Episode 34 – ’Pass It On’: The Bill Wilson Story

This episode traces the dramatic life of Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, from his ambitious beginnings on Wall Street to the depths of his alcoholism and the spiritual awakening that sparked a worldwide recovery movement. Bill was a man of great ambition and intelligence, but his promising career and personal life were systematically destroyed by his progressive and seemingly hopeless addiction to alcohol. Despite numerous attempts to get sober through his own willpower and medical treatments, he found himself trapped in a devastating cycle of relapse.

The turning point came during his final stay at Towns Hospital, where, in a moment of utter despair, he cried out for help and experienced a profound spiritual event. He described a brilliant white light and an overwhelming sense of peace and presence, which completely lifted his obsession with alcohol. This powerful experience, later validated by the ideas of William James, convinced him that a spiritual solution was the key to recovery.

Following his awakening, Bill Wilson was struck by another crucial insight: to maintain his own sobriety, he needed to carry this message of hope to another suffering alcoholic. This led to his fateful meeting with Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio, a meeting that marked the official founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. This simple principle of one alcoholic helping another became the cornerstone of the fellowship, igniting a spiritual revolution that would go on to help millions find a new life free from addiction.