100 Objects #20: AA Sobriety Chip
Summary
Host Roman Mars explores the history of Alcoholics Anonymous, tracing its roots to the failed Prohibition era and the Washingtonian Society. The episode features guest Jamie Loftus, who shares his family’s experience with AA and his own journey toward sobriety. It examines how the program’s Christian origins and exclusionary practices marginalized women, Black Americans, and other groups, while also discussing modern alternatives to 12-step recovery.
Topics discussed
Sponsorships: Edward Jones and Acura
Jamie Loftus: Personal story with AA and sobriety chips
Introduction to Prohibition and cultural myths
The Washingtonian Society and early temperance movements
Women's suffrage and the Women's Christian Temperance Union
Prohibition as a WASP cause and the 18th Amendment
Mabel Walker Willebrandt and the failure of enforcement
Rise of the KKK and the Jazz Age underground culture
Pauline Sabin and the anti-prohibition women's movement
Repeal of Prohibition and the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous
Sponsorships: US Bank and Quince
Personal reflection on AA and the concept of sobriety
Founding of AA: Bill W, Doctor Bob, and the Oxford Group
Gender dynamics in early AA and the Big Book
Women in AA: Dr. Ruth Harkness and the origin of chips
Racial exclusion and diversity issues within AA
AA, religion, and the legal status of the 12-step program
Alternative treatments and the meaning of the sobriety chip
Series update, credits, and SimplySafe sponsorship
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