A Shot Glass of Recovery

Five Minutes at a Time: My Real AA Road to Recovery - Tom from Florida

Tom says the alcoholics anonymous took him from that place of panic and desperation, and I'm here to tell you exactly how I stayed sober: one minute at a time, five minutes at a time, one day at a time.
Today's speaker Tom from Florida says "Alcohol changed my brain the first time I drank — it took away inhibitions, it dulled the fear, and it felt like an answer to everything that hurt. It wrecked my life, left me shaking, sweating out detox at home, and with an enlarged liver at thirty. But what saved me was the rooms going back out was a group of people who cared enough to meet me where I was." 
It wasn't bout lectures or magic formulas; it was about showing up. I sat in the same front-row seat twice a week because someone told me it would help me hear the message. I learned to wash ashtrays, fold tables, mop up spilled coffee, and let people be kind to me without judging me. Those small acts and the routine of meetings anchored me.
People in AA shared how they did it — their experience, strength, and hope — not opinions or one-size-fits-all fixes. I had a sponsor after two years who taught me boundaries around the program: we go to meetings, then we do life. That structure, and the kindness I received, taught me how to find answers through the steps and through honest conversation.
If you re new, it doesn't feel easy at first. You do this in tiny pieces. Look around—if someone in the room did it, you can, too. Remember your last drunk not to shame you but to keep you honest and grateful it so it does end up being the last one.
This isn't about being perfect; it's about showing up, asking for help, and letting people love you into recovery. Stay curious, try different meetings, find a home group and a sponsor, and give yourself the grace of small steps. You can do five minutes more, and then five minutes more. believe in you.
 
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 the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
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Lesley the Hummingbird of Hope: One Woman’s Real, Funny, and Heartfelt Road to Sobriety

Hey friend — pull up a chair. In this episode Leslie (aka Hummingbird) takes us on a wildly honest, often hilarious, and deeply moving tour of her life with alcoholism and the surprising ways recovery showed up for her.
Leslie talks about the messy and human parts: growing up with addiction in the family, the low points that no one should have to carry, and the tiny, ridiculous moments (like hiding a bottle in the bathroom) that become the turning points. Leslie’s storytelling is full of warmth and wit — she’s the kind of person who’ll make you laugh and then hand you a tissue.
We hear how rehab and AA weren’t magic fixes but a lifeline — daily meetings, a sponsor who pulled her through, service work that lit up her life, and the patience to do the work step by step. She shares powerful moments of connection: strangers who became angels, jail meetings that mattered, and the people who kept showing up even when she didn’t want them to.
Most of all, this episode is about family and second chances. Leslie’s daughters found their own paths to sobriety, her relationships slowly healed, and she learned to be kind to herself while staying vigilant — because she knows how easily the old ways can creep back in. There’s humor here, too: nicknames, hats, and the joyful absurdity of AA meeting names like “Old Farts.”
If you’re new, nearly new, or just curious, you’ll feel invited and welcome — Leslie’s message is simple and true: come all the way in, look for similarities, find someone to help, and remember there are angels everywhere. Stick around to the end for a warm reminder to subscribe and support the show if this story touched you.
 
 
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 the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
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Ep. 8 Step study 12&12 - Facing the Boogeyman: How Step Four Lights the Way

Hey friend — welcome to Episode 8 of A Shot Glass of Recovery. We pick up in the 12&12 (page 48) and dive into Step Four: the fearless moral inventory. Lisa and the group keep it real — this is where we stop blaming everyone else, shine a flashlight on our own defects, and start doing the work that actually changes our lives.
We talk about the “self-imposed crisis” that got many of us here, and how Step Four teaches accountability: acceptance, setting boundaries, and taking responsibility for our side of the street. The reading walks through the old language (sin, immorality) and then translates it into what matters today — ego and fear, the seven human failings (the Paggles: pride, anger, greed, gluttony, lust, envy, sloth), and how those instincts gone astray fed our drinking.
If the idea of this inventory makes you freeze, you’re not alone. The group shares remind us that fear is just the boogeyman — once you bring willingness, shine the light, and put pen to paper (or set a short deadline like two weeks), relief shows up fast. Sponsors are there to guide, edit and hold your hand through the messy parts — you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to show up and be honest.
Listeners hear real examples: from parking-lot rants to the long list of petty resentments, and how the fourth step opened the door to emotional sobriety. The payoff is concrete — less anxiety, fewer resentments, new confidence, contentment, and practical tools (prayer/meditation, pausing before you react, daily spot checks with the four columns, and working Steps 10–12).
If you’re curious or terrified about Step Four, know this: it’s a beginning, not a punishment. It’s the gateway to a rebuilt life on bedrock, not quicksand. Tune in, bring willingness, grab your sponsor, and try it — the first fruits (peace, relief, a clearer sense of self) are worth it. See you next week as we keep finishing Step Four.

ep 7 12&12 study - Step 4 Sweeping Truths and shining the light on hidden unpalatble facts

Hey friend — grab your 12 & 12 and settle in. This episode of A Shot Glass of Recovery is a warm, honest dive into Step Four: the scary, messy, and ultimately freeing inventory that helps us stop hiding our dirt under the rug. Lisa leads a live literature study that blends real-life stories, sponsor wisdom, and the kind of compassionate, no-nonsense humor that makes hard truths a little easier to sit with.
We talk about depressive self-pity, pride and grandiosity, the danger of blaming others, and how sponsors help crack the ego’s walls so the light can in. Guests share raw, courageous moments — from reliving hard offenses to discovering tiny glimmers of hope — and we hear how taking the inventory paved the way for real change, humility, and the promise of continued healing in daily practice.
If you’re in the thick of Step Four, curious about sponsorship, or just need a reminder that you’re not alone (and that recovery can be surprisingly joyful), this episode is for you. Listen in wherever you may be, and know we’re passing you a shot glass full of fellowship, honesty, and tough love.
 
A Shot Glass of Recovery
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love the show and are able to contribute, I hope you consider dropping a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help  to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.

Harmony Over Hangovers: One Woman’s Global Journey to Sobriety

Hey friend — this episode feels like sitting across from someone who’s telling you the truth over coffee. Yvonne shares her raw, honest journey from a childhood of feeling out of place to a drinking career that snuck up on her, across continents from Uganda to Sweden, and finally into the rooms and pages of AA that changed everything.
She talks about the big moments — losing her sister, hitting that long slow jumping-off point, going to rehab, and the many near-misses — but also the gentle, surprising turns: the kindness of sponsors, the power of a community that calls you out with love, and the steady comfort found in a spiritual practice that isn’t about perfection but about showing up.
Yvonne is refreshingly real about how she resisted the program for years, tried doing it her own way, and finally found help in the simplest things: a phone call, a line in the book (hello, page 68), and people who practiced what they preached. She mixes moments of painful honesty with hopeful insight — like discovering that nothing outside you (money, fame, relationships) fills the hole, and that recovery is a daily, imperfect practice.
If you’re new, or you’ve been trying to fix things alone, listen for the practical heart of her message: find a sponsor who’s actually working the steps, find a group that will hold you accountable, and get into the Big Book with someone who can explain it. Her advice is simple, fierce, and kind — progress, not perfection.
This share is full of small miracles and real tools: how service deepens recovery, why community matters, and how a relationship with a higher power can become the steadying force when everything else fails. It’s a story of grief transformed into a life that vibrates with purpose — imperfect, beautiful, and ongoing.
Stay for the warmth, the humor, and the hard-won wisdom. And if you like what you hear, consider subscribing, leaving a review, or popping into a meeting — sometimes the next right thing is as simple as showing up.
 
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 the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
 

From Chaos to Calm: Indy’s Year of Sobriety and Real Talk

Hey friend — meet Indy. She’s raw, real, and one year into sobriety after a life that looked perfect on the outside but was falling apart on the inside. In this episode she walks us through how the 12 Steps pulled her out of shame, a DUI, a messy divorce, and the loneliness of high-pressure success. She doesn’t sugarcoat the hard parts — the court dates, parenting chaos, and job loss — but she also shares the small, powerful tools that keep her steady: meetings, a sponsor, daily prayer, and service.
If you’ve ever wondered whether recovery could actually work for you, Indy’s story is the living proof. She talks about learning to pause, making amends, choosing boundaries without war, and finding a new community that loves her for who she is. It’s about progress, not perfection — and the unexpected beauty that shows up when you stop trying to control everything.
Tune in for a hopeful, intimate share that’s equal parts tough and tender. Whether you’re early in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just need a reminder that change is possible, Indy’s experience, strength, and hope will stick with you long after the episode ends.
 
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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 the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
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Goodbye Manipulation, Hello Honesty: Line 5 of the St. Francis Prayer

Hey friend—pull up a chair. In this Shot Glass of Recovery episode, Lisa M. dives into line five of the Prayer of St. Francis: “Where there is error, let me bring truth.” We look at how people‑pleasing, passive aggression, and subtle manipulation keep us living in fiction—and how choosing honesty, directness, and willingness brings us back to reality and alignment with God’s will.
You’ll get gentle, practical prompts to start your day: What are my plans? Am I telling the truth (especially to myself)? Am I trying to force outcomes, or am I willing to conform to the reality in front of me? We sit for a focused 10‑minute meditation and a simple daily prayer to stay honest, play fair, and stay in our own lane—asking for the courage to change our minds when we discover our “values” were just mistaken opinions.
Then we wrap the day with a quick, no‑nonsense inventory: Did I complete my plans? Where did I bend the truth or manipulate? Did I gossip, switch allegiances to fit in, or hold a half‑truth to be liked? What do I need to own so I can make it right tomorrow?
If this practice helps, Lisa can email you the Prayer of St. Francis Daily Practice & Reflection Cards—reach out at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com. Got a birthday, anniversary, or topic idea? Send it in! And if you’re able to support the show, contributions at paypal.me/ashotglassofrecovery keep this little corner of recovery going. Listen from wherever you are—and stay tuned for the next line in the series: doubt vs. faith. One tiny shot of truth at a time.
 
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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 the show, I’m asking for your support. Drop a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help me afford to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
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line 6 st francis prayer From Doubt to Faith: Pause, Pray, Proceed

Hey friend—welcome back to A Shot Glass of Recovery. Today we’re sipping Part 6a of our St. Francis Prayer meditation series: Doubt versus Faith. This is your pocket-sized check-in you can listen to wherever you are, a quick reset to help you move from uncertainty to trust.We start by unpacking doubt—how it’s soaked in fear and second-guessing—and we hold it up to the light of faith. You’ll get gentle, practical questions for your morning meditation: What are today’s objectives? Are they rooted in faith or fueled by doubt? Do you believe you can reach your goals and get through today? Is there someone you can help? Are you withholding something that needs to be shared? What can you do to prepare for action, not just think about it?Then we flip to faith—confidence, trust, reliance on a Power greater than ourselves—and put it into action. When in doubt, call someone you trust (yep, your sponsor counts). Tell the truth about your thoughts and feelings and ask how they walk through life on life’s terms. Seek counsel from people who have what you want and follow it—no more excuses.We use simple tools you can lean on anytime: IRS (Investigate, Research, Scrutinize), then give it to God and decide. Or the triple Ps: Pause, Pray, Proceed. Recite the Seventh Step prayer when your strength slips. Check facts instead of writing fiction in your head. Talk it through with your sponsor, take it to God in meditation, and remember—your brain (not facts) often fuels discomfort, anger, and resentment. Some things just aren’t your business. Ask God to direct your thinking and draw hope from the rooms of AA: if it worked for them, it can work for you.We close with a 10-minute meditation: three deep breaths, let the music hold you, and hand over what’s heavy. Later, do a simple nightly review in your Step 10 and 11 notebook: Did I act in good faith? Was I quick to mistrust or believe the worst? Did I let fear run the show? Did I rely on God? Did I change my opinion to please others—or to manipulate outcomes? Where did I fall short, and what’s my next right step?Got a birthday or anniversary to share, a show idea, or want the Prayer of St. Francis Daily Practice cards? Email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com. If you’re able to support the show so we can keep the lights on, you can chip in at paypal.me/ashotglassofrecovery. Not required—always appreciated. Thanks for listening, and here’s to choosing faith today.

Taking the 12 Steps Old School Style - in less than 3 hours

Hey friend — glad you showed up. This episode of "A Shot Glass of Recovery" is me walking you through a no-nonsense, warm workshop on the Big Book and the 12 Steps: step-by-step, page-by-page, and exactly how a sponsor can guide you from desperation into daily sobriety. We even do it with a little humor (Mabel the dog makes an appearance and praise be to God miracles do happen and she does NOT bark during the entire 2.5 hour recording!) and a whole lot of heart.
I thought about making this episode a subscriber only episode to help fund the production cost of the show, however I want the hand off recovery to be available to all without barriers. So if you can contribute financially to support the show for those that can't afford to help us out, please hit that paypal link further down in the notes.
We start with the serenity prayer, clear the air, and dive straight into the essentials: why the Big Book says we’re "recovered," what it really means to admit powerlessness (Step 1), and how the log list and loser list become your roadmap out of the mess. I break the lists down so they’re usable — not overwhelming — and explain how sharing those pages with another alcoholic sparks identification and hope.
From there we move through Steps 2–7: the idea of a power greater than yourself (that water the fish never noticed), the decision to turn your will over, the hard-but-healing Fourth Step inventory, and the relief that comes when you bring those truths into a Fifth Step with another person. It’s honest, practical, and a little funny when I tell you about the dog that walks on water.
Steps 8–11 are all about fixing the past and building a new daily life: making amends, repairing relationships, continuing inventories, and learning to pray and meditate so your conscious contact with God (however you define that) guides your thinking. I give real, doable tips — how to approach people, when to get counsel, and why restitution is about changed behavior more than dramatic apologies.
Step 12 is the payoff: carrying the message. We talk about the starfish story — you can’t save everyone, but you can make a difference to the one in front of you — and why helping others is the best insurance against relapse. This episode is full of Big Book quotes, concrete exercises (columns for resentments, fears, harms), and encouragement to get a sponsor who has what you want.
If you want quick, practical step work and a compassionate guide to the Big Book — plus downloadable handouts and show notes with links like www.bigbooksponsorship.org — this episode is for you. Bring a notebook, be honest with yourself, and know you can do this: sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but always with real tools and people who understand.
Want the worksheets and readings I mentioned? Check the show notes — they’re in the chat and the episode page. Thanks for being here; let’s keep putting one step in front of the other.
 
A Shot Glass of Recovery
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love the show and are able to contribute, I hope you consider dropping a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help  to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. I can also forward the prayer cards of St. Francis to you. 
Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
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Link to the readings in todays Episode
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qsOJjt9yebU05SBzqKEVlZH4A4HDDxRV?usp=sharing
 

St Francis prayer line 4 - Where There Is Discord, Let Me Bring Harmony

Hey friend—today we’re sitting with line four of the Prayer of St. Francis: “where there is discord, I may bring harmony,” and practicing how to live it in real time.
We start in the morning with gentle prompts to spot discord before it grows: Where am I in disagreement? Are my plans aligned with others? What motives are driving me? I’ll invite you into two‑way prayer—grab your notebook, breathe, and write whatever you hear from that still, quiet inner voice of God.
Then we lean into harmony as a solution: choosing to be agreeable, keeping unsolicited opinions to ourselves, and remembering that everyone (me included) has the right to be wrong. You’ll hear how to use STAR—Stop, Think, Ask (take it to God)—so you can respond instead of react.
Toward the end, there’s a 10‑minute music meditation you can use anytime. Sit in silence, focus on your breath, and jot down what comes. If you’re listening on the go, circle back tonight and make space to sit with it.
In the evening, we’ll review the day with simple, honest questions: Was I harmonious in my actions? Did I force my opinion? Did I give others (and myself) the right to be wrong? Did I pause, pray, and proceed? If you answered yes to items 1, 2, 3, or 10 on your nightly checklist, consider reaching out to your sponsor and noting any actions in your 11th‑step notebook.
When discord pops up—whether in others or in me—we’ll pray for God’s will, mercy, and blessings for them and for ourselves. Thy will, not mine, be done.
Listen wherever you are, bring your notebook, and let’s practice harmony together—one small shot glass of recovery at a time. Tomorrow we’ll step into line five: error versus truth.
 
A Shot Glass of Recovery
paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery
If you love the show and are able to contribute, I hope you consider dropping a 1$, 5, 10 or 25 in the virtual pay pay basket at paypal.me/AShotGlassofRecovery .  Any amount will help  to fund this project and continue to bring you great speakers, the Big Book Study, Literature studies on recovery, workshops and Lisa shots that contain a wildcard of variety.
You can also support the show by liking, subscribing, and following it on your favourite platforms. Leave a 5 star review while you're there! There is nothing I love more than your engagement so please email me at ashotglassofrecovery@gmail.com and let me know how this show has contributed to your unique journey in recovery. I can also forward the prayer cards of St. Francis to you. 
Let me know if I can celebrate a milestone with you and give you a shout out. Would you like to be a guest? Drop me a line by email.
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