Tag: transformation

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

2026-08-142026-08-21

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

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

2026-07-312026-07-30

Episode 0080 Warriors and Sheeples

The Old Rucker explores the difference between simply following the crowd and developing the warrior spirit needed to face life’s challenges with courage, discipline, faith, and purpose. This episode examines leadership, personal responsibility, recovery, overcoming fear, and the choices that define who we become. Through stories of figures like Norman Vincent Peale, Theodore Roosevelt, Saint Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa, and a powerful tribute to Stephanie, a friend who embodied unconditional love despite her own struggles, Bob challenges listeners to embrace compassion, confront their weaknesses, serve others, and leave a legacy written on hearts rather than monuments. The message is clear: everyone has a purpose, everyone has the ability to lead, and the choice between fear and courage, apathy and action, is ours to make.

Hope Group’s 21st Birthday Celebration Flyer August 10th

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

2026-07-242026-07-23

Episode 0079 Sponsorship Part 1

In the first installment of a multi-part series on sponsorship, Bob the Old Rucker is joined by returning guests Ralph, Mandy, Sherry, and Jeremy for an honest discussion about what sponsorship truly means beyond the textbook definition. Drawing from decades of collective recovery experience, the panel explores the role of sponsors as mentors, guides, and fellow travelers rather than authority figures, emphasizing trust, humility, accountability, healthy boundaries, and walking through life’s challenges together. The conversation includes personal stories of success and failure, difficult lessons learned from sponsoring others, the importance of meeting people where they are, recognizing when outside professional help is needed, and understanding that recovery is never one size fits all. Whether you’re in Alcoholics Anonymous, another 12-step fellowship, or simply interested in the power of mentorship, this episode offers practical wisdom and heartfelt encouragement on helping others while continuing your own journey of growth and recovery.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

2026-07-172026-07-17

Episode 0078 Micah ESH Redux

The Old Rucker sits down with Micah and Emma who share their journey through faith, family, recovery, and redemption. Micah opens up about his struggles with substance abuse, the devastating loss of his father, discovering him after his death, and the PTSD that followed. He shares how his faith became the foundation for rebuilding his life, not through an instant transformation, but through daily choices, counseling, accountability, and continued growth. Emma joins the conversation to discuss supporting Micah through his recovery while sharing her own battle with OCD, anxiety, and fear, and how faith and therapy have helped her find peace. Together, they discuss marriage, vulnerability, mental health, grace, and the importance of not facing struggles alone. Their story is a reminder that recovery is a journey, healing takes work, and hope can be found even in the darkest seasons.

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Barry Episode 60 – RIP Barry

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

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

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

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

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

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

Text Us at 501-613-8915

Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

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

2026-04-102026-04-09

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 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

2026-02-272026-02-26

Episode 0058 Tribe OpenMic Truths

The Tribe breaks down Andrea H.’s Five Things to Know About Working the Twelve Steps… challenging “brutal honesty,” redefining surrender, and exposing the difference between surface level recovery and true emotional accountability. Through personal stories of relapse, grief, ego, and redemption, the crew makes one thing clear: insight without action is useless, surrender is strength, and real growth begins when the Steps stop being something you do and become who you are. If you’re tired of checklist recovery and ready to live it, this one’s for you.

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

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.

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

2026-01-162026-01-16

Episode 0052 Chris T: From Hellion to Helper – Sobriety, Service, and Second Chances

The tribe sits down with Chris T., a husband, father, tech wirehead, astronomer, and recovering alcoholic with just over 20 years of sobriety. Chris shares a raw, unpolished story of early rebellion, crime, addiction, repeated detox attempts, and the moment he finally asked for help; not because he had a plan, but because he wanted to live. The conversation dives deep into long-term recovery, sponsorship, service work, accountability, boundaries, amends, and spiritual growth without dogma. Chris also reflects on surviving catastrophic motorcycle accidents and multiple strokes, and how perspective, gratitude, and helping others keep him grounded today. This is a grounded, experience-driven discussion about what it actually takes to stay sober, grow up, and give back one day at a time.

2025-06-272025-10-30

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.