About Safe Recovery Podcast LEAVING Alcoholics Anonymous
Safe Recovery is a new series examining predatory behavior, power dynamics, and cultural issues inside 12 step meetings and the broader recovery industry.
Our mission is simple: Empowerment — not powerlessness.
This show explores modern, ethical, evidence-based, and spiritually diverse approaches to alcohol and drug overuse. We discuss alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous and traditional 12 step programs, while supporting authors, clinicians, and advocates who are creating new pathways to healing.
Safe Recovery highlights:
• Alternatives to AA
• Recovery without powerlessness
• SMART Recovery and cognitive-based approaches
• Moderation and harm reduction
• Secular and spiritual healing models
• Addiction treatment reform
• Protecting vulnerable people in recovery spaces
We believe people deserve informed choice.
Sobriety, moderation, or a different path entirely — empowerment means you choose what works for your life.
Americans deserve recovery models rooted in dignity, autonomy, accountability, and evidence — not shame or coercion.
Safe Recovery is about building a culture of informed recovery, personal responsibility, and real healing.
This episode was originally published in April 2011.
A one hour show with NA previous Board Member Tom McCall talks about rage with blogger Monica Richardson.
23 Mar 2026
Make AA Safer Pamphlets, Posters, Workshops
This episode was originally published in April 2011.
I will discuss what we did in Southern California to address Sexual and financial Predators in the rooms.
We have pamphlets, posters, and safety statements.
Over 65 meetings throughout the US and growing are using the pamphlet.
Call is with questions, stories and solutions. The Harassment must stop.
We need to shine the light on the 75 year old problem in AA meetings.
19 Mar 2026
Michelle Dunbar, St Jude's Retreat
This episode was originally published in February 2013.
Join us for an interview with President of St Judes Retreat, a non 12 step place to go for help with alcohol or drug problems.
If you need to get away from your environment to get help, this might be the place for you. Abstinence and Moderation are options here.
16 Mar 2026
Robert Whitaker, author of Anatomy Of An Epidemic
This episode was originally published in August 2012.
Robert Whitaker is the author of four books: Mad in America, The Mapmaker's Wife, On the Laps of Gods and Anatomy of an Epidemic. His newspaper and magazine articles on the mentally ill and the pharmaceutical industry have garnered several national awards, including a George Polk Award for medical writing and a National Association of Science Writers Award for best magazine article. A series he cowrote for the Boston Globe on the abuse of mental patients in research settings was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1998.
12 Mar 2026
Mary Ellen Barnes and Ed Wilson from Non 12-Step Help
This episode was originally recorded in July 2012.
Mary Ellen Barnes and Ed Wilson will join me for a 45 minute show discussing a truly non 12 step program they created.
It is located in Palos Verdes.
10 Mar 2026
Steven Slate St Jude's Retreat Offers a Non 12-Step Retreat
This episode was originally recorded in August 2012.
Join Monica Richardson and Steven Slate who now works for St Jude's Retreat for those who need to get away and get help at a NON Treatment Retreat. Their saying is " what do I need treatment for if I don't have a disease. "Whether your problem be alcohol or drugs, Steven and St Jude's can help in a new non 12 step way.
9 Mar 2026
Hank Hayes, author "You’ve Been Lied To"
This episode was originally recorded in September 2012.
Courageous. Investigating. Author Hank Hayes joins us to discuss the Lies the 12 step Program has generated for decades. Hank offers new, powerful and empowering solutions to age old problems around addcition, alcohol and drug over use. Alcoholics Anonymous is an old 1939 paradigm that is on its way out. Hank has some refreshing new ideas.
19 Feb 2026
Local Citizens In Florida Threatened by NA/AA Members
This episode was originally published in May 2011. In a small town near Daytona Beach, Florida is a park (Holly Hill) where NA and AA meetings have been meeting for over 17 years. Recently a group of local concerned citizens near the park has had their lives threatened numerous times by numerous AA/NA members.
Police were called, City Council meetings were held, neighbors signed petitions, newspapers reporters wrote stories and NA World Services/AA World Services were called to address this threatening behavior. What role does each World service hold with regards to responsibility of members and meetings. Why do these members feel entitled to take this park hostage as "theirs"?
A controversial look at a serious problem dealing with both sober/clean addicts & alcoholics. Where is their spiritual practice? Are they paying rent for the pavilion like the local residents do?
Harriet will join us to share what she is doing to raise awareness and to protect minors.
16 Feb 2026
I Am Not Broken - Are You? Lies 12 Step Culture Tells Youth
This episode was originally published in March 2012.
Are you a man/woman/teen who has lost his/her legs and will never grow new ones. (quote from Big Book of AA)
Who was Bill W and what did he know about a teenager who is drinking too much. Nothing! Parents, young people who are over doing in the drink and drug department need to listen to this show.
Would you listen to a Doctor who was reading a manual from 1936?I doubt it, yet this is what AA, NA and 95% of all treatment and rehabs preach.I say ...STOP THE MADNESS!!!
9 Feb 2026
Recovering From Recovery: A New Anti AA Site
This episode was originally published on July 17th, 2012.Here is a new site for bloggers that is troll free. Many bloggers left OPF and after Sinkin thinkin shut down ( although I hear it's up again to post comments) we didn't have a place to go and communicate safely.
Created by UK Blogger, mfc66, it is filling a void many of us all felt we needed.
Ex Steppers, Ex Al ANON members and ex 12 step person of any kind are finding a safe haven here to discuss the many problems in and around the 12 step culture and how it has invaded our government, entertainment and healthcare.
5 Feb 2026
Life Beyond 12 Step Meetings: Why I Left, Why You Left
This episode was originally published on September 7th, 2011. After years attending AA meetings people when people leave sometimes feel alone and unsupported. Monica shares how she and many others deal with being iced out, gaslit and ostracized after believing a community was like your family and your closest friends are now your enemy.
3 Feb 2026
Donna J Cornett on Drink Link Moderation
This episode was originally published on February 22, 2012. Join Donna Cornett Founder of Drink Link Moderation to discuss help for those with early stages of a drinking problem who prefer to learn to moderate than do abstinence.
26 Jan 2026
Dangerous Men in AA Meetings
This episode was originally published on Oct 31st, 2012.
When a male AA member killed a mother and child in Honolulu a big five year investigation ensued, only to discover that courts were ordering violent & sexual offenders to AA meetings, unknown to the public. Monica Richardson discovered through an AA world board member that sex offenders were targeting meetings unknown to members or the public (who were being forced there by courts and unions) . After attending AA for over 30+ years Monica decided to leave and change things from the outside.
22 Jan 2026
Dr Marc Kern, founder of Moderation Management
This episode was originally published on December 5th, 2012.
In 1982, Dr Marc Kern received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. In 1983 He founded Addiction Alternatives, his private practice in Los Angeles, California, to provide clients with non-12-step addiction treatment alternatives, because there are many more people like him who do not find AA and the 12-step approach to be effective. His practical self-help book "Take Control, Now!" is a do-it-yourself blueprint for managing unwanted habits. of the Addictions.
19 Jan 2026
When AA Doesn't Work For You, What Are Some Other Options?
This episode was originally published on April 18th, 2012Alternatives to 12-Step Programs
When AA doesn't work for you, there are many other ways to get help for problematic use:
SMART Recovery
The Sinclair Method using Naltrexone
Psilocybin journeys with an Indigenous shaman or therapist
Harm Reduction
Moderation Management
"Get a life" approach
Go back to school
Good outpatient treatment with no AA requirement
The Freedom Model
The Center for Motivation and Change in NYC
Practical Recovery in San Diego
Ibogaine therapy in Mexico
Ketamine therapy done with a doctor
LifeRing Secular Recovery
Rational Recovery (not my favorite)
15 Jan 2026
SMART Recovery with founder Tom Horvath
This episode was originally published on June 8th, 2011.Join Monica and Tom Horvath for an in depth interview on one of the hottest newest Smartest modalities of healing.
SMART Recovery® is the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group. Our participants learn tools for addiction recovery based on the latest scientific research and participate in a world-wide community which includes free, self-empowering, secular and science-based, mutual-help support groups.SMART Recovery® currently sponsors more than 600+ face-to-face meetings around the world, and 18+ online meetings per week. In addition, our online message board is an excellent forum to learn about SMART Recovery® and obtain addiction recovery support.
12 Jan 2026
Is the Big Book outdated? Debate, Discuss, and Disect
This episode was originally published on April 26th, 2011.
A discussion around...
AA's Original first and only text...The Big Book.Is it still viable. How can a religious fellowship be a place where our Judges are sending DUI's and Criminals.Narcotics Anonymous is currently in process of writing a new text. Why not a new text for AA?What has NA addressed in this new book?
9 Jan 2026
Sexual and Financial Predators in AA - Part 2
This episode was originally published on May 25th, 2011.Join Monica & Kali for another episode of uncovering predatory behavior and bringing safety to all in & out of 12 step rooms.
5 Jan 2026
Sexual and Financial Predators in AA - Part 1
This episode was originally published in May 2011.Monica will host and Kali will co-host this in depth interview discussing the notorious 13 stepping behavior in AA meetings, its culture and program. AKA Sexual harassment. Financial Scamming and the like-sponsorship abuse-powertripping. A grass roots movement that began in California has now spread throughout the US. Over 65 meetings are using the MAAS -Make AA Safer Pamphlet.
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