Tupelo, Mississippi – Our First Convention History Presentation

In August of 2025, Francis and Mason traveled to Tupelo, Mississippi for a Narcotics Anonymous convention—and what turned out to be a meaningful milestone for the Living Clean Podcast.

This was our first time presenting Narcotics Anonymous history at a convention, and while we did run out of time for our full PowerPoint presentation, it was a powerful and encouraging test run. We were warmly welcomed, supported, and reminded just how hungry our fellowship is for its history.

Francis was also asked to serve as the Sunday morning speaker, an experience that carried a beautiful irony. Coming from Northern California, he found himself speaking at a Grateful Dead–themed convention—not Elvis-themed, even though Tupelo is famously the birthplace of Elvis Presley. That theme opened the door for Francis to share honestly about his own experience with addiction, the Grateful Dead culture, and how recovery eventually found him after that chapter of his life.

Whenever Francis visits a new place in Narcotics Anonymous, he makes a point to explore the local NA history—and Tupelo did not disappoint. This episode includes an interview with Billy Y., a longtime member who was present at the very first Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Tupelo. His firsthand account offers a rare and valuable glimpse into how NA took root in this community.

Beyond the interview, Francis also went on a local NA history adventure with J.W., visiting several former meeting locations—including the very first spot where the Tupelo group met: an old beauty salon, where members famously sat in the dryer chairs during meetings. It’s a reminder that NA has always grown wherever addicts were willing to gather, no matter how humble the setting.

We hope you enjoy this episode, the stories, the laughter, and the deep sense of connection that comes from remembering where we came from.

Thanks for listening—and thank you for helping us keep NA history alive.

God loves you, and so do we. 💙