The Living Clean Podcast

Francis, David, Travis, and Amanda return with a new set of Be The Change exercises focused on the 12th Step and practicing recovery principles “in all of our affairs.”
In this episode, the group reviews how the spirit of welcoming newcomers began to naturally show up in everyday life — at home, at work, in conversations, and in how we respond to challenges outside of meetings. What started as intentional kindness within the fellowship began to overlap into personal lives, reminding us that the message is carried through how we live.
Together, we introduce this next series of exercises designed to help us practice being the change in practical ways — applying spiritual principles consistently, not just inside meetings, but wherever we go.
This discussion explores:
• living the 12th Step through action
• how welcoming others changes us
• practicing principles beyond the meeting room
• carrying the message through example
• building consistency between recovery and daily life
• simple ways to Be The Change in relationships, responsibilities, and community
These exercises are intended to support continued growth, deepen awareness, and strengthen the connection between recovery and everyday living.
If you are interested in participating in this next set of exercises, reach out to Francis by text.
Recovery is not just something we talk about — it becomes something we live.
Be The Change — In All of Our Affairs

In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we continue our journey through Chapter 4 of the Living Clean book as we begin exploring the section on “Disabilities.”
We’re joined by a group of special guests who bring real, lived experience to this conversation. Each of them faces different types of disabilities, and together they help us break down the first half of this powerful section.
This episode dives into what it really looks like to navigate recovery while also managing physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges. Our guests share honestly about the obstacles they’ve faced—but more importantly, they share the strength, courage, and perseverance it takes to stay clean and keep moving forward.
This is a conversation about resilience. About not giving up. About finding hope even when life adds extra layers of difficulty.
Because recovery doesn’t require perfect circumstances—it requires willingness, connection, and the courage to keep going.

In this episode of the Living Clean Podcast, I’m joined by Jay L. (Montana) and Chris C. (Yreka, CA) as we sit down with Marc S., who shares a powerful story of addiction, transformation.
Marc’s journey takes us deep into the counterculture era, where LSD became a central part of his life and identity. From couch surfing and hitchhiking to living on the streets, Marc found himself immersed in a fast-moving lifestyle shaped by the psychedelic scene and the cultural shifts of the time. What began as experimentation gradually turned into deeper involvement in the drug trade, eventually spanning multiple cities including San Francisco and Los Angeles.
At first, the lifestyle seemed exciting and full of freedom. But over time, the consequences of addiction began to surface. Marc describes how the very thing that once felt like connection ultimately led to isolation, instability, and spiritual bankruptcy.
Marc eventually found recovery in the early 1980s in Miami, beginning a new way of life grounded in principles, community, and service. His recovery journey carried him across both coasts, where he built friendships with longtime members and individuals connected with the World Service Office, helping shape a foundation of lasting recovery and connection.
His story reminds us that no matter how far we go into addiction, there is a way back—and a life beyond what we ever imagined possible.

After sitting in the archive for over a year, we’re finally releasing this conversation with Bo S.
Bo was there in the early days. He served as the first World Literature Conference Chair and was one of the members who stepped forward when the question was asked, “Who’s going to write the book?”
The answer he got was simple: “Any addict.”
And Bo said, “Well, I’m an addict.”
He would go on to be one of only two members to attend all seven World Literature Conferences, playing a role in the development of what would become the Basic Text.
This episode wasn’t easy to release.
When we recorded this, Bo’s health was declining. At times he was sharp and clear, and at other times he struggled with details and timelines. Because of that, we held onto this recording for a long time. We wanted to make sure anything we shared respected both the history and Bo.
After going back through the archive and carefully editing this conversation, what remains is something honest and human.
This may not be our cleanest episode but it’s real.

From the early days of Narcotics Anonymous in Memphis, Chet P. shares firsthand memories of a time when the Fellowship was still finding its footing in the Mid-South. He recounts going through treatment at the historic Memphis House, attending the Mid-South Regional Service Conference, and taking road trips with Joseph Proctor to help carry the message of recovery wherever addicts were still suffering.
But Chet’s story doesn’t end there.
Decades later, in his 70s, Chet found himself living a very different reality—homeless on the streets of San Francisco. His journey reflects both the promise and the fragility of recovery, reminding us that addiction is a lifelong illness and that staying connected matters.
This episode is not just NA history—it is a powerful reminder that recovery is something we live, one day at a time.
Follow Chet’s current journey and outreach work on Instagram:
@uplifthumanitysf
Living Clean Podcast — preserving our history, carrying our message, and remembering that every story matters.