Author: Alysse Bryson

Peggi Cooney, Author of This Side of Alcohol, is a Social Work Instructor/Coach with a Master’s in Social Work. She’s spent 16+ years in Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services as a social worker. Since getting sober, she has become an active sobriety advocate. Married for over 35 years to her husband Paul; they have five children and 12 (yes, you read that correctly!) grandchildren! About This Side of Alcohol This Side of Alcohol was borne out of Peggi’s cathartic journaling during the first two years following her break-up with booze. As the story unfolds, she shares what she did…

After 15+ years of sober travel to and from Seattle to Las Vegas multiple times, I can finally enjoy a trip with minimal triggers and have a blast! But, when it’s time to go, I’m always ready to return to the Emerald City I love because that’s home. But first, let me tell you what happened to me at SeaTac airport… Click HERE to watch the IG Reel. Share Joy! ICYMI (or don’t want to watch a video right now) – While waiting for my flight to Vegas, I naturally hit up Starbucks before finding a stand-up desk to get…

This week I am thrilled to be shining the sober spotlight on Cameron Greene. As a person in long-term recovery. I strive to be of maximum service to others, and one of the places I serve is as a board member for Ninety 90 Pictures. Their mission is to help people in recovery achieve long-term stability through gainful employment in the film industry. They provide jobs and peer support to people in recovery through their projects. And this is how I came to know Cameron Greene. Cameron recently worked on the first project, Die Pretty, produced by Ninety 90 Pictures,…

Risky Drinking, from HBO and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, takes a case-study look at the hazards of alcohol use and details the ways the medical community views and treats “risky drinkers.” Nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. engage in problem drinking at some point in their lives. Health professionals assess drinkers at risk on a spectrum ranging from low-risk to an alcohol use disorder ranging from mild to severe. Risky Drinking challenges viewers to recognize when their drinking may be putting them at risk and offers information to help millions of Americans lead healthier lives. Risky Drinking was directed…

Celebrating life’s special moments, big and small, should be inclusive for all. Don’t you agree? Everyone can participate with Jøyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé and Jøyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine. Whether celebrating the holidays, a special occasion, or just a Me Party and movie night, you’ll feel extra fancy without any consequences. Meet the Founder and Washington State Native, Jessica Selander Jessica’s mission has been simple. As a sober woman for the last 15+ years, she aims to help people everywhere on their sober journey. Maybe that’s for a night, nine months, or the rest of your life. It doesn’t matter. There’s…

The marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days. Director by Pablo Larrain and Written by Steven Knight. Starring Kristen Stewart, Jack Farthing, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Pall, and Sean Harris. Spencer – The Review Ask anyone in my inner circle, and they will…

In this deeply personal and illuminating memoir about her fifteen-year struggle with heroin, Khar sheds profound light on the opioid crisis and gives a voice to the over two million people in America currently battling with this addiction. Growing up Growing up in LA, Erin Khar hid behind a picture-perfect childhood filled with excellent grades, a popular group of friends, and horseback riding. After first experimenting with her grandmother’s expired painkillers, Khar started using heroin when she was thirteen. The drug allowed her to escape from the pressures to be perfect and suppress all the heavy feelings she couldn’t understand.…

Melanie Vesey is an accomplished comedian, actress, writer/director, and owner of Promotional Rescue. Her comedy special/album Wild Animal is available to watch on Amazon and listen to all major streaming platforms. Melanie’s career has been seen in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Paper Magazine, Playboy, Time Out, and Vanity Fair. In addition to her recent TV spot as TAZ on DAVE (FX), she’s been seen on Laugh After Dark on Amazon, opened for Marc Maron and Maria Bamford, Tweeted for Tig Notaro, WON round 4 of the U.S. Comedy Contest, and been a comedian of the week on…

Surely is on a mission to provide an alternative wine option for those choosing not to drink – whatever the reason. From the beginning they’ve set out to craft innovative, great tasting, and healthier wines that allow everyone to be part of the moment. They source high quality California grapes and work with a talented team of winemakers. Their promise is to deliver a sophisticated experience that doesn’t force you to compromise on taste or your health. Why Try Surely? Surely Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé This sparkling non-alcoholic rosé is perfect for late night drinks and hangover-free mornings. Unlike other non-alcoholic…

Hey, you Sober Elves! Tis the season to flex your fingertips online shopping and #ADDTOCART for all those sober-someone’s in your life. Recovery gifts have come a long way from the limited (and ugly versions) some of us once knew. Hint to all you sober newbies with five years or under, recovery gifts of the past were not something I usually wanted to receive or gift during the holiday season. Thank you, NEXT! And while there are still some pretty questionable items out there, the good news is there are also many great options now, including ways to support sober-owned…

Are you looking for a new signature drink to celebrate the day with? How about the upcoming holiday? Experience the refreshing comfort found in the traditional Cork Hill Sorrel family recipe. Coming in three flavors, you’ll be delighted with their reliable taste that always delivers with simple ingredients and less sugar. So toss out that bland cranberry juice this holiday season and try their Sorrel instead. You’ll be supporting a family-owned business and treating your taste buds. Cork Hill Sorrel flavors can be enjoyed straight-up over ice, warm in a mug, or used as a mixer for your favorite mocktail…

Dopesick examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Big Pharma to a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA. Defying all the odds, heroes will emerge in an intense and thrilling ride to take down the craven corporate forces behind this national crisis and their allies. This limited-time series is inspired by Beth Macy’s New York Times bestselling book. Sober Curator Prop Tip: Dear Readers…Grab your Kleenex and your stress ball before settling in. After…

Sarah Alaimo is a Career Happiness Coach, Healthcare Recruiter, Addiction Recovery Advocate, and Published Author. She’s also a Southern California native who is massively deprived of sunshine due to living in the Pacific Northwest. Sarah loves her black Pomeranian, Baron Von Pom, ice cream, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team, travel adventures, and her husband, John. While she would love to say that she’s learned moderation since getting sober in 2015, the fact that she listed ice cream before her husband says it all. Don’t let this pretty face fool you; this sober gal has a heart of…

Maid is the new 10-episode Netflix series you are going to want to binge…mindfully.

From an early age, Amber van de Bunt knew she wasn’t like the other girls in town. From childhood struggles with depression and eating disorders, her years as a topless dancer in Florida, and an eventual abortion and suicide attempt, to her rebirth in Los Angeles as a porn star named Karmen Karma, overcoming her relationship with her abusive mother, and her struggle to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle—van de Bunt’s life has been a wild rollercoaster. With humor, alacrity, and profound insight, she reveals her deepest, darkest secrets and pulls no punches—least of all with herself. Overcome: A…

The “Currently Not Drinking” Story YELLOW co-founders Ian Mirmelstein and Darren Marble have been “Currently Not Drinking” for 15+ years collectively and reaping the benefits in every area of their lives. Ian met Darren Marble, an entrepreneur who credits “not drinking” as a key to his success. Together they imagined what the world might look like if anyone who was “Currently Not Drinking” had a way to easily connect out in the real world in everyday life. The idea for YELLOW was born. Why “YELLOW?” The color yellow has a rich history of identifying and unifying non-drinking communities. At Grateful Dead concerts dating back…

Dave and Chris, the Founders and Hosts of the Dopey Podcast, had collectively been through dozens of rehabs, spent years in jail, and overdosed 500 million times. The fact is they loved to laugh about it. That is until Chris tragically overdosed and died during the summer of 2018.

Have you been thinking about leveling up on your recovery journey? Do you feel inspired and called to help other women find out what life is like once putting the bottle down? Are you passionate about helping others with personal growth? Is the timing right for you to start a successful side hustle or even find a new career path entirely?

Arla LaserWorks is a Los Angeles-based laser engraving and print shop that specializes in personalized gifts. This is the place to go when you really want to say something meaningful and give something beautiful. 

The mission of Ninety 90 Pictures, a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Film and Television Production Company, is to help people in addiction recovery achieve long-term stability through gainful employment in the film industry. The organization will create connections with new people going through recovery to those who have been through it. They will be providing a safe, alcohol and substance-free, work environment. Their first project is taking place in October 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with an incredibly powerful Pilot script called “Die Pretty”. Die Pretty is produced by Ninety 90 Pictures, a non-profit organization that wants to de-stigmatize addiction…

For National Recovery Month in September 2021, we explored an incredible new online bottle shop called The Dry Good Beverage Company and some of their select high-end product vendors. These include Free Spirits Whiskey, Gin, and Tequila Alternatives, For Bitter For Worse, and Sovi, a sparkling rosé wine alternative. About The Dry Good Beverage Co. Jake and Adrienne are the co-founders of The Dry Goods Beverage Co. They created this space because they believe that whether you’re having alcohol or not, everyone deserves a good drink. Can we get an AMEN?!?!? As a 2nd generation vintner in Napa Valley (Jake) and published…

The Sober Spotlight is a section on our site that highlights extraordinary people in recovery doing really cool things. Today we are shining a light on Justin Lamb. He puts the EXTRA in extraordinary in the very best of ways. Justin is a husband and cat dad that produces a super cool podcast, called Friend Request.

Justin Lamb, Founder of Friend Request Podcast, has in-depth interviews with people he follows on social media, as well as his own social media followers. Friend Request dives deeper than the likes and comments. With each episode, Justin tries to create a more meaningful conversation about each individual he’s connected with. Justin ties each interview together with the commonalities and struggles that not only are extremely relatable but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience. Episode 071 – Alysse Bryson Alysse Bryson is the founder of The Sober Curator and an all-around badass. Alysse discusses growing up…

WEconnect Health Management believes that recovery should be accessible to everyone. They know connection is crucial to staying in recovery from addiction because we’ve been there ourselves. WEconnect was born from our co-founders’ personal journeys in long-term recovery. It’s a free mobile app with a focus on supporting those in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Online Support Meetings WEconnect offers over eight daily online recovery support meetings, open to individuals at all stages of recovery and from various pathways. The app provides instant access to our online recovery support meetings, led by our WEconnect peer recovery support specialists, from…

Sober Fall Fashion is here! Is that even a thing? We are making it so! Take a listen to this SOBER POP podcast episode from Wednesday, September 8, 2021, where we discussed Recovery Lifestyle Brands that we love to #ADDTOCART. Is shopping your cardio? Have you been thinking of starting up your own sober merch shop? Then, you are not going to want to miss this kick-ass line-up of special guests from just a few of our favorite recovery lifestyle brands. Sober Pop Recovery Lifestyle Brands Special Guest Line-Up: Get Those #ADDTOCART Fingers Warmed Up! Sober Pop Pro Tip: Talking…

Brian Compton is a recovery coach from Concord, North Carolina. He started his own recovery coaching business after discovering for himself that a life of freedom from addiction was possible. Frustrated with traditional methods of recovery, and refusing to resolve to go to meetings for the rest of his life, he sought recovery from a more holistic perspective. Brian is a recovery consultant who helps humans struggling with addiction to maintain sobriety and THRIVE – not just survive – life in recovery. He has personally helped dozens of those struggling to escape the trap of addiction by creating a shift…

In 1989, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) launched National Recovery Month to increase awareness surrounding mental health and substance abuse. At the same time, they wanted to celebrate the success stories to illustrate that living in recovery is possible. Each year, the SAMSHA selects a theme, highlighting an area of focus and creating a toolkit for organizations to use. NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH The month provides a platform for services and professionals to educate the public about substance abuse treatments and mental health services. While substance abuse and mental health services are nothing new, the stigma attached to them remains. September…

Ritual Rum Alternative tastes like warm vanilla, toasted spice, and the velvety decadence of a dark rum. This is not going to be the Rum & Coke you remember from your drinking days.

Growing up in Beverly Hills, Amy Dresner had a top-notch private school education, the most expensive summer camps, and even a weekly clothing allowance. But at 24, she started dabbling in meth in San Francisco and unleashed a fiendish addiction monster. Soon, if you could snort it, smoke it, or have sex with it, she did. Smart and charming, with Daddy’s money to fall back on, she managed to keep it all together. But on Christmas Eve 2011, all of that changed when high on Oxycontin, she stupidly “brandished” a bread knife on her husband and was promptly arrested for…

Today we are shining a Sober Spotlight on Joseph Conniff. He recently published his first book called Causes and Conditions: A Life Experience in Addiction and Recovery. This book takes a comprehensive look at both his battles with addiction and his journey to find recovery. Through his sixteen years in active substance use, Joe takes us through his experience of growing up in the prescription opioid crisis, post 9/11 military life, and eventually homelessness and despair on the streets of Seattle. This book offers a perspective into the author’s experiences with addiction, trauma, the criminal legal system, and programs and…