Shoutout From The Pit

In Episode 0094, Rich Cosgrove joins Bob to discuss what genuine leadership looks like, both in the workplace and in everyday life. Drawing on nearly two decades of building a successful restaurant culture, Rich explains why people need purpose, autonomy, respect, encouragement, and the opportunity to grow not simply someone telling them what to do. He shares lessons about developing people, recognizing potential, practicing patience, building organic mentorship relationships, and learning from personal mistakes. The conversation also explores faith, character, humility, and the shift from seeking personal significance to living a meaningful life of service. Rich’s central message is st...

On this episode Bob welcomes Tony R for a conversation titled “I Am Worth It.” Tony shares his experiences growing up in a large Catholic family, discovering his calling to the priesthood, struggling with addiction, and finding his way toward recovery, faith, and a renewed sense of purpose. Along the way, the conversation explores self-worth, surrender, acceptance, the challenges of living a divided life, and the importance of recognizing that our past does not define our future. Now finding joy in flying airplanes and staying connected to the recovery community, Tony offers a powerful reminder that every life has valu...

Bob sits down with Amy and her friend CC for a powerful conversation about addiction, childhood trauma, loss, faith, and the road to recovery. Amy shares her extraordinary journey from growing up in a home shaped by addiction and abuse to losing both parents, battling substance abuse, homelessness, and repeated incarceration. After years of trying to escape her pain, Amy found a path toward healing through faith, supportive friendships, and a husband who helped her rediscover her worth. Today, she embraces life as a wife, mother, and friend, finding purpose in loving others and building the family she always...

In this episode Bob and Cody sit down with Nick to share his incredible recovery journey and experience, highlighting his support system and the positive impact of Forever Free on his life. The hosts discuss the importance of community support and faith in recovery.

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Bob, Mandy, Ralph, and Jeremy wrap up their three part sponsorship series in a discussion about sponsorship in Alcoholics Anonymous and the recovery journey. Through personal stories and hard earned experience, the panel explores who can become a sponsor, whether to work with multiple newcomers, the importance of boundaries, balancing responsibilities, and how to respond to relapse. They also discuss the value of continued support after treatment, recognizing when professional medical help is needed, and the role sponsorship plays in building stronger recovery communities. At its core, this episode emphasizes humility, service, personal responsibility, and the power of sharing...

In this episode the Old Rucker reconnects with retired Sergeant Major Dan Goodyear, a longtime mentor whose example of leadership, integrity, patriotism, and service helped shape Bob’s life. Dan shares stories from his military career, his experiences as a Marine and Army National Guard leader, and his ongoing mission work in Africa, where he helps provide biblical education and support to local communities. They explore leading by example, the value of mentorship, overcoming personal struggles, finding purpose, and building relationships that help people move forward in recovery and in life. Through honest reflections on faith, teamwork, accountability, and su...

On Episode 22 Bob interviewed the directors of Second Chance Youth Ranch, Billy and Rachael Hubbard, and their awesome children and future leaders of America. Today’s episode allowed Bob to visit with their staff at the Connections Center in Benton and get an inside look at Second Chance Youth Ranch, their mission, their roles, and their hearts for the hurting. Bob talks with campus parents, therapists, case managers, and leadership about what it takes to care for children who have been separated from their families, the importance of keeping siblings together, trauma informed therapy, foster care, reunification, and the sa...

This episode is a heartfelt tribute to Danny, Bob’s longtime trail companion and beloved family member, whose passing prompts a collection of stories about the animals that have shaped the lives of the community. Contributors share memories of dogs, cats, horses, chickens, and other pets who provided companionship, protection, comfort, laughter, and, for many, a reason to keep going through addiction, grief, illness, and difficult seasons of life. The stories explore the bond between people and animals, the pain of losing them, the difficult decisions surrounding end of life care, and the unexpected ways new animals can help us...

Bob along with Robin and Blake sit down with Sierra, who shares her first weeks of sobriety and the experiences that brought her into recovery. She talks openly about growing up around alcohol and drug use, surviving a violent attack, an abusive relationship, military service, and years of drinking that increasingly threatened the life she had built. Sierra discusses finding Alcoholics Anonymous, choosing Robin as her sponsor, learning to communicate emotions without alcohol, rebuilding relationships with family, and discovering hope during early sobriety. Robin and Blake share their own experiences with cravings, difficult moments, sponsorship, and the importance of...

In this 25th anniversary of 9/11 tribute, the Old Rucker, Pat, Tony, and Jeremy reflect on where they were when the attacks happened, how September 11 2001 changed the military and their lives, and the lasting impact of service, loss, trauma, and recovery. Drawing from their experiences as veterans they discuss visits to the 9/11 Memorial and Pentagon, the sacrifices of civilians and service members, deployments that followed, and the people who helped them through the aftermath. The conversation ultimately turns toward recovery, vulnerability, therapy, sobriety, friendship, and the importance of building a tribe and asking for help when life gets dark. Through...

This episode explores the realities of caregiving through the personal experiences of Charlie, Shannon, and Cherie, who share stories of caring for aging parents, siblings, and spouses through serious illness, end of life care, and organ transplant. The conversation examines the sudden loss of independence and identity, difficult medical decisions, family dynamics, resentment, grief, recovery, …

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This episode continues the sponsorship series with Bob, Jeremy, Ralph, Cherie, and Mandy digging into what makes a good sponsor, how people choose one, and how sponsorship changes as both people grow in recovery. The conversation explores honesty, humility, boundaries, flexibility, service, faith, and the importance of adapting the approach to the individual rather than …

Continue reading "Episode 0083 Sponsorship Part 2"

Pat sits down with the Old Rucker, Jeremy, Tony, Ralph and RedBeard to share his raw and uncensored recovery journey, tracing his path from a rebellious childhood and heavy drinking through the Marine Corps, combat in Iraq, multiple DWIs, career setbacks, broken relationships, isolation, and eventually the realization that his life had become unmanageable. Pat …

Continue reading "Episode 0082 Pat Experience Strength and Hope"

In this deeply personal episode the Old Rucker sits down with Trish as she shares her powerful journey through alcoholism, relapse, recovery, and redemption. From a chaotic childhood marked by addiction and trauma to early sobriety, devastating loss, multiple relapses, and nearly losing her life during alcohol withdrawal, Trish openly discusses the realities of addiction …

Continue reading "Episode 0081 Trish Experience Strength and Hope"

The Old Rucker explores the difference between simply following the crowd and developing the warrior spirit needed to face life’s challenges with courage, discipline, faith, and purpose. This episode examines leadership, personal responsibility, recovery, overcoming fear, and the choices that define who we become. Through stories of figures like Norman Vincent Peale, Theodore Roosevelt, Saint …

Continue reading "Episode 0080 Warriors and Sheeples"

In the first installment of a multi-part series on sponsorship, Bob the Old Rucker is joined by returning guests Ralph, Mandy, Sherry, and Jeremy for an honest discussion about what sponsorship truly means beyond the textbook definition. Drawing from decades of collective recovery experience, the panel explores the role of sponsors as mentors, guides, and …

Continue reading "Episode 0079 Sponsorship Part 1"

The Old Rucker sits down with Micah and Emma who share their journey through faith, family, recovery, and redemption. Micah opens up about his struggles with substance abuse, the devastating loss of his father, discovering him after his death, and the PTSD that followed. He shares how his faith became the foundation for rebuilding his …

Continue reading "Episode 0078 Micah ESH Redux"

The Old Rucker sits down with Micah and Emma who share their journey through faith, family, recovery, and redemption. What begins as a lighthearted conversation about marriage, parenting, and skateboarding gradually unfolds into a powerful testimony of addiction, poor choices, legal troubles, and the lasting impact of growing up between two very different households. Micah opens up about early drug use, living in addiction alongside his father, encounters with the criminal justice system, and the heartbreaking experience of finding his father after a fatal stroke. He also shares the turning point that led him back to his faith, the...

The Old Rucker sits down with longtime recovery advocate Libby D. for an honest conversation about resilience, recovery, service, and purpose. From breaking barriers as one of the first women in corporate sales and pharmaceutical representation, to life as a farmer, community leader, mentor, and recovering alcoholic, Libby shares a remarkable journey of overcoming abuse, …

Continue reading "Episode 0077 Libbie D’s Story"

This special Independence Day episode of Shoutout from the Pit steps away from the usual recovery and overcomer discussions to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and reflect on the meaning of freedom. Bob explores the history and symbolism of the American flag, honors veterans, first responders, military families, and community leaders, and discusses how the freedoms …

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Bob “The Old Rucker” reconnects with longtime friend and original guest Josh “The Bear Slayer” to reflect on two years of recovery, friendship, outdoor adventures, and personal growth. The conversation ranges from humorous memories of backpacking trips and the early days of the podcast to a gripping account of Josh’s recent encounter with a massive …

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The Old Rucker sits down with returning guest Cody along with Chris, a man whose life journey took him from a childhood marked by abuse, years of methamphetamine addiction, and incarceration to a life grounded in faith, accountability, and recovery. Chris openly shares how he spent decades as a high functioning addict, the events that …

Continue reading "Episode 0074 Who’s on Your Throne"

The Old Rucker sits down with this week’s guest Paul Louis, a retired therapist with over 30 years helping vets at the Veterans Administration. Louis shares the remarkable story of his life, recovery, and decades of service helping veterans overcome addiction, trauma, and PTSD. Growing up in a large but chaotic South Louisiana family marked …

Continue reading "Episode 0073 A Therapist’s Journey – From Shame to Service"

The Old Rucker talks on the theme of grace and mercy framed through personal recovery experience, mentorship, and reflection on human behavior under stress. Bob recounts formative encounters with a sponsor in a treatment setting, including a hospital visit preceding the sponsor’s death and a later interaction with a priest that reframed judgment toward a …

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The Old Rucker sits down with Clark of Oak Crest Wealth Management for a practical conversation about money, retirement, and long-term financial responsibility. Moving beyond stock tips and investment hype, the discussion explores the difference between investing and gambling, the importance of starting early, the power of compound growth, and why financial planning matters regardless …

Continue reading "Episode 0071 Dead or Dead Broke – Wealth Mgmt"

The Old Rucker sits down with Clark of Oak Crest Wealth Management for a practical conversation about money, retirement, and long-term financial responsibility. Moving beyond stock tips and investment hype, the discussion explores the difference between investing and gambling, the importance of starting early, the power of compound growth, and why financial planning matters regardless of where someone is starting from. Drawing on personal experience, biblical principles, and nearly two decades of advising clients, Clark shares insights on building wealth through discipline, intentionality, and consistency rather than chasing shortcuts. For anyone recovering from past financial mistakes or simply looking...

Old Rucker sits down with Clark from Oak Crest Wealth Management for a practical conversation about money, retirement, investing, and financial stewardship. Framed through the lens of recovery and rebuilding life after hardship, the discussion explores why wealth management is not just for the wealthy but for anyone who wants to live intentionally rather than by default. Clark breaks down common misconceptions about investing, the dangers of chasing quick wins, the value of long term planning, and the importance of creating financial stability regardless of where someone starts in life. The episode challenges listeners to think beyond today, prepare...

The Old Rucker sits down with digital creator, speaker, and author Michaela Mulroe to discuss resilience, identity, and living authentically with Treacher Collins syndrome. Michaela shares how she transformed years of feeling different, mental health struggles, and public scrutiny into a platform built around confidence, advocacy, and purpose through her upcoming book Unconditionally Confident and …

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The Old Rucker reflects on the emotional collision between what he calls the “culture of darkness” and the “culture of light,” exploring how stress, grief, road rage, media negativity, politics, and everyday frustrations can slowly pull people into chaos and despair. Drawing from personal experiences, including the pain of losing longtime pets and navigating seasons …

Continue reading "Episode 0069 Clash of Cultures"

In this episode “The Old Rucker” reconnects with returning guest Cody for a candid conversation about recovery, grief, incarceration, faith, and rebuilding a life after loss. Cody reflects on the years since his wife’s sudden passing, the spiral into addiction that followed, and the hard road through incarceration into sobriety and accountability. Now nearly five …

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In this episode, Greg sits down with The Old Rucker to share his journey from early addiction and chaos to stability, purpose, and faith driven recovery. From drinking as a child and battling substance abuse for decades to reaching a breaking point that forced change, Greg walks through the hard truths of addiction and the …

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In this episode the Old Rucker and returning guest Charlie sit down for an unfiltered conversation on depression, anxiety, and the internal battles that don’t always show on the surface, challenging the idea that recovery alone solves everything. Speaking candidly from lived experience, they move beyond statistics into the reality that no one is immune, …

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In this solo episode the Old Rucker dives into the real meaning of being a promise keeper both in recovery and in everyday life. From personal stories of broken trust to the transformative promises found in recovery principles, he unpacks how integrity, accountability, and consistent action shape who we become. Highlighting the importance of honesty, …

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Bob sits down with Blake and Robin, a couple whose journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery highlights the raw reality of rebuilding a life from the ground up. From Robin’s story of surviving a childhood injury and rediscovering purpose through forgiveness, to Blake’s path through addiction, military service, and eventual sobriety, the episode explores how …

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Brett’s journey is shaped by relocation, isolation, and ultimately connection through recovery. Brett shares how moving to Arkansas for work led him from going through the motions of sobriety to truly engaging in it, thanks to a tight knit “tribe” built through service work, events, and shared experiences. Along the way, he reflects on his …

Continue reading "Episode 0063 Brett’s Journey"

In this episode of Dwight one of the most seasoned voices in the room shares how a lifetime of discipline, success, and faith still led to a late in life battle with alcoholism after retirement stripped away his sense of purpose. What followed was a rapid descent into daily drinking, followed by an equally powerful …

Continue reading "Episode 0062 Dwight’s Journey"

In this solo episode the Old Rucker kicks off a Recovery 101 discusses a practical, no-nonsense breakdown of communication, one of the most critical and most commonly botched tools in recovery and everyday life. Drawing from personal experience, leadership lessons, and recovery principles, he introduces the concept of “CUCUMU” (Clear, Complete, Mutual Understanding) and walks …

Continue reading "Episode 0061 Commo"

In this episode the Old Rucker sits down with Arkansas writer and farmer Barry Brown for a wide ranging conversation about creativity, therapeutic writing, and finding meaning through storytelling. Barry shares how ideas born during his time in prison eventually turned into books, essays, and children’s stories, and explains how curiosity, research, and life experience …

Continue reading "Episode 0060 Barry Writing in Recovery"

In this episode the Old Rucker dives into the emotional realities of recovery exploring anger, hate, violence, gratitude, and the importance of emotional sobriety. Bob talks about why people struggling with “isms” must learn to recognize and manage powerful emotions before they spiral into destructive behavior, and why the show intentionally avoids political controversy in …

Continue reading "Episode 0059 Feed the Sheep"

The Tribe breaks down Andrea H.’s Five Things to Know About Working the Twelve Steps… challenging “brutal honesty,” redefining surrender, and exposing the difference between surface level recovery and true emotional accountability. Through personal stories of relapse, grief, ego, and redemption, the crew makes one thing clear: insight without action is useless, surrender is strength, …

Continue reading "Episode 0058 Tribe OpenMic Truths"