THE CARD DIVO, hosted by Daniel G. Garza, serves up snappy, under-a-minute weekly tarot readings designed for the…
Sober Pop Culture &
Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
The Sober Curator is your go-to for entertainment, travel, style, and real life—without alcohol at the center. No preaching. No deprivation. Just proof that sober living looks better than you think.
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Latest from The Sober Curator
Senior Contributor Amy Liz Harrison came for the Aqua Net nostalgia and stayed for the uncomfortable recognition. Her review of Christie Brinkley’s “Uptown Girl” explores what happens when a celebrity memoir holds up a mirror to the people we loved while we were drinking.
Sober October deserves a cookie plate. Meet PNW Cookie Co., a family-recipe-born brand serving vegan, gluten-free sweets with plenty of personality.
Centralia, Washington, has a medieval tavern with zero alcohol, house-made jun kombucha, fir-needle soda and a standing welcome for your D&D party. Here’s why Owl & Cedar is a fun I-5 pit stop.
Inside the meeting: coffee, chips, miracles. Outside: a semicircle with 150 years of combined sobriety destroying a pack of Marlboros. It’s time we talked about the parking lot.
Tana Mongeau is two years sober, and she says year two was harder than year one. On her Brand Safe podcast, she explains why quitting alcohol was only the start.
He got sober at his own bachelor party. In Ibiza. Now he’s putting world-class alcohol-free drinks in the best bars on the planet. This is what sobriety looks like when it walks into Claridge’s and takes a seat.
The alcohol-free industry just got a school. Sans Bar founder Chris Marshall launches Sans Bar Institute to bring research, benchmarks and standards to a maturing NA category, and its first class is a founder-led tasting series called Taste Lab.
At the fourth annual Birdies for Bridges, the moment belonged to Sully: 20 years old, three years sober, and now a peer counselor at the same teen recovery program that once showed up for her. This is why we show up.
From Wham! fangirling to sober reinvention, Senior Contributor Amy Liz Harrison finds plenty to love in Janey Lee Grace’s memoir. This four-sobees review explores music, midlife and the many versions of ourselves we bring along for the ride.
This week’s guest is Ben Coombes, founder of Soberski and our newest contributor. Ben worked ski seasons in the Alps, where the day-one rule is you can ski, work, or drink, but not all three. He always dropped the skiing. So he tried quitting drinking in the least likely place on earth, a ski resort in season, and figured if it worked there it would work anywhere. It did.
Lucy Hale is four and a half years sober, and on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose she gets honest about blackouts, choosing rehab over the Grand Ole Opry and the three-sentence advice she’d give anyone thinking about getting sober.
Fall has never actually been beige. Senior Contributor Anne Marie Cribbin shares seven ways to give your home more personality, from unexpected colors and thrift-store oddities to a dinner guest named Margaret who happens to be a skeleton. A playful invitation to reclaim your creativity in recovery.
THE CARD DIVO, hosted by Daniel G. Garza, serves up snappy, under-a-minute weekly tarot readings designed for the…
Sober October is the one month the rest of the world borrows our lifestyle. Here are 21 gifts for your sober and sober-curious crew, from a Bill W. pillow to giant disco candy corn.
Golf without the 19th hole. Après-ski without the hangover. Racing at nationals nine days before turning one year sober. Meet Corey Davis of Soba Golf, Ben Coombes of Soberski and electric skateboarder Bianca Criaco, the three sober athletes joining BACKSTAGE live on Oct. 6.
Getting sober can change more than what’s in your glass. It can change what you want from your working life. UK Contributor Janey Lee Grace shares stories of people turning layoffs, retirement and unexpected career crossroads into opportunities for purpose, creativity and a different kind of ambition.
Same songs. Entirely different relationship with the lyrics. Senior Contributor Amy Liz Harrison revisits 26 tracks that take on new meaning in sobriety, from karaoke staples to songs that suddenly sound suspiciously like your sponsor. Your recovery era has a soundtrack. Naturally, Journey made the cut.
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#TRENDING TOP READS
A box of LEGO bricks may not look like a recovery tool, but the lessons are surprisingly familiar: follow the instructions, take it one piece at a time, stay present and make room for play. Tamar Routly explores what a plastic brick from Denmark can teach us about building a sober life that actually holds.
BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator Is Open — And These 200 Founding Member Spots Won’t Last
BACKSTAGE is a cultural space for people who are done drinking and just want to talk about the interesting stuff. Books. Film. Art. Breathwork. Conspiracy theories. Bedazzling. Astrology. Brain science. iPhone content creation. The stuff that makes sober life genuinely fun.
BACKSTAGE upcoming virtual events
Sobriety doesn’t always arrive with a grand revelation about who we’re supposed to become. Sometimes we rediscover ourselves by following the smallest sparks of curiosity. Sober Curator Contributor Krysty Krywko offers a creative recovery journal prompt for noticing what draws you in—and taking one small step toward it.
#FAQ
1. What is The Sober Curator?
The Sober Curator is a lifestyle platform that proves alcohol-free living is aspirational, stylish, and a hell of a lot more fun than people think. We curate the best in entertainment, travel, wellness, culture, and personal stories through a sober lens. No preaching, no deprivation narratives. Just real proof that sobriety isn’t limiting, it’s empowering. Whether you’re sober, sober curious, or just exploring life beyond the glass, consider us your go-to resource and community.
2. Can anyone contribute content to The Sober Curator?
Absolutely! We currently have 38 official sober curator contributors on staff, including journalists, wellness experts, travelers, and people with lived sober experience. We also welcome reader submissions for sections like Speak Out! Speak Loud! (our op-ed section), Sober Poetry, and Sobriety in the City (aka how to have the perfect sober day in your city). We’re always looking for diverse voices that support sober curiosity, recovery awareness, and modern alcohol-free living. Not every submission is accepted, but if your story fits, we’d love to hear from you.
3. What does an alcohol free lifestyle mean?
An alcohol-free lifestyle simply means choosing to live without alcohol. Full stop. And here’s the thing: you don’t need a rock bottom story to claim it. Maybe you’re in recovery. Maybe you just don’t like how drinking makes you feel. Maybe you’re curious about what life looks like without the hangover. All of it counts. For us, it’s about showing up fully present and discovering that the fun, connection, and adventure were never really coming from the bottle. They were coming from you.
4. What types of topics does the site cover?
A lot. We publish 60+ articles a month across our core content pillars: na beverage reviews (beers, wines, spirits, RTDs, and recipes), health and fitness (mental, emotional, and physical), entertainment (movies, books, TV, music, sports, sober celebrities, and pop culture), travel and events (including a sober retreat and events calendar), lifestyle (fashion, shopping, dating, parenting, and more), recovery resources, and our Spiritual Gangster section covering everything from astrology and tarot to yoga and stoicism. Think of us as your one-stop shop for living your best life without the booze.
5. What is included in Entertainment content?
We’re pop culture addicts who happen to be sober. Our entertainment section covers movies, TV, documentaries, books, music, sports, podcasts, and everything happening in celebrity culture through a sober lens. That means we’re reviewing the latest binge-worthy series, spotlighting sober celebrities, breaking down how Hollywood portrays addiction and recovery, and keeping you in the loop on the entertainment worth your time. We cover all of it. We just do it without the beer goggles.
6. Does the site feature Travel & Events for sober people?
Pack your bags! Our Travel and Events section covers alcohol-free vacations, wellness retreats, sober festivals, and community gatherings across the country. We maintain a Sober Retreat Calendar and a Sober Events Calendar so you always know what’s coming up. Our Sobriety in the City hub pages give you the inside scoop on the sober scene in cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, and New York City, complete with local resources, events, and the best places to go. We also feature city-specific guides (like How to Have the Perfect Sober Day in your city), travel stories from our contributors and readers, and coverage of experiences like sober cruises, recovery campouts, and destination retreats. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or looking for something fun happening near you, we’ve got you covered.
7. Is a sober lifestyle only for people in recovery?
Not at all. While we absolutely celebrate and support people in recovery, an alcohol-free lifestyle is for anyone. Maybe you’re sober curious. Maybe you’re taking a break. Maybe you just feel better without it. There’s no membership card required and no story you need to qualify with. The Sober Curator exists for all of it. We believe sobriety isn’t about what you’re giving up. It’s about what you’re gaining.
8. What are the benefits of an alcohol free lifestyle?
Where do we start? Better sleep. More energy. Clearer skin. Less anxiety. Stronger relationships. Actually remembering Saturday morning. People asking if you changed your skincare routine (nope, just put down the wine). The physical benefits alone are worth it, but most people are surprised by what else shows up: sharper thinking, real confidence, deeper connections, and a sense of showing up for your life in a way you didn’t know you were missing. We’re not doctors and everyone’s experience is different, but we hear these stories from our community every single day. And honestly? You’re way more interesting without the hangover.
9. What is long-term recovery and sobriety?
Long-term sobriety and recovery means you keep showing up. One day at a time. With no days off. It’s not a finish line you cross. It’s a practice that grows with you. Some days are easier than others, and that’s the truth nobody puts on a motivational poster. But over time, most people find that sobriety gets richer, not harder. You still have problems; they just get classier. You build new habits, find your people, and discover what actually fills you up. The Sober Curator is here for every stage of that journey, whether you’re on day one or year twenty. #ODAAT
10. Why is mental health important in recovery?
Because getting sober is just the beginning. A lot of people put down the drink and then realize there’s a whole layer underneath they never dealt with. Anxiety, depression, trauma, stress. The stuff that was there before the bottle and is still there after. That’s why mental health isn’t a side topic for us. It’s one of our core content pillars. We cover everything from therapy and emotional wellness to fitness, mindfulness, and spiritual health because real recovery means taking care of the whole person, not just removing the substance. You deserve to feel good, not just sober. And if you’re struggling, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. We’re here to inform and inspire, but we’re not a substitute for professional care.
11. What challenges are common in sober recovery?
Let’s be honest. Recovery is amazing and it’s also really hard sometimes. You might lose friends who only knew you with a drink in your hand. Social situations can feel awkward when you’re the only one not drinking. Holidays, weddings, even a random Tuesday can catch you off guard. You might not recognize yourself for a while, and that can be scary. These are things almost everyone in recovery deals with, and we talk about all of it openly at The Sober Curator. Through personal stories, contributor essays, and our recovery resources, we make sure you know you’re not the only one figuring this out. Because you’re not. Not even close.
12. Can recovery look different for everyone?
Yes. Full stop. There is no one right way to do this. Some people go to AA every day. Some people do therapy. Some people found yoga or running or breathwork or community. Some people white-knuckled it and figured it out as they went. All of it counts. Your recovery is yours and nobody gets to tell you you’re doing it wrong. At The Sober Curator, we share stories from all kinds of journeys because the more paths people see, the more possible their own feels. The only thing that matters is that you keep going.
13. Why are recovery stories important?
Because nobody should ever feel like they’re the only one. Recovery can be isolating, and sometimes the thing that keeps you going is hearing someone else say “me too.” That’s why storytelling is at the heart of what we do. Our We Do Recover series features real stories from real people about how they got sober. Our Speak Out! Speak Loud! section gives readers a place to share their own voice. And across everything we publish, you’ll find contributors and community members being honest about what this life actually looks like. The good days, the hard days, and everything in between. Stories reduce stigma. But more than that, they make people feel less alone. And that can change everything.
14. How can recovery stories help someone new to sobriety?
Early sobriety can feel like walking into a room where everyone else seems to know what they’re doing except you. Recovery stories remind you that every single person in that room felt the same way at some point. Reading how someone else made it through the first week, the first holiday, the first party without a drink can make your own next step feel a little less impossible. And these stories aren’t just for the person getting sober. They’re just as important for the friends, family members, and loved ones trying to understand what someone they care about is going through. We have an entire Family Resources section and Al-Anon perspective content for exactly that reason. Nobody goes through this alone, and nobody should have to.
15. Are recovery stories only about addiction?
Not even a little bit. Some of our stories are about addiction and recovery, absolutely. But plenty of them are about someone who just decided alcohol wasn’t serving them anymore. Or someone working through anxiety, grief, or trauma. Or someone who got curious about what life looks like without drinking and never went back. Recovery, the way we see it, isn’t just about putting down a substance. It’s about picking yourself up. That can look like leaving a toxic relationship, changing careers, starting therapy, finding faith, or simply choosing to live differently. If your story involves growth, healing, or showing up for yourself in a new way, it belongs here.
16. What does sober health and wellness include?
A lot more than you might think. Health and wellness is one of our biggest content pillars and it covers the whole picture: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. That means everything from fitness and nutrition to therapy, mindfulness, yoga, and our Spiritual Gangster section (which gets into astrology, tarot, stoicism, and more). We also feature Sober Poetry, personal essays, and reader-submitted stories because sometimes wellness looks like finally putting your feelings into words. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s building a life that feels good to live in without needing a drink to get through it.
17. Why are movies about sobriety important?
Because Hollywood has been getting addiction wrong for decades, and when they finally get it right, somebody should be paying attention. That’s us. Our Movie Night section reviews films through a sober lens. The Mindful Binge covers TV series that tackle addiction, recovery, and mental health (yes, we reviewed The Bear – every season). We feature documentaries and reality TV that tell the real stories Hollywood often glosses over or edits out. We even have our own rating system, The Sobees, so you know what you’re getting into before you press play. Whether a film makes you laugh, cry, or call your sponsor, we think these stories matter because the more sobriety shows up on screen, the more normal it becomes off-screen.
18. Why is sober entertainment important to recovery?
Because what you watch, read, and listen to matters, especially in early recovery. When every show has a bar scene and every celebration ends with champagne, it can feel like the whole world runs on alcohol. Sober entertainment flips that. It gives you movies, music, books, podcasts, live theatre, and pop culture that don’t make you feel like the odd one out. That’s why we built an entire entertainment section with Movie Night, The Mindful Binge, Recovery Podcastland, our #QuitLit library, coverage of sober celebrities and sober pop culture, reviews of live experiences like theatre and community events, and spotlights on sober content creators across social platforms. It’s not about avoiding everything. It’s about having a place that gets it so you can stay plugged into culture without feeling like sobriety makes you a spectator.
19. Is it possible to enjoy life while living sober?
Is it possible? It’s the whole point. That’s literally why The Sober Curator exists. We were built to prove that alcohol-free living isn’t just manageable, it’s fun, stylish, adventurous, and full of the kind of moments you’ll actually remember. We cover travel, entertainment, fashion, food, events, wellness, and culture all through a sober lens because none of those things ever needed alcohol to be great. You can go to concerts. You can travel the world. You can dance, date, celebrate, and have the best night of your life without a single drink. Don’t take our word for it. Spend five minutes on the site and see for yourself.
20. What do all these recovery and sobriety terms mean?
New to this world? You’re going to hear a lot of words and acronyms thrown around. ODAAT. Pink cloud. Dry drunk. Sober curious. Harm reduction. Cross addiction. It can feel like everyone’s speaking a language you didn’t get the handbook for. So we made one. Our Glossary of Addiction and Recovery Terms breaks down the terminology in plain, judgment-free language so you’re never lost in a conversation, a meeting, or an article on this site. Bookmark it. You’ll use it more than you think.
21. What is sober pop culture?
Sober pop culture is the cultural landscape of media, entertainment, fashion, travel, and lifestyle experienced through an alcohol-free lens. The term was defined and pioneered by Alysse Bryson, founder of The Sober Curator, to describe the growing influence of sober and sober-curious individuals shaping modern culture, entertainment, and consumer trends.