One of my favorite things about sobriety is the instant connection one feels with someone who is also “trudging the road of happy destiny.” We recognize fellow friends of Bill W. by the attitude of gratitude, the ability to stay in acceptance, and the common language guided by promises and principles. My conversation with Robert Pardon, a.k.a. The Recovery Guy, was like talking to an old friend. We got each other right away. After only a few minutes in, we knew we shared the same philosophies on recovery laid out in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. No secret handshake is needed. I’m a huge fan of The Recovery Guy podcast. I highly recommend subscribing, sharing with sober friends, and taking in as much of his wisdom as you possibly can.
If you are going to call yourself The Recovery Guy, you better be able to back it up. I can assure you that Robert Pardon has earned this title and knows what he’s talking about. His experience with addiction is extensive and not exclusive. Robert came to NA and AA by way of Gamblers Anonymous and also struggled with compulsive overeating. He’s a life/sober/career coach, blogger, public speaker, and podcast host. As a result, he knows enough about recovery to know that there is not just one path. So, although he is a Christian and an active member of AA, his eclectic approach to sobriety is influenced by Buddhism, multiple philosophers, authors, and business leaders.
189 Podcast Episodes and Counting
To date, The Recovery Guy has recorded 189 episodes of the podcast and counting. Encouraged by his daughter, he is committed to producing at least 2 episodes a week. Robert is particularly motivated by COVID-19 isolation. Because of this, recovery work is needed now more than ever. With 34 years of sobriety, The Recovery Guy has enough wisdom, knowledge, and stories for a lifetime of episodes.
Sin City, Skid Row, Russian Ted, Pete the Greek, and Texas Mike
The Recovery Guy kicked off 2021 by focusing on the steps. He covered one step a week on Tuesdays for 12 weeks and calls this “The Fix.” Fridays are called “The Checkup” and cover topics essential to sobriety, such as promises, powerlessness, cleaning the house, amends, and humility. One of my favorites has been Episode #166 The Gift of Restoration. The Recovery Guy walks through the steps clearly and concisely, quotes the big book, and spices it up with stories from Sin City, Skid Row, and wisdom from characters like Russian Ted, Pete the Greek, and Texas Mike. And he wraps it all up in about 30 minutes.
Keep Coming Back
This will keep me coming back to these episodes for refreshers and step studies with sponsees. And it makes me really excited for The Recovery Guy’s upcoming podcast episodes on The 12 Traditions of AA. Another really cool thing about The Recovery Guy is that he takes requests. So, if you have a topic in mind, message him and he will mention you and discuss your topic in a future episode.
Transformation and Restoration
Robert is truly in this to help others. He views recovery as a journey and has walked miles and miles. As a result, he’s transformed from an adulterer to a marriage officiant, from a gambler who lost it all to a guy who is overpaid in all areas of life, from an active addict who walked out on his family to a loving husband, grandfather, and father who works with his children on a podcast providing experience, strength and hope to help others. Now, The Recovery Guy has been restored with the kind of recovery we want. And the best part is that he is willing and able to help us get it, too.
Make the Connection
You can connect with Robert on Facebook, Instagram, the Recovery Guy Blog, and online. The Recovery Guy podcast can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. You can email him at robert@recoveryguy.org.
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Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
