In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous 's Podcast Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:22:56 -0700 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2626765 en-us © 2026 In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous 's Podcast yes fb1f7358-2bb7-5d86-9a0a-c8d1b517691e In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous episodic true A podcast relieving you from the bondage of 12-step coercion. We will break down how the Big Book, the steps, and meetings cause long-term psychological abuse. With personal experiences, reviewing AA literature, and chatting with other former members, we're creating a conversation around Bill W.'s support group turned cult. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous https://storage.buzzsprout.com/3burhe9mytphdi4fjj8uojxua8xc?.jpg In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous 's Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2626765 Soft Cults & the Empathy Buzz: An Autopsy Soft Cults & the Empathy Buzz: An Autopsy This week, I have a very special guest from all the way down in Phoenix, Arizona—David Riu! He talks about his childhood in a Christian cult, struggling with opiate dependency and homelessness, recovering from substance abuse disorder, getting trapped in the "soft cult" of AA, and leaving the program. He teaches me about harm reduction, Recovery Dharma, SMART recovery, and treatments to overcome drug dependency. He also reflects on witnessing and experiencing 13 steppers, religious coercion, and how the empathy buzz is something powerful.


If you haven't listened to any episodes, I highly encourage you to start here.

]]> This week, I have a very special guest from all the way down in Phoenix, Arizona—David Riu! He talks about his childhood in a Christian cult, struggling with opiate dependency and homelessness, recovering from substance abuse disorder, getting trapped in the "soft cult" of AA, and leaving the program. He teaches me about harm reduction, Recovery Dharma, SMART recovery, and treatments to overcome drug dependency. He also reflects on witnessing and experiencing 13 steppers, religious coercion, and how the empathy buzz is something powerful.


If you haven't listened to any episodes, I highly encourage you to start here.

]]> In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous Buzzsprout-19541964 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:00:00 -0700 4144 1 5 full true 13 Stepping & Sobriety Spectrum: An Autopsy with Guest Heather! 13 Stepping & Sobriety Spectrum: An Autopsy with Guest Heather! Heather, a mental health counselor and former AA member, joins the podcast to provide her lived experience in 12 Step meetings. She goes over the very unwelcome, unsolicited advice from sponsors, dealing with 13-steppers, and how she slowly exited the program. Spoiler: The Orange Papers came into Heather's world, and it got her thinking. We also discuss the spectrum of substance abuse disorder; how some members need to abstain for a temporary period of time, while others require long-term abstinence. Trigger warning: we also discuss abusers and how meetings enable their behaviors instead of reprimanding them. Heather also shares her lifelong struggle with an eating disorder, which she healed from, along with trauma, after seeking treatment post-AA. Heather is introspective, wise, and provides educated insights on this topic. You won't want to miss it.  Show notes available at https://www.patreon.com/cw/inrecovery Got a question or story you want to share? Email the pod at recoveryfromAApod@proton.me and I might read it out loud on an upcoming episode–don't be a dick. 

]]> Heather, a mental health counselor and former AA member, joins the podcast to provide her lived experience in 12 Step meetings. She goes over the very unwelcome, unsolicited advice from sponsors, dealing with 13-steppers, and how she slowly exited the program. Spoiler: The Orange Papers came into Heather's world, and it got her thinking. We also discuss the spectrum of substance abuse disorder; how some members need to abstain for a temporary period of time, while others require long-term abstinence. Trigger warning: we also discuss abusers and how meetings enable their behaviors instead of reprimanding them. Heather also shares her lifelong struggle with an eating disorder, which she healed from, along with trauma, after seeking treatment post-AA. Heather is introspective, wise, and provides educated insights on this topic. You won't want to miss it.  Show notes available at https://www.patreon.com/cw/inrecovery Got a question or story you want to share? Email the pod at recoveryfromAApod@proton.me and I might read it out loud on an upcoming episode–don't be a dick. 

]]> In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous Buzzsprout-19501552 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0700 2754 1 4 full true Social Placebo - An Autopsy with Guest Theo Social Placebo - An Autopsy with Guest Theo This week, Theo pulls back the curtain on his time in the rooms. Theo went at AA wholeheartedly: he worked the steps thrice+ over, followed the program with incredible precision, had a sponsor, and had his own batch of sponsees. So what finally made him get out of Dodge? He traces the surprising overlap between Scientology and AA, recounts his exposure to the Freedom Model and Writing the Big Book, and breaks down other paths to sobriety like Recovery Dharma and SMART Recovery.

Drop everything and listen. Theo was all in, and now he's telling the truth about these meetings that most people won't say out loud.


Show notes at https://www.patreon.com/cw/inrecovery

]]> This week, Theo pulls back the curtain on his time in the rooms. Theo went at AA wholeheartedly: he worked the steps thrice+ over, followed the program with incredible precision, had a sponsor, and had his own batch of sponsees. So what finally made him get out of Dodge? He traces the surprising overlap between Scientology and AA, recounts his exposure to the Freedom Model and Writing the Big Book, and breaks down other paths to sobriety like Recovery Dharma and SMART Recovery.

Drop everything and listen. Theo was all in, and now he's telling the truth about these meetings that most people won't say out loud.


Show notes at https://www.patreon.com/cw/inrecovery

]]> In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous Buzzsprout-19473084 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0700 3442 3 3 full true The Preface & Forewords: An Autopsy The Preface & Forewords: An Autopsy You don't get to know AA without knowing the Big Book. The host will guide listeners through the Big Book's preface and four updated forewords, and delve into how the program is misleading and nefarious starting on page one. She will also define slogans and seven-dollar words that you might not be familiar with but are implanted in each member's stream of consciousness. 

]]> You don't get to know AA without knowing the Big Book. The host will guide listeners through the Big Book's preface and four updated forewords, and delve into how the program is misleading and nefarious starting on page one. She will also define slogans and seven-dollar words that you might not be familiar with but are implanted in each member's stream of consciousness. 

]]> In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous Buzzsprout-19439917 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0700 3568 1 2 full false Alcoholics Anonymous: An Autopsy Alcoholics Anonymous: An Autopsy On the premier episode of In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous, we're exposing the dirty truth about 12-step meetings. Ever felt put in unnecessary shame cycles, guilt-tripped about your imperfect program, told your trauma was your fault, or been assigned a personality that doesn't fit? You're not crazy; we've experienced it too. For non-members who couldn't get past the God-stuff, or non addicts who want to know more about what happens in these rooms, we won't mince words. Welcome to In Recovery From Alcoholics Anonymous, where cross-talk is welcome. 

]]> On the premier episode of In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous, we're exposing the dirty truth about 12-step meetings. Ever felt put in unnecessary shame cycles, guilt-tripped about your imperfect program, told your trauma was your fault, or been assigned a personality that doesn't fit? You're not crazy; we've experienced it too. For non-members who couldn't get past the God-stuff, or non addicts who want to know more about what happens in these rooms, we won't mince words. Welcome to In Recovery From Alcoholics Anonymous, where cross-talk is welcome. 

]]> In Recovery from Alcoholics Anonymous Buzzsprout-19405409 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0700 1764 full true