What do we do here? – Episode 278

What is this podcast about? We’re not Al-Anon, exactly. What are we? I got a letter from a listener who asked some questions. It made me think that maybe it's time (again?) to talk about what The Recovery Show is, and what it isn't. * Why did we create The Recovery Show? * We had been sharing Al-Anon ESH on Recovered podcast. * We wanted to bring Al-Anon message “full time”. * What is our intent? * Share our and others’ experiences in recovery. * Illustrate how Al-Anon recovery works in *our* lives. * Explore recovery concepts. * Explain the Al-Anon program. * Some questions and observations from the email: * “do you ever worry that your seemingly more “relaxed” discussions might lead to confusion among the listeners and to inadvertent undermining of normal operations of meetings?” * “Service and “The Rules” is not a ratings winner, but maybe there is some way to explore it that gives it the proper context and proportion.” * “when I encountered The Recovery Show I was struck by the ways it more closely tracked the familiar 12-Step meeting format, but also the ways in which it appeared to depart from that model.” * “my program-monitor-radar-alarm went off, particularly about what I perceived as cross-talk.” * “The Recovery Show is decidedly NOT holding itself out as an Al-Anon Family Group” * What we do here is very much like the conversations we might have when we go out for coffee after a meeting, or when meeting with a sponsor, or (in my case) in at least one of the AWOL groups I have been a part of. * I have attended a few “cross talk” meetings in my time in the program, and what we do here is similar to the best of those. Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email [email protected] with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here. Music from the show Calexico: Gift X-Change Paul Kelly: To Her Door