Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

If you’re choosing an addiction‑focused practicum for an MSW, you’re balancing two priorities that matter deeply. Safeguarding hard‑earned sobriety and building marketable clinical skills in places where need is high and impact is real. The path is absolutely doable for anyone pursuing a masters in clinical social work when selection is guided by reliable evidence on where the demand is, how telehealth expands safe training options and what supervision and boundaries look like in practice, not just on paper. You will need to see how to match setting to personal safety, use structured supervision to prevent drift, harness telehealth for robust clinical…

Staying sober on the road isn’t about gritting your teeth and hoping for the best. It’s not a constant stream of “no thanks” until the trip’s over. It’s about knowing the kind of headspace you want to be in and making calls that protect that. When I quit drinking, travel made it easier. I got away from the routines and places that used to pull me back in. I wasn’t surrounded by the same people doing the same things. I was somewhere new, and I could build different habits. It was like I had a new lease without people being…

Getting sober often leads to a desire to reinvent yourself, and there are few better ways to do that than through education. Modern online education options make reinventing yourself and starting a new career much easier than it ever has been before. For people who have gotten sober and are looking for a new life, undertaking education and working towards a new career could be the perfect start. It’s not a new story, you wake up after 10 years or more of alcoholic haze and find you aren’t at all where you want to be in life. Once you are…

I walked into rehab carrying more than a bag of clothes. I carried the silence of generations. The kind of silence you only know if you grew up Black, where therapy was for white folks and rehab was a word you never dared to say out loud. I carried the shame coded into Sunday mornings, where prayer was the only prescription and crying out for help meant you were weak in faith. The faces I saw were all white. Every single one. Not unfriendly, not dismissive — but careful. Too careful. They bent over backward to make me feel included,…

Do you remember the first night after you stopped drinking? The way a Friday night felt impossibly long, the hum of laughter in a bar that suddenly seemed like a world you no longer belonged to? I do. I thought, Well that’s it. Fun is over. When I got sober, I couldn’t picture myself laughing without a drink in my hand. But more than that, it felt like I’d lost the glue that held my social life together. So many connections had been built around clinking glasses, late-night bars, “just one more” rounds. Without alcohol, I didn’t just feel like…

Is there another song from the ‘90s with such an immediately recognizable signature drum intro as Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life”? I would guess that anyone who had even half of a fingertip on the pulse of pop culture back then will likely be transported back to 1996 within the first three seconds of the song’s opening, possibly experiencing visual flashbacks of a pale, emaciated, heroin-addicted Ewan McGregor running from Scottish police down an Edinburgh thoroughfare. For those who don’t know, this scene is from “Trainspotting,” which celebrates its 30th birthday in early 2026. It is a film based on…

Recovery centers exist all over the world, offering just about every kind of retreat you can think of. Some are affordable, while others cost as much as a private rehab. You will find silent meditation camps in the jungle, yoga escapes in Hawaii, beachfront wellness programs and spa packages that wind down before dark. What is harder to find is a sober travel experience that brings real adventure. Not everyone wants to spend a week on a lounge chair or start every morning with breathwork and end it by 7 p.m. Some of us want more. We want to be…

Gen X is now squarely planted in the Queen Age. That’s 50 million women who were born between 1965 and 1980. The Queen Age is one of the four significant phases in a woman’s life (maiden, mother, queen, crone). It’s a phase of life where we are no longer bearing children. Menopause is quickly approaching, currently occurring or has passed on by. We are gaining a new sexual awareness, a new sense of freedom in our lives. We’re wiser, more spiritually and emotionally mature, and we have deep life experiences to draw upon. We might have adult or older children,…

Highways, Heartache, and Hangovers: Our Rehab Odyssey Along the Least Coast We were addicts in love, hitchhiking through chaos. The least coast didn’t just witness us—it swallowed us, spat us back broken, bleeding, still clutching each other. Recovery was a moving target. Relapse was a shadow. Love—messy, relentless love—was the only compass. Reynolds, Georgia – Beginning Sun barely up. Disinfectant in the air. First rehab. First tremble. “You think we can do this?” I whispered, voice cracking. “You don’t get it,” he said, squeezing my hand like a lifeline. “We have to.” Hallways buzzing, peeling paint, nervous whispers. Our first…

Recently I celebrated my sixth year of sobriety. Am I an expert on the topic? God no. But something that I can share confidently and tangibly is my personal experience, plus more than 5 years working as a frontline addiction worker throughout the COVID era and beyond. I myself can only share through the lens of someone who is fortunate enough to have a supportive family and the means to seek the right help that was appropriate for me. I believe my sharing points are applicable to most, though, and I think a lot of the symptomology of early recovery…

Now that you’ve achieved sobriety, you might be looking for a new start in the workplace. Whether you’re easing yourself back into the workforce or seeking a change, the following tips can help you land the job you want. After that, we’ll frankly discuss some lingering habits that might make your work life harder. But don’t worry—we’ve got tips on how to conquer them! Getting Back on the Horse You’ve probably heard the old saying about “getting back on the horse.” It’s a whimsical way of saying, “Don’t stay down; get back up and keep going.” If employment is the…

Pride means different things to different people. For some, it’s a time to dance. For some, it’s a time to protest. When we think about Pride parties, oftentimes images of people getting together and drinking and partying till sunrise come to mind. Some people can handle their drinking and drugging, and some simply can’t or don’t want to partake. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, up to one-third of gay men and two-thirds of lesbians admitted to having drinking problems. In the trans community, these figures are even higher. First, LGB communities historically have been centered…

I cried as an alcoholic. I cried as a mother. I cried as a 41-year-old woman raising a nearly three-year-old child, reading in the rare, quiet moments of a busy life. A busy life that recovery has given me. The life of recovery I wanted for Mama Love as well. This book cracked something open in me. I couldn’t put it down. I started it late one night, thinking I’d read a few chapters before bed, and instead I stayed up far too late with a racing heart and full tissue box. I finished it the next day, completely gutted and grateful.…

When people talk about sobriety, the conversation often stops at not drinking or not using. But for those of us who’ve taken the leap into sober living, we know that’s only the beginning. Sobriety isn’t the finish line, it’s the doorway to something much bigger. It’s a doorway to a life that’s full, joyful, and deeply satisfying. Living sober is not about losing. It’s about gaining a life you love waking up to every day. A life that’s balanced, meaningful, and fueled by purpose and connection. And while staying sober takes real effort, there’s never been a better time to…

You don’t need a cocktail in hand to enjoy the magic of a tropical island. The Bahamas’ Out Islands offer stunning blue waters, secluded beaches, and thrilling adventures, all without the haze of a hangover. These lesser-known islands provide a serene, authentic escape perfect for a sober vacation. Why the Out Islands Are Perfect for a Sober Adventure While a Bahamas cruise can drop you at major ports like Nassau, this is just the starting point for one of your most memorable trips yet. The lesser-known gems of the Out Islands offer a slower, more intentional pace that is perfect…

“You get sober and then life gets real weird, real fast.” — Alysse Bryson If you’ve ever worried that the party ends when the drinking stops—buckle up. Because Episode 28 of The Killjoy After Party is here to blow that myth wide open. Rude and Goody were joined by the one and only Alysse Bryson, a trailblazing force in the sobriety space and the powerhouse behind The Sober Curator, a lifestyle site that proves sober doesn’t mean boring—it means boldly, beautifully, and hilariously alive. In an episode full of laughs (our cheeks actually hurt), real talk, and musical mischief, we…

It does happen to the best of us. That 2021 product tutorial? Cut too close. That behind-the-scenes photo shoot for your campaign? All the action was chopped out of frame. And don’t even begin with the TikToks created before you knew what “safe zones” were. But what if you never had to leave that old content in the dust? For sober content creators, who are often a team of one or building their message with limited resources, every piece of content counts. And let’s be honest, cleaning up old content should be easier than writing out your fourth step inventory…

The first time I stole, I was six. I stuffed a Milky Way down the leg of my corduroy bell-bottoms. It slid down my pants onto the pavement outside the store. My stepmom made me bring it back to the cashier. At home, I wasn’t allowed candy, but I liked it, I wanted it and I stole more. M&M’s, malt balls, Swedish Fish. In second grade, I stole cotton candy and strawberry Bonne Belle Lip Smackers. I would come to school in gold-threaded saris that my dad brought me back from India, and the kids would make fun of me. But…

Unresolved issues from the past can weigh you down and prevent you from achieving your true potential. This is especially true when it comes to rifts in relationships with people you have deeply cared about, like a parent, sibling, romantic partner, or close friend. Ultimately, walking away is easy. But it doesn’t necessarily allow you to move forward. Your mistakes can consume you with guilt, sadness, and shame for years. They can manifest in numerous ways (from anxiety and withdrawal to an inability to form healthy relationships and, sometimes, even physical health issues). To avoid all these, it is important…

Museums are supposed to preserve the past—but what happens when the past doesn’t want to stay quiet? Haunted museums don’t just collect—they contain. They don’t display—they dare. Within these cursed corridors are relics that whisper, paintings that blink, and artifacts that refuse to be understood. With Dreamina’s AI image generator, you’re not just building a museum—you’re conjuring one. Let’s explore what it means to design for the unseen, the unliving, and the unbelievably haunted. Rooms that remember you A few of the exhibits can do without tour guides—they remember their visitors. In ghost museums, architecture is not a container—it’s a…

NEW NOTIFICATION. SOMEONE LIKES YOU. You feel a rush and begin to wonder, ‘Will this be the one?’ Or, ‘Maybe we will have a real connection?’ You open the app, and that hit of dopamine is balanced out with a dose of reality. Disappointment is a fleeting feeling before you are onto the next one… and then the next one… and then the next one. My recovery looks different from my colleagues’ here at The Sober Curator. I can’t exactly pour my addiction down the drain or toss it away. For the past twelve years, I have lived with the shame and…

Sober content creators are leading a powerful movement—redefining what connection, resilience, and joy look like in recovery. Whether you’re sharing your story, offering tools for sober living, or building a digital recovery community, the quality of your video content matters now more than ever. Gone are the days when raw uploads and basic edits could cut through the noise. Today’s audiences expect clean visuals, compelling stories, and thoughtful delivery. That’s where CapCut Web’s AI video maker comes in—an intuitive, powerful, and fast platform that helps creators like you bring your sober message to life, without requiring advanced editing skills. A…

My addiction was a drunken, cocaine-fueled weekend that stretched across years, a house party with no music left and no one real enough stay. It was sharing beds with strangers That was mistaken for connection. It was pushing away the ones who tried to reach me through the fog. It was my ego on the throne and my spirit bound, gagged by denial. Addiction didn’t want love it wanted me alone. It drank all the liquor the night before, knowing I’d need it in the morning. Leaving me dry-mouthed, shaking, sick. I hadn’t even opened my eyes, and I was…

All my life, I’ve felt haunted. Haunted by ancestors past, whose abuse would have devastating effects for generations. The two people responsible for raising me would each be plagued by their respective familial traumas— shadowed by the demons of addiction and mental illness for their— and my— entire life. I stood in my mother’s house, the house I grew up in, and I shivered. For the second time in five years, I was confronting the not-so-friendly ghosts of my childhood; complex memories wafted in and out of every dusty nook and cranny. An only child, now essentially an orphan (one…

A cocktease pours a glass of waterCocktail he would call this drinkSipped from a tale too tallthat the man himself couldn’t trick his ACCTraced out the name of a long lost lovein the frost ‘neath the rim where his lips would meetBubbles from bastardsPhantom fizzforced his beguiled cheeks to freezeNeon lights by the bar stayed sharplike an image fixed in post for screensNot a familiar glimpse—that alone pulled the rug from beneath his feetJukebox screams Sweet Carolinewith a bah bah bahHe’s counting sheepFire sparks in a lonely cornerSprinklers drench his cotton sheetsTaking coverhe dips downand rests his temple upon a…

For any patient dealing with fractures, dislocations, or concussions, recovering from a stroke, or trying to overcome addiction, rehabilitation is a part of recovery. The goal of rehab is to help patients regain, maintain, or improve physical, mental, or cognitive abilities that they need for daily life. According to WHO, rehab helps children, adults, and seniors to be as independent as possible in everyday activities. Rehab after injury, medical condition, or addiction can be hard. Pain, discomfort, the need for consistent effort even when progress seems slow, and the mental hurdle of adapting to a new routine while your body…

Why I Keep Telling This Story (and Why I Always Will): If you watched my recent speech, first—thank you. Thank you for caring enough to show up and listen to a conversation that, for far too long, has been whispered about, ignored, or misunderstood. I opened that talk with a very real moment—my six-year-old daughter getting sick in the middle of the night. Not the glamorous kind of storytelling kickoff, I know. But that moment reminded me of something so important: I used to be the guy you couldn’t call in the middle of the night. And now, I’m not…

TikTok has taken the world by storm, with millions of people sharing short, creative videos daily. Its algorithm makes it easier for videos to go viral, offering endless opportunities for sober creators to grow their audience. Whether it’s dances, challenges, or fun tips, TikTok is a platform where creativity shines. However, if you want to make your TikTok videos unique and stand out to the sober and recovery-based communities, CapCut desktop video editor is the perfect tool. This free video editor offers powerful features like text-to-speech, voice changer, background removal, and many more, which help you create engaging and shareable videos. In…

Welcome to the sober HR Lady’s corner, where all questions are good questions, and nothing is off limits!  As a person in recovery who is proudly recovering out loud in both my personal and professional life, I often get questions about how to navigate it all. I know that it can feel overwhelming at the beginning. When I first got sober, I had a second pending DUI, was navigating outpatient treatment, getting meeting slips signed, worried about a job I loved, and (feel free to laugh) still trying to figure out how to date among all of this mess. Here…

Let’s celebrate Sober St. Patrick’s Day! Check out this throwback from Tonix Mocktails circa 2021, powering up an oh-so-creative mocktail called “We are the Luckiest” to celebrate our love of #QUITLIT, Sober St. Patrick’s Day, and the Reading Rainbow Theme Song. 🤣 We love, love, love the book “We Are the Luckiest” by Laura McKowen. This one’s an ode to you, Laura! What’s in the mix with the “We are the Luckiest” Inspired Lucky Lemonade Mocktail by Nik Popkow @Tonix.Mocktails this week? Ingredients: “This is the singular, hard truth I come up against every day: I am the only one responsible for my experience.” — Laura McKowen, We…