In this special episode of The Living Clean Podcast, Mason and Francis take a deep dive into one of the most pivotal moments in the history of Narcotics Anonymous literature.

The Fourth World Literature Conference, held in Santa Monica, California in April 1981, was part of the intense and passionate effort to create a book written by addicts, for addicts. The work done at these conferences helped shape what would eventually become the NA Basic Text, a cornerstone of recovery for addicts around the world.

In the first half of the episode, Mason and Francis break down what led up to the conference, what happened during those historic days in Santa Monica, and why the literature movement inside NA was so important to the fellowship’s growth.

In the second half of the episode, we’re joined by Bob S. and Kathy M., two members who were actually present at the conference. They share their personal memories of participating in the literature effort, the atmosphere in the rooms where addicts were shaping recovery literature, and the challenges and excitement of that moment in NA history.

Their stories bring the conference to life and provide insight into a time when the fellowship was still young, passionate, and determined to create literature that carried the message of recovery.

This episode is part history, part oral archive, and part celebration of the addicts who helped build the foundation of NA literature.

If you’re interested in the origins of the Basic Text, the literature conferences, or the early years of NA service, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.