Healing the Open Wound: The Power of Sponsorship

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04/30/25 • 46 min

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Recovery Unfiltered

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Sometimes God moves in unmistakable ways. For Larry, it happened during a Saturday morning meeting when a newcomer named Blake shared his story. A warm feeling washed over him—what he calls "God's spiritual two-by-four"—and he knew instantly he needed to sponsor this man despite his previous reluctance to take on sponsees.
This powerful moment opens a deeply authentic conversation about what makes sponsorship work, fail, or transform lives. Rob and Larry explore the critical timing of recovery, using the striking metaphor of a newcomer as "an open wound"—one that will either be properly healed through working the steps with a sponsor or merely scabbed over by time, destined to crack open again.
Drawing from their years in recovery, they outline the essential elements of effective sponsorship: radical honesty, confidentiality, respect for each other's time, and allowing someone the freedom to seek guidance elsewhere if needed. They don't shy away from discussing sponsorship failures, including Larry's early missteps when his motives centered more around ego than service.
Throughout the episode, the spiritual foundation of recovery shines through. "God hits a moving target," they emphasize, explaining how prayer must be paired with action. "If you're going to worry, don't pray. If you're going to pray, don't worry." These aren't just platitudes but hard-earned wisdom from men who've experienced both sides of the sponsorship relationship.
Whether you're considering becoming a sponsor, looking for one, or simply want to understand this vital recovery relationship better, this conversation offers raw, unfiltered insights that cut through recovery clichés to the heart of what really works.

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Thank You for Joining Us.. Please share with friends. If you or anyone you know is struggling with alcoholism please reach out to us. We can get you help. [email protected]

Previous Episode

When the Light Returns: A Journey Through Darkness

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Grief has no timeline, but what happens when it consumes your entire life for 17 years? In this raw and unflinching conversation, Mike and Jason share their parallel journeys through unthinkable tragedy—both losing teenage sons in the same accident in 2007.
Mike's candid testimony reveals how alcohol became his only coping mechanism after his son Michael's death. "I felt that there's no way I could ever be okay again with this tragedy," he confesses, describing years spent driving drunk, hiding vodka bottles, and pushing away his grieving wife who feared she would soon bury him too. Despite multiple rehab attempts and hospitalizations for pancreatitis, true recovery remained elusive.
What makes their story extraordinary is the bond formed through shared grief. Despite his own pain, Mike dedicated himself to helping Jason's injured son Tyler experience life—taking him driving, shooting, and to wrestling tournaments, all while battling his own demons. "He just let him be the most human being that he could be," Jason acknowledges, expressing profound gratitude for these moments before his own son passed.
The turning point came just eight months before this recording when Mike finally surrendered to recovery. Now both men walk a path of healing, with Jason urging Mike to complete the 12 steps that transformed his own life: "I'm living like that never happened," he says of his trauma, a statement that seems impossible to those still drowning in grief.
Their conversation offers hope to anyone convinced they'll never emerge from darkness. As Mike slowly discovers, healing doesn't mean forgetting—it means finding a way to honor memories while embracing life again.
If you're struggling with addiction, grief, or loss, please reach out to [email protected]. Recovery is always possible, no matter how long you've been suffering.

Thank You for Joining Us.. Please share with friends. If you or anyone you know is struggling with alcoholism please reach out to us. We can get you help. [email protected]

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Sobriety Birthdays: Celebrating Recovery Milestones

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Standing at the metaphorical "edge of the sidewalk," where addiction and recovery intersect, requires a profound choice about which path to take. This raw, honest conversation delves into the significance of sobriety birthdays and what they truly represent beyond simple abstinence from alcohol.
We explore the emotional complexity of recovery anniversaries, particularly the tendency to relive painful memories during the weeks leading up to these milestones. This phenomenon, common yet rarely discussed, serves as a powerful reminder of why we chose recovery in the first place. The distinction between the day someone decides to get help and their actual first day of continuous sobriety creates a meaningful framework for commemorating personal transformation.
The podcast challenges conventional thinking about recovery activities, emphasizing that while meetings and sponsorship are vital, the true measure of recovery lies in how principles are applied "in our respective homes, occupations and affairs." As one host powerfully states, "God did not get you sober to sponsor men and go to meetings. He did it so you could be a better husband, a godly man in your community." This perspective offers crucial balance for those who might become overly focused on recovery activities at the expense of family responsibilities.
Perhaps most moving is the reflection on celebrating a third sobriety birthday with family photos on the beach—a moment that would have been lost forever with just one more drink. This poignant realization captures why recovery matters: not simply to abstain from substances, but to reclaim our place in the lives of those we love. Even with years of sobriety, the journey continues through emotional challenges that require ongoing spiritual growth and surrender.
Whether you're contemplating recovery, newly sober, or have years of sobriety, this conversation offers honest perspective on what it means to choose life beyond addiction. Connect with us at [email protected] to share your own recovery milestone moments.

Thank You for Joining Us.. Please share with friends. If you or anyone you know is struggling with alcoholism please reach out to us. We can get you help. [email protected]