Stories of Secular Recovery from Addiction through Narcotics Anonymous
Recovery stories from Narcotics Anonymous members who got clean without religion. Each ~20 min episode features a personal share recorded with the speaker's permission. Our guests attend secular NA meetings and offer genuine experiences of strength and hope — without relying on a deity or god. Their stories are proof that another way is possible.
This podcast is not formally affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous World Services in any way.
Episodes
11 episodes
EPISODE (11) 2025-03-22 BOB O
In this episode, we hear from Bob O. Bob reflects on how he talked himself into addiction by romanticizing self-destruction. Bob reminds us that addiction doesn't always take root in trauma or involve a dramatic bac...
EPISODE (10) 2025-09-24 PAULETTE
In this episode, we hear from Paulette. Paulette reflects on 29 years of secular recovery, describing how she found her higher power in the fellowship of NA itself, adapted the 12 Steps to her own values, and built a meaningful, authentic li...
EPISODE (09) 2025-02-12 GARY
Gary came into Narcotics Anonymous in 1987 after a therapist handed him a helpline number — not by choice, but by accident — and found himself at home almost immediately, despite rejecting the program's religious underpinnings. Over nearly four...
EPISODE (08) 2026-04-17 ANNE MARIE
Coming into NA at age 46 after a lifetime of addiction, violence, and poverty, Anne Marie found in the rooms something she had never experienced: hope, acceptance, and the possibility of change. Over nearly 13 years of recovery, she disc...
EPISODE (07) 02-21-2025 08 MAGGIE
In this episode, we hear from Maggie, who shares how fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and seemingly small, early tendencies (such as being fixated on salt), led to addiction. She explains that she sees Recovery as lifelong pro...
EPISODE (06) 2025-06-06 ELVIS
In this episode we hear from Elvis. Elvis came to NA reluctantly, nearly walking away over its God-centric language, until he found his footing in secular meetings where his atheism was welcomed rather than condemned. He worked the steps ...
EPISODE (05) 2025-03-29 AMY N
In this episode, we welcome, Amy who shares her journey from first using drugs at age 12, through her 18 years of conventional AA recovery, to a relapse triggered by a post-surgery opioid prescription and 12 more years of active addiction, to f...
EPISODE (04) 2025-03-15 KIKKI
In this episode, we welcome, Kikki. Kikki has been clean for over 41 years in Narcotics Anonymous! But that almost didn’t happen because at her very first meeting of NA she didn't hear a message of recovery. Instead, she heard somebody ta...
EPISODE (03) 2025-01-31 KRIS
In this episode we hear from Kris who tells her story as an atheist in this program because, in her words, it is the core of what we do here. She starts at the beginning of her personal story and shares about the first try of the NA program whi...
EPISODE (02) 2025-02-14 ERIC K
Our speaker for this episode is Eric, well-known in secular NA circles for his intelligence, insights, and honesty. In this share, Eric goes back 30 years and reflects on the thoughts and feelings of his non-linear journey of recovery. He speci...
EPISODE (01) 2025-02-28 RAJ
Our speaker for this very first episode is Raj who summarizes his addictions as using each of his drugs of choice “until the wheels fell off.” Raj shares how he was finally able to get clean and concludes his story by touching briefly on each o...