The Living Clean Podcast

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What does it take to preserve the history of Narcotics Anonymous, and what happens when a few dedicated members decide that the stories of those who came before us are too important to lose?
In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we're joined by members of the Northern California History and Archives Committee to discuss their journey from a small history project during the COVID-19 pandemic to becoming an officially recognized regional subcommittee dedicated to preserving the history of NA.
We explore how Art M. and Francis C. began connecting with longtime members and NA predecessors, the challenges they faced in gaining support within the service structure, and how the determination of local Areas helped establish the committee in 2023.
Along the way, we discuss the importance of oral histories, the preservation of photographs, letters, meeting directories, newsletters, and other historical materials, and the incredible work that has gone into recording more than 100 interviews by the end of 2024.
We also talk about the committee's efforts to digitize historical collections, including materials from the San Francisco Area Service Office, and their work documenting the development of NA throughout Northern California.
Looking ahead, we explore one of their most ambitious projects yet: a comprehensive history book documenting the growth of Narcotics Anonymous throughout Northern California.
One of the most powerful messages from this conversation is simple: "You Are the Book." Every member has a story, every Area has a history, and every generation has a responsibility to preserve what was freely given to us.
This episode is a reminder that the history of Narcotics Anonymous isn't just found in old documents or photographs. It lives in the experiences of the addicts who carried the message, built our service structure, opened meeting doors, and helped make recovery possible for those who followed.
Preserving our past. Documenting our journey. Sharing our history with future generations.

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Be the Change SeriesWhat does commitment look like in Narcotics Anonymous service?Sometimes it is as simple as showing up.In this special Be the Change episode, Dee M. from Cookeville, Tennessee joins David, Francis, Amanda, and Travis for a conversation about commitment and service and the first exercise in Be the Change #6: Spiritual Principles in NA Service.Exercise 1 — Showing UpSpiritual Principle: Commitment“When we come together in service, we connect with each other in a vital way.”— Guiding Principles, p. 13Commitment doesn't always require doing something big. It can mean arriving a few minutes early, staying until the work is finished, being dependable, and making ourselves available to the fellowship.We explore how simply showing up connects us to something greater than ourselves. When we place our time, energy, and willingness at the service of NA, we help strengthen our groups, support one another, and make sure the message remains available to the addict who still suffers.This week's practice:Arrive a few minutes early.Stay until everything is finished.Then ask yourself: How did simply showing up help carry the message today?Join Dee M., David, Francis, Amanda, and Travis as we talk about commitment, willingness, responsibility, and what happens when recovering addicts keep showing up for each other.You don't have to change everything.Show up. Be willing. Be the change.Come back for the next exercise in the Be the Change: Spiritual Principles in NA Service series on the Living Clean Podcast.

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This week on The Living Clean Podcast, we continue our journey through the Twelve Steps with Step Ten—the beginning of learning how to practice what we’ve gained in recovery as part of our everyday lives.
Our returning panel of Archer, Pete, and Douglas is back, and this week we’re joined by Ali and Rufus to talk about what it means to continue taking personal inventory.
Step Ten teaches us that recovery isn’t about reaching a point where we stop making mistakes. It’s about becoming willing to recognize them sooner, take responsibility for them, and make things right before they have a chance to pile up. We talk about daily inventory, promptly admitting when we’re wrong, watching for old patterns, and learning the difference between healthy self-examination and beating ourselves up.
We also explore what “promptly” really means, why admitting we’re wrong can still be difficult even after working the first nine steps, and how Step Ten helps prevent resentments, dishonesty, fear, and other problems from quietly building back into our lives.
The first nine steps have helped us clean up much of our past. Step Ten helps us keep today clean.
Join Archer, Pete, Douglas, Ali, and Rufus as we share experience, strength, and hope about living Step Ten—not perfectly, but consistently—and learning how regular inventory, accountability, and course correction can become a way of life.

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Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you don’t plan.
In this spontaneous episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Francis sits down with J.W. for an open and personal conversation about where life has him today. J.W. shares about his current health issues, the spiritual principles that help him navigate difficult circumstances, and what recovery looks like when life shows up on life’s terms.
Along the way, Francis and J.W. talk about The Living Clean Podcast, Narcotics Anonymous, friendship, gratitude, spirituality, service, and a whole lot of other things in between. No agenda. No script. Just two addicts sitting down and sharing their experience with each other.
The heart of NA beats when two addicts share their recovery.

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In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we sit down with the Māori woman from Aotearoa, New Zealand, who wrote “Kia Ora Koutou,” one of the personal stories published in the Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text.
The episode begins with a narration of her powerful story—a woman who entered treatment kicking and screaming, got clean partly out of stubbornness and spite, and slowly discovered hope through the message of Narcotics Anonymous. She shares honestly about the progression of her addiction, losing the trust of her whānau, surviving her earliest cravings ten minutes at a time, grieving her old way of life, and eventually rebuilding her relationship with her children, earning a university degree, and creating a life she once believed was impossible.
After hearing “Kia Ora Koutou,” we speak directly with its author about the experiences behind those words and everything that has happened during the 23 years since she wrote them. We explore her Māori identity, family, spirituality, recovery, and the many ways her understanding of hope and freedom has continued to grow.
This is more than an update to a story from the Basic Text. It is living proof that an addict can stop using, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.
Arohanui—big love.