

Relevant Recovery
Donnie & Heather
Hosts Heather & Donnie discuss challenges relevant to recovery. Topics include chemical dependencies on a variety of substances, as well as food, social media, money and much more. They discuss everything from mental health, anxiety, depression, fear, marriage and resentment. Join Heather and Donnie as they share their personal experience with recovery and sobriety.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 34min
The Stuff Nobody Explains - Episode 231
Alcoholics Anonymous has a language all its own. When someone is new, they often have no idea what certain words mean—especially the way they’re used in the Big Book and other 12-step literature. Learning the intended meaning behind this language can clear up a lot of confusion. In this episode, we break down these key terms so we can carry the AA message with more clarity, consistency, and accuracy.
Big Book page references for Craving: in the Drs Op 7 times! XXVIII, This word does not appear again in basic text until page 134 in The Family Afterward and its used in regular contest for chocolate. Allergy is used 3 times in Drs Op.
Big Book page references for Insanity: Used 9 times: 8, 9, 30, 37, 40, 56, 66, 107, 154.
16 Big Book page references for Recovered: Pg. iii, xiii, xv, xvii, xxv, 17, 20, 29, 45, 90, 96, 113, 132, 133, 146 & 165

Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 49min
The Magic Pill - Episode 230
Feeling stalled, off, or spiritually flat—even with years of sobriety? In this episode, we talk about why information isn’t the same as application, why there’s no quick spiritual fix, and how getting back into the daily practice of the 12 Steps brings real change. We break down the signs of a spiritual stall, the myth of the “magic pill,” and the simple actions that reconnect us to growth, community, and purpose.

Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 55min
Stand For Something - Episode 229
What do you actually stand for? When life pressures you, what keeps you grounded? Are your beliefs based on unchanging truth—or on feelings and trends? #Those who stand for nothing, will fall for anything.

Nov 17, 2025 • 1h 47min
The Soil of the Soul - Episode 228
Why Some Find Recovery and Some Don’t.
We’re going to look at a old story Jesus told in Luke 8, called The Parable of the Sower, and connect it to what the Big Book calls “a design for living that really works.”

Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 36min
🐘 Elephants and Ants - Episode 227
Why the Little Things Can Be the Biggest Threats to Our Sobriety.
It’s rarely the big life crises that take us out — it’s the little things. In this episode, we explore how small daily irritations and subtle spiritual drift can quietly erode recovery, and how consistent practice in the spiritual program protects us from both elephants and ants alike.

Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 42min
Costumes and Characters - Episode 226 🧙♀️
In this episode, we explore Steps 6 & 7 through the lens of masks, personas, and character defects. From Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to the “actor running the whole show,” we unpack how self-will and false roles keep us trapped—and how surrender invites God to direct the story. When we drop the costume and let Him remove what blocks us, our true selves can finally step into the light.

Oct 26, 2025 • 1h 31min
Haunted by Fear - Episode 225 🎃
Fear is the silent saboteur of our peace and growth—an “evil and corroding thread” woven through the fabric our lives. In this episode, we uncover what’s really driving our fears, how self-reliance keeps them alive, and how faith sets us free.

Oct 19, 2025 • 1h 43min
Boo-ze: The Ghost That Haunted Me - Episode 224
Alcohol isn’t just a drink—it’s a spirit that whispers from the shadows: “maybe this time will be different.” In this episode, we learn how to recognize the whispers early, bring them into the light, and stay free from the ghost of booze.

Oct 12, 2025 • 1h 16min
The Man of Thirty — Episode 223
In this episode of Relevant Recovery, we dive into pages 32–33 of the Big Book — the story of the “man of thirty” who swore off alcohol until retirement. This is a powerful reminder that sobriety is more than staying dry — it’s about finding true freedom through a change of mind and heart.

Oct 5, 2025 • 1h 21min
Trusting God Rather Than Self - Episode 222
In this episode we explore what it really means to trust God rather than ourselves. From surrendering control, stepping off the Bridge of Reason onto the shore of Faith, and learning to play the role God assigns us. It’s an honest look at letting go of self-will, questioning less, and trusting more — even when we can’t see the outcome.


