Sober Cast: An (unofficial) Alcoholics Anonymous Podcast AA

Ann C sober since 1948

Ann C got sober in 1948 and is speaking with 28 years sobriety at this event in Erie PA in 2005

Dr Bob co-founder of AA speaking about his first 14 years.

Since we had Bill W speaking yesterday it seems appropriate to have Dr Bob the other founder of AA speak today. He is telling his story about his first 14 years in AA, this was recorded in 1949. The end if this speak (about 6 min) is a bit of Dr Bobs last talk in 1950.

There are no where near as many recordings of Dr Bob as there are of Bill W and the ones that are around are generally fairly bad, this one had a nasty hum, but it cleaned up really well and is one of the best I have heard of Dr Bob.

Bill W speaks about the Big Book

Bill W one of the co-founders of AA speaks about the Big Book. This consists of two seperate speaks, the first is at the 30th anniversary founders day in Acron.

The second speak may be from the same event but there is no way to know, the introduction of Bill the 2nd time does mention the 30th anniversary.

Al B became sober in 1945 and is speaking in 1969

Al B was 24 years sober at the time of this speak in 1969 at the Palm Springs Roundup he became sober in 1945. 

Searcy W an early AA member got sober in May 1946

It is difficult to find recordings of very early members of AA, that are good enough to actually use, we got lucky with this one of Searcy W an early member of AA sober in May 1946. He is speaking in Minneapolis in June of 2000, he is a funny guy and I really enjoyed the bits of AA history he mentions during his speak.

Cliff W: Co-founder first AA group on West Coast. Sober in 1941

Cliff W got sober in 1941 and was sober 26 years at the time of this recording in Feb. of 1967. Cliff was the co-founder first AA group on West Coast. The quality of this recording is really excellent for 1967

 

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

Gerry M telling her story at 49 years sober

Gerry M got sober in 1958 and she is speaking in 2007 at an unknown meeting at 49 years sober

 

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