The Living Clean Podcast

This week on The Living Clean Podcast, we sit down with Chris M., an addict in recovery whose personal journey eventually led him to create something that would have a lasting impact on Narcotics Anonymous service around the world: the Basic Meeting List Toolbox, better known as BMLT.
But before we talk about technology, databases, or service, we start with Chris himself.
Chris shares his personal recovery story — where he came from, what brought him to Narcotics Anonymous, and the experiences that shaped his life in recovery. It’s a fascinating story and an important reminder that behind every piece of NA service is an addict who first had to find a way to stay clean.
From there, we get into the story of BMLT.
The Basic Meeting List Toolbox was created to give NA service bodies a stable, secure, and centralized way to maintain meeting information. Instead of Areas, Regions, and other service bodies maintaining separate versions of the same information, BMLT allows meeting data — where a meeting is, when it meets, and its format — to be maintained from a central source and then used across multiple websites and meeting-finding tools.
In other words, when an addict pulls out a phone, visits an NA website, and searches for a meeting, there is a good chance there is much more happening behind that search than they realize.
Chris takes us back to how the idea started, the problem he was trying to solve, how BMLT developed, and how something created to serve a practical need grew into a tool used throughout the NA service structure.
We also talk about what happened when Chris eventually passed the project on to others to continue maintaining and developing it — an incredible example of the spirit of service: build something that helps addicts, give it freely, and allow it to become bigger than the person who started it.
This episode isn't really about software.
It's about what can happen when recovery, experience, talent, and service come together — and how one addict's desire to contribute can quietly help countless other addicts find their way into a meeting.

What happens when recovery takes you halfway around the world and into the driver's seat of one of the most famous cities on earth?
In this episode, Francis and Travis sit down with the unforgettable Bombay Mark—a recovering addict whose journey began in Bombay and eventually led him to the streets of New York City as a nighttime cab driver.
Mark shares the story of finding recovery, building a new life in America, and navigating the endless parade of humanity that climbs into the back seat of a New York City taxi after dark. From moments of danger and heartbreak to unexpected kindness and inspiration, his stories reveal the resilience of the human spirit and the life-changing power of recovery.
This conversation is filled with humor, honesty, and hope as Mark reflects on the lessons he's learned from thousands of passengers and how staying clean has allowed him to witness life through a completely different lens.

What happens when one simple idea grows into a worldwide source of hope and connection?
In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we sit down with Camilla, the person whose vision sparked the Loving Our Long-Timers meeting. What began as a way to honor members with decades of continuous recovery has become a place where experience, strength, and hope are shared by some of the fellowship's longest-clean members.
Camilla shares the story behind the meeting, how it got started, the impact it has had on recovering addicts around the world, and why preserving the experience of long-term recovery matters so much. Whether you're brand new to recovery or have decades clean, this conversation is a powerful reminder that recovery truly works.
If you're looking for encouragement, wisdom, and stories from members with 30+ years clean, we highly recommend checking out the meeting.
Loving Our Long-Timers (Zoom Meeting) ❤️ Two meetings every week
Zoom ID: 974 8817 4579 Password: hope
Fridays
5:30 PM Eastern
4:30 PM Central
3:30 PM Mountain
2:30 PM Pacific
Saturdays
11:30 AM Eastern
10:30 AM Central
9:30 AM Mountain
8:30 AM Pacific
The meeting has featured 900+ speakers with more than 28,000 combined years of recovery, and many of those talks are available as free downloads.
Learn more at nalongtimers.org.

What inspires someone to answer the phone when another addict reaches out for help?
In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Mo brings an idea to life with an episode titled "Tales from the Helpline." Francis and Mo sit down with members who have dedicated themselves to Narcotics Anonymous helpline service, exploring the heart behind one of NA's most important yet least visible forms of service.
Our guests share what motivated them to volunteer, the experiences that have stayed with them, and the quiet rewards of being there for the still-suffering addict. They discuss the responsibility of carrying the message with compassion, maintaining anonymity, and offering hope to someone who may be making the most important phone call of their life.
Whether you've served on a helpline, are considering getting involved, or simply want to learn more about this vital service, this conversation offers a heartfelt look at the power of one addict helping another.
Join Francis and Mo as they celebrate the spirit of selfless service and the dedicated members who help ensure that, whenever an addict reaches out, someone is there to answer.
Recovery begins with a connection—and sometimes, that connection starts with a simple phone call.

This week on the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our journey through the Twelve Steps with Step Eight: “We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”
Our returning panel is back — Archer, Pete, Douglas, and, of course, the co-host with the most, Francis. This week, we're joined by special guests Shane and Margaret as we unpack one of the most significant turning points in recovery.
Step Eight marks the moment when recovery begins to move outward. After taking an honest look at ourselves in the previous steps, we now begin looking honestly at the people our addiction affected. We discuss what it means to make a complete list, how willingness often comes before action, and why this step is about far more than simply saying, "I'm sorry."
Together, we explore fear, guilt, shame, forgiveness, accountability, and the difference between making amends and seeking forgiveness. We also talk about difficult names to put on the list—including ourselves—and how becoming willing lays the foundation for the life-changing work of Step Nine.
This conversation is practical, heartfelt, and full of experience from people who have walked this path. Whether you're preparing to work Step Eight or reflecting on it years later, there's something here for everyone.