Christina, whose story appears in the October 2026 issue of Grapevine, tells Olis and Don that when drinking she saw everyone else living these normal lives, but it never occurred to her that alcohol was messing with her life. Christine tells the story that after judges, psych wards, losing relationships, she mysteriously found herself in the Vancouver Intergroup Office and talked to a woman who did not berate her but instead told Christina about her life as an alcoholic. Terrance tells of his love for Grapevine audio, and about his service bringing the magazines to prisons. Kenneth shares a joke in Wit's End.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

Rachel tells Don and Sam that drinking was a big part of her family life and she too followed that path. While friends were starting families, going to college, getting full-time jobs Rachel was going to jail, moving closer to bars so she didn't have to drive, and watching TV shows about interventions while drinking. She tried for years to avoid herself. Now in AA, Rachel is facing life on life's terms. Sometimes that brings pain, but it also brings joy and freedom, she says. In the feature Language of the Heart we hear from Jack and Janice. Steve shares a joke in Wit's End.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

Matt tells Don and Sam that he came to his first AA meeting at 17, but needed several more years of drinking before the internal bankruptcy and demoralization brought him to surrender. Matt found an AA member in prison who helped him on his journey. Matt helps others in prison as a volunteer too. His friend summed it up nicely: "I come to prison to stay out of prison." In Listener Feedback Don, Matt and Sam respond to Kevin, Carey and Eric. We hear jokes from Jim and Tom. Nora shares her love for Grapevine.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

Tiombe found sobriety at a young age and was blessed to find a group of caring young people who helped her. They were the type who if you couldn't read the Big Book, they'd read it to you. She tells Olis and Don about learning that she not only had to give up drinking, but also the lifestyle she'd built to survive. Tiombe also talks about being a seeker through meditation. In the feature Using the Traditions in Our Lives, we hear about Tradition Nine from Julie, Jeff and Kelsey. Mike shares his love for the AA Grapevine.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

Allison felt like a late bloomer starting drinking at 14, her friends were already at it. She tells Don and Sam that her first drinks were part of her people pleasing tendencies, but she stayed lonely nonetheless. Later, friends told Allison she needed to get help, and recommended AA. At her first meeting Allison felt welcomed — the group made it a First Step meeting and asked her to come back tomorrow. Bill shares about his love for Grapevine.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

Father Bill tells Olis and Sam about hitting a botttom and intentionally living in a shelter for a year. He stresses the importance of prayer and meditation in his sober journey and explains "two way prayer" as he understands it. Father Bill talks about hearing the AA program boiled down to three words: connection, correction and direction. He says that in his guided life part of his job is too look for contamination—finding disturbances. In Language of the Heart we hear from Terry, Matt and Jen. Alan shares his love for Grapevine.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

Ann tells Olis and Don that fear drove her, and that she tried to control her drinking — often unsuccessfully. A marriage counselor told her to look at her own drinking, and she shared that with her mother. Ann's mother in turn invited Ann to join her at a meeting. Ann instead tried on her own, again unsuccessfully. When she finally went to her first meeting, Ann felt her life was over. She did not want to be an alcoholic. But, women helped her at that first meeting and ever since, and now she helps others. In the Ask it Basket Scott has a question about self hatred. Jeff shares his love for Grapevine.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.

David tells Don and Sam that he was very shy, but with booze in him he would offer to sing to women. David was a full blown alcoholic at 24—when hung over he learned to drink and would pass out and wake up hungover — and repeat. David talks at length about his 9th Step work and living free of shame. Vicky tells us about her love for Grapevine. Kenneth shares a joke.

While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/store.

Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform, rate us and leave a comment. You can also email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org.