The Living Clean Podcast

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.

On this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we explore a friendship that bridges generations in recovery.
Francis, with 33 years clean, and Travis, celebrating just over a year, share how recovery creates connections that go far beyond time clean. Though they come from different experiences and different places in their journeys, they’ve found something powerful in common: the ability to help each other grow.
This episode follows a special weekend in Northern California. On Thursday night, Francis speaks in Nevada City, sharing decades of experience, hope, and the spiritual principles that have carried him through life clean. The very next evening, Travis takes the message to Red Bluff at an Ice Cream Social Bingo Night, carrying a fresh and passionate message of early recovery.
Together, their stories show that recovery isn’t about seniority—it’s about connection. One addict helping another. Experience meeting enthusiasm. Wisdom meeting willingness. And both people walking away changed.
Whether you’re brand new or have decades clean, this conversation is a reminder that we never stop learning from each other, and we never outgrow the need for fellowship, friendship, and purpose.

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.

In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Francis sits down with Bryant S. for a deep dive into a pivotal era in the history of Narcotics Anonymous. Bryant got clean in July 1981 during the closing years of the Literature Movement that helped produce the Narcotics Anonymous, and he shares firsthand memories from one of the most transformative periods in NA history.
Bryant recounts his experiences at the legendary Rising Sun Club House and his involvement with the Atlanta Literature Committee during the years leading up to and following the publication of the Basic Text. The conversation explores the energy, passion, and controversy surrounding the early literature conferences, including Bryant’s attendance at the 6th World Literature Conference and two Mid-South Regional Service Conferences.
He also reflects on what was presented at the 9th World Literature Conference at the Bucks County Farmhouse, including collaborative work connected to the Youth and Recovery IP. Along the way, Bryant shares personal stories about service, fellowship politics, spiritual growth, and the dedication many members had toward carrying the NA message to addicts still suffering.
The episode also takes a deeply personal turn as Bryant speaks openly about complacency in recovery, his relapse, and the difficult road back to Narcotics Anonymous. His story is one of humility, perseverance, and the enduring power of recovery and fellowship.
This episode is packed with living history, personal experience, and hard-earned wisdom from someone who witnessed—and participated in—some of the most important moments in early NA literature development.

What makes us love Narcotics Anonymous so deeply? In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Mason and Francis sit down for a heartfelt conversation about the many reasons NA continues to mean so much to us.
We share personal stories, memorable experiences, and those small moments that often say the most—moments of connection, laughter, growth, service, friendship, and recovery. From meetings that changed our lives to the people who helped shape our journey, we reflect on the things that make NA more than just a program—it’s a way of life and a worldwide fellowship built on hope.
This episode is a celebration of gratitude, recovery, and the countless blessings we’ve found through Narcotics Anonymous. Whether you’re brand new or have decades clean, we hope this conversation reminds you why we keep coming back.
We Love NA.