Show Notes
I'm super excited to gather all of the deprogramming resources (including ones you haven't seen before!) in one space. It's all accessible from SobrietyBestie.com which is now like a deprogram 12 step hub. I've moved my website to a new location with my name Kirsten-Johnson.com so that Sobriety Bestie can live on as a one stop deprogramming extravaganza start to finish freedom experience for those navigating the mindf*ck of leaving AA, realizing they were in a recovery cult and wanting to reclaim their mind, autonomy and life. My hope is that people wanting to deprogram AA or 12 step can find Sobriety Bestie and move through their deconstruction journey at their own pace. Timestamps: 00:00 Leaving Alcoholics Anonymous 02:10 No Longer Deprogramming AA Reactions 05:57 Sobriety Bestie is Complete 07:17 Why I Created This Deprogramming Work 12:31 Deprogramming Resources For Leaving AA 17:11 Kirsten Sobriety Bestie Going Forward 26:03 Crossing The Finish Line
More from Kirsten Johnson Podcast
Did Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, consume alcohol after getting sober in 1934? According to his wife, Lois Wilson, yes—but there's a catch. In this episode, we examine the rumors about Bill's drinking, his requests for whiskey on his deathbed, and an incident involving alcohol documented in Lois Remembers. I also share my own experience with a “freelapse” and explore what these stories reveal about one of AA's core claims.
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Today I join Victor from Quackaholics Anonymous for a wide-ranging conversation about Alcoholics Anonymous, indoctrination, and what happens when recovery becomes an identity. We talk about why people are drawn into AA, love bombing and belonging, shame and the “alcoholic” identity, neurodivergence and mental health being mislabeled as alcoholism, the religious and cult dynamics of the program, predatory behavior and accountability, amends, and the difficulty of questioning a system you were taught you needed to survive. We also explore what it means to deprogram, rebuild trust in your own experience, and speak openly about both the help—and the harm—people can experience in AA.