Newcomers
If you’ve just found this site — welcome. Whether you’re in recovery, thinking about it, or just trying to understand what 12-step programs are, you’re in the right place.
What is a 12-step program?
It’s a way out. The original program was developed by Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s — a group of people who couldn’t stop drinking and figured out a way to live without it. The same framework has since been adapted for many different problems:
- AA — alcohol
- ACA — growing up in a dysfunctional or alcoholic family
- Al-Anon — being affected by someone else’s drinking
- SA — sexual addiction
- WA — work addiction
All the fellowships on this site use the same 12-step foundation.
What are speaker tapes?
They’re recordings of people sharing their story — at meetings, conventions, workshops. Not lectures. Just someone talking honestly about what their life was like, what happened, and what it’s like now.
For a lot of people, hearing someone else describe their exact experience — the thoughts, the behavior, the shame — is the first time they’ve felt truly understood. That’s what makes them powerful.
This site has hundreds of them, free, organized by fellowship, speaker, and topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be religious? No. The steps mention a “Higher Power” — but what that means is entirely up to you. The group itself counts. So does nature, a principle, or simply the recognition that your own best thinking hasn’t been working. Atheists and agnostics are in every fellowship.
Where do I start? Pick a fellowship that sounds like your problem and listen to a few talks. The Tags page lets you search by topic — things like step-1, surrender, fear, fellowship. Follow what resonates.
Do I need to go to meetings? The recordings here are a supplement, not a replacement. Meetings, a sponsor, and working the steps are the actual program. These talks are best used alongside that — not instead of it.
Which fellowship is right for me? Listen to a few talks from each and see where you recognize yourself. The story is usually the giveaway.
Is this site affiliated with any fellowship? No. It’s an independent project, not endorsed by or affiliated with any organization.
Are the recordings free? Yes. No account, no signup, nothing.
How do I find talks on a specific topic? Use the Tags page to browse by topic, or the Speakers page to find everything by a specific person.
I don’t know where to begin — what should I listen to first? A few good starting points:
- Chuck C — A New Pair of Glasses (Part 1) — one of the most loved AA talks ever recorded
- ACA Speakers — if childhood family dysfunction is the thing
- Al-Anon Speakers — if you’re here because of someone else’s drinking
Recovery is possible. The talks on this site are proof of that — real people, real stories, real change.
Take what helps, leave the rest.