Tag: faith

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2026-07-032026-07-02

Episode 0076 Americas 250th Birthday Tribute

This special Independence Day episode of Shoutout from the Pit steps away from the usual recovery and overcomer discussions to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and reflect on the meaning of freedom. Bob explores the history and symbolism of the American flag, honors veterans, first responders, military families, and community leaders, and discusses how the freedoms Americans enjoy connect to the same spirit of overcoming adversity that defines recovery. The episode is a heartfelt tribute to the Constitution, the sacrifices of those who served, and the enduring values of liberty, courage, service, and gratitude that continue to shape the nation.

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2026-06-262026-06-27

Dianne’s Missives June 26, 2026

Thought to Consider…

We are prisoners of our own resentments. Forgiveness unlocks the door and sets us free.
There is no progress without change.
It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.
The willingness to grow is the essence of all spiritual development.

AACRONYMS

E G O = Easing God Out
G O D = Good Orderly Direction

A thousand beatings by Alcohol did not encourage me to admit defeat. I believed it was my moral obligation to conquer my “enemy-friend.” At my first A.A. meeting I was blessed with a feeling that it was all right to admit defeat to a disease which had nothing to do with my “moral fiber.” I knew instinctively that I was in the presence of a great love when I entered the doors of A.A. With no effort on my part, I became aware that to love myself was good and right, as God had intended. My feelings set me free, where my thoughts had held me in bondage. I am grateful.

FEAR AND FAITH

The achievement of freedom from fear is a lifetime undertaking, one that can never be wholly completed. When under heavy attack, acute illness, or in other conditions of serious insecurity, we shall all react to this emotion – well or badly, as the case may be. Only the self-deceived will claim perfect freedom from fear.

The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.

Beaten into complete defeat by alcohol, confronted by the living proof of release, and surrounded by those who can speak to us from the heart, we have finally surrendered. And then, paradoxically, we have found ourselves in a new dimension, the real world of spirit and faith. Enough willingness, enough open-mindedness – and there it is!”

Spirituality

“Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth, but if we wished to grow, we had to begin somewhere. So, we used our own conception, however limited it was.”

Obedience

“We of A.A. obey spiritual principles, at first because we must, then because we ought to, and ultimately because we love the kind of life such obedience brings. Great suffering and great love are A.A.’s disciplinarians; we need no others.
Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worthwhile to us now. Cling to the thought that, in God’s hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have – the key to life and happiness for others. With it you can avert death and misery for them.”

Friendship

“Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill. Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up around you, to have a host of friends – this is an experience you must not miss. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.”

Dianne

2026-06-262026-06-25

Episode 0075 Josh The Bear Slayer

Bob “The Old Rucker” reconnects with longtime friend and original guest Josh “The Bear Slayer” to reflect on two years of recovery, friendship, outdoor adventures, and personal growth. The conversation ranges from humorous memories of backpacking trips and the early days of the podcast to a gripping account of Josh’s recent encounter with a massive black bear while hunting in the Arkansas wilderness. Beyond the adventure stories, Josh shares how sobriety, nature, and a personal relationship with a higher power have shaped his spiritual journey, offering thoughtful insights on faith, recovery, peace, and finding connection outside traditional expectations. It’s a candid discussion about resilience, gratitude, brotherhood, and the transformative power of both the outdoors and recovery.

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Barry Episode 60 – RIP Barry

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2026-06-192026-06-18

Episode 0074 Who’s on Your Throne

The Old Rucker sits down with returning guest Cody along with Chris, a man whose life journey took him from a childhood marked by abuse, years of methamphetamine addiction, and incarceration to a life grounded in faith, accountability, and recovery. Chris openly shares how he spent decades as a high functioning addict, the events that ultimately led to his imprisonment, and the pivotal spiritual awakening that transformed his perspective while behind bars. Through candid discussion, he explores the power of surrender, personal responsibility, biblical study, and recovery programs in helping him rebuild his life. This episode is a powerful testament to redemption, resilience, and the possibility of lasting change when a person chooses to confront their past and embrace a new path forward.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

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2026-06-06

Episode 0072 Grace and Mercy

The Old Rucker talks on the theme of grace and mercy framed through personal recovery experience, mentorship, and reflection on human behavior under stress. Bob recounts formative encounters with a sponsor in a treatment setting, including a hospital visit preceding the sponsor’s death and a later interaction with a priest that reframed judgment toward a panhandler through the lens of unconditional compassion. These events become anchors for exploring the difference between receiving unearned goodwill and withholding deserved consequences, and how both concepts shape ethical behavior and personal growth. The discussion extends into recovery principles, self regulation, and the difficulty of extending the same compassion inward that is often offered to others. Practical reflections include mindfulness of speech, structured self assessment, and reframing adversity through perspective rather than avoidance. The episode also touches on internal dialogue, higher vs lower motivational forces, and the role of practice in developing consistent behavior aligned with recovery and spiritual frameworks.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

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“Unconditionally Confident” via Amazon. Pre-order available 23 June. Release date is 4 August.

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2026-06-052026-06-06

Dianne’s Missives June 6, 2026

Thought to Consider…

Faith dares the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.
Patience with others is Love, Patience with self is Hope, Patience with God is Faith.
The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

AACRONYMS

F E A R = Failure Expected And Received
C R A P = Carrying Resentments Against People

Four Horsemen

“The less people tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from life itself. As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened, ever becoming blacker. Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did – then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen – Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.”

“We are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones. Neither does there appear to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men. We have tried every imaginable remedy. In some instances, there has been brief recovery, followed always by a still worse relapse. Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic. Science may one day accomplish this, but it hasn’t done so yet.”

“We Agnostics”

“We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors, and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves. Instead, we looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of wholesale condemnation. We talked of intolerance, while we were intolerant ourselves. We missed the reality and the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees. We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing.”

Prayer

“On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.”

“To get over drinking will require a transformation of thought and attitude. We all had to place recovery above everything, for without recovery we would have lost both home and business.”

“I was also able to realize that this bonfire of resentment and rage was beckoning me to pick up a drink and plunge in to my death. Then I realized that I had to separate my sobriety from everything else that was going on in my life. No matter what happened or didn’t happen, I couldn’t drink. In fact, none of these things that I was going through had anything to do with my sobriety; the tides of life flow endlessly for better or worse, both good and bad, and I cannot allow my sobriety to become dependent on these ups and downs of living. Sobriety must live a life of its own.”

Fact

“The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows, and toward God’s universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves.”

In A.A. we learn that since we are alcoholics we can be uniquely useful people. That is, we can help other alcoholics when perhaps somebody who has not had our experience with drinking could not help them. That makes us uniquely useful. The A.A.s are a unique group of people because they have taken their own greatest defeat and failure and sickness and used it as a means of helping others. We who have been through the same thing are the ones who can best help other alcoholics.

Dianne

2026-05-222026-05-21

Episode 0070 Michaela

The Old Rucker sits down with digital creator, speaker, and author Michaela Mulroe to discuss resilience, identity, and living authentically with Treacher Collins syndrome. Michaela shares how she transformed years of feeling different, mental health struggles, and public scrutiny into a platform built around confidence, advocacy, and purpose through her upcoming book Unconditionally Confident and her new venture, Unconditionally Confident Solutions. The conversation moves from deeply personal moments including a mental health crisis that became a turning point to humor, faith, disability advocacy, family support, and the power of rewriting your own narrative. With honesty, humor, and perspective, Michaela delivers a grounded message about self-worth, service, and refusing to let circumstances define who you become.

Learn more about Michaela at Michaelamulroe.com

Support link for GiGi’s Playhouse: https://gigisplayhouse.org/madison/3-2-1-believer/

Support link for Moving Out, Inc: https://www.movin-out.org/donate

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

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2026-05-152026-05-16

Dianne’s Missives May 15, 2026

Thought to Consider

A.A. is not something you join, it’s a way of life.

The Road to Recovery

The road to recovery is always under construction.

Premature Funerals

“I have been to too many premature funerals due to our good friend alcohol.”

Spiritual and Physical Health

“When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.”

Control

“Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will Control and Enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.”

Sunlight

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worthwhile. This business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.”

To Handle Sobriety

“The more I drank, the more I fantasized everything . . . I lived in a dream world. A.A. led me gently from this fantasizing to embrace reality with open arms. And I found it beautiful! For, at last, I was at peace with myself. And with others. And with God.”

Our Survival

“The HONESTY expressed by the members of A.A. in meetings has the power to open my mind. Nothing can block the flow of energy that HONESTY carries with it. The only obstacle to this flow of energy is inebriation, but even then, no one will find a closed door if he or she has left and chooses to return. Once he or she has received the gift of sobriety, each A.A. member is challenged on a daily basis to accept a program of HONESTY.”

Ego Deflation

All of A.A.’s Twelve Steps ask us to go contrary to our natural desires . . . they all deflate our egos. When it comes to ego deflation, few Steps are harder to take than Five. But scarcely any Step is more necessary to longtime sobriety and peace of mind than this one.

Big Book Quote

“We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.”

Prayer

“In A.A. we have found that the actual good results of prayer are beyond question. They are matters of knowledge and experience. All those who have persisted have found strength not ordinarily their own. They have found wisdom beyond their usual capability. And they have increasingly found a peace of mind which can stand in the face of difficult circumstances.”

The Way of Strength

“We need not apologize to anyone for depending upon the Creator. We have good reason to disbelieve those who think spirituality is the way of weakness. For us, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that men of faith seldom lack courage. They trust their God. So we never apologize for our belief in Him. Instead, we try to let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do.”

Dianne

2026-05-152026-05-14

Episode 0069 Clash of Cultures

The Old Rucker reflects on the emotional collision between what he calls the “culture of darkness” and the “culture of light,” exploring how stress, grief, road rage, media negativity, politics, and everyday frustrations can slowly pull people into chaos and despair. Drawing from personal experiences, including the pain of losing longtime pets and navigating seasons of “death by a thousand cuts,” he breaks down the role emotions, habits, and personal responsibility play in shaping character and recovery. The episode centers on practical tools for rebuilding mindset and stability through positive habits like reading, exercise, meditation, kindness, prayer, and intentional living, while encouraging listeners to reject doom-driven culture and pursue hope, self awareness, and spiritual growth one small action at a time.

Character Carved in Stone by Pat Williams.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

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2026-05-082026-05-06

Episode 0068 Cody Then & Now

In this episode “The Old Rucker” reconnects with returning guest Cody for a candid conversation about recovery, grief, incarceration, faith, and rebuilding a life after loss. Cody reflects on the years since his wife’s sudden passing, the spiral into addiction that followed, and the hard road through incarceration into sobriety and accountability. Now nearly five years sober, he shares how faith, community, physical fitness, recovery programs like Forever Free, and reconnecting with his children have transformed his life. The episode dives deep into grief, emotional healing, work ethic, rebuilding trust with family, and the importance of staying connected to a supportive tribe while learning to live authentically and one day at a time.

forever-free.net

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

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2026-05-03

Dianne’s Missives May 1, 2026

Thought to Consider…

Faith isn’t belief without proof; it’s trust without reservation.
I am responsible for carrying the message. I am not responsible for anyone receiving the message.
Seven days without an A.A. meeting makes one weak.
Admission of powerlessness is the first step in liberation.

AACRONYMS

A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change
F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart

“Self-Pity”

“When we catch self-pity starting, we also can take action against it with instant bookkeeping. For every entry of misery on the debit side, we find a blessing we can mark on the credit side. What health we have, what illnesses we don’t have, the sunny weather, a good meal a-coming, limbs intact, kindnesses shown and received, a sober 24 hours, a good hour’s work, a good book to read, and many other items can be totaled up to outbalance the debit entries that cause self-pity.”

In A.A. we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. We had to see that every time we played the big shot, we turned people against us. We had to see that when we harbored grudges and planned revenge for such defeats, we were really beating ourselves with the club of anger we had intended to use on others. We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it.”

Sanity

“When I first came to this Fellowship, I had lost my health and sanity, my friends, much of my family, myself-respect, and my God. In the years since, all of these have been restored to me. I no longer have the sense of impending doom. I no longer wish for death or stare at myself in the mirror with loathing. I have come to terms with my Higher Power”

“Being powerless over alcohol is no big deal.” I’m free and I’m a very grateful recovering alcoholic!”

The A.A. program is one of submission, release, and action. When we’re drinking, we’re submitting to a power greater than ourselves, liquor. Our own wills are no use against the power of liquor. One drink and we’re sunk. In A.A. we stop submitting to the power of liquor. Instead, we submit to a Power, also greater than ourselves, which we call God.

“It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.”

Every time we go to an A.A. meeting, every time we say the Lord’s Prayer, every time we have a quiet time before breakfast, we’re paying a premium on our insurance against taking that first drink. And every time we help another alcoholic, we’re making a large payment on our drink insurance. We’re making sure that our policy doesn’t lapse.

Essence of Growth

“Let us never fear needed change. Certainly we have to discriminate between changes for worse and changes for better. But once a need becomes clearly apparent in an individual, in a group, or in A.A. as a whole, it has long since been found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way. The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.”

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

Dianne

2026-05-012026-04-30

Episode 0067 Greg’s Journey

In this episode, Greg sits down with The Old Rucker to share his journey from early addiction and chaos to stability, purpose, and faith driven recovery. From drinking as a child and battling substance abuse for decades to reaching a breaking point that forced change, Greg walks through the hard truths of addiction and the discipline required to rebuild a life. Now five years sober, he reflects on restoring relationships with his children, building thriving businesses, and stepping into ministry all rooted in accountability, spiritual growth, and community support. This episode offers a grounded look at what recovery actually requires and what’s possible when someone fully commits to change.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

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2026-04-172026-04-16

Episode 0065 Solo Promise Keepers

In this solo episode the Old Rucker dives into the real meaning of being a promise keeper both in recovery and in everyday life. From personal stories of broken trust to the transformative promises found in recovery principles, he unpacks how integrity, accountability, and consistent action shape who we become. Highlighting the importance of honesty, boundaries, and spiritual grounding, this episode challenges listeners to rethink the weight of their word and offers practical ways to rebuild trust starting from within. Whether you’re early in your journey or well down the road, this conversation is a reminder that progress, not perfection, is what leads to lasting change.

April 16-19: is an Arkansas AA Convention. This one is the 49^th Annual Springtime in the Ozarks, in Eureka Springs. No flier for that one so check out springtimeintheozarks.com.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

2026-04-03

Episode 0063 Brett’s Journey

Brett’s journey is shaped by relocation, isolation, and ultimately connection through recovery. Brett shares how moving to Arkansas for work led him from going through the motions of sobriety to truly engaging in it, thanks to a tight knit “tribe” built through service work, events, and shared experiences. Along the way, he reflects on his early years of binge drinking, the cultural normalization of alcohol, and how what started as weekend fun evolved into something deeper. With candid storytelling, raw honesty, and plenty of laughs, this episode highlights the power of fellowship, the importance of stepping out of isolation, and how meaningful relationships can transform sobriety from a routine into a fulfilling way of life.

April 4^th: Grand opening of Crystal Palace, a family friendly, alcohol-free, event center at 173 Hwy 11 in Searcy, AR. Please tell them you heard about it from the Old Rucker. More on this in a bit.

April 16-19: is an Arkansas AA Convention. This one is the 49^th Annual Springtime in the Ozarks, in Eureka Springs. No flier for that one so check out springtimeintheozarks.com.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

2026-03-272026-03-26

Episode 0062 Dwight’s Journey

In this episode of Dwight one of the most seasoned voices in the room shares how a lifetime of discipline, success, and faith still led to a late in life battle with alcoholism after retirement stripped away his sense of purpose. What followed was a rapid descent into daily drinking, followed by an equally powerful turnaround through AA, spiritual reconnection, and the unexpected strength of community. Dwight’s story cuts through the noise, addiction doesn’t care about your background, but recovery demands honesty, structure, and connection. From “lone wolf” to tribe member, this episode delivers a clear message there’s a way out, but you’re not doing it alone.

March 28th: kicks off Arkansas Soberfest Golf and runs through October.

April 4^th: Grand opening of Crystal Palace, a family friendly, alcohol-free, event center at 173 Hwy 11 in Searcy, AR. Please tell them you heard about it from the Old Rucker. More on this in a bit.

April 16-19: is an Arkansas AA Convention. This one is the 49^th Annual Springtime in the Ozarks, in Eureka Springs. No flier for that one so check out springtimeintheozarks.com.

June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas

New Year One Honest Challenge – you can use the links below to submit.

2026-02-20

Dianne’s Missives February 20, 2026

Thought to Consider…

Feed your faith and starve your doubts
When I let go of what I am, I can become what I might be.
The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that!
We in A.A. don’t carry the alcoholic; we carry the message.
Laughter is the sound of recovery.

AACRONYMS

F E A R = Frantic Efforts to Appear Recovered

Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
“When we encountered A.A., the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God’s will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief meant reliance, not defiance. In A.A. we saw the fruits of this belief: men and women spared from alcohol’s final catastrophe. We saw them meet and transcend their other pains and trials. We saw them calmly accept impossible situations, seeking neither to run nor to recriminate. This was not only faith; it was faith that worked under all conditions. We soon concluded that whatever price in humility we must pay, we would pay.”

After years of indulging in a “self-will run riot,” Step Two became for me a glorious release from being all alone. Nothing is so painful or insurmountable in my journey now. Someone is always there to share life’s burdens with me. Step Two became a reinforcement with God, and I now realize that my insanity and ego were curiously linked. To rid myself of the former, I must give up the latter to one with far broader shoulders than my own.

“…with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.”
“The most heated bit of letter-writing can be a wonderful safety valve – providing the wastebasket is somewhere nearby.”

“I think that one of the main differences between an active alcoholic and a recovering alcoholic can be expressed as a matter of tense. The active alcoholic tends to live in the future or in the past. The sober alcoholic, using part of the philosophy he learns in his A.A. experience, lives or strives to live in the present.

A spiritual experience can be the realization that a life which once seemed empty and devoid of meaning is now joyous and full. In my life today, daily prayer and meditation, coupled with living the Twelve Steps, has brought about an inner peace and feeling of belonging which was missing when we were
drinking.

People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about. Actually, we used to have no reasonable conception whatever. We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves.

Language of the Heart

From the beginning, communication in A.A. has been no ordinary transmission of helpful ideas and attitudes. It has been unusual and sometimes unique. Because of our kinship in suffering, and because our common means of deliverance are effective for ourselves only when constantly carried to others, our channels of contact have always been charged with the language of the heart.

Let Go

If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it – then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

“Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one’s old life as a condition for finding a new one.”

Dianne

2026-02-13

Episode 0056 Just Keep Swimming

On this episode of Shout Out From The Pit, the Old Rucker reflects on the cycle of struggle, relief, and complacency; how we can go from desperate prayers to comfortable ruts faster than we realize. Through stories of addiction, near tragedy, job rejection, and recovery, he explores why motivation fades, why inspiration comes and goes, and why gratitude must be actively maintained. His message is simple but not easy: good things don’t just happen, we participate in them. When life feels great, serve someone. When life feels awful, serve someone anyway. Action, faith, and helping others are the antidote to stagnation, and the road back to hope.

New Year One Honest Challenge – you can use the links below to submit.

2026-02-062026-02-05

Episode 0055 Joel B’s Journey – ESH

Joel’s story is a blunt reminder that rock bottom doesn’t always involve handcuffs or headlines. In this episode, Joel opens up about childhood trauma, addiction, ego, control, relapse, and the moment his internal voice shifted from self hatred to hope. He shares how detox, honesty, service work, music, and community, especially Bridging the Gap, became the foundation of his recovery. This episode explores shame, guilt, faith without dogma, the danger of isolation, and why “the only thing waiting in the comfort zone is alcoholism.” If you’re new to recovery, stuck in the middle, or questioning whether change is possible, Joel’s experience offers a grounded, lived example of how growth happens one honest step at a time.

2026-01-09

Dianne’s Missives January 9, 2026

Thought to Consider…

It works – it really does!
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around and faith looks within.
Anger is the hot wind that extinguishes the light of reason.

AACRONYMS

F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart
C A L M = Can Anger Leave Me?

Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol- that our lives had become unmanageable.

Seed

“It was then discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person could never be the same again. Following every spree, he would say to himself, ‘Maybe those A.A.’s were right . . .’ After a few such experiences, often years before the onset of extreme difficulties, he would return to us convinced. He had hit bottom as truly as any of us. Alcohol itself had become our best advocate.

We thought “conditions” drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these conditions and found that we couldn’t do so to our entire satisfaction, our drinking went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.

Resentments

Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics. It mattered little whether our resentments were justified or not. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well – nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely. These emotional “dry benders” often led straight to the bottle. Other kinds of disturbance – jealousy, envy, self-pity, or hurt pride – did the same thing.

“The explanation that alcoholism was a disease of a two-fold nature, an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind, cleared up a number of puzzling questions for me. The allergy we could do nothing about. Somehow our bodies had reached the point where we could no longer absorb alcohol in our systems. The why is not important; the fact is that one drink will set up a reaction in our system that requires more, that one drink is too much and a hundred drinks are not enough.”

TOTAL ACCEPTANCE

He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine life either with alcohol or without it. Then he will know loneliness such as few do. He will be at the jumping-off place. He will wish for the end.
Only an alcoholic can understand the exact meaning of a statement like this one. The double standard that held me captive as an active alcoholic also filled me with terror and confusion: “If I don’t get a drink I’m going to die,” competed with “If I continue drinking it’s going to kill me.” Both compulsive thoughts pushed me ever closer to the bottom. That bottom produced a total acceptance of my alcoholism – with no reservations whatsoever – and one that was absolutely essential for my recovery. It was a dilemma unlike anything I had ever faced, but as I found out later on, a necessary one if I was to succeed in this program.

Guidance

Walk day by day in the path of spiritual progress. If you persist, remarkable things will happen. When we look back, we realize the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands, were better than anything we could have planned. Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present circumstances!

Faith

When I was driven to my knees by alcohol, I was made ready to ask for the gift of faith. And all was changed. Never again, my pains and problems notwithstanding, would I experience my former desolation. I saw the universe to be lighted by God’s love; I was alone no more.

Dianne

2025-12-122025-12-11

Episode 0047 Ladies Round Table with Cherie & Mandy

In this Ladies Round Table, Cherie and Mandy gather an incredible circle of women to dive into the messy, beautiful realities of Attitude, Acceptance, and Action three deceptively simple words that turn into raw, life altering conversations. From childhood anxiety to lifelong people pleasing, from loss that shatters faith to grief that rewires identity, the group shares honest tools, morning rituals, spiritual practices, and the hard won wisdom that keeps them sober, centered, and moving forward. What unfolds is a vulnerable, uplifting look at how women endure, rebuild, and show up for life on life’s terms together, unfiltered, and anchored in hope.

Attitude.

What do you do first thing to get your attitude right to face the day?
When your attitude stinks and you are just trying to get to the end of the day what things have you tried and have worked to turn your bad attitude (frown upside down)?
What about dealing with others attitudes?
What is the most helpful tool you are using today?

Acceptance

What do you find the hardest to accept? How did you get to the place you are today with it?
Acceptance towards yourself- how do you feel about your shortcoming? How do you find yourself acceptable?
In the moment when you find yourself not able to accept the situation what are things you have done to save your butt? Or if you didn’t have anything things you can share for others to avoid?
What about long term acceptance, when things you thought you have accepted come back into play?

Action

What is something you took action on and it came out totally not like you thought it would. Good or bad?
What does taking action look like for you?
How do you know the action you are taking is the correct one?
When you realize it might have been the correct one what do you do?
What are some small action you took that lead to a big learning lesson for you?

HopeMovementCoalition.com

2025-11-282026-01-21

Episode 0045 Samantha

Samantha first had to struggle with the ism in alcoholism, a monumental battle on its own. Then came facing the ugliness behind the mask, beginning a long journey of self realization and recovery. No one could have told her that the tools she gained in sobriety would become the only anchor strong enough to prepare her for the most devastating challenge still ahead.

Bob sits down with Samantha as she traces her path from chaotic childhood dynamics and an alcohol soaked early adulthood into a grinding fight for sobriety and purpose. She walks through the masks she wore, the relationships she jumped into for validation, the escalating drinking that finally ended with her being hauled to rehab, and the unexpected spiritual crack that opened the door to true recovery. But the real gut punch comes when she recounts her daughter Brittani’s decade long battle with addiction, her fleeting stretch of hope, and the overdose that forced Samantha to make the unthinkable decision no parent should face. What follows is a brutally honest look at grief, faith, survival, and the fragile, daily work of staying sober when the one thing you thought would destroy you actually happens yet somehow, you keep going.

Supporting Grieving Families & Fighting the Opioid Epidemic

Hope Movement Coalition was born out of the devastating loss of loved ones to fentanyl poisoning and opioid-related deaths. Our mission is to provide unwavering support to those navigating the complicated grieving process, help them find strength in their darkest moments, and be a voice for the voiceless in communities across the nation.

AR HHS Act 811 Opioid Overdose Reversal Kits Naloxone ACT 811: Arkansas’s 2023 law requiring opioid overdose reversal kits in public high schools and state-supported universities.

While We’re Waiting (WWW) on FB

WWW is a nonprofit ministry which offers free faith-based retreats and support for bereaved parents

2025-11-21

Dianne’s Missives November 21

Thought to Consider . . .

Let the lunatic out of the attic.
Joy isn’t the absence of pain – it’s the presence of God.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one that I can, and the wisdom to know that person is me.”

***~AACRONYMS~***

F A I T H = Facing All In Trusting Him

The identification that one alcoholic has with another is mysterious, spiritual – almost incomprehensible. But it is there.

“Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.”

Spiritual Life

“The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Unless one’s family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles, we think we ought not to urge them. We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters. They will change in time. Our behavior will convince them more than our words. We must remember that ten or twenty years of drunkenness would make a skeptic out of anyone.”

Baffling Feature

For those who are unable to drink moderately the question is how to stop altogether. We are assuming, of course, that the reader desires to stop. Whether such a person can quit upon a nonspiritual basis depends upon the extent to which he has already lost the power to choose whether he will drink or not. Many of us felt that we had plenty of character. There was a tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible. This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it – this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish.

Forgiveness

“Through the vital Fifth Step, we began to get the feeling that we could be forgiven, no matter what we had thought or done. Often it was while working on this Step with our sponsors or spiritual advisers that we first felt truly able to forgive others, no matter how deeply we felt they had wronged us. Our moral inventory had persuaded us that all-round forgiveness was desirable, but it was only when we resolutely tackled Step Five that we inwardly knew we’d be able to receive forgiveness and give it, too.”

VITAL SUSTENANCE

Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air, light or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.

God’s miracle-working power is as manifest today as it was in the past. It still works miracles of change in lives and miracles of healing in twisted minds. When a person trusts wholly in God and leaves to Him the choosing of the day and hour, there is God’s miracle-working power becoming manifest in that persons life. So we can trust in God and have boundless faith in His power to make us whole again, whenever He chooses.

Affirmation!

“Taking advantage of technological advances, for example, A.A. members with computers can participate in meetings online, sharing with fellow alcoholics across the country or around the world. Fundamentally, though, the difference between an electronic meeting and the home group around the corner is only one of format. In any meeting, anywhere, A.A.’s share experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics. Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A.A.’s speak the language of the heart in all its power and simplicity.”

Dianne

2025-11-15

Episode 0043 Rhona

Bob the Old Rucker and Mandy sit down with Rhona, whose hard won journey from a painful childhood, addiction, loss, and nine heart attacks to seven years of recovery is nothing short of a gut punching miracle. Rhona shares how early family dysfunction left her searching for belonging in all the wrong places, how addiction stripped away her kids, stability, and identity, and how a single friend’s invitation to a meeting set her on a path to rebuild her life through AA, sponsorship, sober living, and fierce honesty. With reflections on shame, amends, boundaries, faith, service work, and rediscovering real love, Rhona’s story offers raw truth, hope, and a reminder that no matter how far down the scale you’ve gone, recovery can reshape everything.

Apologies for the late release, more technical issues on my end while working to improve service. I destroyed the room while cleaning – RedBeard