Hey, Gregory here.

Before we get started, just a few things.

If you're enjoying this latest season, please tell people you know, maybe write a review.

It really helps the show get the word out.

And second, this next story, it's about addiction.

How people talk about it to their friends and to their family.

It's a topic that may be sensitive for some listeners, and we are not using the names

of people in AA programs to respect that group's desire for their members to remain anonymous.

For Julia Simon, this all started with the birthday cakes.

The birthday cakes, they're a part of alcoholics anonymous in LA.

Specifically?

Southern California, yes.

So every year you're sober, you get a birthday cake to celebrate how many years of sobriety you have.

They have a pianist who plays happy birthday when you get a birthday cake.

This is my mom.

It's just, you know, Hollywood kiss kiss on each cheek.

I remember when I was in high school, she was going to AA and she would invite my dad

and my brother and me to go to these celebrations.

There are lots of sober celebrities.

They have a buffet.

And the rest of AA makes fun of Southern California for it.

Yeah.

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