Step 8 — Made a List – Kathleen B. – 2026 Wilson House Big Book Workshop Retreat – with Andy B. and Kathleen B.

About This Speaker Tape

Andy and Kathleen tackle the wreckage of Steps 8 and 9, moving from the internal lists to the gritty reality of face-to-face amends. Andy recounts the 'bell ringer' high of coming clean to former employers he'd swindled and stolen time from, while wearing a shirt his cat had pissed on. Kathleen shares the fragile restoration of her bond with her brother, Sean, and the heartbreaking memory of a sponsee who died shortly after they reconciled.

The conversation balances the technical side of sponsorship—managing 'lazy' sponsees and the danger of 'exiting at Step 4'—with the raw emotional labor of repairing family ties and financial debts. They emphasize that the goal isn't just an apology, but becoming 'useful' again so they don't have to hide from the people they encounter on the street.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening: Alex introduces himself and reads the passage for Step 8 and Step 9
• 6:00 Q&A: Discussion on sponsees avoiding the work and the role of a sponsor
• 14:00 Q&A: Addressing behavior during blackouts in Step 4 and Step 9
• 23:00 Q&A: Advice for new sponsors and the primary purpose of Step 12
• 27:00 LAUGHTER: Banter regarding the Buffalo Bills and the Super Bowl
• 32:00 Step 8: Explanation of the 'Quadrants' method for organizing the amends list
• 38:00 Step 9: Andy shares stories of making amends to roommates in treatment
• 45:00 Step 9: Andy's experience making amends to former employers in Buffalo
• 51:00 Kath discusses the importance of sponsor guidance to avoid going 'rogue' in Step 9
• 55:00 Kath shares a story about patience and making amends to her brother Sean
• 58:00 Closing: Andy's 'Waking the Baby' metaphor for Step 5 and summary of the cleaning house process