The Living Clean Podcast welcomes Lynne and Gina as they sit down with Mason and Francis for a powerful conversation about the history of Narcotics Anonymous in New York. From the earliest days of recovery in the city to the struggles and rebirth of the fellowship, this episode explores the people, events, and spiritual determination that helped carry the message through difficult times.

The discussion covers early New York NA history, including the influence of Danny Carlsen, the story of “The Junkie Priest,” and the impact of the Rockefeller drug laws on addicts seeking recovery. Lynne and Gina share firsthand perspectives on the rise, decline, and eventual return of strong recovery communities throughout New York, along with memories surrounding the historic 1983 Narcotics Anonymous World Convention.

This episode is a heartfelt look at perseverance, service, and the addicts who refused to let the message die.

This week on the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our journey through the Twelve Steps with Step Seven: “We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

Our returning panel is back — Archer, Pete, Douglas, and Francis — and this week we're joined by special guests JW and Danette for a thoughtful and honest discussion about humility, willingness, and the ongoing process of spiritual growth.

Step Seven asks us to move beyond simply identifying our shortcomings and become willing to let them go. In this episode, we explore what humility really looks like in everyday life, why some defects seem so difficult to release, and how pride, fear, self-reliance, and ego can keep us stuck in old patterns. We also discuss the difference between knowing what needs to change and becoming willing to trust the process of change.

Recovery is not about achieving perfection. It is about becoming teachable, remaining open, and continuing to grow. Step Seven reminds us that lasting transformation doesn't come from self-improvement alone—it comes from humility, honesty, and a willingness to seek help beyond ourselves.

Through personal experience, practical examples, and heartfelt sharing, this episode offers insight into one of the most powerful and often overlooked steps in recovery.

Do yourself a favor and listen.

In Part One, we break down the conference itself — the lost chapters of the Basic Text, the all-night group conscience meetings, the workshops, the editing battles, the spiritual moments, and the unbelievable amount of work done by recovering addicts trying to build a book that could carry the message worldwide. We explore not only what happened at WLC V in Warren, Ohio in 1981, but also the spirit of the process — the unity, passion, exhaustion, humor, and faith that held it all together.

In Part Two, we’re joined by members who were actually there. They share personal memories and firsthand insight into what it was like to live through the process of building the Basic Text and participating in one of the most historic literature conferences in NA history.

This episode is both a historical deep dive and a reminder that the literature we often take for granted today was built by addicts who believed the message was worth sacrificing for.

We also encourage everyone to check out the incredible work being done at:

Preserving the Message

and subscribe to the:

Preserving the Message YouTube Channel

Earlier this year, we released a special Mother's Day episode, and we knew we couldn't let Father's Day pass without doing the same.

In this special episode of the Living Clean Podcast, Francis and Mason sit down for a heartfelt conversation about fatherhood, recovery, and the men who helped shape our lives. We share stories about our own dads—the lessons they taught us, the things we carry with us today, and how our relationships with them have evolved through recovery.

We also talk about being fathers ourselves. Recovery has given us opportunities many of us never thought possible: the chance to be present, dependable, loving, and engaged in the lives of our children. We discuss the challenges, responsibilities, joys, and occasional fears that come with trying to be the fathers our kids deserve.

Along the way, we explore how Narcotics Anonymous helped us heal family relationships, break generational cycles, and learn what it means to show up consistently for the people we love. Whether your experience with your father was positive, complicated, painful, or somewhere in between, we hope this conversation offers identification, hope, and encouragement.

Join us for a candid discussion about fathers, sons, daughters, gratitude, forgiveness, legacy, and the incredible gift of being able to participate fully in our families' lives—clean and present, one day at a time. Happy Father's Day from all of us at the Living Clean Podcast.

In this episode of the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our discussion of the Living Clean chapter on Disabilities. Recovery doesn't eliminate life's challenges, but it does give us new ways to face them. Whether those challenges are physical, cognitive, emotional, visible, or invisible, this conversation explores what it means to live a full and meaningful life in recovery while navigating limitations, obstacles, and differences.

Our panel discusses the importance of acceptance, self-worth, accessibility, asking for help, overcoming shame, and finding purpose despite circumstances that may feel unfair or overwhelming. We also examine how recovery helps us move beyond seeing ourselves as our disability and instead allows us to recognize our value, strengths, and ability to contribute.

This chapter reminds us that while disabilities may affect how we move through the world, they do not define who we are. Recovery offers connection, dignity, hope, and the opportunity to participate fully in life—one day at a time.

Join us as we continue this powerful and heartfelt conversation on resilience, inclusion, gratitude, and the freedom that comes from learning to live clean no matter what challenges we face.

This week on the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our Twelve Step journey with Step Six: “We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

Our returning panel is back — Archer, Pete, and Douglas — and this week we’re joined by special guests Karen J. and Ron H. for a deep and honest conversation about willingness, readiness, and the lifelong process of change.

We explore what character defects really are, why some behaviors are so difficult to let go of, and how many of us want relief while still holding on to the very things causing us pain. We discuss pride, fear, control, resentment, self-centeredness, and the inner resistance that often shows up when real transformation begins.

Step Six is where we stop just identifying the problem and start becoming willing to live differently. It is where honesty meets humility, and where growth becomes possible.

This is one of the most relatable and practical episodes in the Step series so far.

If you’ve ever known what needs to change but struggled to let it go, this episode is for you.

Do yourself a favor and listen.

Spotify Episode Description

On this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we sit down with Jim H., one of the earliest members of Narcotics Anonymous in the Philadelphia area. Jim shares what it was like in the early days of recovery in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including getting clean on June 6, 1974 — a date that would ultimately change the course of his life.

Jim talks about being what he calls the fifth member of NA in Philadelphia around 1971, going back out for several years, and then finding his way back to recovery in 1974. From there, his story becomes deeply connected to the growth of Narcotics Anonymous itself. He helped start meetings throughout the Philadelphia area and carried the message internationally to places like Iceland and Copenhagen during a time when NA was still finding its footing around the world.

This episode is filled with personal history, hard-earned experience, humor, honesty, and a firsthand look at what recovery looked like before there were meeting lists, literature everywhere, or established fellowships in many cities. Jim’s story is a reminder that recovery survives because addicts continue carrying the message one person at a time.

What makes us love Narcotics Anonymous so deeply? In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Mason and Francis sit down for a heartfelt conversation about the many reasons NA continues to mean so much to us.

We share personal stories, memorable experiences, and those small moments that often say the most—moments of connection, laughter, growth, service, friendship, and recovery. From meetings that changed our lives to the people who helped shape our journey, we reflect on the things that make NA more than just a program—it’s a way of life and a worldwide fellowship built on hope.

This episode is a celebration of gratitude, recovery, and the countless blessings we’ve found through Narcotics Anonymous. Whether you’re brand new or have decades clean, we hope this conversation reminds you why we keep coming back.

We Love NA.