Stevie B. at the Illinois State Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous – 2026

About This Speaker Tape

Illinois State Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous - 2026

A New York native with a 'chameleon' personality spent decades pretending to be someone else—from claiming a pro football player as his brother to convincing a neighborhood bully to shoot at him just to feel seen. After a descent into cocaine and crack that led him to a frozen treatment center in Minnesota Stevie B. navigated a volatile path of relapse and spiritual bankruptcy. He describes the wreckage of a marriage destroyed by paranoid drug-fueled holes punched in the walls and a heartbreaking loss of a child. Through the grit of a tough-love sponsor and a surrender that happened on his knees in a detox center he eventually found a stability that allowed him to adopt a son. He warns against 'settling for croutons'—the bare minimum of sobriety—and pushes for a deeper more vibrant relationship with a Higher Power.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening banter about bong water and the 'outrageous' energy of the room.
• 4:15 Discussion on the 'first drink' and the feeling of finally being comfortable in one's own skin.
• 8:20 The story of the 'Shoot at Me' game and the loss of his eye.
• 13:40 The tragedy of his uncle, a doctor who died alone in a swimming pool.
• 18:10 Arrival in Minnesota: The contrast between the movie 'Clean and Sober' and the -40 degree reality.
• 21:30 Step 1: Stevie B. argues with a tech about being 'powerless' while holding a $30,000 check.
• 26:45 Laughter: The 'G-O-D' (Group Of Drunks) explanation for agnostics.
• 31:10 The 'Bleeding Deacons': describing those who are physically sober but spiritually bankrupt.
• 36:20 The 'Fine Wine' relapse: trying to drink like a gentleman in New Orleans.
• 42:15 The 'Relapse S.' era and the moment of hopelessness in front of a detox center.
• 46:30 Sponsorship: Jerry B. forces him to get on his knees and beg for sobriety.
• 55:10 The 'Croutons' metaphor: a warning against settling for a minimal recovery.