193: Vernon - Out of the Blue

Vernon West: Two Sobriety Dates, Higher Power, and Beating Leukemia | Rock Bottom with RyanRyan welcomes Vernon West (Out of the Blue podcast) to discuss recovery, Vernon’s two sobriety dates (Jan 30, 1990 and Aug 2, 11 years ago), and his path through addiction and the 12 steps. Vernon shares growing up with an alcoholic father, attending Al-Anon at 14, and his father’s relapse and death from cirrhosis after nine months sober. Vernon describes his own progression from weed to heavy drinking and drugs, a near-fatal accident chasing cocaine, and entering a Hollywood detox where an AA speaker helped him understand finding a personal higher power; he got a sponsor and committed to meetings and rigorous honesty. After years sober, he stopped meetings, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, relapsed on weed, later faced leukemia, stayed sober through treatment, and credits service and the program for survival. He also explains creating Out of the Blue during a nine-month COVID hospital stay and reads his “Garden of the 12 Steps” piece.00:00 Higher Power Spark00:58 Show Intro Montage01:52 Sponsor Message02:40 Meet Vernon West03:20 Two Sober Dates03:50 Growing Up With Alcoholism05:42 Dad Gets Sober Then Relapses07:42 Music Career And Drugs12:30 Engagement Jackpot Story14:56 Detox To Hollywood16:50 Finding A Higher Power21:38 Working The Steps Daily23:56 Forgiveness Through Prayer25:18 Drifting From Meetings27:11 Cancer Diagnosis Spiral28:12 Weed Relapse Escalation29:21 Leukemia Wake Up Call30:25 Staying Sober In Crisis31:53 Service During Hospital Stay33:24 Starting Out Of The Blue36:09 Building The Podcast Team37:58 Garden Of The 12 Steps41:01 Cake Mix Steps Analogy42:55 Recovery Community Reflections45:23 Closing Gratitude And Advice