n this episode of the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our book study of Living Clean: The Journey Continues, focusing on the final six paragraphs of the “Illness” section in Chapter 4.

Illness can challenge our recovery in ways we never expected. Physical suffering, fear of the future, and difficult choices can test the spiritual principles we rely on every day. In this conversation, we explore how the tools of recovery help us navigate those moments when life becomes uncertain and painful.

We discuss the importance of reaching out—calling a sponsor, leaning on our support group, and turning to the wisdom found in NA literature such as In Times of Illness. These tools help us make decisions we can live with and take the next right action, even in the middle of crisis.

The episode also explores the spiritual tension many of us feel when illness strikes. We talk about bargaining with God, expectations in prayer, and the powerful shift that happens when we move from demanding outcomes to practicing surrender. Recovery teaches us that our Higher Power is not a vending machine, and that acceptance of life on life’s terms often opens the door to gratitude—even when gratitude feels hardest to find.

We also examine the deeply personal nature of health decisions. Recovery does not give us a single model for how to live, and each of us must find our own balance between caring for ourselves and avoiding the self-destructive patterns of our past. Through honest reflection, inventory, and surrender, we learn how to live according to our values rather than our fears.

Ultimately, this section reminds us that recovery is not about perfection. It is about continually returning to the tools of the program, refining our balance between health and illness, action and acceptance, and learning how to live a life that aligns with our beliefs.

Freedom in recovery means something powerful: we get to live life according to our own choosing and design.

In this episode, Mason and Francis sit down with comedian Mark L., a performer known for bringing humor into recovery spaces and treatment settings across the world.

While respecting the spiritual principle of anonymity, this conversation focuses on experience, strength, and hope — not identity. Mark shares about his past, the role humor played in his recovery, and how laughter can help us talk about the things we once hid, denied, or ran from.

This is an honest discussion about addiction, recovery, perspective, and the power of being able to laugh without minimizing the seriousness of the journey.

If we can laugh about it, we can talk about it. And when we can talk about it, we don’t have to go through it alone.

After nearly five years of persistence, Francis finally tracks down Keith S., and in this special episode, both Mason and Francis sit down with him for a rare and powerful conversation about early Narcotics Anonymous history and service.

Keith was deeply involved in the Ohio fellowship during the early 1980s and attended both the 1982 and 1983 World Service Conferences. He shares firsthand insight into that pivotal era, including the moment he made the motion for Bob Stone to become office manager — a decision that had a lasting impact on NA’s service structure and communication. He also reflects on his experience at the Fifth World Literature Conference in Warren and what the fellowship felt like during one of its most challenging and formative periods.

Mason and Francis explore Keith’s memories of Jim M., discussions around Greg P., and the realities of navigating unity, growth, and difficult transitions within the fellowship at that time. Alongside the history, Keith opens up about his personal recovery journey and what it was like to stay clean and committed to service while NA itself was still evolving.

This episode is a rare blend of fellowship history, personal experience, and deep service perspective — an honest, insightful conversation that captures the spirit, struggles, and resilience of NA during a defining chapter in its development.

Living Clean Book Study — Page 101: Illness (Living Clean: The Journey Continues)

On this episode of the Living Clean Podcast, Mason and Francis are joined by Jay, Jess, JW, Gregory, Dave, and Barb as we study page 101 from Living Clean: The Journey Continues and break down the section on Illness, one paragraph at a time.

This reading speaks to a reality many people in recovery face but don’t always talk about openly: life doesn’t stop happening just because we’re clean. Physical health issues, mental health struggles, and the long-term consequences of our past can show up in recovery and sometimes feel overwhelming. Together, the panel discusses how recovery tools help us cope with illness without falling into blame, resentment, or avoidance.

We explore the human tendency to search for explanations when we suffer, and how that can easily turn into judgment toward ourselves, others, or even a Higher Power. Instead of getting stuck in “why,” the conversation shifts toward perspective, acceptance, and learning how to just get through the day when life feels heavy.

This episode also takes an honest look at denial versus refusal, fear of treatment, stigma around illness, and the difference between truly turning something over and simply ignoring reality. The discussion connects illness to responsibility, self-care, ongoing step work, and making living amends to our bodies and our lives in recovery.

A grounded, practical Living Clean study focused on page 101 and the principle of living life on life’s terms — using recovery tools to face illness with honesty, action, and acceptance rather than fear or avoidance.

In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Mason and Francis sit down with returning panel members Archer, Pete, and Douglas, along with two special guests, Jay and Mindy, for a powerful and honest conversation about Step 3: “We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”

This discussion goes far beyond the words on the page. The group explores what it really means to make a decision in recovery. They talk about control, ego, fear, and the deep-rooted habit of trying to run the show. Jay and Mindy bring vulnerability and fresh perspective as they share how Step 3 shifted their understanding of trust and changed the way they respond to life’s chaos. The panel wrestles with the tension between surrender and responsibility, discussing how turning it over is not passive resignation but an active daily choice to let go of self-will.

Together, the conversation moves from theory to lived experience. What does it look like when we actually stop fighting everything? How do we trust something greater than ourselves without fully understanding it? And how does this step move us from belief into action? As always, the heart of recovery beats when addicts share honestly with one another, and this episode captures that spirit in a real and practical way.

Atlanta has played a vital role in the growth and development of Narcotics Anonymous throughout the Southern United States.

In this Living Clean Podcast episode, we sit down with members currently serving on the committee writing The History of Narcotics Anonymous in Atlanta, along with several founding members of the Atlanta Fellowship. Together, we explore the early days of NA in Atlanta — how the first meetings formed, how the fellowship grew, and how addicts carried the message at a time when resources were scarce and recovery was still finding its footing.

This conversation captures the lived experience behind the history: the challenges, the service work, the unity, and the dedication that helped shape NA in Atlanta and influenced the broader Southern fellowship. These are stories of commitment, perseverance, and belief in a simple message — that any addict can stop using, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.

Whether you’re interested in NA history, service, or the roots of recovery in the South, this episode offers a meaningful look at how Atlanta became one of the building blocks of Narcotics Anonymous.

Wild Recovery is more than just a group — it’s a recovery experience built around movement, nature, and shared adventure. In this episode, we sit down with several members of Wild Recovery to talk about what it’s been like to live clean while hiking trails, pushing limits, and reconnecting with themselves, others, and the world around them. They share how challenge, discomfort, and community have become powerful tools in their recovery, and why this outdoor-based approach has resonated with people who may not have found their place in more traditional spaces. This is an honest conversation about growth, freedom, and discovering new ways to experience recovery. We’re excited to share this unique experience with you.

For this second episode in our 12-month journey through the 12 Steps, we dive into Step Two: "We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Our panel regulars—Douglas, Archer, and Pete—are joined by Bronwyn and Dan. Together, we explore what "coming to believe" means, how sanity is restored, and how this step builds the foundation for hope in recovery. Join us as we unpack the belief in something greater!