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CAL Chat

CAL Chat

PAT A. - Al-Anon Literature Fan

CAL Chat is where we talk about our favorite Al-Anon and Alateen Conference Approved Literature and how it has improved our lives. // 🍷 (Al-Anon and Alateen are for people who have been affected by alcoholism in a relative or friend.) // 🎯 My goal: to read through the entire Al-Anon/Alateen CAL Catalog and celebrate this 12-Step recovery literature, as well as service work and Al-Anon Family Groups in general.
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Top 10 CAL Chat Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best CAL Chat episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to CAL Chat for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite CAL Chat episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

CAL Chat - Ep. 13 • Part 5 of 11 • How Al-Anon Works

Ep. 13 • Part 5 of 11 • How Al-Anon Works

CAL Chat

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01/09/22 • 12 min

In Episode 13's part 5 of 11, Diane's favorite book to use for outreach is the softcover version of "How Al-Anon Works" (B-32) and she points out how intimate individual outreach can still be done in an electronic (telephone/chat) or virtual (video) meeting. We reminisce about the days when we hauled Al-Anon books around in our cars.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM DIANE:

  • "Somewhere in these pages, folks will possibly see themselves."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 13 • Part 4 of 11 • From Survival To Recovery

Ep. 13 • Part 4 of 11 • From Survival To Recovery

CAL Chat

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01/09/22 • 20 min

In part 4 of 11 (of Episode 13), Diane and I keep the discussion going about the book "From Survival To Recovery" (B-21) focusing primarily on the chapter "Untangling Confusion" from page 269 (or 270 depending on the book's edition), the infamous "Promises" section from page 267 (or 269 in the first edition) and the book's very last chapter on page 287 which leads to an idea for a possible workshop! To find a virtual Al-Anon book study group, visit www.al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/electronic-meetings and you can type into the search bar the term: “book,” or “literature,” or the particular book’s title that you’d like to study. Additionally, at this podcast show's website, www.calchatpodcast.com, I've attached *bonus content* so you can see an image of the "From Survival To Recovery" special bookmark/order form!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM DIANE:

  • "...there's no predicting anything."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 5 • Part 3 of 4 • Parents of Alcoholics

Ep. 5 • Part 3 of 4 • Parents of Alcoholics

CAL Chat

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11/11/16 • 13 min

Theresa’s favorite piece of literature to use for outreach purposes is the reprint "Parents of Alcoholics" (R-18) in Episode 5’s part 3 of 4. It’s only 12 pages, but so powerful! She shares the moment she hit her “bottom” and what brought her into the Al-Anon program. We also talk about being able to differentiate between helping versus enabling and what is one thing a parent can definitely do for their alcoholic child.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM THERESA:

  • "...our children come through us, not to us."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 13 • Part 1 of 11 • From Survival To Recovery

Ep. 13 • Part 1 of 11 • From Survival To Recovery

CAL Chat

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01/09/22 • 15 min

How is a pandemic similar to recovery? What audiobooks are available from Al-Anon? Can a book also be a picture frame? In part 1 of 11 (of Episode 13), Diane explains why the title of the book "From Survival To Recovery" (B-21) is so appropriate, how it helped her tell her own personal story and experience authentic joyfulness in her life. Also, find out why we can't use highlighters when reading Al-Anon books! Lastly, at this podcast show's website, www.calchatpodcast.com, I've attached *bonus content* so you can see an image of the two versions of "From Survival To Recovery" mentioned in this part of the episode!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM DIANE:

  • "This book helped me to be seen..."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 11 • Part 3 of 4 • From Survival To Recovery

Ep. 11 • Part 3 of 4 • From Survival To Recovery

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08/15/17 • 11 min

In part 3 of 4 (of Episode 11), Susan's pick for her favorite outreach piece of literature is the book "From Survival To Recovery" (B-21) because she grew up in an alcoholic home. She highlights the chapter "Picking Up The Tools" on page 107. We also talk about why 1994 was a good year for Conference Approved Literature (CAL) and how this book marked a turning point for Al-Anon Family Groups.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM SUSAN:

  • "I was an adult before I was the child."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

  • CAL Chat website -
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CAL Chat - Ep. 12 • Part 5 of 5 • Just For Today

Ep. 12 • Part 5 of 5 • Just For Today

CAL Chat

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12/27/18 • 9 min

Terry Anne highlights new upcoming Al-Anon literature in part 5 of 5 of Episode 12 and explains how the motto chosen for the "2018 World Service Conference Summary" (P-46) applies to her own personal life. To submit your suggestion for your favorite "Forum" article that you’d like to see in the new upcoming book, email it to: [email protected] – be sure to use the working title "The Forum Book" in the email's subject line and they’ll also need to know the article's title, and the month and year in which it appeared in the magazine. Visit this podcast’s website, www.calchatpodcast.com, to download and print out a PDF form if you’d like to send in your suggestions by regular mail. Lastly, to submit your sharing for the new Daily Reader visit: www.al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/​literature-resources and click on the blue button that says “Send Your Sharing.”

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM TERRY ANNE:

  • "...there’s always room for me to grow more... I’m so grateful to be a work in progress."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 11 • Part 2 of 4 • When I Got Busy, I Got Better

Ep. 11 • Part 2 of 4 • When I Got Busy, I Got Better

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08/15/17 • 10 min

I ask Susan a question in part 2 of 4 (of Episode 11) from page 23 of the booklet "When I Got Busy, I Got Better" (P-78). She explains helping vs enabling, we discuss a quote from page 2, how we could use the second half of the book in a meeting, and the difference between being grateful and thankful. A NOTE OF CAUTION: this is the first episode to include EXPLICIT language, so proceed accordingly!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM SUSAN:

  • "My worth is who I am – not what I do, not what I give you. I’m worthy just because I’m me."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 9 • Part 4 of 4 • Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2017

Ep. 9 • Part 4 of 4 • Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2017

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03/13/17 • 14 min

Pat explains in Episode 9's last part, (#4), that of all the things she has tried, how Al-Anon is the only thing that truly helped. We discuss ways to enhance the "Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2017" magazine while using it for outreach purposes and she wraps up with a “Last Words” section about amends and Step Nine. Lastly, at this podcast show's website, www.calchatpodcast.com, I've attached a PDF of the 2017 magazine as *bonus content* so you can download it and see all the pages mentioned on this episode.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM PAT:

  • "Al-Anon is something we can use just in daily living."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 5 • Part 4 of 4 • Parents of Alcoholics

Ep. 5 • Part 4 of 4 • Parents of Alcoholics

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11/11/16 • 6 min

In part 4 of 4 (of Episode 5), the conversation continues with Theresa about other Conference Approved Literature that is available for parents and how CAL is not like other self-help/recovery literature. Lastly, find out why her favorite outreach piece, "Parents of Alcoholics" (R-18), may not be around much longer!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM THERESA:

  • "...I bought every self-help book... until I walked into the rooms of Al-Anon. I never made it through one of the books!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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CAL Chat - Ep. 4 • Part 2 of 2 • Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker?

Ep. 4 • Part 2 of 2 • Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker?

CAL Chat

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10/07/16 • 11 min

The conversation with Jan continues in part 2 of 2 (of Episode 4) with her favorite piece of outreach literature, the leaflet/questionnaire: "Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker?" (S-25). This can be an eye-opening piece for people that realize they experienced the effects of alcoholism in their family, rather than just in their current relationship. We discuss ways it can be used for outreach, workshops, and as a barometer for our recovery progress. Find out what is like peanut butter and chocolate, and what we’d like to see on a bumper sticker!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM JAN:

  • "I’ve learned to be a human being and not a human doing!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

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