A Shot Glass of Recovery

From Park Benches to Purpose: Steven's 40-Year Journey

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.

From Mad Dog to Miracles:Jess One Woman’s AA Story

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.

From Pints to Purpose: Scotty’s Raw Journey Through Recovery

Hey — this episode is a tough, beautiful listen. Scotty shares the honest, heartbreaking, sometimes messy story of how he went from drinking alone at a corner table to showing up day-by-day in AA. He talks about childhood trauma, violent nights, coming so close to death he was in ICU, and the times strangers and small mercies pulled him back from the edge.He walks us through the awkward, stubborn early days in meetings, picking the wrong sponsor, then finding Pete — a patient, no-nonsense mentor who helped him work the steps. There’s real talk about step work: the terror of Step Four, the relief of making amends, and the ongoing challenge of character defects and emotional sobriety.Scotty doesn’t pretend it’s all fixed. He still has days that are hard, admits he cries, and confesses the struggle to truly forget old hurts even after forgiving. But he also shares the routines and tools that help him stay steady — daily Step Ten work, gratitude lists, little acts of service, and a simple meditation (the St. Francis prayer) that brings him real calm.This is a speaker you’ll feel close to — the kind of voice that’s honest, self-deprecating, warm, and full of hard-won hope. He talks about amends, funerals, family friction, and the small victories that add up. His story is a reminder that recovery is daily, imperfect, and human.If this resonates, the show gently asks for support — subscribe, leave a review, or drop a dollar in the PayPal basket to help keep these stories available. It’s also an open invite to pop into the AA Solution Seekers meetings (they meet every day at 7 a.m.) if you want to say hello and find community.Thanks for listening — Scotty’s closing is simple: keep showing up, keep doing the work, and one day at a time really does add up.