Safe Recovery Podcast LEAVING Alcoholics Anonymous
Safe Recovery is a new series examining predatory behavior, power dynamics, and cultural issues inside 12 step meetings and the broader recovery industry.
Our mission is simple: Empowerment — not powerlessness.
This show explores modern, ethical, evidence-based, and spiritually diverse approaches to alcohol and drug overuse. We discuss alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous and traditional 12 step programs, while supporting authors, clinicians, and advocates who are creating new pathways to healing.
Safe Recovery highlights:
• Alternatives to AA
• Recovery without powerlessness
• SMART Recovery and cognitive-based approaches
• Moderation and harm reduction
• Secular and spiritual healing models
• Addiction treatment reform
• Protecting vulnerable people in recovery spaces
We believe people deserve informed choice.
Sobriety, moderation, or a different path entirely — empowerment means you choose what works for your life.
Americans deserve recovery models rooted in dignity, autonomy, accountability, and evidence — not shame or coercion.
Safe Recovery is about building a culture of informed recovery, personal responsibility, and real healing.
Episodes
Mar 26, 2026
Mar 26, 2026
59 min
This episode was originally published in April 2011.
A one hour show with NA previous Board Member Tom McCall talks about rage with blogger Monica Richardson.
Mar 23, 2026
Mar 23, 2026
28 min
This episode was originally published in April 2011.
I will discuss what we did in Southern California to address Sexual and financial Predators in the rooms.
We have pamphlets, posters, and safety statements.
Over 65 meetings throughout the US and growing are using the pamphlet.
Call is with questions, stories and solutions. The Harassment must stop.
We need to shine the light on the 75 year old problem in AA meetings.
Mar 19, 2026
Mar 19, 2026
59 min
This episode was originally published in February 2013.
Join us for an interview with President of St Judes Retreat, a non 12 step place to go for help with alcohol or drug problems.
If you need to get away from your environment to get help, this might be the place for you. Abstinence and Moderation are options here.
Mar 16, 2026
Mar 16, 2026
58 min
This episode was originally published in August 2012.
Robert Whitaker is the author of four books: Mad in America, The Mapmaker's Wife, On the Laps of Gods and Anatomy of an Epidemic. His newspaper and magazine articles on the mentally ill and the pharmaceutical industry have garnered several national awards, including a George Polk Award for medical writing and a National Association of Science Writers Award for best magazine article. A series he cowrote for the Boston Globe on the abuse of mental patients in research settings was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1998.
Mar 12, 2026
Mar 12, 2026
44 min
This episode was originally recorded in July 2012.
Mary Ellen Barnes and Ed Wilson will join me for a 45 minute show discussing a truly non 12 step program they created.
It is located in Palos Verdes.
Mar 10, 2026
Mar 10, 2026
59 min
This episode was originally recorded in August 2012.
Join Monica Richardson and Steven Slate who now works for St Jude's Retreat for those who need to get away and get help at a NON Treatment Retreat. Their saying is " what do I need treatment for if I don't have a disease. "Whether your problem be alcohol or drugs, Steven and St Jude's can help in a new non 12 step way.
Mar 9, 2026
Mar 9, 2026
1 hr 2 sec
This episode was originally recorded in September 2012.
Courageous. Investigating. Author Hank Hayes joins us to discuss the Lies the 12 step Program has generated for decades. Hank offers new, powerful and empowering solutions to age old problems around addcition, alcohol and drug over use. Alcoholics Anonymous is an old 1939 paradigm that is on its way out. Hank has some refreshing new ideas.
Feb 19, 2026
Feb 19, 2026
59 min
This episode was originally published in May 2011. In a small town near Daytona Beach, Florida is a park (Holly Hill) where NA and AA meetings have been meeting for over 17 years. Recently a group of local concerned citizens near the park has had their lives threatened numerous times by numerous AA/NA members.
Police were called, City Council meetings were held, neighbors signed petitions, newspapers reporters wrote stories and NA World Services/AA World Services were called to address this threatening behavior. What role does each World service hold with regards to responsibility of members and meetings. Why do these members feel entitled to take this park hostage as "theirs"?
A controversial look at a serious problem dealing with both sober/clean addicts & alcoholics. Where is their spiritual practice? Are they paying rent for the pavilion like the local residents do?
Harriet will join us to share what she is doing to raise awareness and to protect minors.
Feb 16, 2026
Feb 16, 2026
54 min
This episode was originally published in March 2012.
Are you a man/woman/teen who has lost his/her legs and will never grow new ones. (quote from Big Book of AA)
Who was Bill W and what did he know about a teenager who is drinking too much. Nothing! Parents, young people who are over doing in the drink and drug department need to listen to this show.
Would you listen to a Doctor who was reading a manual from 1936?I doubt it, yet this is what AA, NA and 95% of all treatment and rehabs preach.I say ...STOP THE MADNESS!!!
Feb 9, 2026
Feb 9, 2026
44 min
This episode was originally published on July 17th, 2012.Here is a new site for bloggers that is troll free. Many bloggers left OPF and after Sinkin thinkin shut down ( although I hear it's up again to post comments) we didn't have a place to go and communicate safely.
Created by UK Blogger, mfc66, it is filling a void many of us all felt we needed.
Ex Steppers, Ex Al ANON members and ex 12 step person of any kind are finding a safe haven here to discuss the many problems in and around the 12 step culture and how it has invaded our government, entertainment and healthcare.




