Featuring Ted Neill on the “Eternally Amy” Podcast
What does it mean to get sober — not just from alcohol, but from denial, from ego, from deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior?
That’s the question author and activist Ted Neill wrestles with in one of the most powerful episodes of “Eternally Amy” to date. In this interview with host Amy Liz Harrison, a sober mom of eight and longtime 12-step devotee, Ted gets radically honest about his recovery, his mental health struggles and his decision to write the 600+ page personal reckoning titled:
“My Name Is Ted and I’m a Racist: How a Bunch of Sober Alcoholics Gave Me Tools to Confront My Racial Biases.”
(Yes, that’s really the title.)
But this isn’t just a story about race. It’s a story about sobriety as a spiritual practice. About owning your s**t. About the life-changing power of humility, and how a room full of sober alcoholics gave one man the tools to confront his deepest blind spots.
The Heart of Recovery: Rigorous Honesty
In the rooms of 12-step recovery, we’re taught that the path to healing starts with one core principle: rigorous honesty. And that’s exactly what Ted brings to the table.
In this podcast episode, Ted shares how his life hit a wall in 2012 — hospitalized with major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. His drinking had stopped, but the emotional wreckage remained. That’s when he found 12-step recovery, not just as a way to stay sober, but as a framework for spiritual rewiring.
“12-step spirituality gave me the tools to work through that… and it allowed me to rewire my brain.”
Whether you’re sober for a week or a decade, you’ll recognize the truth here: Sobriety isn’t about abstinence alone — it’s about transformation.
What Happens When You Apply 12-Step Tools to Everything?
What if you took inventory… not just of your drinking, but of your biases?
What if making amends meant not just personal apologies, but showing up differently in the world?
What if “progress, not perfection” applied to your emotional blind spots, too?
That’s what Ted did. And the results are both raw and redemptive.
He talks about his friendship with Kareem — a college friend whose experiences opened Ted’s eyes to the ways white privilege shaped his own perspective. Rather than intellectualize it, Ted did what any real step-taker knows to do: He put himself on the page. Warts and all.
“My go-to example for doing things wrong is always myself first.”
Sobriety, Not Sanctimony
If you’ve ever wondered how to stay grounded while navigating big, hot-button topics — faith, race, politics — this episode gives you a playbook rooted in emotional sobriety. Amy and Ted explore:
- The courage it takes to deconstruct inherited beliefs (especially from black-and-white religious upbringings)
- How 12-step recovery teaches paradox, not perfection
- Why avoiding “us vs. them” thinking is vital for sustained growth
- The difference between cancel culture and real accountability
- Loving boundaries, humble service and the spiritual principle of compassion
“It’s going to cost me something,” Amy says. “Change isn’t free. And that’s what I’ve learned through this book—it costs action.”
Why This Episode Matters for the Sober Community
In a world addicted to outrage and echo chambers, this conversation is a deep exhale.
It reminds us that sobriety isn’t just about putting down the drink — it’s about picking up tools for truth-telling, bridge-building and becoming the kind of person who can love well. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.
If you’re in recovery and wrestling with how to navigate hard conversations without losing your serenity, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.
#QUITLIT SOBEES SCORE: 4 out of 5
???? Listen Now:
???? Eternally Amy: Spirituality, Social Justice, Love & Connection – Featuring Ted Neill
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—your feedback helps connect more sober seekers to life-changing conversations.
More about Ted:
“My Name Is Ted and I’m a Racist” — available on Amazon
???? Website tedneillauthor.com
???? Instagram @therealauthortedneill
???? Facebook Ted Neill – Author: facebook.com/therealauthortedneill
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