{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Upper Bottom","title":"Steps to sobriety: What’s Alcoholics Anonymous like, and do Upper Bottoms need it to kick booze?","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/01b4e1d8\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2885,"description":"To answer this massive question, Ollie and Cess draw upon their own insights and the straight-talking wisdom of interviewee Gary Mairs – aka sobernsound (\"sweary sobriety mentor\") on Instagram.Gary's catchphrase for his 33,000+ followers is \"get to midnight and go again\". He attended AA in April 2014, but struggled with the idea of supplicating to God, or a higher power. Yet, through meditation and no small amount of determination, Gary beat the booze. Here, he discusses the difference between \"survival sobriety\" – which is when, in the early days, you just try and get through the days and weeks without a drink – and \"emotional sobriety\", and that comes later. There is plenty of excellent advice for Upper Bottoms – and those who might be falling deeper.Booze News items:The Independent via MSN: Denzel Washington opens up about past struggles with drugs and alcohol: ‘I’ve done a lot of damage’ (https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/denzel-washington-opens-up-about-past-struggles-with-drugs-and-alcohol-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-damage/ar-AA1uoBrA)Wales Online: 'I turned my addictions from drugs to furniture and made a thriving business’ (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/i-turned-my-addictions-from-drugs-to-furniture-and-made-a-thriving-business/ar-AA1ul3I8)  The Caterer: Customers are drinking less – how can I balance the booze on my menu? (https://www.thecaterer.com/indepth/how-can-i-serve-up-a-sober-christmas)#soberjourney#sobercurious#soberadvice#sobriety#alcoholicsanonymous#addiction#UpperBottomPodcast#sobermovement","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/bV4aTjfURgiCRNfnJRYEAeNCN9taKhRTSmdiQmcDilU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQ5NTEwLzE3MDcz/NDM5MDQtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}