With 51 years sober in AA, today’s guest, John C., shares a story chocked-full with experience that will resonate with newcomers, old-timers, and folks in-between. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, John’s childhood and adolescence were indelibly influenced by his overbearing alcoholic father and pill-addicted mother. Staying out of the house away from his parents for days at a time was one of the few ways he could cope with the madness at home. Indelibly imprinted on John’s psyche was the belief that he was a failure and would not amount to anything. By the time he was kicked out of high school, his drinking had commenced affecting every aspect of his life. Touched by the characters and story in the movie “Days of Wine and Roses”, John’s identification with the film’s depiction of alcoholism planted a seed that took root in his early attempt at AA in his early 20’s. He managed to stay sober for about a year before he relapsed for 14 months. A thorough beating inflicted by the disease brought John back into AA in 1972 when his commitment to the Program was set for the next half-century. His focus on AA principles has served him well over these many years and he is always looking for new opportunities to help others, both in and out of the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. I believe you’ll find John’s story to be captivating, instructive, and inspiring. So please enjoy the next hour and fifteen minutes with my new friend and AA brother, John C. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, 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. [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 and no one receives financial gain from the show. 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.]