Sober Cast: An (unofficial) Alcoholics Anonymous Podcast AA Workshop: Bob D leads a workshop on the 12 Traditions
Dec 19, 2025
In this insightful workshop, Bob D, a seasoned Alcoholics Anonymous member, dives deep into the 12 Traditions and shares his transformative recovery journey. He reflects on the significance of unity and group autonomy, emphasizing their role in fostering a supportive environment. Bob recounts the origins of AA, touching on key figures like Bill and Dr. Bob. With humor, he discusses the pitfalls of over-organization and the importance of maintaining anonymity in the digital age, all while grounding his talk in principles that prioritize integrity and personal responsibility.
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Practice Self-Supporting Contributions
- Be self-supporting: contribute what you can to your AA group and avoid relying on outside funding.
- Give at least what one drink costs today as a regular expression of gratitude and responsibility.
Paid Work vs. Twelve-Step Service
- Tradition Eight differentiates paid administrative work from unpaid 12-step service.
- Bob D highlights risk when members become professionals in recovery work and lose giving/receiving balance.
Publicity Spurred Growth and Growing Pains
- Bob D recounts AA's early growth and the Jack Alexander article that brought mass attention to AA.
- He contrasts that growth with the disunity and problems that prompted the creation of the Traditions.