In this episode of the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our discussion of the Living Clean chapter on Disabilities. Recovery doesn't eliminate life's challenges, but it does give us new ways to face them. Whether those challenges are physical, cognitive, emotional, visible, or invisible, this conversation explores what it means to live a full and meaningful life in recovery while navigating limitations, obstacles, and differences.

Our panel discusses the importance of acceptance, self-worth, accessibility, asking for help, overcoming shame, and finding purpose despite circumstances that may feel unfair or overwhelming. We also examine how recovery helps us move beyond seeing ourselves as our disability and instead allows us to recognize our value, strengths, and ability to contribute.

This chapter reminds us that while disabilities may affect how we move through the world, they do not define who we are. Recovery offers connection, dignity, hope, and the opportunity to participate fully in life—one day at a time.

Join us as we continue this powerful and heartfelt conversation on resilience, inclusion, gratitude, and the freedom that comes from learning to live clean no matter what challenges we face.

This week on the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our Twelve Step journey with Step Six: “We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

Our returning panel is back — Archer, Pete, and Douglas — and this week we’re joined by special guests Karen J. and Ron H. for a deep and honest conversation about willingness, readiness, and the lifelong process of change.

We explore what character defects really are, why some behaviors are so difficult to let go of, and how many of us want relief while still holding on to the very things causing us pain. We discuss pride, fear, control, resentment, self-centeredness, and the inner resistance that often shows up when real transformation begins.

Step Six is where we stop just identifying the problem and start becoming willing to live differently. It is where honesty meets humility, and where growth becomes possible.

This is one of the most relatable and practical episodes in the Step series so far.

If you’ve ever known what needs to change but struggled to let it go, this episode is for you.

Do yourself a favor and listen.

Spotify Episode Description

On this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we sit down with Jim H., one of the earliest members of Narcotics Anonymous in the Philadelphia area. Jim shares what it was like in the early days of recovery in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including getting clean on June 6, 1974 — a date that would ultimately change the course of his life.

Jim talks about being what he calls the fifth member of NA in Philadelphia around 1971, going back out for several years, and then finding his way back to recovery in 1974. From there, his story becomes deeply connected to the growth of Narcotics Anonymous itself. He helped start meetings throughout the Philadelphia area and carried the message internationally to places like Iceland and Copenhagen during a time when NA was still finding its footing around the world.

This episode is filled with personal history, hard-earned experience, humor, honesty, and a firsthand look at what recovery looked like before there were meeting lists, literature everywhere, or established fellowships in many cities. Jim’s story is a reminder that recovery survives because addicts continue carrying the message one person at a time.