Living Free

The Living Free Crew
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Talk on substance misuse, alcoholism and other addictions. Information on support groups is given.

  1. FEB 19

    Alcoholics Anonymous - Connor19FEB2026

    Connor joined Michael in the studio to share his experience of recovery from alcoholism in Alcoholics Anonymous. His drinking was different from a young age and he was taken to his first AA meeting, by his father, as a 16 year old. Connor describes the consequences of his drinking, what early recovery looks like and what difference being sober has made to his life.If you would like more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, they can be contacted on 1300 222 222 or go online at aa.org.au

  2. FEB 12

    Gamblers Anonymous - Steve12FEB2026

    Steve joined Mitch and Michael in the studio to share his story of recovery from gambling addiction. Starting as a youngster betting on horses at the track with his dad, Steve got a taste for gambling with an early win and chased the feeling until it brought him to his knees. Finding hope in Gamblers Anonymous, Steve spelt out what he did in early recovery and what his life looks like now.If you would like more information about Gamblers Anonymous - call 03 9696 6108 or go online at gaaustralia.org.au

  3. JAN 29

    Narcotics Anonymous - Lucy on 29JAN2026

    Lucy knew from a very young age that she was different from other kids and her siblings and felt anxious and a bit depressed.  She found concentrating at school difficult and today acknowledges that this is probably related to her neurodivergence.  Lucy gravitated to alcohol and drugs to compensate for her feelings and to fit in, often with the wrong crowd.By late teens Lucy was ready to leave home and moved in with her boyfriend, who she knew already had a heroin addiction.  Introduced to heroin and then ice, she found that she couldn’t hold down a job and was dependent on others as her drug dependence grew and she developed psychosis.  Lucy’s change of character under drugs saw her become a family violence perpetrator against her mum and this is what eventually caused her to seek help.Lucy was fortunate to get into a 12th step drug rehab where she found Narcotics Anonymous and has now been clean for two years.If you would like to find out more about Narcotics Anonymous or need to talk to somebody, then please call 1300 652 820 at any time or go online at www.navic.net.au.You can show your support to the Living Free show and keep us on air by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand/or donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donatePrevious female NA guest podcasts:Sara and Nat - https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-201808231300/narcotics-anonymous-sara-and-natEmma and Kiandra - https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-201809271300/narcotics-anonymous-emma-and-kiandraLiz - https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-201908221300/narcotics-anonymous-lizEl and Summer - https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-201911281300/narcotics-anonymous-el-and-summerEmma - https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode/narcotics-anonymous-emma-26sep2024

  4. JAN 15

    Alcoholics Anonymous Carol 15 Jan 2026

    Carol joined Michael in the studio to chat about life in Alcoholics Anonymous. Carol has visited the studio before and shared the details of her drinking with Bill & Mitch in October 2023. https://audio.3cr.org.au/3cr/living-free/2023/10/19/1300/202310191300_living-free_64.mp3On this show we discusssed what life looked like at the end of her drinking, what Alcoholics Anonymous offered when she arrived at their door 35 years ago and what life looks like now.

  5. JAN 8

    Gamblers Anonymous - Brenden on 08JAN2026

    Brenden shares his gambling journey and insight into his poker machine addiction and his recovery through Gamblers Anonymous. Now over six years without gambling he shares his insight into how his early behaviour, anxiety and attraction to excitement led him seek out pokies and gamble obsessively for 13 years.If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, then maybe Gamblers Anonymous could help – phone (03) 9696 6108 or visit their website gaaustralia.org.au for information and to see a list of local meetings.Show your support to the Living Free show by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateSome earlier interviews with Brenden:https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-202004301300/gamblers-anonymous-brendenhttps://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-202106101300/gamblers-anonymous-brenden-10jun2021https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode/gamblers-anonymous-brenden-08dec2022

  6. 12/18/2025

    Alcoholics Anonymous - Mark on 18 December 2025

    Mark joined Michael in the studio to share his story of recovery from alcoholism through the AA 12 step program. He described his early life during "The Troubles" in Ireland before moving to Australia. His drinking took over his life and the lives of those he loved the most. After admitting he had a problem, discovering in rehab that his problem is called Alcoholism and his introduction to a solution to the problem in Alcoholics Anonymous, Mark described how his life has turned around and the difference that has made to him and his family.

  7. 12/11/2025

    Gamblers Anonymous - Zach on 11DEC2025

    Zach was an anxious kid and grew up in a big rough family where expressing feelings was not encouraged by his parents. He had an alcoholic grandfather, but no one close had any isms.His gambling started innocuously with sweeps on the Melbourne Cup, and this developed into a gambling habit while in secondary school. Initially it was using another kid’s online betting account and this led into a gambling addiction where he needed to raid his bank account and sell personal items to cover his betting losses. All his friends gambled but Zach was worse. His school results dropped and his parents were concerned about his behaviour.Starting work provided the cash to fund his gambling but that wasn’t enough. Zach resorted to borrowing money but couldn’t repay it, leading to him being unable to sleep or concentrate at work.  He didn’t see his gambling as an addiction, but his parents intervened when he was about 20 and required him to go to Gamblers Anonymous. Zach was uneasy in GA as most of the things the GA members talked about, he hadn’t done – yet. He spent 3 months without betting but with his first bet came the inevitable craving and full-blown addiction returned. Zach lost a large sum of money before he hit rock bottom. Again, his parents intervened and he went to rehab for 30 days. Here Zach met other guys who were addicted to alcohol and drugs and were on the road to recovery. In rehab he was reintroduced to GA meetings and now has been clean for over 4 months. He is rebuilding his life and his close relationships.If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, then maybe Gamblers Anonymous could help – phone (03) 9696 6108 or visit their website gaaustralia.org.au for information and to see a list of local meetings.Show your support to the Living Free show by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateAustralian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) musicians featured this week:Amelia Rey - https://amrap.org.au/artist/amelia-rey-1Alice Isabella - https://amrap.org.au/artist/alice-isabella-1Lana Karlay - https://amrap.org.au/artist/lana-karlay-1

  8. 12/04/2025

    Al-Anon Family Groups - Andy

    Andy grew up in a village in the north of England in a family affected by alcoholism. Although his home life was relatively peaceful, his father was unpredictable. Andy also experienced the trauma of being sent to boarding school at a young age. An immediate result of this was Andy and his siblings becoming disconnected from the other children in the village. Later it led to emotional shut-down, a breakdown and depression. Andy joined Al-Anon and also started a 12-Step support group for survivers of boarding school in England. He discusses, in this episode of Living Free, the applicability of the 12 Steps to problems other than addiction. If you think that Al-Anon  could help you cope with someone else’s problem drinking then you can phone 1300 252 666 or go to their website al-anon.org.auShow your support for the Living Free show by donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donate#Alcoholism #Al-Anon #Recovery The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening.

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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Talk on substance misuse, alcoholism and other addictions. Information on support groups is given.

Information

  • Creator
    The Living Free Crew
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    417
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Living Free

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