Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick continue talking about the steps in their recovery journeys, sharing how the twelve steps have made a positive difference in their lives and improved their relationships with those who support them. The idea is that these steps often provide the answers to what addicts or alcoholics are struggling with. By working through the steps, we can get better with ourselves, which helps us get better with the people who love and care for us.

Step Four is about honestly examining your actions and behaviors and how they affect your life. It requires honesty and humility because it shows that you can’t do everything alone. Step Five takes this further by sharing what you’ve discovered with someone else and your higher power, admitting your flaws out loud. This helps you realize that you need support beyond just yourself.



Timestamps and Discussions: 

4:24 to 6:44 -  Matt discusses how these steps focus on the addict’s journey. In his Step Four, everyone he wrote about was a caregiver somehow. He explains how he uses the steps to measure what his relationships could look like.



6:44 to 8:23 -  Ryan discusses a question regarding what society expects of him in the fourth step. He shares how his obsession and compulsion can still be intense, even during recovery. He also mentions that Step Four looks at his strengths, not just the negatives.



8:36 - 8:59 - Why rigorous honesty is vital to the fourth step. Getting our house in order to do this step takes willingness. 



9:26 - 11:13 - The guys explain how steps four and five are related. The fourth step involves looking inward to identify past actions. After looking at himself in step four, Ryan explains that step five is about talking to someone else about what he's found. 



11:14 - 14:39 - Matt says step four is about writing, and step five is about talking. Matt was so paralyzed by shame that he found his writing cathartic—step four addresses anxiety, fear, and sexual behavior. 



14:56 - 17:00 - The personal inventory in the fourth step is deeply personal and loving, allowing us to see things for what they were. When we were using, we were professional victims. We used every excuse in the book to continue our behavior. Ryan talks about the therapeutic value of one addict helping each other. 



17:20 - 19:25 - We can't carry shame or will use/drink again. The steps are in order for a reason. Sitting in recovery meetings and listening to people share their experiences about how they apply the steps in their lives can help your addict identify similar experiences.  Pain can be a great motivator. 



20:00 - 23:07 - The steps are designed to bring your addict closer to a loving higher power who can guide us in our recovery. Commitment is an often overlooked principle. Ryan talks about the fantasies he created during his drug use. Commitment to work and applying the principles in these steps is the most important thing your addict needs to do. 



23:39 Closing thoughts. 



Resources: 

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast! 

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org

AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings

NA Meetings: virtual-na.org

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255 

Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick continue talking about the steps in their recovery journeys, sharing how the twelve steps have made a positive difference in their lives and improved their relationships with those who support them. The idea is that these steps often provide the answers to what addicts or alcoholics are struggling with. By working through the steps, we can get better with ourselves, which helps us get better with the people who love and care for us.
Step Four is about honestly examining your actions and behaviors and how they affect your life. It requires honesty and humility because it shows that you can’t do everything alone. Step Five takes this further by sharing what you’ve discovered with someone else and your higher power, admitting your flaws out loud. This helps you realize that you need support beyond just yourself.
 
Timestamps and Discussions: 
4:24 to 6:44 -  Matt discusses how these steps focus on the addict’s journey. In his Step Four, everyone he wrote about was a caregiver somehow. He explains how he uses the steps to measure what his relationships could look like.
 
6:44 to 8:23 -  Ryan discusses a question regarding what society expects of him in the fourth step. He shares how his obsession and compulsion can still be intense, even during recovery. He also mentions that Step Four looks at his strengths, not just the negatives.
 
8:36 - 8:59 - Why rigorous honesty is vital to the fourth step. Getting our house in order to do this step takes willingness. 
 
9:26 - 11:13 - The guys explain how steps four and five are related. The fourth step involves looking inward to identify past actions. After looking at himself in step four, Ryan explains that step five is about talking to someone else about what he's found. 
 
11:14 - 14:39 - Matt says step four is about writing, and step five is about talking. Matt was so paralyzed by shame that he found his writing cathartic—step four addresses anxiety, fear, and sexual behavior. 
 
14:56 - 17:00 - The personal inventory in the fourth step is deeply personal and loving, allowing us to see things for what they were. When we were using, we were professional victims. We used every excuse in the book to continue our behavior. Ryan talks about the therapeutic value of one addict helping each other. 
 
17:20 - 19:25 - We can't carry shame or will use/drink again. The steps are in order for a reason. Sitting in recovery meetings and listening to people share their experiences about how they apply the steps in their lives can help your addict identify similar experiences.  Pain can be a great motivator. 
 
20:00 - 23:07 - The steps are designed to bring your addict closer to a loving higher power who can guide us in our recovery. Commitment is an often overlooked principle. Ryan talks about the fantasies he created during his drug use. Commitment to work and applying the principles in these steps is the most important thing your addict needs to do. 
 
23:39 Closing thoughts. 
 
Resources: 
You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast! 
Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org
AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings
NA Meetings: virtual-na.org
Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

The Mission

The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is dedicated to providing hope to the unsung heroes behind those struggling with addiction…their friends and family.

We will share insights, stories and resources to help listeners support their loved ones and care for themselves on the recovery journey.

The Hosts

Matt Bair

Matt considers himself blessed to be a recovering alcoholic. His lifetime profession as a radio broadcaster has been derailed multiple times by alcohol abuse but he remains alive and employed through the grace of God and help of others.

Matt lives by the humility introduced in the first step of 12-step recovery, that the alcoholic is truly “powerless over alcohol,” and the alcoholic in use of alcohol possesses a life that is “unmanageable.” He enunciates these beliefs in teaching recovery to alcoholics and addicts, while understanding there’s more to learn from the ones who don’t make it (Keep. Coming. Back). He truly believes everything “always gets better” if you don’t take the next drink or drug. Matt is dedicated to “supporting the supporters” like those who have been critical to his ongoing sobriety.

Matt is the long-time morning and afternoon traffic reporter for WIBC / Indianapolis.

Ryan Hedrick

Ryan Hedrick's life has been a journey of recovery from a challenging battle with addiction spanning nearly 25 years. His struggles with cocaine and methamphetamine led him down a dangerous path, marked by numerous attempts at treatment. However, salvation came in the form of a 12-step program that became his sanctuary.

To break free from the shackles of addiction, Ryan committed himself to giving back to recovery communities nationwide. He extended his support by bringing 12-step meetings to jails and institutions, sponsoring men on their recovery journeys, and regularly attending meetings. Like his co-host, the clutches of drugs and alcohol jeopardized Ryan's life and his career in radio.

Ryan is currently a reporter and morning news anchor at WIBC/Indianapolis where he met his podcast co-host Matt Bair. Together they strive to offer a beacon of hope to those grappling with similar struggles. Their podcast aims to reach and assist individuals behind the scenes by sharing personal experiences, strength, and hope with their followers. Through their collective journey, Ryan and Matt seek to inspire and support those supporting loved ones on the path to recovery.

The Mission
The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is dedicated to providing hope to the unsung heroes behind those struggling with addiction…their friends and family.
We will share insights, stories and resources to help listeners support their loved ones and care for themselves on the recovery journey.
The Hosts 
Matt Bair
Matt considers himself blessed to be a recovering alcoholic. His lifetime profession as a radio broadcaster has been derailed multiple times by alcohol abuse but he remains alive and employed through the grace of God and help of others.
Matt lives by the humility introduced in the first step of 12-step recovery, that the alcoholic is truly “powerless over alcohol,” and the alcoholic in use of alcohol possesses a life that is “unmanageable.” He enunciates these beliefs in teaching recovery to alcoholics and addicts, while understanding there’s more to learn from the ones who don’t make it (Keep. Coming. Back). He truly believes everything “always gets better” if you don’t take the next drink or drug. Matt is dedicated to “supporting the supporters” like those who have been critical to his ongoing sobriety.
Matt is the long-time morning and afternoon traffic reporter for WIBC / Indianapolis.
Ryan Hedrick
Ryan Hedrick's life has been a journey of recovery from a challenging battle with addiction spanning nearly 25 years. His struggles with cocaine and methamphetamine led him down a dangerous path, marked by numerous attempts at treatment. However, salvation came in the form of a 12-step program that became his sanctuary.
To break free from the shackles of addiction, Ryan committed himself to giving back to recovery communities nationwide. He extended his support by bringing 12-step meetings to jails and institutions, sponsoring men on their recovery journeys, and regularly attending meetings. Like his co-host, the clutches of drugs and alcohol jeopardized Ryan's life and his career in radio.
Ryan is currently a reporter and morning news anchor at WIBC/Indianapolis where he met his podcast co-host Matt Bair. Together they strive to offer a beacon of hope to those grappling with similar struggles. Their podcast aims to reach and assist individuals behind the scenes by sharing personal experiences, strength, and hope with their followers. Through their collective journey, Ryan and Matt seek to inspire and support those supporting loved ones on the path to recovery.

Supporting Sobriety Podcast

The Mission
The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is dedicated to providing hope to the unsung heroes behind those struggling with addiction…their friends and family.
We will share insights, stories and resources to help listeners support their loved ones and care for themselves on the recovery journey.
The Hosts
Matt Bair
Matt considers himself blessed to be a recovering alcoholic. His lifetime profession as a radio broadcaster has been derailed multiple times by alcohol abuse but he remains alive and employed through the grace of God and help of others.
Matt lives by the humility introduced in the first step of 12-step recovery, that the alcoholic is truly “powerless over alcohol,” and the alcoholic in use of alcohol possesses a life that is “unmanageable.” He enunciates these beliefs in teaching recovery to alcoholics and addicts, while understanding there’s more to learn from the ones who don’t make it (Keep. Coming. Back). He truly believes everything “always gets better” if you don’t take the next drink or drug. Matt is dedicated to “supporting the supporters” like those who have been critical to his ongoing sobriety.
Matt is the long-time morning and afternoon traffic reporter for WIBC / Indianapolis.
Ryan Hedrick
Ryan Hedrick's life has been a journey of recovery from a challenging battle with addiction spanning nearly 25 years. His struggles with cocaine and methamphetamine led him down a dangerous path, marked by numerous attempts at treatment. However, salvation came in the form of a 12-step program that became his sanctuary.
To break free from the shackles of addiction, Ryan committed himself to giving back to recovery communities nationwide. He extended his support by bringing 12-step meetings to jails and institutions, sponsoring men on their recovery journeys, and regularly attending meetings. Like his co-host, the clutches of drugs and alcohol jeopardized Ryan's life and his career in radio.
Ryan is currently a reporter and morning news anchor at WIBC/Indianapolis where he met his podcast co-host Matt Bair. Together they strive to offer a beacon of hope to those grappling with similar struggles. Their podcast aims to reach and assist individuals behind the scenes by sharing personal experiences, strength, and hope with their followers. Through their collective journey, Ryan and Matt seek to inspire and support those supporting loved ones on the path to recovery.

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