RRP 68 – Roger’s Journey of Survival, Service, and Hope: Founding Voices Series

Presenters: Peter and Julie
Length: 1 hour, 29 minutes

Summary

Episode sixty-eight of the Real Recovery Podcast brings you the second chapter in our Founding Voices series: Roger’s remarkable journey. From a near-fatal gunshot in San Francisco to decades of substance use, Roger’s story is one of survival, transformation, and unwavering service. Today, he’s a pillar in the recovery community—volunteering weekly, sponsoring newcomers, and embodying hope for all who cross his path.

Key Points with Timecodes

[00:00:00] Introduction: Roger’s harrowing brush with death and the pivotal role it played in his recovery journey[1].
[00:04:15] Roger reflects on 22 years of sobriety and the importance of staying “close to the center” in recovery[1].
[00:05:45] The value of sponsorship and service work—Roger’s experience guiding others through the steps[1].
[00:08:13] Daily affirmations and the power of reaching out to others in recovery[1].
[00:10:37] Early life: Growing up near San Francisco, Catholic school, and first encounters with drugs and alcohol[1].
[00:18:17] The progression of addiction—moving from experimentation to dependency, and the music scene’s influence[1].
[00:21:55] Roger’s experience as a young parent, adoption, and the challenges of balancing family and addiction[1].
[00:27:02] Life in San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community, relationships, and surviving a violent attack[1].
[00:34:11] The aftermath of trauma: Out-of-body experience, family support, and the struggle to break free from addiction[1].
[00:45:14] Arrest, court-ordered AA, and the cycle of relapse and return to substance use[1].
[00:56:17] The turning point: Facing job loss, cancer diagnosis, and the decision to try recovery “with nothing left to lose”[1].
[01:08:55] Roger’s defining moment—flushing his last pill and claiming his sobriety date[1].
[01:13:28] The daily commitment: Making meetings a top priority and the simple formula for early recovery[1].
[01:20:00] Service work, fellowship, and the joy of giving back—Roger’s life after recovery[1].
[01:26:18] Closing reflections: Hope, worthiness, and a message to those still struggling[1].

Links

Listen to this episode: https://mdcr1.com/68
Read the blog post: https://mdcr1.com/68b
Explore more episodes: https://www.realrecoverypodcast.com

Quote

“There’s no other reason why I’ve been given this gift, if it isn’t to try and help somebody else… My recovery is my number one priority. Always.”
— Roger

Hashtags and Mentions

#FoundingVoices #RealRecoveryPodcast #AddictionRecovery #ServiceInRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible
@RealRecoveryPodcast

RRP 68- Founding Voices: EP 02-Roger’s Story