BILLWARDLIFE-CAST (formerly The UDRCast)

BILLWARDLIFE
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I am Bill Ward — Recovery Activist, Mentor, and Change Maker. One person, one family, one community at a time. Welcome to the BILLWARDLIFE-CAST (formerly The UDRCast) This podcast is a space for honest conversations about recovery, healing, family, community, culture, and the deeper roots of self-destructive behavior. Through personal stories, solo reflections, and conversations with guests, I share my understanding of what the Spiritual Malady and the solutions to it.

  1. 1d ago

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-208 Forgiveness | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    In this episode, Bill recounts confronting a man in meetings who was harassing a friend, expecting to threaten him but instead shifting into compassion and asking him to change. Bill then describes the strain his personal transformation created with his daughters and ex-wife, including overcompensating and pushing 12-step and spiritual talk, before realizing he needed to “shut up” and lead by example. Around six years sober, his daughters noticed his reduced anger and resentments, asked for help with the steps, got sponsors, and benefited, as did his ex-wife partway through. He shares a crisis when Lucy went missing after being drugged and was found with two men, his choice to forgive, and the family’s emphasis on personal responsibility over blame, ending with upcoming episodes and contact info. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-208 Forgiveness | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  2. Aug 21

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-207 Intuition and Service | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    In this episode, Bill opens by explaining that growth isn’t perfection but “millimeter by millimeter,” with setbacks, humility, and vulnerability as key to change. He shares how service brings support in return, including people helping him move, building his platforms, and offering money, and reflects on reciprocation and giving, including a teacher’s evolving view on accepting gifts for ceremony. Bill describes reconnecting with Indigenous identity later in life, learning Blackfoot and valuing Cree teachings, and sharpening intuition through sponsors, elders, and helping others. He recounts prioritizing a big book study while broke, trusting intuition over “common sense,” and a rare dream that outlined a mission to articulate spiritual sickness and raise consciousness for Indigenous people and on a wider scale, later echoed by work on a documentary slated for Aug/Sept 2026. He emphasizes “the thing is never the thing,” doing what’s hard, honesty, and staying aligned with service as he prepares for ceremony. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-207 Intuition and Service | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  3. Aug 7

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-206 Service and Honesty | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    In this episode, Bill discusses his mentor Jay’s push for him to self-brand as the “message carrier” for helping Indigenous communities despite Bill’s discomfort with humility and judgment in 12-step culture. He reflects on redefining humility, learning strengths through work and recovery tools, and a painful lesson in dishonesty after lying to his daughters to see a girlfriend, which deepened his commitment to rigorous honesty. Bill recounts choosing work based on maximum service, traveling to First Nations communities with Expert First Nations, then taking a higher-paying director role that left him unfulfilled and led him to pray for direction. He describes guidance to focus on helping addicts, building billward.life, calling chiefs and health directors across Canada, struggling financially, restarting landscaping, receiving practical and financial support, and learning reciprocation before ending on a segue to the next episode. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-206 Service and Honesty | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  4. Jul 25

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-205 From Coal to Calling | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    In this episode, Bill shares how painful “mistakes” became lessons that shaped his healing. He recalls quitting drinking at 22 after a desperate prayer, then building Ward’s Ground Thaw Services from scratch despite little education, eventually landing major clients like ATCO, ACE Construction, Telus, Shaw, and the City of Calgary. While outwardly successful, he describes untreated anger, intimidation, and chaos at home, replacing alcohol with workaholism until searching for his missing brother in Winnipeg led him to smoke crack, triggering years of addiction, financial collapse, job loss, and homelessness in a trailer. He credits 12-step recovery, his father’s support, sponsorship, and later spiritual guidance—including choosing service-focused work in First Nations housing, leaving a high-paying role, and pursuing purpose through helping others. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-205 From Coal to Calling | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  5. Jul 10

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-204 BILLWARDLIFE's Story | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    Bill discuss how BILLWARDLIFE emerged from his recovery journey after addiction cost him his family, business, money, and identity built on status. Founded in 2020 without clear direction, the work grew through 12-step recovery, “God-centered pillars” (mentors and supporters), and service to others. Bill tells stories about rebuilding from low-paying labor and poverty to leadership roles, then quitting a stable career after an intuitive experience and guidance he attributes to his grandmother, choosing to focus on helping addicts and alcoholics. He explains criticism about monetizing recovery, his approach to interpreting the Big Book, concepts like “seemingly good/seemingly bad,” developing intuition, and how BILLWARDLIFE now delivers case management, outreach, and First Nations-focused programming with a growing team and ongoing projects. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-204 BILLWARDLIFE's Story | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  6. Jun 26

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-203 Bill's Story | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    Bill Ward opens the rebranded BILLWARDLIFE-CAST (formerly the UDRCast) with Tamara interviewing him in a behind-the-scenes Q&A about his childhood, family, identity, and recovery. He recalls early homes in BC, his parents’ separation, growing up brown in a predominantly white Catholic school, and internalized prejudice about being Indigenous. He reflects on shame, grief, masculinity, and learning vulnerability in recovery, including step work, ceremony, and changing beliefs about manhood and Indigenous identity. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    BILLWARDLIFE-CAST: E-203 Bill's Story | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  7. 11/14/2025

    THEUDRCAST: E-202 Scott H | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    Bill Ward welcomes Scott H to the UDRCast! Scott talks about his path from a turbulent upbringing filled with drug addiction and criminal behavior to achieving sobriety and helping others. They discuss some of the milestones/significant spiritual experiences in Scott's recovery, making a deal with God, and his firm commitment to a life of honesty and service. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    THEUDRCAST: E-202 Scott H | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

  8. 09/18/2025

    THEUDRCAST: E-201 Suzzy A | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction

    Bill welcomes Suzzy A, the founder of Sober Runway and Capacity Building Canada. Suzzy shares her inspirational story of overcoming addiction, the cultural and societal challenges she faced, and how she combines her passions for fashion and helping others in recovery. She details the upcoming Sober Runway event (held on Saturday September 20, 2025), her outreach work with homeless individuals, and the importance of authentic, stigma-free support in addiction recovery. The episode also explores Suzzy's new career path as a psychotherapist and her ongoing dedication to serving her community. #sobrietyisworthit #sober #addicted #soberpodcast #recoverypodcast #theudrcast #spiritualmalady #billwardlife #billwardlifefirstnation #thegoddope #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #spirituality #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #recovery #billwardchangemaker #changemakers #underagedrinking #firstnations #drinkingproblem #drinkingsolution #awakening #spiritualawakening #recoverylife #wedorecover #recoveryispossible #billw #sobercrew #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsolution #findingmyself #helpingothers #hope #inspiration #higherpower #meninrecovery #womeninrecovery #alanon #selfhelp #inventory #selfinventory #selfsatisfied #selfexamination #addictionpodcast #alcoholic #aa #ca #na #12steps #12stepspodcast #levelup #bestlife #bestwaytorecover #spiritualmalady #spiritualsickness #step3 #step1 #step2 #step4 #step5 #step6 #step10 #step7 #step8 #step9 #step11 #step12 #bigbook #bigbookstudy #fear #anxiety #allergytoalcohol #allergytodrugs #solutiontoaddiction #motivation #motivational #thebigbook #god #higherpower #creator #sobercrew #spiritshome #yycaddiction #suicide #suicideprevention #savepeople #sponsoring #sponsee #lightbringers #recoverypodcast #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #suicide #suicidalthoughts #humility #realrawrecovery #recoveryposse #designforliving

    THEUDRCAST: E-201 Suzzy A | Experience, Strength, and Hope | Addiction
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About

I am Bill Ward — Recovery Activist, Mentor, and Change Maker. One person, one family, one community at a time. Welcome to the BILLWARDLIFE-CAST (formerly The UDRCast) This podcast is a space for honest conversations about recovery, healing, family, community, culture, and the deeper roots of self-destructive behavior. Through personal stories, solo reflections, and conversations with guests, I share my understanding of what the Spiritual Malady and the solutions to it.

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