Rich L. is from Mountainview, California, and he helped start a secularly formatted AA meeting in his community. In this episode, he shares his personal story of recovery, how and why he started a secular AA meeting, and how things are going today for both him and his group.
Key points discussed

* Growing up in an alcoholic home.
* Drinking makes Rich feel normal.
* Rich’s feeling about religion.
* Trying to quit on his own.
* First impressions of AA.
* The utility of the Twelve Steps.
* Experience starting a secular AA meeting.
* Impact of COVID on the group.
* Why AA should update its literature.

Memorable quotes
Drinking seemed to work for me. I was able to expand my social network and become a sort of normal person, connecting with people and making friends. Maybe, in hindsight, it was just that time of life, but I thought it was the alcohol.
It was fun, it was fun with trouble, then it was mostly trouble for the last five years of my drinking.
I came to AA because I had a couple of relapses when I tired on my own.
The “god thing” fell away during my step work. I didn’t worry about it.
Resources mentioned in this episode
Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions, by Russell Brand
Episode 72: Dr. Nicole Labor 

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