chris. AA SPEARKERS

I'm a miracle - a series about people who have overcome addiction, today's show features Darcy, successful Vancouver Real Estate Agent, Mom, Recoverying Addict

I'm a Miracle w/ Darcy successful Real Estate Agent, Mom & Recoverying Addict

As I rebuilt my practice I gradually revealed the story of my battle with alcoholism to colleagues and clients and new friends. Their reaction was the same: “Oh my God, you must write a book.”


The Couch of Willingness: An Alcoholic Therapist Battles the Bottle and Broken Recovery System is that book. I wrote it with my partner, documentary filmmaker Maureen Palmer.

The “Couch of Willingness” is an a actual couch in a rundown recovery home here on the Lower Mainland. That’s what everyone in the house calls it. Every newcomer must detox and sleep there until he “surrenders” and admits he’s powerless over alcohol. That’s where I landed when I lost everything.

For more on The Couch of Willingness, click here.  

www.michaelpond.ca

The Couch of Willingness: An Alcoholic Therapist Battles the Bottle and a Broken Recovery System.

Drop the rock sandy B

SOMETIMES YOU DO GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION.

In which the S.O.S meeting Jeff and Chris set out to attend is not the S.O.S. meeting they find. Which then leads Jeff to facilitate Chris’ second attempt at attending an A.A. meeting.

Will he go in?

Will he stay?

Do they cast him out as an imposter?

Do they welcome him as a brother?

Is there coffee?

Find out in this week’s episode…


We also talk through Step 11. http://12step.org/the-12-steps/step-11.html


REFERENCED

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S) / http://www.sossobriety.org/

Sisters of Sobriety (S.o.S) / How some women-only Alcoholics Anonymous meetings identify themselves. / https://www.google.com/#q=sisters+of+sobriety

Headspace / Meditation app /  https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

Andrew Kukes Foundation for Social Anxiety / We didn’t actually mention this organization but it has a lot of good info / http://akfsa.org


IMAGE

Southington, Connecticut. A meeting / Charles Fenno Jacobs / 1942 / public domain via Library of Congress / http://loc.gov

MUSIC
https://soundcloud.com/djfmdotcom

Episode 13: Two Alcoholics Walk Into A Room

Waking Up the Ghost? I’ll let Marilyn explain:

“… the first time I heard that expression, I was sitting on a deserted island in the Exumas, with a jaundiced Bahamian named Sands. I think it is also the first time a Bahamian man has ever refused a free drink. What Sands meant, was that the icy beer I offered would lead to another, and another and another; it was safer to keep the Ghost in check by not drinking at all.”

A year and a half into her recovery Marilyn shares some insight on keeping the spirit(s) at bay.


Referenced

First Among Equals / Marilyn / Waking Up the Ghost
http://wakinguptheghost.com/first-among-equals/

Land of the Lotus Eaters
http://www.heritage-history.com/?c=read&author=langjean&book=odyssey&story=troyland

Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker)
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Anakin_Skywalker

Alan Carr’s Easyway To Stop Smoking
http://www.allencarr.com

International Drinking Guidelines (Note: I had this wrong. It’s actually 1-2 drinks/day for women in much of the world.)
http://www.icap.org/table/Internationaldrinkingguidelines

2.5 Million Alcohol Related Deaths Worldwide — Annually
https://ncadd.org/in-the-news/155-25-million-alcohol-related-deaths-worldwide-annually


Image

Drinking Tea in the Blitz / photographer unknown / 1941 / via Retronaut


Music
DJ FM
https://soundcloud.com/djfmdotcom

Episode 16: Marilyn / Waking Up the Ghost

Jeff & Chris talk about being sober during the Holidays.
Our new segment, 100% Volume by Alcoholics (with Marilyn Spiller of WakingUpTheGhost.com), has been postponed until a later episode.

Referenced

#addictionchat “Recovery-full Holidays” / @LEAFcouncil

Blackout Wednesday / Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_Wednesday

Q: Does alcohol cook off in food preparation? A: It’s complicated.
http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blalcohol12.htm

Zevia Sparkling Celebrations / Whole Foods
https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/shop/FFX/2369/15725

Manischewitz (makers of Manischewitz kosher wine) / Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manischewitz


Episode 19: Holidazed & Confused

We speak to author Patrick O’Neil – Gun Needle Spoon.
This memoir follows a punk rock pioneer on his slide into drug abuse and life as an armed robber, all the way through life in recovery and what it’s like to look back on those times, knowing all the while that he is still under the threat of three strikes, a twenty-five-to-life prison sentence waiting. He has no choice but to deal with it all drug free.   During punk rock’s heyday, Patrick O’Neil worked at the San Francisco’s legendary Mabuhay Gardens. He went on to become the road manager for Dead Kennedys and Flipper, as well as T.S.O.L. and the Subhumans. He holds an MFA from Antioch University Los Angeles.

http://patrick-oneil.com/gun-needle-spoon/

GUN NEEDLE SPOON

Live from Vancouver's Infamous Downtown Eastside, a block away from North America's first safe injection site.  Join us live every Thursday for Talk Recovery Radio 100.5 FM. We bring addiction and recovery issues to the airways every Thursday on Vancouver Co-op Radio.  We're in our 4th year of production.. THANK YOU to all our listeners, hear past shows @. www.TalkRecoveryRadio.com from consumption sites to abstinence, to personal stories of triumph, we got it all covered. 
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The Couch of Willingness: An Alcoholic Therapist Battles the Bottle and a Broken Recovery System.

Talk Recovery Radio

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