Building Hope in Recovery: What is Hope?

The word HOPE appears no fewer than 34 times in the first 164 pages of the Big Book.  In recovery, it’s vital for getting us started and for keeping us going.In this two-part series, Dr. Denise Ernst, PhD joins Fr. Bill in exploring the role HOPE plays in fostering meaningful change, especially in addiction recovery. Denise earned her doctorate in psychology at the University of New Mexico under the direction of Professor William R. Miller, a pioneer developer of Motivational Interviewing. She has a strong background in addiction counseling and research.  Episodes are based on Dr. Miller’s recent book: 8 Ways to Hope, Charting a Path Through Uncertain Times. Hope you enjoy!Show notes:8 Ways to Hope by William R. MillerDenise Ernst, PhD website: https://deniseernst.com/

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share. This series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. This episode completes the series focusing on the nature of a SPIRITUAL AWAKENING & how we’re called to CARRY THE MESSAGE. Show notes: One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/Jack Cornfield’s Bringing Home the Dharma     The Body Keeps the Score by  Bessel van der Kolk M.D. 

Tom Lavin is a therapist, an educator, and a close friend for over fifty years. He’s dedicated both his life and his career to helping people find effective solutions to the problems that come with being human. Tom recently delivered this talk on “stress” to a group of public-service attorneys in Reno, Nevada. He believes we often try to “cope with stress” rather than seek its causes that often lie below the surface of our lives. As the Big Book reminds us, “our liquor was but a symptom.” With holidays fast approaching, I thought Tom’s message is one that can benefit us all. So, relax, listen, learn, and enjoy! Show notes:Handouts: Living a Meaningful Life – Bluebird

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A student and teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share. This series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. This episode is focused on Step Eleven exploring Buddhist meditation practices.  It includes both an experience and explanation of a simple technique for getting started. Show notes: One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/Sought Through Meditation (Step Eleven) by Kevin GriffinBuddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom  March 1, 2025 by Rick Hanson PhD (Author), Richard Mendius MD Jack Kornfield PhD 

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A student and teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share.This series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. This episode completes Steps 8 & 9 but is focused mainly on Step 10.Show notes:One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinPlease visit Kevin’s website for more information: https://kevingriffin.net/

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A student and teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share.This series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. This episode is focused on Steps 6 & 7 exploring how Buddhist meditation can help with the practice of letting go.Show notes:One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life by Jack Kornfield

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A student and teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share.This series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. This episode is focused on Steps 4 & 5 exploring how Buddhist meditation can help with becoming more awake and responsible.Show notes:One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share. This series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. This episode explores Steps 2 and 3: how Buddhism can help when traditional religious practice is becoming less of an option for many.Show notes: One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share. The series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. In this episode, Kevin shares his recovery story along with his experience, strength and hope related to Step One. You’ll find Kevin a gentle and wise teacher sure to bring added insights to your recovery program.Show notes: One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/

Bill Wilson wrote: “Where did we learn about moral inventory, amends for harms done, turning our will and our lives over to the care of God? Where did we learn about prayer and meditation and all the rest? The spiritual substance of our remaining ten Steps (Steps 2 through 11) came straight from Dr. Bob’s and my own early associationwith the Oxford Groups….”Fr. Bill’s guests are Rob and Susan Corchoran, both long-time leaders in the movement that gave birth to AA.Susan’s dad, Alan Thornhill wrote several plays that helped carry the Oxford Group message of spiritual transformation to tens of thousands all around the world. And Rob’s father worked for the Groups amidst the labor unions of Scotland.Together they labored for many years for racial harmony in Richmond, Virginia helping heal the wounds of slavery and discrimination through a program called Hope in the Cities.The Oxford Group wanted to “change the world” through the program of spiritual transformation Bill Wilson used so successfully to change alcoholics. This interview will help you better understand the spiritual roots of our 12-Step programs.Show notes:    Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group·     The Forgotten Factor: A play by Alan Thornhill (pdf copy)Moral Re-Armament·     Rob Corcoran website and blog link: https://www.robcorcoran.org/Toward Transformative Reparations by Rob Corcoran and Mike Wenger https://www.robcorcoran.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Toward-Transformative-Reparations-NCHE.pdf