Kirsten Johnson Podcast
This podcast is about courage in real time—facing fear, trusting yourself, and actually doing the things you know you’re here to do.
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Ep 198 Speaking Out Against AA: What No One Tells You
<p>Today marks one year of dissenting! And today is my 6 year anniversary of leaving Alcoholics Anonymous. What a wild ride this past year has been.</p><p>Today we're diving into what it's been like dissenting this past year. I've timestamped it in case you want to skip around and alll the links are below.</p><p>It's been great to have you hear this past year!! What a liberating year it's been. Team Freedom all the way.</p><p>We'll be feature some of your fave AA dissenters later this month to hear about their dissenting journey. As...
Ep 197 Kirsten's AA Deprogram Story, ADHD, Autism + Sinclair Method
<p>Katie Lain of Thrive Alcohol Recovery interviews me (Kirsten!) about joining, leaving and deprogramming AA. We also talk about trauma, autism, ADHD and what can be going on beyond the misdiagnosis of "alcoholism." We dive into The Sinclair Method, which Katie's program is based upon, and discuss what dissenting has been like.</p><p></p><p>🔥 Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here</p><p>🧠 Brain optimization tools → here</p><p>🌶️ Neurodivergent Discovery Portal (with self assessments) → here</p><p>❤️🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here</p><p></p><p>Katie's YouTube</p><p></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 Sobrie...
Ep 196 How AA Harms ADHD & Autistic People
<p>🔥 Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here</p><p>🧠 Brain optimization tools → here </p><p>🌶️ Neurodivergent Discovery Portal (with self assessments) → here </p><p>❤️🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here</p><p>Timestamps: </p><p>00:00 How AA Harms ADHD & Autistic People Intro </p><p>04:49 Bill W.'s Blind Spot Still Harms Neurodivergents </p><p>06:39 AA, Autism + ADHD Timeline </p><p>09:33 ADHD + Alcohol Use Disorder </p><p>11:02 AA + Misdiagnosis of ADHD </p><p>12:57 How AA Harms Neurodivergent People </p><p>14:20 Deprogram, Neurodivergent + Brain Resources </p><p>16:36 My Fave Brain Optimization Tool Come vibe with me: </p><p><br></p><p>Come vibe with me:<...
Ep 195 Sobriety Bestie Deprogramming AA Resources
<p>I'm super excited to gather all of the deprogramming resources (including ones you haven't seen before!) in one space.</p><p>It's all accessible from SobrietyBestie.com which is now like a deprogram 12 step hub.</p><p>I've moved my website to a new location with my name Kirsten-Johnson.com so that Sobriety Bestie can live on as a one stop deprogramming extravaganza start to finish freedom experience for those navigating the mindf*ck of leaving AA, realizing they were in a recovery cult and wanting to reclaim their mind, autonomy and life.</p><p>My hope is that...
Ep 194 Why I'm No Longer Deprogramming AA
<p>My AA deprogramming journey feels complete. I unpack it all in today's podcast.</p><p>I highly recommend getting the deprogramming checklist that's inside the free 👉 Escape Kit (It's in the very first lesson inside there along with an hour video unpacking it all. But you really only need the checklist at a glance to see where you may be.)</p><p>This of course is not the "rule" but it's a guide that I have found super helpful in my own deprogramming journey.</p>
Ep 193 Is ChatGPT Brainwashing You?
<p>A week ago I switched from ChatGPT to Claude and I want to share WHY with you. This was before the headlines and has nothing to do with politics.</p><p>This is about the language ChatGPT uses, even when you ask it not to, and the potential long term consequences of repeated exposure to this language.</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 Why I Switched From ChatGPT To Claude </p><p>05:59 ChatGPT Can't Stop Doing This </p><p>12:26 ChatGPT Authoritarian Language </p><p>16:13 Is AI Brainwashing Us? </p><p>17:28 My Cult Programming Experience </p><p>22:06 Taking Space From ChatGPT <...
Ep 192 Rockefeller and Alcoholics Anonymous with Bobby C
<p>Bobby C is back on Sobriety Bestie Podcast to discuss the Rockefeller and AA connection which runs deeper that you might think. Bobby C unpacks AMA, DSM, Car Jung, and both Rockefeller Jr and Rockefeller Sr along with Alcoholics Anonymous.</p><p>Bobby C's YouTube</p><p>Bobby C's Story </p><p>Timestamps: </p><p>00:00 Rockefeller and Alcoholics Anonymous Intro </p><p>06:05 Benjamin Rush </p><p>09:21 Temperance Movement </p><p>11:46 Magnus Huss </p><p>14:41 Etymology + Words As Control </p><p>23:11 John D Rockefeller </p><p>30:57 Rockefeller Jr and Alcoholics Anonymous </p><p>39:55 Norman Jolliffe </p><p>41:24 Alcoholics Foundation and...
Ep 191 The Sober Truth: Debunking AA Myths — Book Review
<p>The Sober Truth is a great deprogramming AA, deprogramming 12 step and deprogramming the recovery narrative resource filled with modern science.</p><p>I've compiled a list of all the deprogramming books I recommend here:</p><p>📚 Deprogram Book List (my fave deprogram, cult recovery and critical thinking books)</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 The Sober Truth Book Intro</p><p>01:15 The Sober Truth Book</p><p>03:24 Coerced + Court Mandated AA</p><p>06:11 Spontaneous Remission</p><p>09:38 The Nature of Addiction</p><p>11:54 Rehab Industry</p><p>15:24 Busting AA Myths</p><p>19:45 Counting Abstinence Time Is Useful Myth</p><p>21:50 "Dru...
Ep 190 The AA Deprogrammer's Baloney Detection Kit (Carl Sagan)
<p>Today we're exploring Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit from his book The Demon Haunted World and how it applies to deprogramming Alcoholics Anonymous.</p><p>I've compiled a list of all the deprogramming books I recommend here:</p><p>📚 Deprogram Book List (my fave deprogram, cult recovery and critical thinking books)</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 Baloney Detection Kit Intro</p><p>02:09 1 - Independent Confirmation</p><p>05:15 2 - Encourage Debate</p><p>08:34 3 - Authority Means Nothing Without Evidence</p><p>14:32 4 - Multiple Hypothesis</p><p>19:23 5 - Don't Marry Your Own Ideas</p><p>23:05 6 - Quantify</p><p>26:57 Leaving AA + Doi...
Ep 189 MARA: A Non-Judgemental Alternative to AA – Bob's Story
<p>MARA is a recovery path and stands for Medication Assisted Recovery Anonymous. It has 12 steps but is NOT affiliated with AA or even that similar to AA but the steps are inspired from AA. I find MARA to be very compassionate, empathetic and a recovery path that I'm so glad now exists.</p><p>Bob shares his story with leaving NA, joining MARA and how it's made all the difference in his own recovery and life.</p><p>MARA website</p><p>MARA book</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 Medication Assisted Recovery Intro </p><p>03:25 Why Bob Left NA <...
