273: Recovery on Stage: The Life-Changing Story of Lenny Bruce, Bill W. and Dr. Bob
The Addicted Mind Podcast
Duane Osterlind, LMFT
4.7 • 655 Ratings
🗓️ 26 February 2024
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of "The Addicted Mind" podcast, we dive into the inspiring world of Ronnie Marmo, a talented actor, director, and writer with a 25-year journey through addiction, recovery, and the arts. Ronnie opens up about his personal battle with addiction, finding solace and salvation through Alcoholics Anonymous at a young age, and how this experience has profoundly influenced his career in the entertainment industry. He shares behind-the-scenes insights into his work on plays like "I'm Not a Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce" and "Bill W. and Dr. Bob," which explore themes of addiction and recovery. Ronnie's story is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and the transformative impact of the arts on both the creator and the audience. This episode is a heartwarming reminder that it's never too late to turn your life around and make a positive impact on the world.
Key Topics
- The impact of Alcoholics Anonymous on Ronnie's life and career.
- Behind the scenes of "I'm Not a Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce" and "Bill W. and Dr. Bob."
- The role of art and theater in promoting healing and understanding.
- How Ronnie uses his experiences to inspire and connect with others facing addiction.
Time Stamps:
- [00:00] Introduction to Ronnie Marmo and the episode.
- [02:00] Ronnie's early encounter with addiction and recovery.
- [08:00] The significance of plays in Ronnie's life and their message.
- [15:00] The interplay between Ronnie's recovery journey and his artistic endeavors.
- [22:00] Insights into the creation and impact of "Bill W. and Dr. Bob."
- [30:00] Ronnie's advice to those struggling with addiction.
- [37:00] Conclusion and where to find Ronnie's work.
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Supporting Resources:
A Night of Recovery” Live From the Moravian Center
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello everyone, welcome to the Addictive Mind podcast. My name is Dwayne Austerlund. I'm your host and we are on to another episode. |
| 0:08.0 | Today my guest is Ronnie Marmo. Marmo is a 25-year veteran, actor, director, producer, and writer who is formerly from Brooklyn, New York, Woodbridge, New Jersey, who has resided in Los Angeles for the past 25 years. |
| 0:22.8 | Most recently, Marmo wrote and starred in, I'm Not a Comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce, directed by |
| 0:28.3 | Joe Montagna. The play has run for over 438 performances between Los Angeles, New York, |
| 0:35.0 | and Chicago, and has been on a national tour for the past three years. |
| 0:39.8 | He is also known for his television work on CBS Criminal Minds, Fox Leasle Weapon, as well as 150-episode arc as Detective Ronnie Demosco on General Hospital. |
| 0:51.8 | So Ronnie Marmo directs and stars in Bill W. and Dr. Bob, a powerful, |
| 0:56.4 | funny, and profoundly inspirational story detailing the events that led to the creation of Alcoholics |
| 1:02.8 | Anonymous. And that play is coming to the Richard Christensen Theater of the Biograph |
| 1:08.5 | Theater in Chicago with performances starting March 8th. |
| 1:12.6 | So Marmo first joined Alcoholics Anonymous at the age of 17 and credits the organization with saving his life. |
| 1:19.6 | So on this episode, I talk with Ronnie about his experience of directing these plays and acting in these plays and the meaning that has in his |
| 1:29.9 | life and his own recovery. |
| 1:31.7 | It was really nice to talk with Ronnie and just hear his humility around this topic |
| 1:38.2 | and his really strong desire to make this story known to provide hope and wisdom to others out there who |
| 1:47.7 | experience the impact of addiction in their lives. So let's start this episode. Today, my guest |
| 1:55.3 | is Ronnie Marmo. And we're going to talk about your new show, Ronnie, and what you've all put together for the community of recovery. |
| 2:05.5 | And so let's just jump in. Tell us a little bit about you and this production. Let's go. |
| 2:11.2 | So my name is Ronnie, Marmo, as you said, and I am, I've been a 12-steper for a very long time I've been very blessed |
| 2:18.7 | this show came this script came to me about 25 years ago and uh obviously I was always |
| 2:25.3 | fascinated because I got very very lucky I found recovery as a teenager thank goodness yeah |
| 2:31.0 | I ended up picking up again and then I found it again at 20 years old, and I've been, |
... |
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