Author: Alysse Bryson

The Sober Curator brings you the annual Sober Dads Gift Guide. Please enjoy this curated list of unique gift ideas that are 100% fun and zero-proof. Don’t worry; there is something for everyone at a variety of price ranges. The best part? It’s ok if you spot something you want to treat yourself with too! #ADDTOCART is our cardio and retail therapy, and it feels good when we are gifting it to our inner circle of sober peeps. Plus, we’ve curated ideas from small business owners who are also in recovery. How cool is that? You have to give it away…

Just as the East Coast elite dust off their linen pants and oversized sunglasses for another Hamptons summer, Amazon Prime drops a thriller that’ll keep you glued to the couch, no matter how perfect the weather outside. In my case, I was quite literally glued to the couch while working on a new art project involving buckets of rhinestones and glue. Don’t worry. I’ll soon feature that finished project in our Curated Crafts section of The Sober Curator. The Better Sister, based on Alafair Burke’s domestic noir novel, invites us into the sparkling, scandalous world of Manhattan’s power players and…

Netflix’s new hit series Sirens has already made waves. In my opinion, it’s because of the enthralling performance by Meghann Fahy as Devon, the older sister to Simone (played by the always electric Milly Alcock from House of Dragons). Best known for her role as Daphne in The White Lotus (Season Two), Fahy once again delivers a tour de force performance—this time as a woman grappling with her self-destructive tendencies and a tenuous grip on sobriety. Devon: A Hot Mess and a Mirror for Our Messiness From the moment we meet Devon, she’s stumbling out of jail after her second…

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is hosting a powerful and inspiring event for children ages 7–12 impacted by addiction in the family. The Bellevue Children’s Program, held June 21–22 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm each day, is a FREE two-day workshop designed to empower kids to recognize that addiction is not their fault and to help them build resilience and express their feelings in a safe, supportive environment. Taught in a kid-friendly and engaging way, this donor-funded program uses games, role-playing, artwork, and storytelling to create an open, welcoming space where kids can feel seen, heard, and valued. Through…

Let’s get one thing straight—mocktails have officially moved out of the “sad soda water with a lime” phase and into their main character era. And leading the charge with flavor, flair, and all the fun (none of the fog), is Better Than Booze, a sparkling lineup of spirit-free craft cocktails that prove you don’t need a buzz to have a blast. From their flirty fizz to their elevated ingredients, these sippers are doing the most in the best way possible. Gluten-free? Check. Vegan? You bet. Low-calorie and plant-based? Absolutely. Delicious enough to fake out even your pickiest cocktail connoisseur friends?…

What happens after the pink cloud fades? Tiffany Jenkins has the answers—and they’re raw, real, and ridiculously relatable. When the PR rep from Random House slid into my inbox offering an early copy of Tiffany Jenkins’ latest memoir, A Clean Mess, I nearly dislocated my clicker finger hitting “YES.” I’ve been a Tiffany Jenkins fan since High Achiever—a title I reviewed ages ago for our OG #QUITLIT Library. Here’s the link if you missed it. That book was gripping, gritty, and hilarious—and I’m happy to report her follow-up is just as binge-worthy. But A Clean Mess isn’t about getting clean. It’s about…

File under: Not Your Mama’s Quit Lit ???? So apparently everyone but me knew who John Crist was. Yeah, that guy from that viral video. I was over here sipping my LaCroix and minding my sober business in the Pacific Northwest while the rest of the world was LOLing at this ex-Chick-fil-A-working, homeschooled, ex-evangelical-turned-stand-up-legend. Well, thanks to my North Carolina bestie (hi, Jennifer ????), I’ve officially caught up. And let me tell you—Delete That is like scrolling through your most cringe-worthy Instagram posts… but in paperback form. With jokes. ???? What’s It About? Crist pulls no punches as he drags…

Let’s get one thing straight: this ain’t my first rodeo at SOBER AF Bottle Shop in Tacoma—and I guarantee it won’t be my last. Why? Because the space is hella cool, the vibes are immaculate, and Stephanie (the fearless founder and Chief Curator of All Things Fun) has built a sober sanctuary that gives Studio 54 a run for its money—minus the hangover and questionable life choices. And, okay fine, it’s also 20 minutes from my house. So yes, I’m biased. And yes, I will absolutely keep writing about it. Feel free to send all complaints to my curated Lego…

In CBS’s 2024 reboot of Matlock, Kathy Bates delivers a compelling performance as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a seasoned attorney who reenters the legal arena under the guise of a widowed lawyer seeking employment. However, beneath this facade lies a deeper motive: Matty is on a personal quest to uncover the truth behind her daughter’s tragic death due to opioid addiction. She suspects that someone within the prestigious law firm Jacobson Moore concealed critical evidence that could have curtailed the opioid crisis years earlier. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman reimagines the classic series by intertwining Matty’s personal vendetta with weekly legal cases,…

Let’s talk about summer for a sec. It’s the season of endless light, rooftop hangs, and nature at its most lush. But if you’re anything like me (and let’s be real, you probably are if you’re reading this), summer can bring a complicated mix of excitement and anxiety—especially in sobriety. Gone are the days of hazy happy hours and regrets that burn brighter than the sun. So what replaces that? What does it actually look like to “make the most of summer” now that you’re living life clear-eyed and intentionally? If your inner compass has been a little wobbly lately,…

Seattle’s First Curated Sober Happy Hour That Pops with Color, Creativity, and Connection Tired of the same old “happy hour” that’s all buzz and no substance? Enter Happy Every Hour: Mocktails + Murals, a vibrant new limited-run event series hosted by The Sober Curator (that’s me, Alysse Bryson!) in collaboration with the Henry Mural Tours and booze-free bevy badassery from NOPE. This is not your average city tour. This is your new favorite Thursday night. ???? THE EXPERIENCE: ART MEETS SOBRIETY, WITH STYLE Hop aboard a decked-out, wheelchair-accessible Henry Mural Tours bus for a 90-minute guided ride through the most…

What does redemption look like?Sometimes it looks like a guy who’s hit rock bottom.Sometimes it looks like a broken system, a bruised spirit, and a bottle of pills.And sometimes—miraculously—it looks like a dog. In My Life with Karma, Travis Sackett doesn’t just tell his story. He offers it up. Raw, real, and stripped down to the soul, this memoir took me on a ride from childhood innocence to a hellscape of addiction, a run-in with the criminal justice system, and ultimately, a path paved—bit by bit—by empathy, second chances, and the four-legged love of a rescue dog named Karma. I…

On Friday, May 9, 2025, the soul of Seattle will take the stage. Dreaming in Analog isn’t just a concert—it’s a celebration of legacy, music, and the man who helped define the voice of a generation: Charles R. Cross. If you’ve spent any time immersed in Seattle’s music scene—or simply devoured the pages of Heavier Than Heaven or Room Full of Mirrors—you know the name Charles R. Cross. A towering figure in music journalism, Charley was more than just a writer. He was a connector, a truth-teller, a community-builder. He told the stories others couldn’t—or wouldn’t—with humanity, heart, and an…

We’re poppin’ bottles (of non-alcoholic bubbly, of course) because The Sober Curator just brought home some serious hardware from the 31st Annual Communicator Awards—and we’re over the moon to share the news with YOU, our incredible sober community. We’ve been recognized in not one, not two, but THREE categories: ???? EXCELLENCE in Website General – Causes & Awareness???? DISTINCTION in Website General – Publishing???? DISTINCTION in Website General – Community That’s right, friends. We’re being celebrated for the heart and hustle we pour into showcasing that a sober life is anything but boring. And while these shiny accolades make us…

Perfect for People in Recovery, the Sober Curious, and Anyone Who Loves a Dramatic One-Liner Welcome to the Sober Curated Bravo-verse of Sobriety: Where Recovery Meets Reality TV Glam! Who says getting clean means giving up the drama? Whether you’re sipping sparkling water from a crystal flute or manifesting miracles instead of hangovers, you deserve a tagline that SLAPS. Inspired by the iconic Real Housewives intros (you know, those fabulous one-liners said while twirling in gowns and throwing shade), I’ve created a collection of sobriety-powered opening lines for the reality star in all of us. From champagne-free sass to full-on…

In a galaxy not so far away, The Sober Curator emerged as a beacon of light in the vast universe of sober pop culture. As a child of the 80s and a young adult of the 90s, my fascination with all things pop culture led me to launch The Sober Curator in 2020, with a vision to bring together a community of storytellers. The epic saga of Star Wars may not directly touch upon alcohol or substance struggles. Yet, its portrayal of the eternal battle between dark and light mirrors my journey from the shadows of the past to the…

If you’ve ever wondered whether travel and sobriety can truly go hand in hand, episode 10 of the Sober Curator Podcast, “Hooked Travel with Darci Murray,” is about to open your eyes—and your heart. In this vibrant, laughter-filled discussion, host Alysse Bryson and co-host Tamar Routly welcome Darci Murray, founder of Hooked Alcohol Free Travel, for an inside look at adventuring around the globe—without booze. Darci’s journey to sobriety is deeply personal, but her passion for redefining travel experiences is universal. As a mom of four boys and a veteran travel agent, she reached a pivotal moment when alcohol simply…

This Mother’s Day, give a gift that honors resilience, courage, and second chances. At Her 2nd Chance, every handcrafted item is more than a thoughtful present—it’s a powerful symbol of hope and healing. Created by women in recovery, each piece carries a story of triumph over adversity and a future filled with promise. Handcrafted by Women Rebuilding Their Lives Her 2nd Chance is a nonprofit social enterprise based in Boca Raton, Florida, offering paid, purposeful employment to women who are courageously rebuilding their lives after addiction. In a society where recovery often comes with stigma and barriers, this organization offers…

Let’s be real—my recovery is already extra, so it only made sense that my Big Book got a little extra too. I mean, if I’m going to keep this book by my bedside, in my bag, or on display for late-night spiritual crises (or early-morning step work panic), she might as well shimmer. Enter: the Bedazzled Big Book project—equal parts glitter therapy and higher power glam. Want to give your big book, or any book really, a glow-up too? Friend, let me walk you through the rhinestone revolution. ✨ The Sparkle Steps (a.k.a. How I Blinged Out Bill W.) 1.…

Let’s be honest. If cocaine and celebrities are your idea of a good time—but so is growth, redemption, and finally getting your damn life together—Party Girl by Anna David is the rollercoaster ride your sober-serious soul didn’t know it needed. Originally released in 2004, this novel is like a relic from the pre-Instagram wild west of Hollywood debauchery, and yet, somehow, it’s still fresher than a crisp glass of sparkling water with a splash of lime. ✨ Bridget Jones on Blow, with a Deadline Our heroine, Amelia Stone, is a sharp-tongued journalist with a killer wardrobe, an even sharper wit,…

When one of your sober besties calls and says, “Let’s make purses with a sustainable fashion designer I found thrifting,” you say yes—and you grab your favorite oversized shades and get ready for an adventure. Earlier this year, I spent a fabulous four hours in Seattle’s Pioneer Square with Kate Vitela, fellow Sober Curator contributor and one of the voices behind our Walk Your Talk sober fashion column. Kate discovered the one and only Dan McLean after hiring her for a personalized thrift shopping experience—and ended up with several jaw-droppingly cool custom pieces. So when she told me about Dan’s…

On May 14, 2025, something beautifully different is happening across the country—and The Sober Curator is throwing down in Seattle to be part of it. We’re teaming up with Sidekick Suppers and The Great Curious Cocktail Party to serve an unforgettable evening of deep conversation, delicious food, and complex booze-free cocktails, all in the spirit of connection and curiosity. Because let’s be honest: networking kinda sucks. What Is a Sidekick Supper? Sidekick Suppers aren’t your typical dinner party. They’re intentional gatherings for people who crave more—more meaning, more depth, and more honest connection. Each Supper is built around a theme…

Move over paint-by-numbers, because there’s a new glitter queen in town—and her name is Taylor Swift Inspired Diamond Art Funko Pop-Ups. Yes, you heard me right. This isn’t your grandma’s craft project (though she’d probably love it too). This is a sparkle-filled DIY dream come true—and the perfect excuse to spend your Sunday glued to Netflix without doom-scrolling. Let’s talk about what’s in this magical box of joy: You get four acrylic Taylor Swift pop-up figures, a diamond pen, diamond tray, clay glue, four stands, and seventeen little baggies of rhinestones, each packed with 20% extra sparkle (because we’re not…

About the Film: Recovery City offers an unfiltered, first-person exploration of what it truly means to be in recovery, seen through the eyes of four courageous women living in Worcester, Massachusetts. Christine fights to regain custody of her children while confronting past trauma. Bridget, who found recovery while incarcerated, now leads peer-run support groups. Meanwhile, recovery coaches Janis and Rebecca work the streets, offering support, hope, and often life-saving interventions. Filmed with an intimate, immersive style, Recovery City captures not only the struggles but also the victories — showing that recovery is not a final destination, but an ongoing, gritty,…

There’s an undeniable hook to The Way Back: Ben Affleck, fresh off a highly publicized battle with alcoholism, steps into the role of Jack Cunningham, a man fighting the same demons. On paper, it sounds like the kind of personal, raw performance that could turn a standard redemption story into something unforgettable. With Warrior director Gavin O’Connor at the helm, expectations were high for something deeply emotional and authentic. But despite its real-world weight and the flashes of something greater, The Way Back never really finds its stride. It’s caught somewhere between character-driven indie drama and formulaic sports movie —…

Are you a podcast enthusiast looking for something raw, relatable, and deeply insightful? Look no further. “Not All There,” a podcast hosted by the empathetic and candid Chad J., is making waves in the mental health podcast sphere, particularly among those navigating the complex terrains of sobriety and recovery. Why “Not All There” Stands Out For anyone battling addiction, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the sober life, “Not All There” emerges as a beacon of hope. Unlike many podcasts that might gloss over the realities of addiction and recovery, Chad’s approach is notably raw and intimate, allowing…

Looking for your next cup of coffee with a cause? Get ready to blast off with the Outer Space Blend, a brand-new brew with a mission that’s truly out of this world. In a creative collaboration that’s equal parts inspiring and energizing, Road Recovery—a music industry-driven nonprofit supporting at-risk youth—and Mid-Hudson Works—an organization empowering disadvantaged veterans—have teamed up with none other than Fred Schneider of The B-52’s (yes, the world-famous party band!) to launch this cosmic coffee campaign. ???? The Outer Space Blend isn’t just another coffee. It’s a movement. Sales of this sustainably sourced, fair-trade coffee will directly fund programs…

If you’re single in your late twenties, thirties, or (gasp) beyond, The Unexpected Joy of Being Single by Catherine Gray feels like getting a warm, hilarious hug from someone who gets it. Over a third of us are now single, yet somehow society, our well-meaning relatives, and the endless scroll of romcoms haven’t quite caught up. Catherine Gray dives headfirst into the messy, cringey, and often hilarious reality of modern singlehood—and shows us why it’s not just okay, but can actually be joyful. Gray’s approach is refreshingly real. After experiencing her own spiral of love addiction, dating app burnout, and…

While I’m not always sure what the difference is between an artist and a crafter, I do know one thing: I love dabbling in both. (Is it art? Is it craft? Who cares — it’s FUN.) Recently, I bought a denim jacket from Nordstrom that’s absolutely covered in patches. Everywhere I go, people stop me with compliments, asking if I DIY-ed it myself. I always tell them the truth (nope!), but honestly, people seem shocked that I didn’t. Which got me thinking… could I recreate the look on my own? Fast forward a few weeks: I’m at the NW Event…

Alright, sober warriors, sober-curious adventurers, and everyone just vibing on a good mocktail — listen up! ????✨ The music industry has always set the tone for what’s cool. From ripped jeans to rebellion, the stage lights have shaped culture for decades. But let’s be real: a lot of that “cool” has also glamorized some pretty destructive behaviors — and it hasn’t just hurt artists. It hurt all of us in the crowd, too. That’s why 1 Million Strong is hitting different. They’re flipping the script, using the same cultural power to help, heal, and connect. (Shoutout to Darryl “DMC” McDaniels,…