Pioneer Series

Speaking to an enthusiastic AA crowd, Father Joseph Martin talks about AA and then proceeds to talk in order about the 12 Steps. A very good example of Father Joseph Martin's excellent AA message.

Wynn Laws is the author of the Big Book Story: Freedom from Bondage, 4th Edition on Page 544. This recording is very much in the spirit of her story in Big Book, but much more, she gives more detail and tells other stories about sobriety. She talks about her institutional work. Wynn pioneered work in California women's prisons. At the time of this talk (1973), her mother is living with her. Her mother is the person she had the difficulty removing resentment against. At the time of talk, they were happily living together.

Listen to the pre-history of Alcoholics Anonymous, told by two of the people who were part of its most important, formative events. Ebby Thatcher, the man who brought the message to Bill Wilson, tells how he was helped to sobriety by Rowland Hazard and other Oxford Group members, how he carried the message to Bill, and the early developments of the AA fellowship. AA co-founder Bill Wilson talks about the two streams of influence that led to AA.

This is a very historic recording. First, Dr. Bob gives his last talk before his death later that year. Then Bill recounts his own story and the story of AA up till that time. In telling AA's story, he emphasizes the role of money and the dangers it presents. He describes the situations and events that gave rise to various AA traditions.

Ernest Kurtz talks about various topics of Alcoholics Anonymous by referring to letters written by AA Co-Founder Bill W.

Chuck says, "So, we gotta go to our people and say, Look, I'm not the big shot I would have had you believe. I'm an alcoholic. And I found a way to live that might let me live one day at a time for a lifetime without taking another drink. And one of its conditions is that I make amends. And that's why I'm here. I've done you wrong. And I'm not only here to apologize, but to tell you I will make restitution just as quickly as possible.

He tells his story AA recovery story by telling many funny stories great humor that inspires lots of identification a classic talk by a great aa speaker - very funny.

Frank has a great message about getting sober and being a happy, effective AA member while sponsoring and helping others.

From the very start of his medical practice, even during his training, Doctor Silkworth (born 1873) worked with Alcoholics and Drug Addicts. Beginning with details of Doctor Silkworth's early medical career. The book tells how Doctor Silkworth got his Medical Doctorate and license to practice medicine (1899) from Bellevue Hospital in New York City. How he treated the multitude of drunks and drug addicts that passed through Bellevue. Then with the outbreak of World War One Doctor Silkworth joined the Army as a Doctor (Rank=Captain) treating combat veterans suffering battlefield trauma.

He likens spiritual awakening to waking up for the day. Our Old ideas are similar to the dream world of sleep. Sobriety and spirituality are the real world we wake up to. He talks about spiritual awakening in historic terms. How Rowland Hazard found out from Dr. Carl Jung that he would need a spiritual awakening to recover from alcoholism. Sandy talks at length about Dr. Carl Jung and the importance of spirituality for happiness, contentment, and sobriety.

Getting sober in the US Marine Corp, the spiritual history of AA, maintaining our spiritual condition, practicing steps 10 and 11, the spiritual life, Alcoholics Anonymous' spirituality, AA's singleness of purpose are some of the topics discussed in this audiobook.

Sister Bea was born in Ireland and came to Southern California in 1964 This talk is very lighthearted and funny, but there is a very powerful message at the heart of the retrospective humor. She discovered Margaritas when a marvelous host prepared them for her and the sisters at an outing. Right from the start, she did not drink like other people, especially the other sisters. How her alcoholism progressed, and then how she found AA.

This talk is very general, and is relevant to all sorts of addictions. As a recovery speaker, Bob Earll was sort of a Swiss Army knife. His message fit Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as Adult Children of Alcoholics. Though an Alcoholic, the drug addiction part of his alcoholism enabled him to speak to Narcotics Anonymous. This talk is at a Cocaine Anonymous event, and his opiate use would have qualified him to speak to Heroin Anonymous.

After Bill had accumulated significant sobriety a celebratory dinner was held in New York City at which Bill gave an AA talk. (Bill drank for 17 years and staying sober for an 17 years was a notable milestone not only to him but to Lois as well.) Bill talks about the role that Ebby played in getting Bill interested in sobriety and the role of Doctor Silkworth in helping him stay sober.

Sister Ignatia tells her story and talks about her work with hospitalized alcoholics in the earliest days of AA. She tells how Dr Bob first asked her admit an alcoholic into the hospital for treatment of alcoholism. Her misgivings based on a previous experience with a man who was admitted at his own polite request but developed delirium tremens during the late hours of the night causing a substantial disturbance. It was Dr Bob's straightforward honesty that convinced her it would be alright, so long as the man was under his care. There are other stories about her work with Dr Bob.