Father’s Day often brings a heartfelt mix of nostalgia, pride, and maybe even a bit of trepidation for many dads—especially those on a journey of sobriety. On The Sober Curator’s “Bonus Buzz – Father’s Day Special,” hosts Jason Mayo and Tamar Routly were joined by Stephen Kimball, creator of the Sober Dad Crew Podcast, for a raw and relatable discussion about what it means to parent (and cringe at dad jokes) fully present and alcohol-free.
Rediscovering Presence: The Sober Dad Advantage
One of the resounding themes from Jason and Stephen’s dialogue is the gift of true presence that sobriety can offer fathers. Stephen reflected on those blurry early days of parenting: “If you’re defining parenthood, fatherhood… the big job is to be present for your kids and show them that you love them. Not tell them, show them.”
Both Jason and Stephen got sober when their kids were young enough not to remember the darkest moments of addiction, a fact they count as a blessing but also a motivator. Jason shared, “My oldest was seven and my youngest three when I got sober. Thinking back on those years, it’s tough to remember who I even was. I was a different dad then—definitely not as present.”
What stood out was the duo’s focus on forgiveness—for themselves and each other. The classic struggle: Do you regret your ‘before’ years, or do you accept them as part of your journey? Stephen candidly admitted regret, especially as someone who had a ‘second shot’ at fatherhood in a blended, now sober family. But both dads emphasized that grace and growth trump perfectionism.
Jason highlighted the “progress, not perfection” philosophy: “I want to be a little bit better every day. That came from sobriety… and when you look at it as progress, it’s easier to give yourself—and your kids—grace.”
The Joys and Chaos of Sober Parenting
The podcast wasn’t all heavy topics. Laughter is fuel for sober families, and parenting, it turns out, can be downright hilarious. From waking up reluctant teenagers (Jason confessed to blasting Megadeth in his daughter’s bedroom) to the punchlines of groan-worthy dad jokes, embracing the ridiculous is sometimes the saving grace: “I think in my best moments,” said Stephen, “I’m a little bit ridiculous, very dad-jokey. In our family, everything’s on the table. We’ll talk about any topic—even if it’s meth or pimple woes!”
Their candid stories about teenagers judging their social media fame (“micro-celebrity status” according to Jason) reinforced that sober dads are all about showing up—even if it means being the butt of a joke.
For sober parents, “projecting” is a persistent battle—spotting echoes of their own struggles in their children, whether it’s with anxiety, sadness, or even substance experimentation. Jason admitted, “It’s hard not to look at every issue and think, ‘Will she turn out like me?’” Stephen agreed, especially after his daughter’s battle with an eating disorder.
Their solution: Be honest, be open, and, above all, let go. “You have to let kids have their own journey,” Stephen explained. “Guide them, show up, and sometimes, that’s all you can do.”
Hope for Sober or Sober-Curious Dads
To dads who still feel lost in addiction or new to sobriety, both Jason and Stephen had a powerful message: There’s always light—a way back, even after big mistakes. “Rebuilding trust takes time,” Stephen said. “You have to show, not just tell your kids you’ve changed. It’s easy to lose trust, and super hard to rebuild it. But it’s possible.”
Sobriety, they concluded, is about intentional living—choosing to be better not just for yourself, but for the people who matter most.
The episode finished, fittingly, with a flurry of terrible (and amazing) dad jokes and shoutouts to all the resilient, fun-loving, and sometimes “needy” dads out there.
So here’s to the sober dads—the ones relearning how to parent, joke, love, and show up. To those navigating blended families, rough patches, or just another ordinary school morning: you matter, and you’re doing better than you think.
Happy Father’s Day. And remember, “Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.”
BONUS BUZZ: Dad Jokes and Real (Sober) Talk with Jason Mayo and Stephen Kimball – TSC Podcast
Hosted by Alysse Bryson & Tamar Routly, and produced by Podcast Impact Studio, The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture, & recovery to the mic. Alongside Alysse & Tamar, rotating global contributors join as co-hosts to explore zero-proof drinks, sober travel, quit lit, entertainment, & mental health. This is sober media with personality, perspective, & a glitter bomb of honesty. Sober-curious or living alcohol-free, we’ve got you! We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober: and love it.
It starts in a hotel lobby in Orlando. It ends with an invitation to Scottsdale. In between: inflatable walkers, a steam-filled hotel bathroom, Dollywood in full Dolly drag, sumo suits bought in bulk, and every sober travel hack we actually use.
Alysse and Tamar are joined by ride-or-die Sober Curator Amy Liz Harrison (50+ articles, 8 kids, airline-executive husband, carry-on always over the weight limit) for a masterclass in traveling sober and loving it. Because here's the thing about sober travel: you remember everything. Including the reason you got kicked out.
In this episode:
The Golden Girls incident at PodFest Orlando, and how Amy steamed an entire hotel bathroom trying to inflate a walker (ADHD time blindness is real, friends)
Dressed as Dolly at Dollywood. You would think there would be more of us. You would be wrong.
The airport hack every sober traveler should know: asking the gate agent to page ”a friend of Bill W.” Tamar has done it three times. People showed up.
Amy's research on 26 airports with interfaith prayer rooms, meditation spaces, and sensory-friendly quiet rooms, born from wishing recovery had its own USO
Why wearing sober merch while traveling turns strangers into your people (it's a team jersey, and your team is sober)
Travel hacks: Amy's secret-compartment vest, Tamar's carry-on conversion, and the time we got kicked out of the Neon Museum gift shop with our arms full of merchandise
THE BIG ONE: Cover Story, The Sober Curator's first-ever retreat
Cover Story Retreat: October 15 to 18, 2026
You didn't get sober to sit in the back row. Four days and three nights at the brand-new Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas in Paradise Valley (Scottsdale), Arizona, in partnership with Evolve Retreats. All meals and NA beverages included. A 30-minute on-location photo shoot with photographer Barbie Hull. B-roll captured for you all weekend. A costume outing (it's Sober October, we will deliver). A group-built Sober in Scottsdale city guide. A live podcast recording. Sound baths and hikes for the wellness people, shopping and art galleries for the rest of us.
$3,299 single / $2,700 double. Prices go up August 21. Small group, think dinner party, not conference.
➤ Details + booking: https://evolveretreats.co/cover-story
Sober Shots from this episode:
”I've never had so much fun traveling as I have as a sober person because, wait for it, I remember everything.” (Alysse)
”What do we feel like doing today? Let's get in sumo costumes.” (Amy)
”It's the same thing as wearing a jersey. It's just your team sober.” (Amy)
”We don't need a lot of reason to do something dumb. Very little runway and we're taking off.” (Alysse)
”You didn't get sober to sit in the back row.” (Alysse)
Links + Goodies:
Cover Story Retreat: https://evolveretreats.co/cover-story
The Sober Curator luggage line (40% off for Backstage members): https://shopthesobercurator.com
Amy's 26 Airports article: https://thesobercurator.com/sober-travel-airport-quiet-rooms/
Golden Girls outing reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTjw5wpjUzB/
Inflatable walkers affiliate link, because of course: https://amzn.to/3S2r85s
The Sober Curator Rolodex: https://thesobercurator.com/the-sober-curator-rolodex/
The Sober Sip newsletter: https://www.thesobercuratornewsletter.com/
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Keep it real, keep it fun, and keep it sober.
Music Credits: Positive Vibes, Artist: MoodMode – Storyblocks https://www.descript.com/terms-storyblocks
Sober Dad Crew: A Safe Haven for Sober Fathers and Those in Recovery
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Recovery is hard 24/7, 365 – Please know that resources are available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources. If your life or someone else’s is in imminent danger, please call 911. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call: 988.
