The Living Clean Podcast

What happens when one simple idea grows into a worldwide source of hope and connection?
In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, we sit down with Camilla, the person whose vision sparked the Loving Our Long-Timers meeting. What began as a way to honor members with decades of continuous recovery has become a place where experience, strength, and hope are shared by some of the fellowship's longest-clean members.
Camilla shares the story behind the meeting, how it got started, the impact it has had on recovering addicts around the world, and why preserving the experience of long-term recovery matters so much. Whether you're brand new to recovery or have decades clean, this conversation is a powerful reminder that recovery truly works.
If you're looking for encouragement, wisdom, and stories from members with 30+ years clean, we highly recommend checking out the meeting.
Loving Our Long-Timers (Zoom Meeting) ❤️ Two meetings every week
Zoom ID: 974 8817 4579 Password: hope
Fridays
5:30 PM Eastern
4:30 PM Central
3:30 PM Mountain
2:30 PM Pacific
Saturdays
11:30 AM Eastern
10:30 AM Central
9:30 AM Mountain
8:30 AM Pacific
The meeting has featured 900+ speakers with more than 28,000 combined years of recovery, and many of those talks are available as free downloads.
Learn more at nalongtimers.org.

What inspires someone to answer the phone when another addict reaches out for help?
In this episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Mo brings an idea to life with an episode titled "Tales from the Helpline." Francis and Mo sit down with members who have dedicated themselves to Narcotics Anonymous helpline service, exploring the heart behind one of NA's most important yet least visible forms of service.
Our guests share what motivated them to volunteer, the experiences that have stayed with them, and the quiet rewards of being there for the still-suffering addict. They discuss the responsibility of carrying the message with compassion, maintaining anonymity, and offering hope to someone who may be making the most important phone call of their life.
Whether you've served on a helpline, are considering getting involved, or simply want to learn more about this vital service, this conversation offers a heartfelt look at the power of one addict helping another.
Join Francis and Mo as they celebrate the spirit of selfless service and the dedicated members who help ensure that, whenever an addict reaches out, someone is there to answer.
Recovery begins with a connection—and sometimes, that connection starts with a simple phone call.

This week on the Living Clean Podcast, we continue our journey through the Twelve Steps with Step Eight: “We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”
Our returning panel is back — Archer, Pete, Douglas, and, of course, the co-host with the most, Francis. This week, we're joined by special guests Shane and Margaret as we unpack one of the most significant turning points in recovery.
Step Eight marks the moment when recovery begins to move outward. After taking an honest look at ourselves in the previous steps, we now begin looking honestly at the people our addiction affected. We discuss what it means to make a complete list, how willingness often comes before action, and why this step is about far more than simply saying, "I'm sorry."
Together, we explore fear, guilt, shame, forgiveness, accountability, and the difference between making amends and seeking forgiveness. We also talk about difficult names to put on the list—including ourselves—and how becoming willing lays the foundation for the life-changing work of Step Nine.
This conversation is practical, heartfelt, and full of experience from people who have walked this path. Whether you're preparing to work Step Eight or reflecting on it years later, there's something here for everyone.

In this episode of Francis's Archive, we hear firsthand stories from two longtime members of the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship of Joplin, MO. Pam M. and Vern P. They share memories of the early days of recovery in southwest Missouri, recalling the first meetings, the challenges of carrying the message, and the dedication that helped establish a strong NA community throughout the Show Me Region.
Pam and Vern reflect on how meetings were started, how trusted servants stepped forward when there were few resources, and how the NA service structure gradually developed to support groups across the region. Their stories paint a vivid picture of the commitment, sacrifice, and faith that built a foundation still benefiting recovering addicts today.
The conversation also honors several remarkable pioneers whose lives left a lasting impact on the fellowship. Through heartfelt memories of Bob R., Jim N., Blackie B., and Danny Jo, listeners will hear stories of compassion, humor, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to carrying the message of recovery. These personal recollections preserve an important chapter of NA history while reminding us that one addict helping another remains at the heart of everything we do.
Whether you are interested in the history of Narcotics Anonymous, enjoy hearing the experiences of longtime members, or simply appreciate stories that celebrate recovery and service, this episode offers an inspiring look at how a fellowship grows—one meeting, one member, and one act of service at a time.
Thank you for listening to The Living Clean Podcast. If you enjoy preserving the history of Narcotics Anonymous, please follow, share, and leave a review to help others discover these stories and ensure that our fellowship's history continues to be remembered for future generations.

This week on The Living Clean Podcast, we’re honored to welcome the author of one of the most unforgettable recovery stories ever published in Narcotics Anonymous: “Life and Death in NA.”
In this deeply personal conversation, we revisit the story more than twenty years after it was written. Together, we explore the unimaginable losses of a father, a brother, and a son to the disease of addiction, the grief that followed, and the recovery principles that made it possible to stay clean through it all.
Beyond the pages of the story, we discuss how grief evolves over time, the importance of connection, service, forgiveness, and what it means to continue living when addiction has taken so much. Most importantly, we ask the question every reader has wondered for years: Where is he today?
Whether you’ve read Life and Death in NA or are hearing this story for the first time, this episode is a powerful reminder that recovery doesn’t protect us from life’s greatest tragedies—but it does give us the tools to face them with hope, courage, and love.