Episode 115 Tradition 11

Tradition 11 has never felt more relevant - and this conversation gets brutally honest about what it means to be public about recovery without turning sobriety into a brand. If you care about AA, anonymity, social media, or the growing "sober curious" trend, this episode will make you think twice.Rob, Larry, Bonnie, and Katie wrestle with the line between attraction and promotion, why personal anonymity still matters in a world of podcasts, TikTok, and recovery influencers, and what happens when people start monetizing the message. They also dig into the difference between being public about sobriety and being public about AA, and why that distinction matters more than ever.You'll hear the crew break down: Why Tradition 11 was written for a world of press, radio, and film - and how podcasts and social media changed the stakes How recovery can be shared openly without making yourself the center of the story The difference between carrying a message and promoting yourself Why "sober curious" can sound harmless to some, but dangerous to people who truly cannot safely drink again How motives shape everything from sponsorship to speaking to recovery content online Rob shares hard-won perspective from years of service, sponsorship, and step work, while Bonnie and Katie push the conversation into the real-world impact of recovery culture, influencer status, and what actually helps families and newcomers. The result is a sharp, funny, unfiltered discussion that keeps circling back to one central question: are we trying to help, or are we trying to be seen?This episode matters because the way recovery is presented online can either point people toward life-saving honesty or blur the line until real consequences hit. If you've ever wondered where humility ends and self-promotion begins, or whether today's recovery content is helping or harming, this one belongs on your list.Essential listening for anyone in recovery, anyone supporting someone who is, and anyone trying to figure out how to speak honestly about sobriety in a very public world.