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
Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more. That’s the whole premise.
The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture and recovery to the mic with personality, perspective and a glitter bomb of honesty. Founder and host Alysse Bryson (sober since May 1, 2006, and self-described Kevin Bacon of Recovery) is joined by co-host and show producer Tamar Routly of Podcast Impact Studio, plus a rotating bench of global Sober Curator contributors who pull up a chair as co-hosts.
What we cover, episode to episode:
Happy Every Hour: zero-proof drinks, NA beer, spirits and cocktails, reviewed by people who actually drink them.
Health and Wellness: mental health, physical health and what recovery looks like on a Tuesday.
Lifestyle: dating, parenting, shopping, style and the everyday logistics of alcohol-free living.
Entertainment: quit lit, movies, TV, music, sports and celebrity sobriety, rated with our proprietary Sobees.
Spiritual Gangster: Jesus to astrology, stoicism to the Celtic calendar.
Travel: sober events, sober retreats, Sobriety in the City and global travel without a drink in hand.
We also review other sober podcasts on Recovery Podcastland, dig into sponsored product spotlights, and go deep with contributors on how they got sober and what keeps them there. New episodes drop as video on YouTube and audio everywhere you listen.
Want more? BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator is our membership community with Media Nights, Studio Nights, Edutainment Nights and The Sober Curator Mixtape, a monthly mini-zine delivered in a cassette case. Details at https://thesobercurator.com/backstage-with-the-sober-curator/
Whether you’re sober curious or decades in, we’ve got you. We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober and love it.
Rate, review and subscribe. It takes 60 seconds and we will love you forever.
Contact: thesobercurator@gmail.com
Everybody has the same advice for a bad job: just leave. Great. Where are you going? In 2026, most people aren’t choosing between a bad job and a good job. They’re choosing between a bad job and no job.
Work navigation strategist Lynnae Brown (1,000+ days sober) burned out in 2018, couldn’t leave, and figured out how to stay without losing herself. She and our resident sober HR lady, Sarah Alaimo, join Alysse for the episode on the job you have, not the one you want.
In this episode:
- Why “get a new job” is lousy advice right now (and why it works as dating advice)
- Burnout stories: Alysse’s heart surgery at 40, Lynnae’s $149,000 reason to stay
- Navigate, don’t negotiate: why you don’t argue with the map
- The micromanager who wrote every email with her, and how she still left at 5
- Do you even want a promotion? The invisible labor you can quietly put down
- The 7-to-7 experiment, and why acceptance is not agreement
CHAPTERS
00:00 “Just leave.” Great. Where are you going?
01:38 Meet Lynnae Brown and Sarah Alaimo
03:29 Why “get a new job” is lousy advice
06:17 Burnout: heart surgery at 40 and $149K in loans
08:44 Navigate, don’t negotiate
11:40 The boss who wrote every email with her
14:35 Gen Z, boundaries and advocacy vs. results
20:19 The path of least resistance
22:59 Three things to try this week
25:33 Irritant becomes information
32:07 Do you want to be right or happy?
36:03 Where to find Lynnae + BACKSTAGE
Sober Shots:
“You don’t argue with the map.” (Lynnae Brown)
“A paycheck is also structure, insurance, and a reason to put pants on at 8:00 AM.” (Alysse Bryson)
Find Lynnae:
– lynnaebrown.com – LinkedIn – Substack
Mentioned in this episode:
— S2E10 Recovery Friendly Workplace
Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.
SEASON 2 MERCH: https://shopthesobercurator.com/
This episode is brought to you by Aura House. Save 10% with code TSC10: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64140200
SC RESOURCES:
– Meet the Contributors – Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide – Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide – LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide – Family Resource Guide
CONNECT: www.thesobercurator.com | The Sober Sip newsletter: https://www.thesobercuratornewsletter.com/ | @thesobercurator on Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube + Pinterest
Love the show? Rate, review + follow. It takes 60 seconds and helps more people find us. Feedback + guest ideas: thesobercurator@gmail.com
Hosted by Alysse Bryson with co-host + producer Tamar Routly. For informational and entertainment purposes only; not a substitute for professional advice.
Music: TSC S2 theme “Sober Shots” created by Alysse Bryson using Suno AI, under Suno’s commercial license.
Sober Dad Crew: A Safe Haven for Sober Fathers and Those in Recovery
Sober Dad Crew Podcast: Episode 50 Jason Mayo
#ADDTOCART: Sober Dads Gift Guide
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.
