypal.me/a-shot-glass-of-recovery. And if you’re nearby, pop into AA Solution Seekers — 7 a.m. daily — or find a home group that fits. We’re all walking this path one day at a time.

A Shot Glass of Recovery
Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.
Welcome to A Shot Glass of Recovery — the speaker series where real people share real stories of healing. In this episode, Clara opens up about losing her husband, the slow creep of alcohol into every corner of her life, and the turning point that led her back to AA. She talks about the raw moments: waking to blood and staples, waking up as a widow with four kids, and finally finding a sponsor who helped her do the painful, freeing work of the Steps. Clara’s 400 days of sobriety are full of humility, humor, and hard-won gratitude. If you need encouragement, or if you’re curious about what recovery actually looks like day to day, her story is a loving, no-nonsense reminder that life — and color — can come back. Tune in, and if something resonates, consider dropping a dollar in our PayPal to help keep these stories alive.

Hey friend — this episode introduces Carol, a warm, frank, and funny woman who’s been sober since May 1, 1988. She walks us through how she went from drinking to numb out the pain to slowly learning a new way to live: meetings, steps, sponsorship, and small acts of service that added up to a whole new life.
Carol shares the key moments that changed everything: the seed someone planted years earlier, a life‑saving conversation in a hallway, and the deep, steady guidance of her sponsor Lois. You’ll hear about the hard stuff — childhood wounds, shame, blackouts — and the honest, surprising gifts recovery brought: self‑respect, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
She gets into the nuts and bolts — reading the Big Book, doing the fourth and fifth steps, the little daily practices (third step prayers, Step 10 check‑ins, gratitude lists), and how simple service tasks like making coffee or calling three to five women every day helped her rebuild trust in herself.
There are great little recovery moments here: cassette tapes and pay phones, letters to people in Malawi and Australia, online meetings before they were cool, and even stories from her camper van (yes, a leaking fuel line turned into a God‑story). Carol’s higher power is practical and present, and she explains how she learned to “give up the crystal ball” and do the next right thing.
Honesty plays a starring role: she tells the funny and painful stories of admitting mistakes at work, making amends, and how telling the truth actually gave her back self‑esteem. She also talks about being part of a global fellowship — conferences, international friends, and how one small action can ripple across oceans.
This isn’t a neat, polished how‑to; it’s a real, lived account of a life changed one day at a time. If you’re curious about the steps, sponsorship, doing service, or just need to hear that recovery includes joy, tears, and everyday miracles — Carol’s share is full of heart and practical hope.
If this resonates, stick around: there’s a warm invitation to join her home group, pop into meetings, and support the podcast if you’d like. Mostly, just know you’re not alone — her story is a friendly reminder that small, steady actions add up to big changes.

Hey friend — this episode shares Carla’s unfiltered, powerful story: growing up with an alcoholic father, sneaking drinks as a teen, hiding vodka in tea towels, and finally crashing hard in the first COVID lockdown. She tells it with brutal honesty and a surprising sense of humor, so you feel the fear and the relief right beside her.What turned everything around was a raw, heartbreaking moment and a yes to help: her husband exposing the stash, her mom’s reaction, and a call to AA. With Zoom meetings, a no-nonsense sponsor, the Big Book landing on her porch, and a promise to do whatever it takes, Carla fought through detox, shame, and isolation and started showing up — for herself and for others.Now she’s five years sober and still very much herself: blunt, funny, direct. She travels for work, removes minibars from her rooms, tells her boss she’s in AA, and leans on meetings on the road. She’s learned practical tools to stay safe around triggers while staying connected to people and spirituality in a way that actually fits her life.She also shares the messy, tender parts — helping her dad through a horrifying health crisis, cleaning up literal biohazard, and learning how to hold boundaries without cutting off compassion. Recovery didn’t fix everything, but it gave her a life she can wake up to and protect: a calmer home, a healthier marriage, and a sense that she can face tomorrow.If you want something honest and hopeful, this episode is like a late-night chat with a friend who’s been through the fire and stayed. It’s about grit, grace, and showing up one day at a time — and it might just give you permission to ask for help, too.

A Shot Glass of Recovery
Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! Whether you're a first-time listener to A Shot Glass of Recovery or a loyal member from my 2 Sober Chicks days, I’m glad you’re here. 🌟
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.
Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. Hi, I'm Lisa, the host of A Shotglass of Recovery, and this is our speaker series. Let's sit back and get ready for some more experience, Strength, and hope
Hey — this episode feels like sitting across from a friend who’s lived the chaos and come out the other side. Sean’s talk is real, unfiltered, and full of those tiny human moments that add up to massive change: the stolen dog, the Greyhound escape, jailed nights, the moment he finally asked for help, and the slow, steady rebuild through AA and the 12 steps.
He shares the ugly stuff without shame and the tender stuff without preaching — making the whole story feel like a late-night conversation. You’ll hear about the power of honest amends, the quiet miracles of accountability, and why showing up to meetings (and to life) kept pulling him forward. Whether you’re new, struggling, or supporting someone, there’s a piece of this story that lands.
If you want a hopeful, human look at recovery — imperfect and beautiful — this episode is for you. And if it resonates, the show invites small PayPal contributions to help others hear stories like Sean’s. Take a listen, take what helps, and remember: you’re not alone.

Hey—so glad you’re here. In this episode, we get a raw, hopeful share from Matt, who went from living out of a trash bag and trying to end his life to finding sobriety, faith, and a life full of purpose through Alcoholics Anonymous. He tells the story of the morning he said three life-changing words—"I need help"—and how that honest, desperate moment led to treatment, an AA sponsor, and a new relationship with God.Matt opens up about family—losing his dad at 15, his grandmother Opal who taught him about faith (and her famous apple cake), and the painful history that pushed him into drinking. He also talks about the little, everyday miracles of recovery: learning to smile again, being asked to sit at the front door and greet newcomers, and the powerful impact of simply reaching out to someone who’s dying inside.This is a talk about humility, service, and how carrying the message becomes a lifeline—both for the giver and the receiver. Matt shares candid moments—being embraced when he was broken, the tough-love guidance of a sponsor, and the joy of reconnecting with family and life’s simple pleasures (he even rode a bike to Paris for a honeymoon meeting!).If you need hope, this episode hands it to you gently: recovery is possible, spiritual growth can be real, and the fellowship of AA can change everything. It’s warm, grounded, and honest—like a conversation with a friend who’s been through the fire and stayed to help the next person out.

A Shot Glass of Recovery
Welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery! If you like our speakers please consider supporting this project so that we may continue to afford to produce it for you. 🌟
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love real recovery stories told like you’re sitting across from a friend, this one’s for you. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for some experience, strength, and hope.
Welcome to the speaker series on A Shotglass of Recovery. Hi, I'm Lisa, the host of A Shotglass of Recovery, and this is our speaker series. Let's sit back and get ready for some more experience, Strength, and hope
Welcome to the speaker series "A Shot Glass of Recovery." In this episode, we hear Kelly's powerful AA story — from early binges, blackouts, and legal trouble to hitting rock bottom with his father's death and the life-changing spiritual awakening that followed. Kelly shares honest, raw moments: stealing parking meters, Cape Cod shame, hospital beds, the terror of blackouts, and the slow, steady work of recovery. He talks about sponsors, making amends, the small victories (like admitting you don't own a Mustang), and the deep rewards — being present for his children's milestones and building a 35-year marriage of trust. This episode highlights the simple truths of AA: show up to meetings, tell the truth, sponsor others, and plant seeds without expecting immediate results. If you find something here that resonates, consider supporting the show via PayPal to help keep these stories available to others.

The 12&12 a Study with Lisa and Friends: Part 20
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paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
Hey friend — welcome to another shot glass of recovery. This episode is a warm, real conversation about Step 11: prayer and meditation as our way to improve conscious contact with a Higher Power, however you name it. You’ll hear honesty about bargaining prayers, resistance to meditation, and the tiny, surprising shifts that come when we actually try the tools we’re given.
We talk practical stuff — how prayer can be simple (ask only for God’s will and the strength to carry it out), how meditation doesn’t require a mountain-top experience, and how humming or breathing can literally calm the body and open a channel to something bigger. No mysticism, just what works for real people trying to stay sober and sane.
This episode is full of lived experience: sponsors who insisted we try, newcomers who discovered they’d been praying all along, and folks who learned to trade judgement and bargaining for acceptance and trust. You’ll hear stories of fear eased by a short, honest prayer, of peace that didn’t fix circumstances but changed how they were lived, and of how fellowship — other people with skin on — helped make the spiritual real.
There’s also gentle, relatable talk about the hardest bits: grief, anger, wanting justice, and learning to let go when the outcome isn’t ours to control. The takeaway isn’t an answer to every question — it’s an invitation to show up, suspend disbelief, and give these practices a fair try. The change isn’t always dramatic, but it’s cumulative: a little calm, a little clarity, a steadier life.
So if you’re curious or skeptical, this is for you. If you already use Step 11, you’ll recognize those moments of unexpected peace and the power of simply doing the work. Either way, listen in wherever you are — this shot glass-sized conversation might be the exact sip of hope you need today.
Thanks for joining the circle. We say the Serenity Prayer together at the end: may we accept what we cannot change, find the courage to change what we can, and grow the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.