Tag: interview

2025-09-202025-10-30

Episode 0035 Mark Transverse Myelitis

Mark shares a decades-long arc from early drinking through retail career moves, relapse after ~14 years dry, and eventual recovery that finally stuck once he embraced sponsorship, fellowship, and daily phone accountability. A big middle chapter covers his rare neurological condition, transverse myelitis—rapid onset paralysis, long rehab, and an eventual partial recovery—used to illustrate grit, perspective, and living life in the middle, not on emotional cliffs. The round table (Sloan, Ralph, Dwight) backs him up with specific ways community, service, routine, and a personal concept of a higher power turned “no hope” into workable tools.

* updated to address audio issues

2025-09-112025-10-30

Episode 0034 9/11 Tribute – Don Ellis

Interview with Don Ellis, a Pentagon staffer awarded the Medal of Valor, discusses the devastation witnessed at Ground Zero, honor the sacrifices of victims, survivors, and heroes.

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

2025-08-222025-10-30

Episode 0031 David AA History in Arkansas

Bob and Jeremy sit down with David, a living archive of AA history in Arkansas. From his own recovery journey to the overlooked weight of steps 6 and 7, David unpacks the origins of AA, the Oxford Group roots, and how Sterling, Harlan, and Bud kicked things off in Little Rock with the “Approach Program.” We hit the weird rules (no women, Joe McQ outside on the steps), Bill W.’s 1944 visit, and why archives matter for keeping the story straight. A mix of recovery grit, AA nerd history, and plenty of laughs about ego, humility, and the “AA police.”

2025-08-082025-10-30

Episode 0029 Spiderwebs and Cigars

This is a candid, unscripted conversation between Bob and his son Mark, a licensed professional counselor, exploring overlaps and differences between therapy, counseling, and recovery work.

https://www.riversideactorstheatre.org/

2025-08-012025-10-30

Episode 0028 Ben Grimes – Finding Peace in the Pentameter

Ben Grimes is a former 82nd Airborne Ranger turned professional theatre artist and founder of Riverside Actors Theatre, shares how classical theatre—especially Shakespeare’s rhythm and language—became the unexpected framework that helped him and other veterans move out of trauma. In a wide-ranging, raw conversation with Bob (“the old rucker”), RedBeard, and Pat the Marine, Ben walks through his journey from stage to combat to healing, the development of his trauma-informed ensemble work (“The Breach”), and the daily practices that keep him grounded. He also reveals the “toolbox” he lives by, the empathic power of storytelling, and his new chapter as Managing Artistic Director in Paducah, Kentucky. This episode is about purpose, community, rhythm, breath, and the quiet power of letting words do the work.

https://markethousetheatre.org/

Shakespeare, Rhythm, and the Vagus Nerve in PTSD Recovery

Disrupting dysfunctional nervous system patterns—even briefly—can create a window of opportunity to build tools for long-term PTSD recovery. Whether through rhythmic speech, breathwork, or clinical intervention, these resets offer a moment of clarity. Over time, repeated use of these methods helps develop a reliable toolkit for resilience—restoring rhythm, breath, narrative, and voice.

2025-07-042025-10-30

Episode 0026 Lisa

In this episode The Old Rucker interviews Lisa, who courageously shares her harrowing journey living with and eventually losing her husband Joe to pornography addiction and COVID-19 complications. Lisa recounts her early life, past marriages, and how her second marriage—while initially full of hope—slowly eroded due to Joe’s secret compulsive behaviors rooted in childhood trauma. Despite their involvement in church, marriage counseling, and recovery leadership, Joe’s addiction persisted for over 15 years, manipulating Lisa’s trust and consuming their emotional and financial lives. Lisa opens up about the psychological and spiritual toll, including feelings of worthlessness, secrecy, and self-loss. After Joe’s death and a series of miraculous experiences, Lisa rebuilt her life through faith, support, and business networking. She became a certified health coach and now empowers others—especially widows and women affected by addiction. Her story offers a raw, honest portrayal of resilience, self-worth, and reclaiming joy after emotional devastation.

https://www.facebook.com/thenontoxbox/

2025-06-092025-10-30

Episode 0022 Second Chance Youth Ranch

A truly life-changing episode featuring Team Hubbard from Second Chance Youth Ranch—Billy, Rachel and their incredible kids Bronley and Brooklyn—who welcome traumatized children, keep entire sibling groups together and turn heartbreak into hope every single day; you’ll hear raw sound bites from the kids themselves, learn staggering stats (400,000 kids in foster care nationwide, 4,000 in Arkansas with fewer than 1,700 homes) and get the real deal on how you can help—from opening your home as a foster parent to joining the “Support for Foster Families” Facebook group or tossing a few bucks their way at 2CYR.org—because whether you jump in full-time or simply cover dinner for a caregiver, you can make a massive difference in these future leaders’ lives.

2025-05-312025-10-30

Episode 0021 Tom – A Septuagenarian’s Tale

Team BS (Bob the Old Rucker and Shannon) share in Tom’s 40 plus years of sobriety and how alcohol nearly ruined his marriage, family, and United States Navy career. Because of the change he credits God for in his life, Tom dedicates his life to giving back that which was so freely given to him.

In this heartfelt and humorous episode of Shoutout From the Pit, retired Navy Commander and pastor Tom shares his powerful journey from youthful drinking and military service to hitting rock bottom and finding redemption through sobriety. With over 40 years of recovery, Tom recounts his path from blackout drinking, career turbulence, and near family collapse to becoming a spiritual leader and dedicated AA sponsor. Through military stories, personal trials, and hard-earned wisdom, Tom emphasizes the transformative power of service, faith, and fellowship—proving it’s never too late to change, heal, and help others.

2025-04-282025-10-30

Episode 0020 I’m not disabled. I’m differently abled!

In this episode we get to hear Melissa’s story. Melissa shares how she overcame alcohol, food addictions, awkwardness, and injuries as a differently abled person dealing with cerebral palsy. She shares how a famous iconic figure changed her life.

2025-01-192025-10-30

Episode 0014 Quad Squad

Brett and featured guest Mark share what it means to be a quadriplegic and correlations between physical disabilities and alcoholism.

Mark is a quadriplegic, public speaker, and advocate who supports individuals with recent injuries and their families in navigating the adjustments and challenges of life in a wheelchair. Learn more about Mark at his website: http://www.makeasplashinc.com/

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt

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2024-10-072025-10-30

Episode 0009 Fitness

Fitness and recovery with Cody from episode 4. Fitness: The Old Rucker and tribe talk making the broken body whole again.

Update: fixed most of the audio issues

Who else wants to hear some of Dianne’s missives?

2024-09-182025-10-30

Episode 0008 The Judge

Bob sits down with the Judge and Dianne. The Judge hold’s Sobriety Court and Dianne regularly sits in as a recovery community representative.

“Isolation isn’t treatment, participation is treatment” – The Judge

Sobriety Court – a recovery approach to court with addicts

Sobriety Court is a specialized court program designed to help individuals struggling with substance abuse issues. It typically involves a structured approach that combines regular court appearances, drug testing, counseling, and support services. The goal is to promote recovery and reduce recidivism by providing participants with the tools and resources they need to achieve and maintain sobriety. Participants often have the opportunity to avoid traditional criminal penalties by successfully completing the program.

https://www.shoutoutfromthepit.com/