on

Episode 0085 Remembering 9/11

In this 25th anniversary of 9/11 tribute, the Old Rucker, Pat, Tony, and Jeremy reflect on where they were when the attacks happened, how September 11 2001 changed the military and their lives, and the lasting impact of service, loss, trauma, and recovery. Drawing from their experiences as veterans they discuss visits to the 9/11 Memorial and Pentagon, the sacrifices of civilians and service members, deployments that followed, and the people who helped them through the aftermath. The conversation ultimately turns toward recovery, vulnerability, therapy, sobriety, friendship, and the importance of building a tribe and asking for help when life gets dark. Through painful memories, humor, and stories of Americans helping one another, the episode honors those lost on 9/11 while focusing on resilience, service, community, and the possibility of finding hope after tragedy.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline #988 or 1-800-273-8255

on

Episode 0083 Sponsorship Part 2

This episode continues the sponsorship series with Bob, Jeremy, Ralph, Cherie, and Mandy digging into what makes a good sponsor, how people choose one, and how sponsorship changes as both people grow in recovery. The conversation explores honesty, humility, boundaries, flexibility, service, faith, and the importance of adapting the approach to the individual rather than treating recovery like a one size fits all program. They share candid stories about being fired as sponsors, recognizing when friendship and sponsorship create conflicts, learning when to step back, and putting another person’s sobriety ahead of ego. The group also discusses how lessons learned through sponsorship carry into parenting, friendships, and military and workplace leadership, especially communication, patience, listening, discernment, and learning to respond instead of react.

 

Cabot Group 44th Birthday August 21st

Cabot Group 44th Birthday August 21st

Text Us at 501-613-8915

team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

 

on

Episode 0082 Pat Experience Strength and Hope

Pat sits down with the Old Rucker, Jeremy, Tony, Ralph and RedBeard to share his raw and uncensored recovery journey, tracing his path from a rebellious childhood and heavy drinking through the Marine Corps, combat in Iraq, multiple DWIs, career setbacks, broken relationships, isolation, and eventually the realization that his life had become unmanageable. Pat talks openly about using alcohol to stay numb, the consequences that accumulated without immediately stopping his drinking, and the turning point that led him into treatment and the recovery program. He also discusses the people who helped him along the way, the importance of sponsorship, service, faith, accountability, and simply continuing to take the next right step. The conversation ultimately becomes a story of transformation, showing how sobriety, community, and giving back have allowed Pat to rebuild his life, find purpose, and recognize that the future can become better than he ever imagined.

 

Cabot Group 44th Birthday August 21st

Cabot Group 44th Birthday August 21st

Text Us at 501-613-8915

team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

 

on

Episode 0064 Robin & Blake

Bob sits down with Blake and Robin, a couple whose journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery highlights the raw reality of rebuilding a life from the ground up. From Robin’s story of surviving a childhood injury and rediscovering purpose through forgiveness, to Blake’s path through addiction, military service, and eventual sobriety, the episode explores how service work, accountability, and connection to others create lasting change. Their dynamic as partners in recovery, their commitment to helping others, and their willingness to share both struggle and growth make this episode a grounded reminder that no matter how far someone has fallen, there is a path forward and it often starts by simply showing up.

April 16-19: is an Arkansas AA Convention. This one is the 49th 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

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

on

Episode 0040 Team Cheremy – Couples in Recovery

Old Rucker sits down with Jeremy and Cherie, a married couple who survived alcoholism, military service, and near destruction to become examples of resilience and partnership in sobriety. They recount meeting as teens, marrying young, and enduring years of alcohol abuse that led to emotional distance, isolation, and even violent incidents including one involving their dog that became a turning point toward recovery. Jeremy’s military career and PTSD intersected with their drinking, while Cherie’s feelings of unworthiness and identity loss as a mother fueled her own addiction. They describe hitting rock bottom, entering detox within hours of each other, and navigating the painful early months of sobriety marked by codependency, conflict, and relearning how to live and love without alcohol. Through honest reflection, humor, and faith, they show how working separate recovery programs ultimately rebuilt their marriage, transforming chaos into a disciplined, compassionate partnership grounded in shared growth and service to others in recovery.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

Episode 0038 Grimes Part 2 – Post Traumatic Stress vs Post Traumatic Growth

In this episode welcome back guest Ben Grimes, joined by tribe members Josh, Tony, Pat, and Jeremy, to put the program “The Breach” into action. The Breach is an eight-week workshop blending Shakespeare and military values to help veterans, first responders, and service-minded individuals process trauma and build resilience.

Ben’s first episode

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

Episode 0036 Ted SLIP Sobriety Lost It’s Priority

This episode of Shout Out From the Pit spotlights Ted—a veteran, businessman, and long-time member of the recovery community—whose journey from functional alcoholism to lasting sobriety is as candid as it is inspiring. With humor, humility, and raw honesty, Ted shares stories of his upbringing, struggles with alcohol and drugs, brushes with failure, and the moment of clarity that led him to embrace recovery. Along the way, he opens up about faith, family, loss, and the practical tools that keep him grounded today, offering listeners both encouragement and hard-earned wisdom on building a life of purpose and resilience.

SLIP: Sobriety Lost It’s Priority

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

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?

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

Episode 0030 Jeremy S

Listen in as Bob the Old Rucker, Brett, and Pat grow a closer bond with Jeremy. Jeremy is husband, father, grandfather, former marine, and a very active member in recovery. He’s respected in many circles for his recovery insight and dedication to service. 

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

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://www.riversideactorstheatre.org/

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.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

Episode 0025 Not a Glum Lot

Members of the tribe chat about having a good life in recovery:

In this roundtable episode titled “We Are Not a Glum Lot,” Bob “the Old Rucker” gathers with fellow recovery brothers Sloan, Tony, and Pat for a candid, unscripted conversation about the joy, connection, and growth found in sobriety. They reflect on the struggles of early recovery, the transformative power of showing up and embracing the program, and the deep bonds they’ve built through shared service, road trips, laughter, and vulnerability. From moving into new homes and picking up sponsees, to hilarious misadventures at Broadway plays and weed shops in NYC, the guys illustrate how sobriety isn’t just about abstaining from alcohol—it’s about reclaiming life with gratitude, humor, and purpose. The group emphasizes the importance of fellowship, leaning into discomfort, and keeping service at the core. The episode ends with each member sharing tools for staying sober and joyful, especially while on the road, and a reminder that no one walks this path alone.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

on

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.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Email us team@shoutoutfromthepit.com

Top