Radio Show Archive – December 2015

To Listen, see the link in the note

December 1, 2015 hosted by Dr. Michael Ryce, Jeanie Ryce, and Dr. Tim Hayes continued a special week-long series exploring the deep synergy between the 12-step traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and the first-century Aramaic understanding of forgiveness. The show again featured guest speaker Gail, who built on the previous day’s discussion by expanding on the historical evolution of the AA program, the spiritual influences that shaped it, and how its principles align with the Aramaic forgiveness process. Dr. Ryce opened with a reminder that true healing comes not from drowning one’s troubles, but by forgiving—removing—what does not belong in the human system so that love, our original state, may be restored.

Gail delved into the early organizational roots of Alcoholics Anonymous, sharing that the movement formalized in Akron, Ohio, and later in New York City and Cleveland, as the founders realized the need to preserve the integrity of their message. In 1937, Bill Wilson and early AA members began writing the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. A typist named Ruth Hawk transcribed the manuscript, and decisions about content were made democratically by 40 sober members. Gail highlighted that the book’s collective authorship—citing 100 contributors—was strategic to lend credibility, as individual accounts could be dismissed more easily than a collective experience.

A major focus of this episode was the concept of spiritual experience. Gail shared how AA literature acknowledges two varieties: a sudden “bright light” experience, like the one Bill Wilson had during detox, and a slower “educational” transformation that unfolds through continued spiritual practice and step work. She tied this to the Aramaic concept of forgiveness as a shift from fear back to love, which mirrors the Course in Miracles teaching that “a miracle is a change in perception.” Dr. Ryce echoed this by explaining that true spiritual transformation doesn’t require religious conversion but rather a return to one’s essence as love. He emphasized that the Aramaic forgiveness process enables individuals to remove pain, rage, guilt, and fear from their internal dynamics, not by suppressing or denying them, but by facing and dissolving them through conscious tools like the Reality Management or “Wake-Up” Sheet.

Throughout the discussion, Gail described her experience with early childhood trauma and addiction, including her first drink at age five and her reliance on sugar and Pepsi as coping mechanisms. She illustrated how sensitivity and pain—often masked by humor or compulsive behavior—fuel addictive patterns. The conversation emphasized that the appeal of alcohol is not the substance itself, but the relief it provides from chronic emotional pain. Once healing begins and the internal pain is removed, the body recognizes the toxicity of substances like alcohol, removing their allure.

Both Gail and Dr. Ryce drew strong parallels between AA’s step work and the Aramaic forgiveness process. For instance, step one of AA—admitting powerlessness and that life has become unmanageable—was compared to the initial inventory steps on the worksheet that help uncover internal pain and belief systems. They noted that resentment, fear, and self-centered thinking drive destructive behavior and that both systems invite individuals to face and forgive these internal dynamics. The worksheet’s canceling of goals and self-punishment directly aligns with steps four through seven in AA, which address moral inventory and character defects, all rooted in fear and unmet expectations.

Dave Gilbert joined the conversation again, reinforcing the importance of ongoing inventory and spiritual practice. He explained how the worksheet process contains all twelve steps in its design, especially steps ten through twelve, which emphasize daily self-inventory, conscious contact with a higher power, and service to others. Dave shared how confusing external triggers with internal pain led him to blame others, and how Dr. Ryce’s work helped him realize that true healing comes when we stop externalizing pain and take ownership of it. His insights on emotional regulation, denial, and the power of love-based perception offered a powerful testament to the complementary nature of the two systems.

The show concluded with a shared recognition that addiction often emerges from hypersensitivity and unhealed trauma, and that both AA and Aramaic forgiveness offer viable paths toward lasting freedom. Gail affirmed the ongoing nature of healing, likening her early use of the worksheets to doing an inventory—a familiar concept in the 12-step world. As Dr. Ryce noted, the inventory isn’t about judgment or guilt, but about recognizing hidden mental content and lovingly bringing it to light. They invited listeners, especially those facing the upcoming holidays with emotional trepidation, to apply these tools and experience transformation firsthand.

YouTube https://youtu.be/qOt8TW7HefY or on our Podetize player at https://whyagain.org/mindshifters-radio-show-player-for-archives/

To Listen, see the link in the note

December 2, 2015 hosted by Dr. Michael Ryce, Jeanie Ryce, and Dr. Tim Hayes continued their in-depth conversation on the spiritual foundations of the 12-step recovery program and its connection to the Aramaic teachings on forgiveness. Gail returned as a guest and began by clarifying that the term “spiritual” in AA is often misunderstood. She explained that the founders of AA did not intend “spiritual” to imply religious dogma but rather a deeper awakening to the truth of one’s being. This awakening can happen through a sudden transformative event or gradually through committed inner work—both of which align with the Aramaic forgiveness process as taught by Dr. Ryce.

Gail discussed how the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous encourages each person to choose their own concept of a Higher Power. Rather than pushing a specific doctrine, the original AA texts emphasized love, clarity, and inner transformation. She shared that she had once believed herself to be spiritual because of her knowledge and service, yet had not truly forgiven or confronted her pain. Her turning point came when she began doing the Reality Management Worksheets and recognized the extent to which unconscious fear, sadness, and denial were still running her life. The worksheets helped her uncover hidden energies like guilt, resentment, and rage and allowed her to begin removing them layer by layer. This inner clearing is what Aramaic forgiveness is all about—not a pardon of others, but a direct healing of what doesn’t belong within.

Dr. Ryce explained that in Aramaic, “forgiveness” is the tool for removing mental and emotional constructs that distort perception. He emphasized that many people remain caught in illusions, projecting unresolved pain onto others and mistaking outer events for the source of their suffering. The Aramaic teachings provide practical steps to reclaim responsibility for our internal state and restore access to love as our natural essence. He pointed out that both the 12 steps and the forgiveness process start by facing powerlessness and recognizing the need for something higher than ego-based control to guide the healing journey.

Dave Gilbert contributed by reinforcing how the worksheet process overlaps significantly with the daily inventory suggested by AA. He described how, even after years of sobriety, he would still struggle with the same emotional loops until he applied the forgiveness tools daily. The worksheet’s structure—identifying triggers, accessing suppressed emotions, recognizing the false goals and beliefs, and releasing them—mirrors the process of steps four through seven in AA. Both frameworks emphasize accountability, inner cleansing, and reliance on spiritual guidance.

Gail offered a vulnerable reflection on how addiction is often an anesthetic for sensitivity and unhealed trauma. She recalled being called “too sensitive” as a child, a label that masked deep emotional wounds. Rather than teaching children how to navigate strong feelings, society often invalidates them, driving people into patterns of denial and addiction. She emphasized that real strength comes from facing and healing those wounds with tools like the worksheet and the 12 steps, not from burying them. She also shared a quote that helped her reframe recovery: “I can’t. God can. I think I’ll let Him.” This simple statement reflects the surrender inherent in both AA and Aramaic teachings.

Jeanie Ryce brought attention to the importance of self-care during the holiday season, a time when emotional stress often intensifies and relapse risk increases. She encouraged listeners to use the forgiveness tools as a way to stay grounded in love and personal responsibility. Dr. Tim Hayes added that healing is a process of awakening to one’s own unconscious content and that both AA and Dr. Ryce’s work offer a roadmap for doing so in practical, replicable ways. The show concluded with an invitation to continue applying these teachings and to recognize that true freedom comes from within, through conscious choice and forgiveness.

YouTube https://youtu.be/mMqW30vxNoA or on our Podetize player at https://whyagain.org/mindshifters-radio-show-player-for-archives/

To Listen, see the link in the note

December 3, 2015 hosted by Dr. Michael Ryce, Jeanie Ryce, and Dr. Tim Hayes continued their insightful series on the spiritual underpinnings of the 12-step program and its alignment with Aramaic forgiveness. Gail once again joined the conversation, sharing more of her personal journey through addiction and recovery. She emphasized the importance of understanding that true spiritual work goes far beyond intellectual insight—it must engage the heart and the physiology, allowing buried emotions to surface and be released. Gail described how her initial contact with the Aramaic forgiveness tools helped her uncover deep layers of guilt, grief, and resentment that traditional 12-step work alone had not fully resolved. Her use of the wake-up sheets enabled her to access pain from childhood and patterns of self-devaluation, demonstrating that long-term healing is a process of conscious excavation and forgiveness.

Dr. Ryce clarified the distinction between the westernized concept of forgiveness—which often involves pardoning someone for wrongdoing—and the original Aramaic meaning, which refers to a literal removal of the internal energies of hostility, fear, and grief. He stated that in the Aramaic worldview, these energies are distortions of truth that create illusions in perception and are the true cause of human suffering. Forgiveness, then, is not about letting someone else off the hook but about removing what does not belong within oneself. The conversation circled back to the AA process, which begins with recognizing powerlessness and then builds toward a deep personal inventory. Dr. Ryce explained how this parallels the Reality Management Worksheet, where one begins with identifying upset, locates the false perception, and then traces it back to internal goals and beliefs that need canceling and healing.

Dave Gilbert contributed by describing how, even after years in AA, he was still struggling with repeating emotional patterns. It wasn’t until he combined the 12 steps with the wake-up sheets that he began to see lasting shifts. He underscored how denial and avoidance of inner pain had kept him locked in destructive behaviors and emotional confusion. The worksheet process helped him see the internal roots of his suffering rather than blaming external circumstances or people. He explained that clarity comes from owning the pain and consciously choosing to release it.

Gail shared a poignant realization about her past experiences of trauma and how addiction served as a buffer to avoid pain. Her identity had become wrapped in being the “helper” and appearing strong, but underneath she felt alone and disconnected. It was through the Aramaic work that she began reclaiming her identity not as a fixer but as a being of love. This mirrored AA’s 11th step, which invites one to deepen their conscious contact with a higher power through prayer and meditation. Gail emphasized that when the internal energetic content begins to shift, the external compulsions lose their hold—making forgiveness the path to freedom.

Jeanie Ryce brought attention to the emotional triggers that intensify during the holidays and encouraged listeners to use these tools to face old family dynamics with compassion and clarity. She pointed out that many people relapse or spiral emotionally during holiday gatherings because unhealed wounds surface. The forgiveness tools offer a way to meet these moments with awareness and intentional healing. Dr. Tim Hayes echoed this by encouraging listeners to view upset not as failure, but as an invitation to heal deeper layers of pain. He reiterated that emotions are signals pointing to unresolved content that can now be released.

The episode concluded with an affirmation that the combination of AA’s 12-step process and the Aramaic forgiveness tools offers a powerful, integrated pathway to freedom. Gail, Dave, and the hosts invited listeners to explore these tools for themselves, especially during emotionally charged times. They reminded the audience that healing is not a one-time event but a daily practice of choosing love over fear, truth over illusion, and responsibility over blame.

YouTube https://youtu.be/pyaNjzMA0mc or on our Podetize player at https://whyagain.org/mindshifters-radio-show-player-for-archives/

To Listen, see the link in the note

December 4, 2015 hosted by Dr. Michael Ryce, Jeanie Ryce, and Dr. Tim Hayes continued their exploration of the intersection between the 12-step recovery process and the Aramaic understanding of forgiveness. Gail returned to share deeper insights into her personal journey with addiction, spiritual awakening, and the impact of integrating the Reality Management Worksheet with the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. She reflected on the evolution of her healing from simply surviving trauma to actively releasing the internal emotional charges that had once controlled her life. Gail emphasized that recovery is not a one-time event but a continual deepening of awareness, responsibility, and connection to truth.

Dr. Ryce reiterated that the Aramaic definition of forgiveness involves removing what never belonged in the human system—energies such as fear, guilt, rage, and grief. This process restores the human mind to clarity and allows love, which is the essence of our being, to be present once again. He explained that the Western concept of forgiveness, which suggests letting others off the hook, keeps people trapped in victimhood. By contrast, Aramaic forgiveness shifts the focus inward, empowering individuals to reclaim responsibility and heal the root causes of their pain. He noted that this aligns beautifully with the work done in the 12 steps, especially when inventory and amends are undertaken as acts of internal cleansing rather than outer appeasement.

Dave Gilbert again contributed to the conversation by sharing how his experience in AA helped him understand the value of community, but it wasn’t until he encountered the worksheet process that he began to see permanent change in his emotional and spiritual life. He discussed how addiction is often used to manage overwhelming feelings and that denial is a primary block to healing. The worksheet allowed him to see the beliefs and goals beneath his reactions, revealing the false stories he had unconsciously carried. By canceling these goals and choosing truth, he found a way to break the cycle of reactivity and addiction.

Gail talked about how the process of doing consistent worksheet work helped her feel emotionally safe for the first time in her life. She acknowledged that it wasn’t always easy to confront the layers of pain, but each time she worked through a worksheet, she peeled away another layer of illusion. She emphasized that she had to let go of being the “rescuer” and the “good girl,” identities that had masked her deeper wounds and perpetuated patterns of codependence. This transformation mirrored the 6th and 7th steps in AA, which involve becoming entirely ready to release character defects and humbly asking for them to be removed.

Jeanie Ryce reminded listeners of the importance of consistency and intention during the holiday season, when emotional patterns and family dynamics often become more intense. She encouraged people to use the tools—not just when things fall apart, but as a proactive practice for maintaining emotional clarity and peace. Dr. Tim Hayes added that healing involves ongoing willingness to uncover denial and projective tendencies. He spoke about the necessity of building a loving internal relationship and how both AA and the Aramaic tools foster this process when used together.

The show concluded with an invitation for all listeners, whether new to the work or long-time practitioners, to continue integrating these transformational tools into daily life. Dr. Ryce affirmed that both systems—AA and Aramaic forgiveness—lead back to the essential truth that we are love, and that all healing begins by restoring that awareness within ourselves.

YouTube https://youtu.be/VcgcWme5ePE or on our Podetize player at https://whyagain.org/mindshifters-radio-show-player-for-archives/

To Listen, see the link in the note

December 7, 2025 hosted by Dr. Michael Ryce, joined by Jeanie Ryce and Dr. Tim Hayes, delves into the profound distinction between projection and responsibility in communication, particularly as it relates to first-century Aramaic forgiveness. Dr. Ryce begins by expressing gratitude for the audience and reiterates their mission to make these healing tools freely available to all, referencing resources like the PowerPoint presentation, forgiveness worksheets, and recorded walkthroughs on www.whyagain.org. He shares moving testimonials from people who were on the verge of suicide and found renewed hope and healing through this work. He also mentions an upcoming video release of a four-hour updated version of “Why Is This Happening to Me Again?” featuring video support from a Chicago-based team, with editing contributions from Dr. Tim Hayes.

Dr. Tim Hayes reflects on recent shows focusing on the 12-Step process and praises the inclusive nature of combining forgiveness work with other traditions, avoiding the territorial rigidity often found in psychological schools. He highlights an NPR broadcast from OnBeing.org that reinforces the growing awareness of functional medicine and the energy-mind-body connection.

The core teaching of the show centers around “Responsibility Communication.” Dr. Ryce explains that the mind does not record reality; it generates it. This assertion, supported by CIA research on perception, challenges the belief that humans perceive the world through objective windows. Instead, our realities are mental constructs, and words are often misused to manipulate rather than to truly communicate. The show teaches that most people speak from projection—describing their internal reality as if it were someone else’s behavior—rather than from personal ownership.

Dr. Ryce outlines a structured process for responsibility communication: begin by making a commitment to communicate one’s internal reality, offer an invitation for support, distinguish objective facts from subjective perceptions, own the emotional content that arises, express what support is needed for healing (rather than trying to change others), listen openly to the other person’s input, and finally engage in problem solving only after healing has been addressed. He stresses that hostility and fear are internal signals of error in our constructed reality—not indications of someone else’s wrongdoing. These signals are opportunities to access and heal dissociated parts of the mind that contribute to aging and physical deterioration.

The show concludes with encouragement to apply this process in daily life, especially in moments of emotional turmoil, and reminds listeners that true healing comes from collapsing internal projections through forgiveness, not external control. Dr. Ryce emphasizes the significance of using tools like the forgiveness worksheet and wake-up sheets to go beyond coping and into authentic transformation.

YouTube https://youtu.be/zM9tukmOEq8 or on our Podetize player at https://whyagain.org/mindshifters-radio-show-player-for-archives/

To Listen, see the link in the note

December 8, 2015 hosted by Dr. Michael Ryce, Jeanie Ryce, and Dr. Tim Hayes continued their exploration of the integration between the 12-step process of recovery and first-century Aramaic forgiveness. This episode featured further insights from Gail and Dave Gilbert, who have both combined traditional recovery practices with the transformative tools taught by Dr. Ryce. The conversation focused on distinguishing between surface-level recovery and true healing, and emphasized the critical role of forgiveness—not as a pardon for others but as a deep internal cleansing of emotional and energetic patterns that perpetuate suffering.

Dr. Ryce began by revisiting the idea that forgiveness, in the Aramaic sense, is a literal removal of energetic content from the mind and body. He explained that when people do not forgive, they remain trapped in repeating patterns because they hold onto internal constructs—goals, beliefs, and emotional charges—that distort perception. He stressed that addiction often serves as a distraction from this inner pain and that the first step to healing is recognizing our responsibility for perception. Through tools like the wake-up sheet and Reality Management Worksheet, individuals can move from being victims of life to conscious participants in their own healing.

Gail reflected on the shift from living in emotional reactivity to practicing intentional presence. She acknowledged that many in recovery may achieve abstinence but still struggle with intense emotional pain, fear, and shame if the underlying trauma and thought patterns remain unaddressed. She credited the forgiveness tools with helping her shift from simply coping to actually transforming the internal energy that was fueling her addiction and emotional instability. She also described how holidays used to be a time of dread due to family trauma and triggers, but with consistent use of the forgiveness tools, she could now experience peace in situations that once overwhelmed her.

Dave Gilbert shared his insights from decades of experience in recovery, emphasizing that traditional AA tools provided a vital structure, but it wasn’t until he used the forgiveness worksheets that he began to feel truly free. He talked about the importance of recognizing when he was in denial, how the worksheets helped him identify internal goals and cancel them, and how canceling a goal that drives perception allows a clearer view of reality. He described this as a moment of grace—where a shift in perception occurs and love can once again come forward.

Dr. Tim Hayes highlighted how the brain constructs images based on internal data and memories rather than objective reality. He emphasized that the work of forgiveness and recovery is not just about managing behavior but transforming the root content from which that behavior arises. He explained that trauma is stored in the physiology and will continue to operate below the surface unless actively addressed. The integration of forgiveness and recovery enables individuals to truly face and heal what has been buried, rather than just learning to live around it.

Jeanie Ryce reminded listeners to stay present and consistent in their practice, especially during emotionally charged times like the holidays. She encouraged listeners to use every trigger as an opportunity to uncover and forgive deeper layers of unresolved emotion. The hosts all agreed that combining the forgiveness work with the 12-step approach not only supports sobriety but can take people beyond it—into genuine freedom, clarity, and emotional strength.

YouTube https://youtu.be/2XiacUk4tfs or on our Podetize player at https://whyagain.org/mindshifters-radio-show-player-for-archives/

Go to www.youtube.com/michaelryce_whyagain to see the first hour of the new 4-hour Why Again DVD.  Bob Newhart video clip on how to “Stop It”