
Peace, Purpose, and the Foundation of 12-Step Recovery with Ronan O’Loughlin
From Finding New Waters by Finding New Waters
February 26, 2026 · 35 min
About this episode
A conversation with Ronan O’Loughlin about his journey through addiction and the principles of 12-step recovery.
In this episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and New Waters Recovery CEO Justin McClendon sit down with Ronan O’Loughlin, founder and owner of Peace and Purpose Sober Living in Asheville, North Carolina, for a deeply honest conversation about recovery, humility, fear, and the spiritual foundation of long-term sobriety. Ronan shares his personal journey through addiction, immigration, bartending, and eventual recovery, including his path into opening a sober living rooted firmly in 12-step principles. With candor, humor, and wisdom, he reflects on desperation, ego, fear, and what it truly means to live with peace and purpose. This episode explores: Ronan’s recovery journey and early sobriety Addiction, desperation, and the gift of not wanting to use Bartending, ego, and identity in active addiction Why Peace and Purpose Sober Living was created The role of legacy, loss, and service in recovery work Fear as the root of anger and ego-based thinking Infantile expectations and the bondage of self Why 12-step foundations still matter Humility, vocation, and doing recovery work for the right reasons This is a grounded, reflective conversation about what sustains recovery over time…
People in this episode
Hosts: B. Reeves, Justin McClendon
Guest: Ronan O’Loughlin
Topics covered
- recovery
- 12-step principles
- addiction
- spiritual growth
- humility
- sober living
Keywords
- recovery
- addiction
- 12-step
- sober living
- humility
- spiritual growth
- peace
- purpose
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Peace and Purpose Sober Living
Places: Asheville, North Carolina
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