logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
30m 48s

Bill W.'s Last Drink and the Birth of Al...

The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios
About this episode
December 11, 1934. Bill Wilson is on the subway, working his way through his third beer, heading to Towns Hospital. He isn’t injured, and he isn’t what would be traditionally classified as “sick.” But he knows he has a problem. And he needs help. What he doesn't know as he arrives at the hospital – with a fourth bottle of beer in his hand – is that this will ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Parting the Desert Between Two Seas
April 25, 1859. About 150 people have gathered on the shores of Lake Manzala in Egypt. And one of them, a mustachioed, retired French diplomat, steps forward. He raises his pickaxe and strikes a ceremonial blow. The audacious goal is to cut through the desert to connect the Medit ... Show More
36m 10s
Apr 20
One Eco-Arson After Another: The Earth Liberation Front
April 20th, 2004. A quiet suburban development outside Seattle. Brand-new homes. Fresh lawns not yet grown in. Then, in the middle of the night—sirens. Flames ripping through two houses. Investigators quickly find the cause: homemade incendiary devices. And a message, left behind ... Show More
34m 2s
Apr 13
Jefferson’s Trade War Shuts Down America
April 18, 1806. In his study, President Thomas Jefferson signs a law that doesn’t look like an act of war. It bans imports. Leather. Silk. Glass. Playing cards. A strange list. A quiet move. But Jefferson is trying to confront one of the most powerful empires in the world, withou ... Show More
28m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2025
How Bill Wilson Cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous and Created a Lasting Social Movement
Bill Wilson was an incredibly entrepreneurial young man with tremendous potential. He was also a drunk, until an epiphany made him sober. With his personal drive and fellowship with former drinking buddies, Wilson built a social movement and worldwide organization. Founded in 193 ... Show More
23m 34s
Jul 2024
'The Average Drinker Suffers The MOST!' Andy Ramage On How Alcohol Steals Our Time & Productivity
Andy Ramage is a wellness coach, entrepreneur, and author known for his work in promoting alcohol-free living. He co-founded the One Year No Beer movement, which encourages people to take a break from alcohol to improve their health and well-being. 00:00 Intro2:00 Having to retir ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 2024
Quitting alcohol – the story of how Seana got sober
<p>After a childhood spent trying to escape her father's booze-fuelled outbursts, Seana developed her own problem relationship with drinking. But by her mid-50s, Seana decided she had had enough.</p><p>Seana Smith grew up in a beautiful house in rural Scotland, and when things we ... Show More
53m 30s
Sep 2025
A Controversial New Cure for Alcohol Dependence - Katie Herzog - #993
Katie Herzog is a journalist, podcaster, and writer. What does it take to get sober in today’s world? From traditional paths like AA to the grit of going cold turkey, the old methods of sobriety may no longer be enough. But what if counterintuitive, cutting-edge approaches, backe ... Show More
1h 35m
Sep 2024
919 - Kathy on Getting and Remaining Sober for 21 Years Without AA (Happy National Sobriety Day!)
It's National Sober Day and Kathy is telling her "getting and staying sober" story in the hopes it inspires others. When did she start drinking and how much did she drink? How and why did she quit? And, how has she remained sober for 20 years? Tune in to hear all the details incl ... Show More
1h 4m
Nov 2024
Athletic Brewing Company: Bill Shufelt
<p>Bill Shufelt founded Athletic Brewing Company to re-invent non-alcoholic beer, but quickly learned that brewers didn’t want to make it, stores didn’t want to sell it, and potential customers didn’t want to buy it. The NA beer that already existed was outdated and foul-tasting, ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 2022
EP 493: ‘Dear Alcohol’ with Dax
Rapper Dax’s latest hit ‘Dear Alcohol’ started as a poem that he wrote while he was still drinking. He wrestled with the question of whether he could quit if he wanted to and became curious about what life could be like without the crutch of alcohol. The success of the song and ... Show More
46m 51s
May 2025
He Needs Hennessy To Holla - 05.05.25
The Strawberry Letter for Monday, May 5th, 2025: "He Needs Hennessy To Holla" A woman writes in because she is fed up with her husband's drinking. the both used to be wild together, but she stopped drinking like that after their baby was born. Even though his drinking caused her ... Show More
13m 36s
Feb 2023
BONUS #2 🍺 The Knight of Non-Alcoholic Beer: Bill Shufelt, Athletic Brewing Co-Founder & CEO
First, he was in finance. Then he got rejected by 100 investors. But now he’s raised $175M… and opened breweries on both coasts.We just popped open cans from the largest non-alcoholic brewery in the US. CEO Bill Shufelt and his co-founder pioneered a non-alcoholic beer you’d actu ... Show More
51m 15s