AA Grapevine's Podcast

Caitlin had false starts, but was told by a woman n AA "I'm here when you're ready." Those words stuck and when desperation hit Caitlin jumped into AA. Now she says she's seen too many miracles to have doubt. Stay tuned after Wit's End to hear Caitlin's "Friend of Bill" story. Patrick gives an update on the 2025 International AA Convention in Vancouver in July. Don, Sam and Caitlin answer A Newcomer Asks question from...

Mark tells Olis and Sam that finding a home group really made the difference for him in making sobriety enjoyable. The three also discuss working the Steps with a sponsor and Mark tells how his sponsor had him talk to three other people about each Step as he worked his way through. This week's special features include #heardinameeting with one from Jack, and Phyllis provides Listener Feedback.

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Polly, whose article appears in the April 2025 issue of Grapevine, talks with Olis and Don about getting sober just before the pandemic hit and meetings went online. She tells the story about being scooped up from a bar room floor, waking from a blackout and knowing that something had to change. Today she stands on her own two feet. Polly was pleasantly surprised that her letter of gratitude for the AA Grapevine podcast became an a...

Susie talks to Don and Sam about coming into AA while in high school, and some of the attitudes she learned to change. Only in AA, she says, did she find others who admitted that they too loved alcohol—until it turned on them. The three discuss using AA tools to get through challenging times sober. In a History Snippet, Mily reports on the early days of AA in Canada.

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Mack recalls being told early on that "you will never have to sober up again," and those words stuck with him and helped him commit to AA. Mack, Don and Olis discuss Ask it Basket questions from Madeline and Michael. Stay tuned after the closing music for Listener Feedback from Nadja and Gary.

You're Invited to the 2025 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous. Please visit aa.org/international-conven...

Stephanie tells Olis and Sam about going to an AA website after a particularly bad binge and taking "The Quiz." Qualifying, she took it again just to be sure, then found her way into AA through a virtual meeting. Don and Olis share anecdotes about co-founder Dr. Bob. There's an update on the 2025 International AA Convention in Vancouver, BC July 3—6. This week's feature is #heardinameeting, and Stephanie, Olis and Sam...

Chris joins Olis and Sam and says that when he accepted help, little by little his life got better. Chris carries the message by going with other members to detox and treatment centers, and enjoys not only the work but also the meetings in the car before and after. In special features the three discuss a Daily Quote on sanity, and there's an Ask it Basket question about reading "How it Works" in meetings.

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Mary, whose story appears in the March issue of Grapevine Magazine, shares that she got serious about AA when alcohol stopped working for her. She tells Don and Sam that once she surrendered her Higher Power gave her a fish-eye lens view of what she needed to do. Our roving reporter Olis visits the AA International Women's Conference in San Diego and we hear sharing from Tracy, Brenda, Paige, Danni, Liz, Faith and Cindy.

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Cindy spent a long time dry in AA meetings while not working the Steps, and it wasn't always pleasant. She wonders now how she did not go out. Eventually, she tells Don and Sam, she had enough and reached out for help with working the AA program of recovery. In the Ask it Basket Madeline wonders if it's OK for a newcomer to bring a friend for support to a meeting, and Jim has a question about outside contributions. On Lis...

Don and Sam start us off with a conversation about the difference between "rigorous honesty" and "brutal honesty." Jeff joins the discussion saying that his first exposure to AA was through his father and his AA friends. Jeff tried AA for a couple years but struggled with the ideas of a higher power and with sponsorship. With the help of a past teacher he met up with at a meeting, Jeff learned that he absolutely could not stay sobe...

Theresa began AA with gratitude for the Traditions, finding she could be herself in the fellowship without concern. An early AA friend helped her see that she belonged. Theresa does service in hospitals, women's treatment centers and in half-way houses. She says her recovery is a repeating process of discovering, uncovering and discarding, and that she needs to be an AA member all the time—not just in meetings.

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Michelle, whose article appears in the February 2025 issue of Grapevine, talks to Olis and Don about her awakening of not wanting to drink anymore. Among other things, Michelle talks about the successful logistics of her hybrid home group, about healing her relationship with her daughter, and about writing for the Grapevine.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not...

Our roving reporter Don visits the Southeast Regional Forum and interviews several trusted servants at the event, including past delegate Kenneth, the Regional Forum Coordinator at the General Service Office, Eileen, Regional Trustee Tom, and the General Manager at the GSO, Bob. There's also Listener Feedback from Paul, Bill, Alex and Roman.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the onl...

Wilson talks to Sam and Olis about a financial windfall that did not fill the hole in his soul. It wasn't until he found AA that he found himself through the Steps. Wilson tells a touching story of hardcore AA guys helping him prepare for his little girl's birthday party. Olis and Sam talk about the Bridging the Gap program, and there's an update from Patrick C. on the International Convention in Vancouver, BC, which is coming up i...

Donna talks to Olis and Don about getting sober in a therapeutic community, and doing service now bringing Big Book workshops to AA members. In a Blast From the Past, Bill W. talks about the Three Legacies of AA in a talk from 1954 in Fort Worth, TX. Misha from the Public Information Desk at the General Service Office talks to Don about the new AAWS podcast "Our Primary Purpose," which premiers on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. ...

Happy New Year and welcome to Season 8 of the AA Grapevine Half Hour Variety Hour. Shirley, whose article appears in the January issue of Grapevine magazine, shares with Don and Sam about being in a place where either suicide, murder or a mental institution were coming soon. Instead, she found an AA meeting and a new life. In the News we learn about a new podcast from the General Service Office called "Our Primary Purpose." ...

Kelley tells Olis and Sam that she first came to AA when the alcohol no longer made her feel better. She struggled at first and had to admit that she'd not been completely sober. When Kelley got honest with her sponsor and group, she was welcomed with open arms. There's an Ask it Basket question from Joe, and Listener Feedback from Brian, Jack, Jerimiah, and Pat.

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Growing up in traumatic circumstances, Anthony would see TV shows and wonder — where is that world? He tells Don and Olis how he found a new and better world through AA members, sponsorship and working the steps.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, o...

Susan talks to Don and Sam about her recovery and her service work with the Online Intergoup of Alcoholics Anonymous. Patrick from the International Convention Desk at the General Service Office gives an update on the 2025 International Convention happening in Vancouver, BC in July. There's two Ask it Basket Questions from Madeline, and Jack sent in a joke for Wit's End.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do...