Author: Alysse Bryson

We’re always curating sober pop culture with you in mind. But let’s be honest: “with you in mind” only works if we actually know what you want more of. (And less of. And never again. And immediately, please.) That’s why we created The Sober Curator 2026 Readership Study. It’s a quick survey that helps us understand what’s landing, what you’re craving, and how we can better serve this wildly smart, hilarious, resilient community we love so much. And yes… we made it worth your while. ✨ Take the Survey Here The survey is hosted on Typeform and takes about 7…

A sassy (but spiritually grounded) Step 4–5 workbook for anyone who wants freedom in 2026. If you’re starting the New Year with “I want to be better,” I have excellent news: you don’t need a personality transplant. You need a plan. And maybe… a place to put your emotional receipts besides your nervous system. That’s why I created Receipts & Recovery, a printable + fillable Step 4–5 inventory workbook supplement designed for anyone working a 12-step program and craving structure, clarity, and momentum. Because let’s be honest.New Year’s resolutions are cute.But freedom is a better goal. Why Step 4 &…

If you’ve ever walked into a bar and felt that awkward thud in your chest—the one that says you don’t belong here just because you’re not drinking—you’re not alone. In fact, that exact experience planted the seed for one of the most joyful, colorful, and wildly inclusive brands in today’s beverage scene: Cheeky Cocktails, created by bartender-turned-educator-turned-founder April Wachtel. But this isn’t just a story about mixers. It’s a story about belonging. Because while the world debates whether alcohol culture is dying, evolving, or simply being rebranded, April is quietly (and cheekily) building something that transcends all of it—a product line designed for connection first, and consumption second. The Spark: When a Bar Becomes a Gatekeeper …

Because recovery doesn’t mean you lose your personality. It means you get it back. If you’re new to sobriety (or just sober-curious and cautiously sniffing the lifestyle like it’s a suspicious leftover in the fridge), you might have one big fear: “If I stop drinking… will I become boring?” First of all: rude.Second of all: absolutely not. Sobriety doesn’t take away your sparkle. It just removes the part where your sparkle spills red wine on someone’s white couch and then cries in an Uber. The truth is, living alcohol-free can be hilariously human, wildly freeing, and surprisingly fun, especially when…

Your 0.0% non-alcoholic anytime cider companion 🍒✨ If you’ve ever wanted a drink that feels like a joyride through outer space but keeps your feet firmly planted on planet Earth, Schilling’s Excelsior Ground Control 0.0% Cherry is your co-pilot. This non-alcoholic cherry cider is scientifically crafted for those of us who want the full flavor experience without even a whisper of a buzz. It’s made with fresh-pressed cider apples + tart cherry juice, with no artificial flavoring and no added sugar, which is basically the NA beverage equivalent of “no drama, just vibes.” First Sip: A Flavor Face-Punch (In a…

The Terrence McNally Foundation (TMF) and The Recovery Arts Project have announced the second cycle of the Terrence McNally Recovery Commissions: two annual $10,000 commissions created to support playwrights in recovery from a substance use condition while honoring the legacy of the late, legendary playwright Terrence McNally. This program is built on one of recovery’s most powerful pillars: sponsorship. Each year, two commissioned playwrights, one established and one early-career, are paired together in a creative and personal partnership, supporting each other through a yearlong process that blends mentorship, community, and craft. The experience includes: At that final showing, audiences will…

“People think it’s all about misery and desperation and death,” Renton says. “But what they forget is the pleasure of it.” That line hits differently when you’re sober. Thirty years after “Trainspotting” splashed onto screens with all its chaotic brilliance, the film still feels like a cinematic punch to the throat—one part humor, one part horror, and one part honesty so sharp it refuses to dull with time. Watching it again, especially through the lens of sobriety, is like revisiting an old wound you’ve learned how to live with, but never fully forget. On The Sober Curator podcast, Alysse, Tamar, and Tony Harte gather for a roundtable…

#QUITLIT, WRITTEN FROM THE INSIDE OUT: Celebrating the Sober Curator Contributors Who Literally Wrote the Book(s) on Recovery There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when people who’ve lived it decide to write about it. Not polish it.Not sanitize it.Not turn it into a tidy redemption arc with a bow on top. Just… tell the truth. That’s the connective tissue running through this collection of books written by Sober Curator contributors who also happen to be published authors. Different voices. Different paths. Different genres. Memoir, guidebook, workbook, philosophy, humor, journaling, children’s literature, annotated classics, road trips, rescue dogs, yoga…

Every year, the holidays show up wearing twinkle lights and carrying a grudge. For people in recovery (and people still suffering), this season can be brutal. Mark Howley opens this episode of The Mark Howley Show with that truth front and center, explaining why he dedicates this time of year to recovery conversations. He shares his own origin story of getting help in late December and sets the tone: this isn’t “holiday cheer”; it’s holiday survival. Then we do what two sober people do best when you give them microphones: we laugh, we tell the truth, and we accidentally turn…

There’s a particular kind of joy in finding a gift that doesn’t just fill space. It gets someone. Not the novelty mug. Not the emergency candle. However, I do love a good candle, particularly if it’s also funny. I’m talking about the kind of gift that quietly says, “I know what you love. I know what you’re choosing. And I’m cheering you on.” Enter: NA Beer Club. If you have a sober bestie, a sober-curious partner, a Dry January dabbler, or if you are proudly, peacefully alcohol-free yourself and still love the taste of hops, this is one of those…

Television loves addiction. It loves the chaos, the spirals, the late-night benders framed as genius fuel or tragic poetry. What it loves far less is what comes after. Rock bottom makes for compelling TV. Recovery, apparently, does not. We get the typical relapse. The tortured genius monologue delivered at 2 a.m. over a drink that’s doing a lot of narrative heavy lifting. What we almost never get is what happens after the chaos stops being cinematic and starts being exhausting. Recovery, apparently, is where writers fear ratings go to die. But here’s the thing. Sobriety isn’t boring. It’s destabilizing. It…

From gut struggles to gut strength. That’s not just a catchy phrase. It’s the lived experience behind Good Wolf, a Pacific Northwest–born, alcohol-free probiotic soda that feels right at home in the Happy Every Hour lineup here at The Sober Curator. When Good Wolf owner Nathan Keane set out to create the probiotic drink of all probiotic drinks, he wasn’t chasing a trend. He was chasing relief. After years of dealing with gut issues that dictated what he could eat and how he felt day to day, Nathan discovered that introducing probiotics into his routine was a turning point. Symptoms…

There’s a moment in the conversation when Adam Nimoy says something so simple, so clean, so spiritually efficient that everything else seems to orbit around it: “You can be right, or you can be happy.” It lands with that unmistakable click of truth — the kind you don’t just hear, but feel. And in many ways, it’s the heartbeat of Adam’s entire story: the years of tension with his father, the decades of medicating uncomfortable emotions, the slow, stubborn climb toward emotional maturity, and the radical work of reconciliation. But to understand the wisdom, you have to understand the wreckage — and the rebuilding. Growing Up in the Shadow of a Legend …

I somehow missed “Being Charlie” when it came out in 2016. That was a year of transition for me, the kind where survival takes precedence over curiosity. Looking back, I’m not surprised this movie slipped past me. I don’t think I was ready for it then. Meaning I wasn’t in a place where I could fully appreciate it. I watched it now because of the recent news surrounding Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. Out of curiosity, yes, but also out of that familiar, heavy pull that comes when addiction resurfaces in public view. Headlines blasting across every web browser…

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when two creative people get sober and refuse to become boring about it. Not “I discovered hiking and now I only wear fleece” sober. I mean the kind of sober where the personality comes back online, the colors return, and the dark little goblin of humor that kept you alive in the worst years becomes… marketable. Wearable, even. That’s what’s happening with Christie from Hopejunkie.org and Aaron from Clean AF Clothing. Two recovery apparel brands. Two second acts. Two ex “tortured artist” types who took the thing that nearly took them out…

Start the new year with heat, ice, community, and intention. The Sober Curator is teaming up with Good Day Sauna for a two-hour sauna + cold plunge experience designed to reset your nervous system, boost your mood, and kick off 2026 with clarity — no alcohol required. Saturday, January 3, 2026 | 3:40 PM – 5:30 PMPrice: $45 per personCapacity: 15 guests ✨ Your Ticket Includes: 🧊 What to Expect Expect the signature Good Day Sauna atmosphere — warm cedar benches, waterfront energy, and a welcoming, sober-friendly space. After heating up, you’ll step into an invigorating cold plunge designed to…

The internet straight-up broke when Prada dropped their crochet-wrapped safety pin brooch for the low, low price of… seven hundred and seventy-five U.S. dollars. Yes. For a safety pin. A gorgeous, bougie, “I brunch in Milan” safety pin—but still. Now, as someone who loves a good craft project almost as much as I love an NA espresso martini, and as someone whose father crochets like a wool-wielding wizard, I did what any self-respecting creative gremlin would do:I bee-lined it to Michael’s, grabbed a basket of supplies, and put my dad to work faster than you can say “Prada, who?” And…

If you’ve been hanging around The Sober Curator for any length of time, you already know Teresa Bergen. She’s the one out there logging miles, collecting stories, and proving (repeatedly) that you can have a full, interesting, delightfully chaotic travel life without a drink in your hand. Teresa has been writing for TSC for several years, and she also oversees our Sober Retreats calendar, which is basically a public service for anyone who’s ever Googled “sober vacation” and then immediately got overwhelmed. She regularly recaps her alcohol-free adventures around the globe, with the kind of grounded honesty that makes you…

Cat Greenleaf has always had a gift for making people talk. It’s what made Talk Stoop iconic—celebrities plopped on her Brooklyn steps, sudsy coffee in hand, opening up in ways they never planned to. She’s a four-time Emmy-winning interviewer for a reason. But on this episode of The Sober Curator Podcast, Cat reveals that sobriety has flipped that gift back on her—and this time, she’s the one doing the talking. It’s the kind of episode that reminds you: sobriety isn’t neat, filtered, or curated to perfection. It’s messy. It’s wise. It’s ridiculous. It’s real. And in Cat’s case… it occasionally involves peeing your pants during a back-to-back guest booking with Tom Arnold and Art Alexakis. The Moment Sobriety Got Real Cat describes the…

Fashion lovers, recovery warriors, and sober-curious style icons — mark those calendars and shine up your mocktail glasses, because the most meaningful runway of New York Fashion Week is strutting back into the spotlight. Break Free’s Recovery Runway Show returns Thursday, February 12, 2026, and trust me when I say: this is not your average fashion show. This is couture with a cause. Glamour with grit. Sequins with soul. Because at Break Free, we don’t just walk the runway — we walk our talk. Where Fashion Meets Recovery — Literally New York Fashion Week Powered by Break Free is rewriting…

Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: sober people do, in fact, go out.I know — shocking. Unprecedented. Someone alert CNN. But it’s true. We dance. We mingle. We stay up past 9 p.m. sometimes (but not too often because sleep hygiene is still a thing). And as someone who once thought nightlife required a drink in hand to be “fun,” I’m delighted to report that the landscape is changing — fast, creatively, and in every corner of the country. According to a recent report on American nightlife behavior, the states that go out the most —…

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a non-alcoholic drink that looks like it belongs in the cool-kid section of the grocery store. You know—the part of the aisle where everything is in a sleek can, vibes with your outfit, and practically begs to be photographed next to a pair of oversized sunglasses. So imagine my delight when Giesen—yes, that Giesen, the New Zealand powerhouse behind some of the best 0% wines in the game—dropped their new 250ml slim cans of the Giesen 0% Spritz line. Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé, now in cute little spritzy travel-friendly cans? Twist my sober…

Recovery Beyond’s new documentary ‘Walking On Ice’ is nothing short of a visceral, heart-thumping testament to what happens when recovery meets radical resilience. Following eight determined individuals as they train, sweat, stumble, and rise in pursuit of a coveted spot on an extreme five-day trek across the frozen lakes of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, this film captures more than physical endurance—it captures the soul of transformation. Led by seasoned outdoor experts and an unstoppable team of sled dogs, the journey becomes a metaphor for recovery itself: cold, demanding, uncertain, and yet profoundly beautiful. Each contender carries their own history of struggle,…

“Goonies never say die” isn’t just a movie quote. It’s a lifestyle. A mindset. A rallying cry for anyone who’s ever felt like the underdog climbing the rickety stairs of life with nothing but grit, heart, and maybe a questionable map. So when the iconic Goonies House went up for sale, Behman Zakeri didn’t see a real estate listing — he saw a calling. His phone lit up with people telling him exactly what he already knew: This is your moment. Goonie destiny awaits. And here’s the wild part: When he actually stepped through that front door as the new…

Listen, besties. Happy hour is officially getting a makeover. A glow-up. A reinvention. A renaissance, even. Because thanks to Raising the Bar, you can roll up to 5 PM with the same vibe, the same energy, the same clink… but with zero alcohol and all the flavor. Same time. Same vibe.The difference is zero. And honestly? Zero has never tasted better. Why Raising the Bar Is Basically the Fairy Godmother of Zero-Proof Life Raising the Bar started with one bold, modern-day heroine: Abbie, who quit drinking and quickly realized that the non-alcoholic beverage scene was giving “room temperature tap water…

If you’re sober and love to laugh so hard your LaCroix might geyser out your nose, hit pause on life and add Sam Miller’s new Stand Up! Records comedy album and special, Round Trip, to your playlist—immediately, if not sooner. We’ve been huge fans of Sam since our 2024 interview, and watching him release a full-blown special that celebrates humor, honesty, and recovery feels like a win for the entire sober community. Sober comics are having a moment—and Sam Miller is leading the charge with a style that’s part Kyle Kinane, part Tommy Chong, with a surprising-but-perfect undercurrent of Margaret…

That night was just like any other night…Founder Tyrone Hazen was posted up around a campfire in Bend, Oregon — you know, the place where flannel is a lifestyle and hot springs are basically therapy. Drinks in hand, friends buzzing, fire crackling. Pure PNW perfection. Then, as fate would have it, Tyrone experienced a dilemma so universal it deserves its own episode of Dateline: How do you keep your beer cold but your hands toasty? Enter: The Buddy. Yes, a real friend — not the kind who “likes” your sober memes but never shows up to brunch. This pal ripped…

If you’ve been following The Sober Curator for a while, you already know we’re longtime fans of Pop Buchanan—artist, storyteller, and founder of the Sober Is Dope movement. What you might not know is that Pop is also a close, personal friend of mine, the kind of friend you meet online in the strange digital swirl of pandemic life and instantly recognize as a member of your soul tribe. Pop has a way of turning lived experience into gospel—raw, rhythmic, deeply human gospel. And with his new single, “Daffodils and Moses,” he goes somewhere even deeper. Produced by 6ix Pomona…

25 Gifts for the Sober But Never Boring ‘Tis the season to be sparkly, grounded, gloriously sober — and extra generous with gifts that bring joy, inspiration, and a little wink-wink personality. Whether you’re shopping for your sober bestie, your newly curious cousin, your ride-or-die recovery buddy, or — let’s be honest — yourself (because WE deserve nice things), I’ve curated 25 of my absolute favorite gifts for the season. Everything here is handpicked through the lens of a sober lifestyle that refuses to be dull. We’re talking fun, functional, irreverent, stylish, nostalgic, artsy, and occasionally sweary. Grab a peppermint…

Listen, I’ve been many things in my life—a media maven, a recovering perfectionist, a woman who will absolutely judge a book by its cover—but for the longest time, I was not someone who made good smoothies at home. I wanted to be. I tried to be. But every attempt turned into a mushy, melty, lumpy situation that made me wonder if smoothie sorcery was reserved only for people with a magical Vitamix aura and a CSA subscription. Honestly, I only have a kitchen because it came with the house. While I have many skills that pay the bills, meal prep…