E242: Why You Shouldn't Read the Big Book Alone Artwork

Sober Friends

The Sober Friends Podcast: Two Guys Talking Recovery

Matt and Steve have been sober for over a decade each. They still don't have it all figured out.

This is a podcast about recovery - AA recovery specifically - but it's not your sponsor's recovery podcast. It's two friends talking through the stuff that actually matters:

What do you DO when you're not drinking? How do you handle control issues 15 years in? Why does calling someone in recovery feel so goddamn hard? What happens when you remove alcohol but don't replace it with anything? And seriously, do you miss drinking or do you just miss the relief?

Every week Matt and Steve work through these questions together - sometimes they have answers, sometimes they're figuring it out in real time, and sometimes they just need to talk it out like you do with a friend who gets it.

If you're in recovery, thinking about recovery, or just trying to figure out how to live without alcohol as your coping mechanism - welcome. Grab some coffee. Let's talk.

Topics: Alcoholics Anonymous, 12-step recovery, sobriety, addiction, relapse, service work, early recovery, staying sober, and everything in between.

Matt and Steve work AA programs but speak only for themselves. This show isn't affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous.

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Sober Friends

E242: Why You Shouldn't Read the Big Book Alone

September 02, 2025 • Matt J • Episode 242

0:00 | 29:31

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The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was originally designed to be a sponsor in your pocket when there were no meetings to attend. So why do Matt J and Steve insist you shouldn't read it solo? In this honest conversation, they explore why this 1939 "textbook" hits different when you share it with others.

From sponsor relationships to Big Book meetings, discover why interpretation matters and how hearing someone else's take on a passage can crack open meanings you've missed for years. Matt shares his EMDR therapy insights that mirror the "circle" of step work, while Steve gets real about those times when you just want to stay pissy (and why that's okay sometimes).

Whether you find the Big Book boring, outdated, or life-changing—or all three—this episode breaks down why community reading transforms a difficult text into a powerful tool for recovery. Plus, learn their weekly sponsor routine and why you should always be working a step.

Perfect for anyone curious about the Big Book's role in modern recovery or looking to deepen their program. Remember: it's not about reading it perfectly, it's about reading it together.

This episode of The Sober Friends Podcast is brought to you by Matt W., who bought us two coffees. Thank you for helping keep the conversation going!

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