Tom's AA Podcast Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:30:26 -0700 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2589432 en-us © 2026 Tom's AA Podcast yes 6feda38f-566c-5511-974b-9bf1404986cf Tom L. episodic false These are short audio-only podcasts about Alcoholics Anonymous, working the 12 steps, and my personal experiences.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Tom L. https://storage.buzzsprout.com/zaosdnno12kxaw313is7di6yw5qi?.jpg Tom's AA Podcast Balking Balking This podcast is about what to do when you find yourself balking at a particular step with AA's twelve steps.

]]> This podcast is about what to do when you find yourself balking at a particular step with AA's twelve steps.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18985635 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0700 444 1 19 full false Steps 6 & 7 Steps 6 & 7 This podcast is about how to do Step 6 and Step 7 within Alcoholics Anonymous.

]]> This podcast is about how to do Step 6 and Step 7 within Alcoholics Anonymous.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18985632 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0700 490 1 18 full false Fear Fear

This talk goes into how fears drive our resentments, how they degrade our ability to be fully present, and how to write a fear inventory.

]]>

This talk goes into how fears drive our resentments, how they degrade our ability to be fully present, and how to write a fear inventory.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18884255 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0700 625 1 full false Columns One and Two of the Resentment Inventory Columns One and Two of the Resentment Inventory This talk explains how to get started with columns one and two of your resentment inventory.

]]> This talk explains how to get started with columns one and two of your resentment inventory.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18802648 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0700 514 full false Staying Angry in the First Three Columns of Inventory Staying Angry in the First Three Columns of Inventory This very short talk makes the case for why it's helpful to let yourself be angry as you get started with your resentment inventory.

]]> This very short talk makes the case for why it's helpful to let yourself be angry as you get started with your resentment inventory.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18802660 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0800 202 full false We Agnostics We Agnostics An overview of key ideas in Chapter 4, We Agnostics.

]]> An overview of key ideas in Chapter 4, We Agnostics.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18750448 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:00:00 -0800 596 full false The First Paragraph of We Agnostics The First Paragraph of We Agnostics This talk focuses on the very first paragraph of chapter 4, We Agnostics. A compact and useful definition of alcoholism is there. I talk about how to decide whether you have this disease.

]]> This talk focuses on the very first paragraph of chapter 4, We Agnostics. A compact and useful definition of alcoholism is there. I talk about how to decide whether you have this disease.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18702578 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0800 389 full false A Few Thoughts on the Word 'Agnostic' A Few Thoughts on the Word 'Agnostic' This is a short talk about what the word 'agnostic' means and how it fits in AA's 12 steps.

]]> This is a short talk about what the word 'agnostic' means and how it fits in AA's 12 steps.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18702552 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0800 322 1 12 full false More About Alcoholism More About Alcoholism More About Alcoholism, third chapter of AA's Big Book, explains why it is that alcoholics can't rely on self-knowledge to stay sober.

]]> More About Alcoholism, third chapter of AA's Big Book, explains why it is that alcoholics can't rely on self-knowledge to stay sober.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18653924 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:00:00 -0800 1084 full false Unmanageability 201 Unmanageability 201 This podcast shows how to use part of Chapter 5 to better understand Unmanageability.

]]> This podcast shows how to use part of Chapter 5 to better understand Unmanageability.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18601476 Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0800 482 1 11 full false Unmanageability 101 Unmanageability 101 This short podcast focuses on the second half of the first step, unmanageability, and the Bedevilments found on page 52 of the Big Book.

]]> This short podcast focuses on the second half of the first step, unmanageability, and the Bedevilments found on page 52 of the Big Book.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18593378 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0800 356 1 10 full false How to Find God (Sort of) How to Find God (Sort of) This podcast focuses on how to find a conception of a Higher Power, aka God, suitable for a successful Step 2.

]]> This podcast focuses on how to find a conception of a Higher Power, aka God, suitable for a successful Step 2.

]]> Tom L. Buzzsprout-18584839 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0800 664 1 9 full false The Doctor's Opinion The Doctor's Opinion We dig into the Doctor’s Opinion from the AA Big Book and test its claims against our lived experience. We focus on physical craving, loss of control, and how to read the text line by line to see the truth without drama.

  • Weird but important
  • What “physical allergy” and  “phenomenon of craving” mean
  • The five-step Vicious Cycle
  • Best practice: Turn statements into questions
  • Depth matters
  • Using the set aside prayer to keep an open mind


]]> We dig into the Doctor’s Opinion from the AA Big Book and test its claims against our lived experience. We focus on physical craving, loss of control, and how to read the text line by line to see the truth without drama.

  • Weird but important
  • What “physical allergy” and  “phenomenon of craving” mean
  • The five-step Vicious Cycle
  • Best practice: Turn statements into questions
  • Depth matters
  • Using the set aside prayer to keep an open mind


]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554260 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0800 746 1 8 full false About God I About God I We direct this podcast to those of us uncomfortable with the concept of God or anything that might be described as religious. (We'll get into the difference between "spiritual" and "religious" in later podcasts.) Obviously, these ideas will increase in importance as we go forward, but even in step one I'd like to do what I can to keep some of you from freaking out the way I did.

]]> We direct this podcast to those of us uncomfortable with the concept of God or anything that might be described as religious. (We'll get into the difference between "spiritual" and "religious" in later podcasts.) Obviously, these ideas will increase in importance as we go forward, but even in step one I'd like to do what I can to keep some of you from freaking out the way I did.

]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554214 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0800 444 1 7 full false The Mental Obsession The Mental Obsession What is the mental obsession we talk about in 12-step programs? And why is it so all-fired important? This episode introduces the mental obsession and how Bill Wilson, the author of AA's Big Book, likely uses the term a little differently than you'd expect.

]]> What is the mental obsession we talk about in 12-step programs? And why is it so all-fired important? This episode introduces the mental obsession and how Bill Wilson, the author of AA's Big Book, likely uses the term a little differently than you'd expect.

]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554165 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0800 381 1 5 full false Starting Step One Starting Step One This episode helps people start Step One regardless of their fellowship. For alcoholics, that will be pretty straightforward. For people in other fellowships, it's important to customize your first step to fit the problem that has led you into your 12-step program.

]]> This episode helps people start Step One regardless of their fellowship. For alcoholics, that will be pretty straightforward. For people in other fellowships, it's important to customize your first step to fit the problem that has led you into your 12-step program.

]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554135 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0800 441 full false The Physical Craving The Physical Craving This episode introduces the concept. We sometimes call the physical craving and other times call the physical allergy in AA.

]]> This episode introduces the concept. We sometimes call the physical craving and other times call the physical allergy in AA.

]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554120 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0800 399 full false Powerlessness Powerlessness This episode introduces the concept of powerlessness, why the first step is crucial, and why self-knowledge gets alcoholics drunk.

]]> This episode introduces the concept of powerlessness, why the first step is crucial, and why self-knowledge gets alcoholics drunk.

]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554110 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0800 300 1 2 full false Why the Big Book Why the Big Book The focus of this short, six-minute audio only podcast is an introduction to why a person might choose to do the steps as outlined in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

]]> The focus of this short, six-minute audio only podcast is an introduction to why a person might choose to do the steps as outlined in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

]]> Tom Buzzsprout-18554094 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0800 361 1 1 full false