Episodes

  • Kesenija P. – Sober Since February 1992 (Encore Episode)

    Kesenija P. – Sober Since February 1992 (Encore Episode)
    Apr 16 2025
    Imagine trying to get sober in a country without AA meetings or the Big Book. That's what faced Ksenija when she got sober in 1992. That, plus Croatia's viscious War of Independence. Though she had grown up in a Soviet country that paid little heed to the disease of alcoholism, the rest of Kesenija’s back-story is similar to those told by AA members around the world. She was raised in a culture in which alcohol is part of the social fabric and started drinking her middle teens. Finding enjoyment in the bottle and the behavior that resulted from it, Kesenija lived through her share of abusive relationships, tough marriages, single mothering, and divorce, many of the same things encountered by other AA women I’ve interviewed. Like other ambitious and functional alcoholics, Kesenija still managed to carve out a successful career as a singer and actress in her native Croatia, the U.S., and other countries. Unfortunately, the disease of alcoholism inevitably interceded, prevailed, and destroyed it all. Barely surviving her bottom, Kesenija was providentially led into the AA Program and reliable sobriety. That was 30 years and many achievements ago. But it was her unique abilities associated with service work that really put a shine on Kesenija’s Program. She actively lobbied for and later volunteered to translate the Big Book and the 12 and 12 into the Croatian language. Such tools were simply not available to the fledgling groups in Croatia, especially before the fall of the Soviet Union. The books completed, and her career restored, Kesenija made it her service mission to travel her country, helping establish and support new and existing AA groups. To say that her service work has kept her sober, humble, and grateful would be an understatement. There are many Croatians who’ve been guided to sobriety by her efforts. You’re going to enjoy my interview with Keseija. I do beg you to forgive the glitchy audio that Zoom’s connection to Croatia provided that day. But it’s still the content that counts and hers counts a lot. So please welcome to AA Recovery Interviews my friend and AA sister, Kesenija P. [This is an encore of Episode 70 originally released March 23, 2022.] If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Jennifer S. – Sober 2 Years

    Jennifer S. – Sober 2 Years
    Apr 9 2025
    Jennifer S. had a rough journey getting to AA recovery. She was raised in a home where her mother’s alcohol abuse was neatly ignored while frequent family parties gave Jennifer ample opportunities to sample alcohol as a child. But it was the drinking she did as a teenager and young adult to cope with family dysfunction and escape reality that turned alcohol into an unappeasable adversary. Working as an attorney, Jennifer somehow managed to integrate drinking into her daily activities with few consequences. She even managed to stay at home for several years to raise her three children. But alcoholism had inconspicuously followed Jennifer into parenthood. After divorcing her first husband for infidelity, Jennifer’s drinking ramped up beyond its previous effectiveness at quelling her inner turmoil. Finally, she’d had enough and made the decision to get sober. She returned to the rooms of AA with a beaten spirit, but a willing heart, and has been sober since. Jennifer found a sponsor and started working the steps in earnest. She found herself being lovingly drawn to the center of the Program where she found spiritual solutions. She fulfilled service commitments and modeled behavior that has inspired other women to do the work and enjoy recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. I was at Jennifer’s first meeting at the AA club we both attend. I’ve followed her progress in becoming a sober woman on whom others can depend. Given her two years of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous, Jennifer’s message will be of immediate value to those in their first days, weeks, or months. Her fresh message of hope will also ring true for those AA members whose sobriety dates are further in the past. But whether you’re a new-comer or old-timer, I’m certain you’ll enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Jennifer S. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Larry L. – Sober Since February 2011 (Encore Episode)

    Larry L. – Sober Since February 2011 (Encore Episode)
    Apr 2 2025
    Larry got sober at age 65, finally claiming his chair in AA after drinking his entire adult life. As a life-long bachelor, he was also a loner. For decades, his daily routine consisted of working long hours, then putting in a shift at the bar, literally drinking until closing time several days a week. Whatever little social life Larry had was confined to occasional barroom acquaintances. Drinking took its toll over the years as Larry lost jobs for poor performance which he attributes to the burgeoning alcoholism he was unaware of at the time. Larry sought professional help for many years through psycho-therapy. But in those sessions, his alcoholism was somehow obfuscated by other problems, such as anger and resentment, that needed to be dealt with first. Fortunately, one of his therapists helped Larry realize that alcohol was ruining his life, and that he should attend AA. The rest, as they say, is history, replete with the same fear, doubt, indignation, uncertainty, and apprehension that many AA newcomers face. Though he experienced somewhat of a slow start, Larry attended meetings and didn’t drink in-between. Eventually, he got a sponsor and worked the steps in earnest, while his new-found fellowship relieved his isolation. Notably and estimably, Larry became immersed in service work through his participation in correctional facilities committees, bringing desperately-needed AA into county jails and state prisons. At 75, Larry’s involvement in AA is both admirable and dependable. It models the power of AA recovery that’s available to everyone, even those who’ve spent most of their adult lives in the disease. Proving it’s never to late to pursue and achieve sobriety in AA, Larry’s story is one everybody should hear, especially those who’ve waited too many years to get sober. So, for the next hour, please enjoy my intriguing discussion with my fine friend and AA brother, Larry L. [This is an encore of Episode 63 originally released February 2, 2022.] If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Mike V. – Sober 30 Years

    Mike V. – Sober 30 Years
    Mar 26 2025
    Mike’s story is classic tale of a life dragged to the brink of ruin by alcoholism. Brought up in a mostly normal home, his introduction to booze in was similar to many of us alcoholics who started drinking in our teens. Mike liked the effects produced by alcohol and continued to drink through six years in the Navy and for years after. Negative consequences, including two failed marriages piled up around Mike’s drinking. He started losing everything until he literally had nothing more than the clothes on his back. On the street and barely subsisting, Mike fell to his knees at a bus stop and asked God for help. That was his moment of clarity and the turning point in his otherwise wretched life. Mike sought out treatment at the VA hospital and sober living arrangements which tethered him to an AA Program that was his last hope for survival. But it worked. Mike finally resigned from the debating society and followed his sponsor’s blue print for recovery set forth in late December 1994. He has been sober ever since. Mike’s journey of sober life is not dissimilar to that of many long-term recovered alcoholics in AA. He continues to do all that the Program suggests and has been of continuous service to his fellows. His third marriage, to a woman in Alcoholics Anonymous, is a long-term and cherished gift in both their lives, made possible by active participation in AA. I believe you’ll be both inspired and enriched by my interview with Mike. He and I have been close for a very long time and his authenticity as a loyal member of AA comes through every time he shares. So please sit back and enjoy the next hour and ten minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my good friend and AA Brother, Mike V. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Max A. – Sober Since November 2008 (Encore Episode)

    Max A. – Sober Since November 2008 (Encore Episode)
    Mar 19 2025
    Max grew up in a horribly alcoholic home with a mother who later died of cirrhosis and organ failure from drinking. To deal with the madness, Max began drinking at 13 to escape the feelings wrought by the dysfunction of her alcoholic family. Her own alcohol use escalated through high school and college well into her twenties. She admits that, at the time, she knew intellectually that drinking was connected with something terrible, but she kept on. Seeking relief from her alcoholism and co-occurring clinical depression, she was prescribed Zanex which opened the realm of drug addiction on top of everything else. By the time she hit the doors of AA nearly 22 years ago, Max was thoroughly licked, as old-timers like to say. She participated in the Program for the first eight years, while harboring her use and secret abuse of benzodiazepines. While she frantically tried to rationalize, then justify, her use of benzo’s while in AA, the truth finally won out. She came clean to her sponsor and her groups, re-setting her sobriety date in 2008. From that point on, Max’s Program took on new meaning and importance. She connected as never before to the spiritual and service elements of AA. She works an active Program from the inside of AA, sponsoring women with whom she has deep and meaningful relationships. With all the interviews I’ve done on this podcast, I’m continually impressed with the quality of sobriety and depth of commitment to the Program that my guests demonstrate. Max’s story is an ideal example of a woman’s redemption from isolation, self-loathing and spiritual emptiness to a life filled with fellowship and joy. So, take a few deep breaths, settle back, and relish this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Max A. [This is an encore of Episode 62 originally released January 26, 2022] If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Joe S. – Sober 26 Years

    Joe S. – Sober 26 Years
    Mar 12 2025
    Joe's abuse of alcohol was a big part of his teenage and young-adult years growing up in Liverpool England. By the time he moved to Australia in his early twenties, he was a full-blown alcoholic. Joe was raised in a tumultuous home, where verbal and physical abuse were a regular occurrence. Even after his parents divorced, his drunken father continued to wreak havoc on the family. Not surprisingly, by the time Joe found alcohol in his teens, it was a welcome relief for his fear and loathing. Finding comfort in the bottle, he drank at every opportunity, yet suffered few of the consequences that young adult alcoholics often experience. Like so many who escape alcohol’s ruinous effects early on, he became a functional alcoholic. As an electrician’s apprentice, Joe’s on-the-job performance portended a promising career. But his disease had other ideas. Joe’s functional alcoholism was rapidly eroded by his escalating drinking and pot smoking. Lost jobs, ruptured relationships, and other consequences were rapidly tanking his life. By age 26, Joe was sick and tired of the life he was leading and sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous. Joe’s earnest yearning for a better life guided him to the right people and meetings in his hometown of Brisbane, Australia. Working with a good sponsor and studying the Big Book were augmented by frequent service commitments and sponsorship of other men in the Program. In his travels across Australia and around the world, Joe plugs into local AA meetings wherever he goes. He also has regular Zoom meetings that he attends when he cannot make it to in-person meetings. Joe’s story is one of contented sobriety brought about by active participation in Alcoholics Anonymous . Though the 17-hour time difference between us made it a challenge to schedule the interview, it was certainly well worth it. So, sit back and enjoy the next 65 minutes of AA Recovery Interviews as we say g’day to my awesome Aussie mate and AA brother, Joe S. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Emily M. – Sober Since November 1989 (Encore Episode)

    Emily M. – Sober Since November 1989 (Encore Episode)
    Mar 5 2025
    [This is an encore of Episode 26 originally released May 13, 2021] Some alcoholics go to AA meetings even though they haven't stopped drinking. They may fulfill AA’s only membership requirement, expressed in the 3rd Tradition, by having the desire to stop drinking. But, for whatever reason, they just cannot stop. Though it may be unusual to have someone in a meeting who's actively drinking, their presence is still important to AA newcomers and veterans alike. Today’s guest, Emily M., is one of those who had the desire, but simply could not stop drinking in the nearly 5 years she attended AA meetings on a regular basis. Many of her fellow members gave up on her along the way. But the spirit of the 3rd Tradition prevailed among those who really cared and they encouraged her to get sober. Eventually, she stopped drinking over 31 years ago. After finally getting sober, Emily immersed herself in the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. She got a sponsor, studied the Big Book, worked the steps, and continued to attend meetings. She became heavily involved in service work and sponsorship. And she found a much-needed spiritual connection through her active involvement in the fellowship. Emily’s powerful story is one of perseverance and determination. For those who are still drinking and/or struggling to stay sober, even while attending meetings, her message provides a useful addendum to one of AA’s most popular sayings: Meeting-makers make it…sooner or later. So on this, the 26th episode of AA Recovery Interviews, I’m thrilled to welcome my good friend and AA sister, Emily M. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Jeff S. – Sober 26 Years

    Jeff S. – Sober 26 Years
    Feb 26 2025
    Jeff S. got sober in 1998 after years of alcoholism and addiction to crack cocaine. Coming from a tough upbringing, he started drinking as a teen. Jeff spent five years in the U.S. Army which he enjoyed mainly because it allowed him to drink with alacrity and few consequences. But the boozing followed Jeff out of the service into a series of dead-end jobs with few prospects for success. As a functional alcoholic he did find career in the building trade, but the disease still dogged his every step. After a failed marriage and other unadmitted problems caused by drinking, crack cocaine entered Jeff’s life. It quickly drained him financially, physically, and emotionally. By the time he reached AA, he was willing to do anything to restore his shredded life. And AA did just that. Jeff attended meetings, worked the steps, found a higher power, and helped others. It wasn’t long until he had the good things in life back. But somewhere along the way, Jeff began believing that he was running the show and didn't need active participation in the Program to stay sober. And though he remained dry for a considerable number of years, he was also bereft of the many gifts that AA bestows on those who truly invest their lives in the Program. Jeff slowly realized that his increasingly hollow life without alcohol and drugs was missing what he needed most: Connection with the Program, the fellowship and the sunlight of the spirit. Since coming back into active participation in AA several years ago, the quality of Jeff’s life has improved immeasurably. He has become acutely aware of what sobriety without AA is really like. He shares this rare experience with the many people whose lives have been enriched by his presence in meetings and his service to the fellowship. For every gift of sobriety that Jeff passed up during his dry years, his reappearance and re-engagement in Alcoholics Anonymous has rapidly drawn him into the center of the herd. His cautionary tale of staying dry without AA is a story everyone should hear, especially those who think they can get sober in AA and then pull away into their own world without it. So please enjoy the next hour with my friend and AA brother, Jeff S. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]
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    1 hr and 10 mins
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