Mike's story is an inspiring testament to the critical importance of having an AA sponsor. In fact, my story is so intertwined with Mike’s that you’re likely to learn more about me in today’s podcast than you have in any other interview. When we first met in late 1988, I’d been sober only about 10 months. I had all but given up on AA and was headed towards relapse. You see, though I attended meetings and not drinking, I also wasn’t doing the steps nor any of the work to stay sober. Worst of all, I didn’t have a sponsor to guide me and to whom I could be accountable. Mike had been in AA a year longer than I, but he’d gotten a sponsor at 3 months who worked him through the 12 steps very methodically, with an emphasis on the spiritual nature of our Program. The deep and collective wisdom that Mike imparted to me was gleaned from his sponsor who had a great sponsor. No sooner had Mike begun to sponsor me and put me to work then my program took off and soon became very sober-centric. To this day, Mike’s guidance in AA has been indispensable to my sobriety and an integral part of my personal story. Interestingly, Mike hasn’t lived in my same city since 1994, yet we’ve remained closely in touch over all these years. Frequent phone calls, emails, texts, and Mike’s business visits to Houston, have made the miles between us irrelevant to our relationship. So much of what I know about living an enriched sober life and carrying AA’s message to other alcoholics, I learned from Mike. His own story is both meaningful and intriguing. So in this, the 27th episode of AA Recovery Interviews, please enjoy my good friend, sponsor, and AA brother, Mike S. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [This is an encore of Episode 27, originally released May 19, 2021]. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
