Sober Cast: An (unofficial) Alcoholics Anonymous Podcast AA

AA History: A presentation by the executive director of Stepping Stones about Bill & Lois

This audio is no longer available, it was removed  at the request of Stepping Stones.

An excellent presentation by the executive director of Stepping Stones about Bill & Lois and the AA Way of Life, at the 1st Annual Jersey Shore Roundup, NJ. Recordings of both Bill and Lois are part of the presentation and there is about 2 min of Bill playing his violin.

Stepping Stones foundation was founded by Lois as a way to pass on their home and its contents to the future, it has been a historic landmark since 2012. http://www.steppingstones.org

Bill W. speaking about the history of AA (Part 2 of 2)

Let me say up front, the quality of this recording is poor and because of that this recording is not for everyone, it is for the AA history buffs among you willing to listen through the quality issues.  

This is Bill W. speaking about the history of AA in St.Louis MO. July of 1955.

I was able to get most of the (very bad) background hissing out, there is still some hollowness and a slight echo at times. Considering the starting quality it is listenable, at parts it is difficult to hear what is being said. 

Part 2 of 2

Bill W. speaking about the history of AA (Part 1 of 2)

Let me say up front, the quality of this recording is poor and because of that this recording is not for everyone, it is for the AA history buffs among you willing to listen through the quality issues.  

This is Bill W. speaking about the history of AA in St.Louis MO. July of 1955.

I was able to get most of the (very bad) background hissing out, there is still some hollowness and a slight echo at times. Considering the starting quality it is listenable, at parts it is difficult to hear what is being said. 

Part 1 of 2

Workshop: AA History (2.5hrs)

Bob S, sober in 1975 conducts a 2.5 hour workshop on AA History in July of 2014  Bob S. 

Barry L sober in 1945 speaking about the origin of the 3rd tradition (LGBTQ)

Barry L sober in 1945, speaking about the origin of the 3rd tradition at the 50th World Conference in Montreal in July 1985. He was the first openly gay member of AA. 

Tradition 3 - The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

Barry passed away 3 weeks after this speak.

Barry is the author of the book Living Sober and was a great friend of Bill W and his wife Lois.

In 1978 Lois gave the original manuscript of the big book to Barry, and in 1979 Barry signed a notarized letter gifting the manuscript to A.A. World Services. In exchange, he asked only to be able to keep it in his possession until his death.

Somewhere between 1979 and Barry's death in 1985, everyone at A.A. World Services apparently forgot about this arrangement. The whereabouts of the manuscript remained unknown until it reappeared at an auction house in 2004, sold by a “Joseph B.” for $1.5 million. It was auctioned again in 2007 to Alabama resident Ken Roberts for $992,000.  A few months later, according to court documents, A.A. World Services rediscovered Barry's notarized letter.  

Last month (3/18) the manuscript was once again auctioned off, this time for $2.4 million.

Email: sobercast@gmail.com

Bill W and his wife Lois speaking in 1960

Bill W one of the founders of AA speaking in California in Jan. 1960 this includes a brief speak by his wife Lois W.

AA History: Bernard Smith who became a nonalcoholic trustee in 1946

This recording is a bit of AA history. Bernard Smith joined the board as a nonalcoholic trustee in 1946 and is speaking on the topic of unity at the Miami International in 1970 at the Sat Nite Big Meeting.

Joe and Charlie Big Book Workshop Part 2 of 8 (Repost)

Joe McQ and Charlie P met in 1973, they instantly discovered their mutual fascinations with AA's basic textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous commonly called "The Big Book". They would frequently meet to discuss The Big Book, often driving 225 miles to meet in each other's homes.

In 1977, some AA members met in a Tulsa, Oklahoma hotel room for a discussion on The Big Book. One member asked Joe and Charlie to come to his home group to present a program on The Big Book. A taping of that presentation was made and called "The Big Book Study". Through the circulation of these audio tapes throughout the Fellowship, Joe and Charlie received invitations to present the Study at AA conventions, roundups and special events.

At the AA International Convention in New Orleans in 1980, Wesley P, organized a lunch for 1,500 AA members from all over the world and gave away 100 Joe & Charlie tape sets as door prizes. Invitations exploded, and within a couple of years Joe & Charlie were presenting about 36 seminars a year worldwide. These seminars struck a deep chord within the AA members. This is a later recording from around 1999 and the audio quality is quite good.

Joe and Charlie Big Book Workshop Part 1 of 8 (Repost)

Joe McQ and Charlie P met in 1973, they instantly discovered their mutual fascinations with AA's basic textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous commonly called "The Big Book". They would frequently meet to discuss The Big Book, often driving 225 miles to meet in each other's homes.

In 1977, some AA members met in a Tulsa, Oklahoma hotel room for a discussion on The Big Book. One member asked Joe and Charlie to come to his home group to present a program on The Big Book. A taping of that presentation was made and called "The Big Book Study". Through the circulation of these audio tapes throughout the Fellowship, Joe and Charlie received invitations to present the Study at AA conventions, roundups and special events.

At the AA International Convention in New Orleans in 1980, Wesley P, organized a lunch for 1,500 AA members from all over the world and gave away 100 Joe & Charlie tape sets as door prizes. Invitations exploded, and within a couple of years Joe & Charlie were presenting about 36 seminars a year worldwide. These seminars struck a deep chord within the AA members. This is a later recording from around 1999 and the audio quality is quite good.

AA History: How We Got the Big Book (repost)

David A sober in 1967 speaking on the topic of - How We Got the Big Book - in Sanford FL in 1997.

Repost from 11/6... I have reposted this previously and Im doing it again, this is one of my favorite speaks about the creation of the big book & you will most likely see it posted again in a few months :)