AA Recovery Interviews with Howard L.

Howard L.

Alcoholics Anonymous members from around the world share their awesome stories of experience, strength, and hope with interview host Howard L.

  1. HACE 1 DÍA

    Kirkland V. - Sober Since February 2005

    Kirkland’s family of origin was a difficult place to grow up. Alcoholism was rife and the cause of constant stress and chaos. Wracked with fear and isolation, he inevitably turned to alcohol and marijuana for solace. It didn’t take long for the disease of alcoholism to take hold and thrive. Kirkland’s subsequent use and abuse of alcohol and grass throughout high school and college affected every area of his life. By the time he was in his mid-20s and early 30s, he was gradually losing his ability to be a functional alcoholic. Despair from that realization, plus periodic bouts with depression and suicidal ideation, finally overwhelmed him. His moment of clarity and divine intervention appeared in the form of memories of his late grandmother and her words of wisdom to him earlier in his life. He reached out to a friend, who brought him to his first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Seeing former friends and business colleagues in the rooms did much to bolster Kirkland’s early commitment to sobriety. He quickly found a sponsor and by three months, he’d already completed his 4th step. He finished with his steps by the end of his first year and continued active involvement in meetings and in the fellowship. With amends to his parents made along the way, Kirkland discovered the freedom and peace that accompanies the willingness to do the work. To this day, and certainly in the interview, he exudes a quiet confidence and enthusiasm for the Program. Kirkland’s story is one I think you’ll enjoy listening to. It speaks to the gifts of hope and redemption available to those who are willing to embrace the AA way of life. So, please enjoy the next sixty-five minutes with my friend and AA brother, Kirkland V. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book if you’d like to read along with the audio. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]

    1 h y 10 min
  2. 18 FEB

    Gerry R. - Sober Since January 1990

    Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Gerry’s road to utter ruin began with pot, pills, and intravenous drug use at 15. Living as a heroin addict for the next ten years, his sordid lifestyle supported his addiction until he was able to stop heroin through methadone treatment for the next ten years. With his life spiraling out of control after two decades as a dope addict, Gerry was finally able to get off the drugs thanks to vodka. Unfortunately, drinking upwards of two quarts of vodka, while still smoking marijuana and snorting cocaine, soon confirmed how out-of-control his alcoholic life had become. By the time Gerry found AA in early 1990, he entered the local AA club a broken and desperate man. Fortunately, the members of that club gathered him in and showed him through tough love the work he would need to do in the Program to stay sober. With little faith that Alcoholics Anonymous would work, Gerry did what was asked, including attending the men’s meeting in which I first met him. Frankly, it took me a while to get used to this guy with the gravely voice and thick New York accent, but, eventually, his story melted my heart and we became very close friends. He’s stayed sober the entirety of our friendship. Gerry’s life in sobriety has always been chock-full of meetings and service work, mostly at his home AA club. I’ve seen him face some very difficult situations over the years with the kind of hope and perseverance that genuinely inspire other people. He never hesitates to welcome new-comers and those returning from a slip. His booming laugh in conversation manifests the joy Gerry gleans from sobriety and is a healthy invitation for others to share his mirth and his enthusiasm for the Program. I’m always glad when I see Gerry in a meeting and, though I’m usually sure I know what he’s going to say on any given topic, I never tire of hearing it. His relaxed and jocular way of relating his experiences in sobriety is steeped in hopefulness and wisdom. His absolute assurance that AA works, if you work it, comes through loud and clear every time he’s called on a meeting. I think you’ll get a meaningful kick out of my interview with Gerry R. and invite you to gather up others to listen to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews. Prepare yourself to be both entertained and enlightened over the next hour by the words of my close friend and AA brother, Gerry R. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen to a free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

    1 h y 6 min
  3. 12 FEB

    Kelvin S. – Sober Since September 2017 (Encore Episode)

    Kelvin's life was defined and dominated by booze and drugs. Though there are similarities to other sobriety tales, many parts of his story contain things that most alcoholics must be referring to when they say, “There but for the grace of God go I” or “That could have been me”. Drinking, smoking crack, gang membership, desperate crimes, jail, broken probation, prison, and parole violations all occurred in within five years after his first drink. Raised in a home rife with family secrets, Kelvin’s mother did her best to help keep her kids out of trouble. But desegregation during his middle school years had Kelvin bussed across town to schools where he struggled to find a persona with which he could fit in. Back in his neighborhood he was bullied for that and had to adopt a different persona to fit that environment. Confusion, lack of direction, lost identity, and low self-esteem inevitably became the drivers to drinking and smoking marijuana at 17. He soon joined a gang and started smoking crack cocaine. Purse-snatching, shop-lifting and other crimes put him at odds with the legal system and put Kelvin in jail, and later prison. He mostly ignored or dismissed alternatives to incarceration, such as rehab, though he did attend some AA meetings in his early twenties. The next 20 years until Kelvin got sober in AA are an odyssey of drug and alcohol addled behavior. He floundered in a sea lost jobs, multiple treatment centers, bitter divorce, crime, jail, and many failed attempts to get and stay sober. He finally found AA in 2017. Ernest in his efforts to stay sober through AA, he wasn’t completely convinced that AA would work. So he set up a contingency fund into which he made regular deposits. If AA didn’t work, he’d have enough money saved to drink himself to death. Fortunately, Kelvin went to meetings, got a sponsor, did service work around the AA club, and worked the steps sufficient to claim a place in the middle of the Program. After a year of AA recovery, Kelvin liquidated the contingency fund, bought a watch, went to the next meeting. The rest of Kelvin’s story is captivating, fascinating, and colorful. My interview with him enriched my sobriety and I hope it will do the same for you. So sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my friend and AA brother, Kelvin S. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.

    1 h y 15 min
  4. 4 FEB

    Sarah M. - Sober Since May 1996 (Encore Episode)

    Sarah’s remarkable story begins with a relatively happy childhood in a family with little connection to alcohol. While other addictive behaviors may have been present, Sarah experienced issues with anorexia and bulimia years before her first drink. It manifested into feelings of low self-esteem and negative body-image, causing further shame and fear. By the time she found alcohol at age 16, she was able to ease her negative feelings and fit in, but such escape lead to problems. With difficulties at home and a stint at college cut short by alcohol, Sarah set off on the road to destruction, adding cocaine and crystal meth to the deadly mix along the way. Fortunately, her exposure to recovery for her eating disorders many years earlier left her with a friend who encouraged Sarah to attend AA. After some fits and starts, she finally made it into the Program in 1996. From the start, she worked a Program of diligence and meaning. That early anchoring in AA allowed her to continue to work safely in a bar. She earned enough to pay for education that extricated her from that same tavern job several years later. As her life was steadily improving as the result of Alcoholics Anonymous, she was faced with a major crisis, her husband’s cancer diagnosis, just three years into her marriage. For the next three years, until he passed, Sarah worked two jobs and cared for her husband while amazingly finding time to attend AA meetings. She credits those meetings and her selfless service work as her means to survive those difficult years without slipping. Sarah’s story points to the insidious nature of the disease which allows it to find its way into the lives of even those who enjoyed happy childhoods. In Sarah’s case, alcoholism did not discriminate. That she was able to survive a booze-soaked and drug infused lifestyle was most certainly by the grace of God. That she thrives today and enjoys a relatively contented life is directly correlated to her involvement in an active AA Program. The women she sponsors find solace and hope in the experience she shares with them, while she, in turn, bolsters her solid Program to withstand the ups and downs of long-term sobriety. There’s a lot to learn from Sarah M., and I invite you to tune in this especially poignant episode of AA Recovery Interviews. So, please enjoy the next 60 minutes with my dear friend and AA sister, Sarah M. If you’ve found meaning, hope, or inspiration through my AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I invite you to go even deeper with a truly essential resource for recovery:“Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism.” This is a word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, originally published in 1939—brought vividly to life through careful narration that lets the wisdom, clarity, and power of the text fully land. Listening allows the Big Book to meet you wherever you are: at home, on the road, or in moments when opening the book just isn’t possible. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and deeply engaging way to enrich your AA program through focused listening.You can listen free at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to explore my latest audiobook,Lost Stories of the Big Book: 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Narrated by me, this audiobook restores powerful, long-forgotten personal stories that many AA members have never encountered. These original testimonials were removed to make room for newer stories in later editions—but their messages of surrender, transformation, and hope are just as vital today as when they were first written. For many listeners, this will be the first time hearing these voices speak again—honest, raw, and deeply human. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon for those who wish to read along while listening. Whether you’re newly sober or decades into the journey, these audiobooks are must-have companions—designed to deepen understanding, strengthen connection, and help keep the message alive, one careful listen at a time.

    1 h y 4 min
  5. 31 ENE

    Dan C. - Sober 3 Years

    Dan C.'s story challenges conventional wisdom about alcoholism and recovery. We often think of alcoholism/addiction as a young person's struggle, a disease that wrecks lives early and publicly. But what happens when a cunning, baffling, and powerful disease lies dormant for decades, only to combust when a seemingly successful life hits an unexpected turn? This is Dan C.'s powerful and eye-opening story. For more than 45 years, Dan lived what many would call a remarkable life. A highly respected criminal justice attorney, he built a prominent career, earned accolades, and navigated the world with confidence and control—or so it appeared. Alcohol was always present, but never, in his mind, the problem. Like so many of us, Dan believed he still had power over his drinking. He managed it, justified it, and folded it neatly into his version of a successful life. And for decades, that illusion held. Then, in his mid-60s, the illusion shattered. A convergence of pressures and losses created a storm he could no longer manage. The disease he had outmaneuvered—or thought he had—finally took center stage. What followed was a rapid descent into chaos, fear, and hopelessness, until Dan was brought—reluctantly but mercifully—into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. What you’ll hear in this interview is the moment Dan recognized the difference between his lifelong reliance on self and the simple, spiritual principles of AA’s Program of Recovery. Instead of turning away in pride, he leaned in. Fully. Dan attended meetings, got a sponsor, began working the Steps, and immersed himself in the Fellowship. What began as willingness grew into joy. Today, those connections remain a cornerstone of his three years of continuous sobriety. Some who got sober young may marvel at how long Dan avoided obvious consequences. But his story is a powerful reminder that alcoholism is patient, progressive, and no respecter of age, intellect, or success. It is a great equalizer. The stories shared on AA Recovery Interviews are more than personal reflections—they are lifelines. They carry a simple but vital message: recovery is possible at any stage of life and at any stage of the disease. I invite you to listen, learn, and be inspired by this extraordinary story of recovery and redemption with my friend and AA brother, Dan C. And if this episode resonates with you, please share it. Your share could be the spark that lights someone else’s path to sobriety. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]

    54 min
  6. 21 ENE

    Kyle G. - Sober Since January

    Kyle’s hard-fought battle with addiction and alcoholism was one he thought he could win on his own. He even managed to stay dry without AA for five years. But they were miserable years packed with trouble in every aspect of his life. So, back to drinking he went for ten more years, during which his disease rode him hard to the bottom. As his life swelled with problems and his options were dwindling, Kyle finally found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous three years ago. Though his period of continuous sobriety is relatively brief compared to double-digit sobriety, the “how it was” and the “what happened” parts of his story are every bit as powerful as those of AA members who have enjoyed decades of sobriety. For many of us, the recency of Kyle’s experience is a stark reminder that the disease is as brutal as ever, offering little respite to those who suffer. In Kyle’s case, a difficult childhood led into early drug and alcohol use. As alcoholism and addiction surfaced during is later teenage years, Kyle was placed in rehab as a high school junior, but it had little effect on the burgeoning disease that he resumed immediately after. A hoped-for recovery in the U.S. Air Force largely failed as Kyle’s behavior and an alcoholic black-out during deployment caused more trouble. Once out of the service, he resumed his addictions, though, like many, he was still able to marry and have children and job despite his active disease. He even managed to stay dry for five years. But without a Program, he was mostly miserable along the way. By the time he got to AA, he’d been thoroughly beaten by the disease and ready to take “certain steps” toward recovery. Three years later, through working the steps with a sponsor, Kyle’s sobriety is demonstrated by his sponsorship of other men and his attendance at daily meetings. It’s a far cry from where he was when he got to AA, but he’s taking nothing for granted as his disease resides around every corner. Kyle’s is a cautionary tale, instructive of many of the “do’s” and “don’ts” that are so prevalent in Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you will get a lot out of this interview and invite you to enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Kyle G. Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in paperback from Amazon, if you’d like to read along with the audio. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.] Share Podcast: TwitterFacebookRedditLinkedinWhatsAppGmailEmail

    1 h y 17 min
  7. 14 ENE

    Patrice T. - Sober Since January 1979 (Encore Episode)

    Patrice T. has known alcoholism from both sides—first as the child of an alcoholic, and later as an alcoholic herself. For a time, her drinking overlapped her father’s struggle, until both of their lives were transformed by sobriety. Patrice grew up amid the turmoil of her father’s disease, yet like so many of us, she began drinking as a teenager anyway. Alcohol offered relief and escape as her life grew more chaotic. By her early 20s, while working as a nurse, drinking had shifted from social to daily—and felt impossible to stop. Around the same time, her father found Alcoholics Anonymous, and his life steadily improved. Patrice saw the change, heard the hope, but wasn’t ready. Not yet. It took hitting bottom for her to finally surrender and walk into AA herself. That was in January 1979. Over the next four decades, Patrice shared the gifts of sobriety with her father, who passed away with 32 years sober. Today, her life is firmly rooted in AA through meetings, sponsorship, and service. The challenges she’s faced—and overcome—are powerful testimony to the healing found in the rooms. Her commitment to helping other women reflects a devotion she learned early and still lives by. I’ve known Patrice for several years, and her grounded, honest way of living the Program is deeply impressive. Her story of long-term sobriety is inspiring and unforgettable. Set the world aside and join me for this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Patrice T. [Note: This interview was originally released as podcast 72 in April 2022.] If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews strictly follows AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for maintaining online anonymity. I cover all production costs. There is no advertising and no financial gain for anyone involved. Neither the podcast nor its guests speak for or represent AA as a whole. This show is simply my way of giving back what was freely given to me.—Howard L.

    1 h y 16 min
  8. 8 ENE

    Robert H. – Sober Since November 2001 (Encore Episode)

    Robert got sober when he was just 13, after a brief, but vicious, struggle with alcoholism and hard-drug addiction. Twenty-two years later, he’s a living testament to what long-term recovery in AA can mean for those who get sober young. Robert’s family tree was infested with alcoholism, so his life seemed pre-destined to the ravages of the disease. Fortunately, both his parents and grandfather were active members of AA and they intervened early before they would have lost him to booze and hallucinogens. Miraculously, treatment and an alternative peer group took hold in his young life. He soon found himself sitting alongside his father and grandfather in a men’s AA meeting, where I first met him.  Though his father struggled with multiple relapses through the years, Robert never stopped working his AA Program. Incentivized by his grandfather’s promise of a fully-paid college tuition, Robert took the skills and maturity he had gained from AA into his higher education. He ultimately earned a Ph.D., launching a 17 year career in the field of addiction and mental health that encompasses private practice, clinical supervision, and the creation and management of clinical programming. He still credits AA with this gift and others in sobriety, including a loving wife and four children, close friends, and a spiritual practice that keeps him centered on helping others. With such a busy and fulfilling life, Robert still makes time for the very same basics he learned in AA when he was barely a teenager. Meetings, sponsorship, fellowship, and prayer continue to serve him, and are a model for others seeking long term sobriety in AA. Robert is one of many members of Alcoholics Anonymous whom I’ve known from their first days of sobriety. Watching him grow into a man of integrity, intention, and purpose while staying sober has been a huge blessing for me and countless others. His story is remarkable in many ways, but absolutely epitomizes the impact AA can have for those who want what we have, young and old. It’s a story you’ll likely want to listen to more than once. So, please lend your attention for the next hour and ten minutes to my excellent friend and AA brother, Robert H. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.

    1 h y 8 min

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Alcoholics Anonymous members from around the world share their awesome stories of experience, strength, and hope with interview host Howard L.

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