An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA

04/12/2021

The journey through the 1st 164 pages of the Big Book is over but the next one is just beginning! Join me as I explore the 12 X 12 and take a deep dive into the steps and the traditions that make up how the program works - as always - through a secular lens.

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode 20! In this episode I begin the journey of going through the 12 X 12. I will be covering each step and each corresponding tradition to further explore the meat of the AA program: the 12 steps and 12 traditions. It has been a long time since I've...

23/11/2021

I am humbled and amazed to see that my podcast has hit 1000 total plays and that the listenership keeps growing! What an amazing feeling! Thank you to everyone who has listened! I appreciate every single one of you!

02/11/2021

New episode is out now! In this episode I wrap up to employers! Its a weird chapter with even weirder advice so there's a lot to unpack!

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Sixteen! In this episode I finish the chapter To Employers. This is easily one of the weirdest chapters in the book but also has some interesting history. While much of the book is attributed to Bill Wilson this chapter was for sure written by H...

05/10/2021

Episode 12 is out now! In this episode I wrap up the chapter Working With Others. I also talk about the importance of words. Words used on others, how they affect me, and how I have learned to talk to myself. Has the way you talk and use words changed in recovery? In what ways?

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Twelve! In this episode I finish off Working With Others in the Big Book of AA. Words have a lot of power. They can do a lot of harm and they can do a lot of good. They can inspire and they can bring someone down. Some things just simply can't b...

14/09/2021

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Nine! In this episode I will be reading the first part of Into Action from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This chapter is pretty heavy and required me to break it up into 2 episodes. I talk a little more about my experience with my new sp...

25/08/2021

New episode is live! In this episode I talk about how I specialize with old friends and where the line should be drawn when paths dont align before getting into finishing the chapter Mpre About Alcoholism.

How has socializing changed for you? Have you had to cut ties with people you used to associate with?

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Six! In this episode I will be reading More About Alcoholism from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the July 17th excerpt from The Daily Stoic. How do we socialize with our old friends? Are they our old friends or just 'our friends...

10/08/2021

The obsession that I would be able to drink normally took me 10 years to shake - after over 10 years of wreckage and destruction. I just wasn't willing to admit defeat - and when I finally did I doubled down on my drinking rather than stop. It almost cost me my life.
I am thankful for the road that lead me here, to not just sobriety but recovery. I hope others find their way:

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Four! In this episode I will be reading There is a Solution from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as the July 10th excerpt from The Daily Stoic. Are you putting the work in to perfect your craft? How are you making progress? (Apologi...

03/08/2021

New episode is live! Bill's story is a while ride and is our introduction to what early AA considered a 'real alcoholic'. What are your thoughts on Bill's Story?

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Three! In this episode I will be reading Bill's Story and what a wild ride it is! I will also be reading an excerpt from The Daily Stoic for July 5th. How are you improving on a daily basis? What are you doing that will lead to you being a bette...

27/07/2021

New Episode is out now! This episode is all about The Doctors Opinion of the Big Book of AA

Welcome to An Atheist Reads the Big Book of AA Episode Two! In this episode I will be reading The Doctor's Opinion as well as giving my feedback and commentary. As with every episode, we begin with reading from The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman to get us started! Today's reading....

27/07/2021

How do you start your day?

23/07/2021

In what ways are you choosing to do better? To be better? It could be as small as showing up on time to work (if you struggle with such things) or as big as calling someone you haven't talked to in a while just to see how they are doing. How are you impacting your world?

22/07/2021

The language we choose to use on ourselves is important! Putting ourselves down, self humiliation, self flaggulation - it just continues to perpetuat a cycle that doesn't involve action or healing. Be gentle to yourself. Choose the words you use on yourself with the same kindness you would a friend that was struggling.

20/07/2021

The podcast is officially LIVE!

While the focus is on making AA accessible to atheists and non-believers it is my hope that anyone can find value in what is shared! Join the conversation by following this FB page or on Twitter at

My name is Josh C and I am an alcoholic in a 12 step program of recovery. I am also an atheist and have found some recovery programs challenging. In this podcast I read the original text of the AA big book and try to understand the god stuff from an atheist perspective. I also explore other forms of...