Relevant Recovery

In the rooms we talk about “working a good program,” yet many of us — even with long-term sobriety — still procrastinate on the daily disciplines that actually keep us sober and spiritually fit. We know what we need to do, but we put it off, make excuses, or wait until we “feel like it.” This procrastination is self-will in action. Today we use the Big Book and 12&12 to look at the Problem, the Solution, and how to live it. 🎧 Wherever you listen to podcasts 🕕 New episodes Sundays @ 6PM CST 🌐 www.relevant-recovery.org 🔗 linktr.ee/relevantrecovery #ForGoodAndForAll #RelevantRecovery #12Steps #WeDoRecover #SoberPodcast #Godtho

In this episode, we talk about how even in sobriety, many of us still wear a mask—hiding struggles, managing our image, and letting fear and ego take the lead. Using the Big Book and 12&12, we explore the problem and the solution through humility, authenticity, and living honestly in recovery. 🎧 Wherever you listen to podcasts 🕕 New episodes Sundays @ 6PM CST 🌐 www.relevant-recovery.org 🔗 linktr.ee/relevantrecovery #ForGoodAndForAll #RelevantRecovery #12Steps #WeDoRecover #SoberPodcast #Godtho

In this episode, we break down the true purpose of fellowship in AA—what it is, what it is not, and why it’s essential. Fellowship doesn’t keep us sober and it isn’t the program itself—but it is the vehicle that connects us to the people, relationships, and opportunities that make working the program possible. 🎧 Wherever you listen to podcasts 🕕 New episodes Sundays @ 6PM CST 🌐 www.relevant-recovery.org 🔗 linktr.ee/relevantrecovery #ForGoodAndForAll #RelevantRecovery #12Steps #WeDoRecover #SoberPodcast #Godtho

How trying to control every detail of life keeps us stuck in fear and prevents us from experiencing God’s flow.

A conversation with Dan Purcell about sexual integrity, healing distorted views of sex, and building real intimacy in your marriage. 💍✨ www.getyourmarriageon.com/recovery Free gifts for our listeners! 🎧 Wherever you listen to podcasts 🕕 New episodes Sundays @ 6PM CST 🌐 www.relevant-recovery.org 🔗 linktr.ee/relevantrecovery

It’s TORNADO SEASON! The early signs of relapse or spiritual drift are usually quiet and subtle. Unmanageability returns long before the drink or drug.

Somewhere along the way, we traded the clear, urgent, life-saving message in the Big Book for opinions like “wait a year,” “one step a month,” or “you need five years before you sponsor.” But none of that is found in our literature or our history.

How constantly seeking approval steals authenticity, spiritual growth, and serenity.

The Big Book says resentment is the “number one offender.” It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. What begins as a minor irritation can quietly grow into spiritual poison. In this episode, we dig into what the Big Book actually says about resentment, how to write inventory, and how to find our own faults so we can be free.

Special guest Ryan continues his story — raw moments from the trap and the miracle of surrender. From chaos to calling, this episode highlights transformation at the deepest level.

Tune in today with special guest Ryan as we unpack wild “Tales from the Trap” stories — and the miracle of what God can do with a life surrendered. From chaos to calling, this episode is about transformation from one extreme to the other.💚

When daily spiritual deposits stop, emotional withdrawals add up fast. Drawing from the Big Book, this episode explores how neglect — not failure — often leaves us spiritually overdrawn, and how simple daily practices keep recovery sustainable. 💚

Control and complaining quietly rob us of serenity. In this episode, we look at how “playing God” and focusing on what’s wrong keeps us stuck in self-will—and how surrender, gratitude, and daily spiritual practice restore peace. Straight from the Big Book, practical, and real.

Step Four isn’t about shame—it’s about clarity. In this episode, we reframe the Fourth Step as a tool for understanding the fear, pride, and out-of-balance instincts that drive our behavior long before alcohol shows up. This isn’t self-punishment—it’s pattern recognition, truth, and the foundation for real freedom.

Am I really helping—or keeping them stuck? Discover the difference between love that empowers and love that enables. Set boundaries, foster responsibility, and let God do the work.

Most of us can spot selfishness when we’re drinking — but after sobriety, self-centeredness just gets quieter, more justified, and more spiritual-sounding. This episode exposes how the root problem evolves in recovery.

In this episode, we revisit one of our most requested topics: Real, Lasting Change. If you feel like you are doing the "Recovery Cha Cha"—one step forward, two steps back—it’s likely not a discipline problem. It’s a spiritual one.

In this episode we look at the problem of living a self-directed life, how even believers can function agnostically, and why this chapter was written to help both the atheist become open-minded, and the believer become honest about their own self-reliance. If you’ve ever struggled with faith, control, or the spiritual side of recovery, this episode brings clarity, hope, and practical tools.

Alcoholics Anonymous has a language all its own. When someone is new, they often have no idea what certain words mean—especially the way they’re used in the Big Book and other 12-step literature. Learning the intended meaning behind this language can clear up a lot of confusion. In this episode, we break down these key terms so we can carry the AA message with more clarity, consistency, and accuracy. Big Book page references for Craving: in the Drs Op 7 times! XXVIII, This word does not appear again in basic text until page 134 in The Family Afterward and its used in regular contest for chocolate. Allergy is used 3 times in Drs Op. Big Book page references for Insanity: Used 9 times: 8, 9, 30, 37, 40, 56, 66, 107, 154. 16 Big Book page references for Recovered: Pg. iii, xiii, xv, xvii, xxv, 17, 20, 29, 45, 90, 96, 113, 132, 133, 146 & 165

Feeling stalled, off, or spiritually flat—even with years of sobriety? In this episode, we talk about why information isn’t the same as application, why there’s no quick spiritual fix, and how getting back into the daily practice of the 12 Steps brings real change. We break down the signs of a spiritual stall, the myth of the “magic pill,” and the simple actions that reconnect us to growth, community, and purpose.

What do you actually stand for? When life pressures you, what keeps you grounded? Are your beliefs based on unchanging truth—or on feelings and trends? #Those who stand for nothing, will fall for anything.

Why Some Find Recovery and Some Don’t. We’re going to look at a old story Jesus told in Luke 8, called The Parable of the Sower, and connect it to what the Big Book calls “a design for living that really works.”

Why the Little Things Can Be the Biggest Threats to Our Sobriety. It’s rarely the big life crises that take us out — it’s the little things. In this episode, we explore how small daily irritations and subtle spiritual drift can quietly erode recovery, and how consistent practice in the spiritual program protects us from both elephants and ants alike.

In this episode, we explore Steps 6 & 7 through the lens of masks, personas, and character defects. From Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to the “actor running the whole show,” we unpack how self-will and false roles keep us trapped—and how surrender invites God to direct the story. When we drop the costume and let Him remove what blocks us, our true selves can finally step into the light.

Fear is the silent saboteur of our peace and growth—an “evil and corroding thread” woven through the fabric our lives. In this episode, we uncover what’s really driving our fears, how self-reliance keeps them alive, and how faith sets us free.

Alcohol isn’t just a drink—it’s a spirit that whispers from the shadows: “maybe this time will be different.” In this episode, we learn how to recognize the whispers early, bring them into the light, and stay free from the ghost of booze.

In this episode of Relevant Recovery, we dive into pages 32–33 of the Big Book — the story of the “man of thirty” who swore off alcohol until retirement. This is a powerful reminder that sobriety is more than staying dry — it’s about finding true freedom through a change of mind and heart.

In this episode we explore what it really means to trust God rather than ourselves. From surrendering control, stepping off the Bridge of Reason onto the shore of Faith, and learning to play the role God assigns us. It’s an honest look at letting go of self-will, questioning less, and trusting more — even when we can’t see the outcome.

This week, we're talking about the lie of self-centered living. We’ve all heard the cultural messages: "Protect your energy," "Cut off anyone who doesn't serve you," and "Put yourself first." While these ideas might resonate when you're in pain, they're rooted in a "me-first" mentality that leads to loneliness and misery.

In this episode, we break it down in simple terms, exploring how it shows up in everyday irritations, resentments, and disconnection—and how to realign with peace and purpose.

In this episode, we explore one of the Big Book’s most powerful metaphors: the spiritual structure that leads us into a new way of life. From the foundation stone of willingness to the cornerstone of belief, the keystone of surrender, and the cement of fellowship, the Big Book shows us how to build an arch that we can walk through to true freedom.

“Were entirely ready” is trickier than it sounds. Step Six asks us to be “entirely ready” to have God remove our defects of character — but what does that really mean? In this episode, we explore the Sixth Step dilemma: why letting go is harder than it sounds, how willingness develops, and what the Big Book and spiritual principles teach us about becoming truly ready for freedom and change.

Trying to work the program halfway only leads to frustration, relapse, or a joyless sobriety. In this episode, we explore why real recovery requires full surrender—and how going all-in is necessary for real recovery.

Recovery isn’t conditional. In this episode, we confront the lie that healing depends on people or circumstances—and share how true freedom comes when we shift our dependence from others to God. Guest James offers a powerful story of surrender, loss, and spiritual restoration.

In this powerful episode of the Counterfeit Contentment series, we expose how sex and validation-seeking hijack our brains, warp intimacy, and leave us spiritually empty — and how healing happens through connection with God, community, and recovery.

In this episode, Food, Control & Recovery, we unpack how food, body image, and control can become counterfeit forms of comfort in recovery. From emotional eating to obsessive restriction, we explore the overlap between disordered eating and substance use—and how true healing begins at the heart, not just the habit.

In this episode, we look at how shopping and materialism offer quick comfort—but leave us emptier. From dopamine hits to identity traps, we unpack what’s beneath compulsive spending and how spiritual contentment offers a better way.

What’s the difference between happiness and true contentment? In this episode, we explore how recovery can get hijacked by counterfeit comforts—and how real peace comes through surrender, presence, and trust in God.

In this spicy episode, we break down what abstinence-based recovery means, how it differs from other pathways, and why clarity around definitions is critical. We explore why blending models can compromise recovery, and why honoring each path helps everyone heal. NIH took the article down but here is a link to a website discussing the same article: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/682790

In this raw episode, Donnie and Heather open up about navigating major life transitions. They share what it looks like to trust God in the middle of chaos and uncertainty, and how recovery has taught them to stay grounded when life is anything but.

We’ve recovered—but we’re not cured. In this episode, we break down the Big Book’s message about the daily spiritual solution to alcoholism. Recovery brings freedom from obsession, but we still need connection, humility, and daily action to stay well.

In this episode, we dive into a common debate within the 12-step community — is alcoholism a 2-fold or 3-fold illness? We examine the language, confusion, and implications associated with both perspectives. While the allergy of the body and the obsession of the mind are the only qualifying markers of alcoholism, many overlook the universal human condition: the spiritual malady. We’ll explain why the real solution to all forms of brokenness — whether alcohol, drugs, food, or anything else — is spiritual in nature. Let’s clear up the language and get back to the heart of the matter: reconnection with Power.

Sometimes it’s not the big moments, but the small, quiet ones that change everything. In this episode, we explore The Ripple Effect—how one simple decision, conversation, or act of obedience can set off a chain reaction that’s far greater than we could ever imagine.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about what it means to actually listen when God says move, even when it feels like you’re stepping off a cliff. No script, no filter—just faith, fear, and what it looks like to trust in the unknown.

In this episode, we dive into the concept of Emotional Sobriety with Gordan —what it really means to stay emotionally balanced in recovery. Beyond just abstaining from substances, emotional sobriety is about developing resilience, emotional maturity, and inner peace. Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers insight and hope for deeper healing.

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Heather and Donnie dive into how fishing mirrors the experience of helping others in recovery. Cast your line and join the conversation—you never know what you might reel in.