Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

“The shortest distance between a truth and a human being is through a story.” I was told that more than forty years ago by my mentor, Fr. Tony DeMello. I have carried those words with me ever since. Joseph Campbell believed that the power of a story is that it unites the teller with the listener. My late friend Ernie Kurtz once told me that he was not truly invested in AA until someone told him his story. Something happened in that moment. He heard himself in another human being. That is the power of telling our story in a…

When Sydney Allen quit drinking at 26, people wanted to know why she would make such a permanent decision so young. What followed was more than learning how not to drink — it was figuring out who she was without alcohol, how sobriety fit into the life she had already built and whether becoming better meant becoming someone entirely different.

Dallas is a sprawling city, and many of its best sober-friendly attractions aren’t clustered downtown. From Richardson’s alcohol-free Beyond the Bar to White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum, having your own wheels can give sober travelers more freedom to explore — and an easy exit when the vibe isn’t right.

Brad Pitt’s revelation that he is no longer sober after seven years without alcohol quickly became a debate about relapse, moderation and who gets to define sobriety. Danielle Elliott Smith argues that we may be asking the wrong question entirely.

When Kim Bellas screened the TOX trailer for 40 women at her Sober White Party in New York City, the room went silent. The founder of Sober Is the New Cool on Kerri Lynn Miller’s 10-year journey to make a film about addiction, perfectionism, and the search for worthiness.

Out of 8 billion people, sometimes you find the ones who change everything. Kim Bellas writes about her friendship with Eve Goldberg, the founder of BigVision NYC, who answered every parent’s greatest heartbreak by building a home where young adults in recovery find music, comedy nights, basketball, belonging and each other.

Dr. Jeff Sandoz reflects on growing up in Cajun country, finding recovery through AA, and discovering how honest stories can transform shame, isolation, and addiction into hope.

In this lyrical sober poetry piece, Kim Bellas reflects on a lifetime of waiting for permission, confidence, and rescue before discovering the truth that changed everything: the person she had been waiting for was herself. Honest, hopeful, and deeply encouraging, “I Rescued Myself” is a reflection on courage, reinvention, connection, and the beauty of building a bigger life at any age.

This sponsored post explores why every ingredient in Bitchin’ Sauce has a real job to do. From almonds creating the creamy texture to lemon juice supporting freshness and garlic adding both flavor and function, Bitchin’ Sauce has scaled from San Diego farmers markets to national retailers while keeping its original clean-label almond-based recipe intact.

Kim Bellas of Sober Is the New Cool reflects on the annual White Party in New York City, where more than 40 women from Canada and the United States gathered for an evening of sober connection, friendship, wellness, and a sense of belonging. At the heart of the night was the White Heart Initiative and its simple but powerful message: “I’m glad you exist. The world is a better place because you’re in it.”

Some relationships make headlines not because they fell apart, but because they refused to follow the script. Over the past two decades, a growing number of celebrity couples have openly discussed practicing consensual non-monogamy, whether through an open relationship, an open marriage, or a fully polyamorous relationship structure. While the specifics vary, these arrangements share a common foundation: honesty and communication, intentional consent, and a willingness to challenge the cultural default of monogamy. The difference between these terms matters, though only slightly at a high level. An open relationship typically allows sexual connections outside the partnership, while polyamory involves emotional…

SOBER POETRY at The Sober Curator is where recovery and creativity intertwine. Featuring heartfelt poems from contributors and readers, this collection captures the raw emotions, triumphs, and challenges of living alcohol-free.

This is the space where recovery and creativity meet. It features heartfelt verses that capture the emotions of sobriety and recovery.

Sobriety is reshaping how many men think about strength, wellness, and aging. Instead of defining masculinity through toughness, silence, or pushing through discomfort, more sober men are embracing emotional honesty, preventive healthcare, fitness, stronger relationships, and sustainable routines as part of a healthier alcohol-free life.

Did you know that roughly 20% of college students meet the criteria for having an alcohol use disorder (AUD)? That’s about one in five students who could be struggling with serious drinking issues. Also, about 60% of college students aged 18 to 22 admitted to drinking. Of those drinkers, nearly two out of every three engaged in binge drinking. What’s also astounding is that the average age at which young people (aged 12-20) first try alcohol is about 13.9 years. It’s a topic that often stays under the radar and rarely makes headlines, but ignoring it doesn’t diminish the urgency to address…

Author Anna David reflects on the evolution from her early “will-say-anything” sober party girl years to motherhood, trauma recovery, and a more grounded understanding of herself. In this personal essay, she shares why she re-released a cleaner version of Party Girl 15 years later — and what happens when the wildest version of your past is still searchable, sellable, and occasionally handed to you by your child’s school principal.

Have you ever read a paragraph and thought, “something about this just doesn’t feel right,” even though every sentence was technically correct? You’re not imagining it. That little feeling. that small but persistent sense that something is a bit too clean, a bit too even, a bit too perfect. is actually your brain doing something really impressive. It’s picking up on subtle patterns that your eyes aren’t consciously registering. AI writing has come a long way. It can explain complex topics, structure arguments clearly, and produce content at a speed no human writer can match. But there’s still something that…

Summer tends to disrupt routines. Travel, longer days, and social plans can make it harder to stick to regular workouts and eating habits. At the same time, the season offers more opportunities to stay active. Warmer weather, extended daylight, and access to outdoor spaces make it easier to build simple, consistent habits. Staying fit during the summer doesn’t require a complete overhaul. From sipping Javvy Coffee protein coffee to heading outdoors, small, practical adjustments can help you maintain energy, support recovery, and stay on track. 1. Start Your Day Strong (Morning Habits Matter) Mornings are often the most reliable time…

There’s a particular moment many people in recovery describe: standing in front of a mirror and actually looking back. Not rushing past the reflection, not avoiding it, but genuinely pausing to notice themselves again. That shift, from numbing to noticing, is where the idea of sobriety jewelry begins to make real sense. Jewelry in sobriety often carries weight that has nothing to do with price or trend. A ring worn on a specific finger, a bracelet chosen on an anniversary date, a necklace that catches light at a difficult moment — these become tactile cues rather than accessories. They sit…

What does it mean to make art from the inside out? Not from a place of performance or persona, but from the actual interior of a life rebuilt? Two of the most recent guests on The Creative Sober Podcast are answering that question from the same corner of the country, Washington State, and through the same genre: hip-hop. Coaster (S5E06) and JHenry (S5E07) don’t share a sound. They don’t share the same story. But they share something harder to name, a commitment to making music that costs something, rooted in the real work of recovery, identity, and showing up for…

HBO’s Euphoria delivers one of the best addiction scenes on TV to date to set the tone for the highly anticipated season 2

When you’re pregnant, you might ask a lot of questions and have a lot of worries. You may wonder if is laying on your stomach while pregnant bad, especially when your baby bump starts to show. Sleeping on your stomach might begin to feel uncomfortable because of your growing belly. If that happens, you should start sleeping on your side with a c shaped maternity pillow to rest more easily and comfortably. In this article, you’ll discover the basics of sleeping positions during pregnancy, why sleeping on your stomach feels different as your body changes, and the potential risks and…

Students may be put to the test in the process of academic life. Deadlines pile up. Sleep becomes rare. Pressure grows. In recovery students, this stress can derail improvement. Academic burnout and sobriety are difficult to manage simultaneously for many individuals. Burnout is exhausting and compromises the wits. Recovery, however, depends on steady habits. It is difficult to remain balanced when one is exhausted and is facing temptation. That is why students must actively protect sobriety during burnout. With academic pressure, you can keep yourself on your feet with the aid of the right strategies. Let’s take a look at…

I wake up in sweat My heart it pounds I can’t catch my breath The dark surrounds I am in my bed With memory gone I did it again The same old song That well known taste Between my lips It took me again With strength it grips My mind is racing And my throat, it burns Despite all of pain No lessons I’ve learned I don’t know what I did I don’t know what I said The panic is set This part I dread I’ll say this is it Never again A lie I’ve told myself Since it began …

To write your recovery story is an act of courage. Writing a raw memoir, writing ‘Addiction Fiction,’ or crafting a self-help guide for the sober-curious, your work, writing them down, has the potential to change lives. But of course, you will have your first draft, and before you have a polished masterpiece, there will need to be some editing. Sobriety equals the ultimate glow-up, and your writing should echo that change. This professional book editing process makes sure your message isn’t merely heard, but sensed. It turns the ‘choppy’ aspects of a journal-like draft into an integrated, rhythmic narrative that…

The disastrous decade of carnage; the turbulent twenties. Where Impulsive and toxic behaviours were plenty. Fleeing from relationships with women, overshadowed by greed and lust. Avoiding career ladders and watching lines of opportunities all burning to dust. Family photos all broken in pieces A mind of trauma, anger and pain because I don’t know what peace is. After six months of sobriety at the age of 29, one cold pint with friends and then I’ll be alright. Maybe just have a couple and then call it a night. But after one sip, I lose my fight. I gulp inviting lagers…

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means certain changes in the brain. As a rule, these neurological changes can be noticed in childhood through behavior, habits, and development. But sometimes ADHD traits may be overlooked or develop later in life. Does it mean it’s not ADHD anymore if it’s not detected in childhood? The fact that adults can’t have ADHD is a myth that was debunked long ago. Besides having various symptoms (hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive, combined), ADHD in adults also shows up differently because adults learn to mask their symptoms to “fit into society.” Some people and even mental health specialists…

Most people today feel like their minds never stop running. There’s always something demanding attention — messages to answer, tasks to finish, and goals to chase. This constant stream of noise makes it hard to think clearly or stay calm. The truth is that the more crowded life becomes, the more our minds struggle to focus. It’s not just about having too much to do — it’s about how many things compete for mental space. When thoughts, obligations, and distractions pile up, mental clarity fades. Simplifying life doesn’t mean giving up ambitions or becoming less productive. It means reducing what…

For most of my adult life, I believed I was a “moderate drinker.” I worked hard, rarely missed a day in my dermatology practice, taught at the UC Irvine School of Medicine for decades, and maintained the outward appearance of someone in control. I didn’t drink in the morning. I never got a DUI. My lab work always looked “normal.” In other words, I looked fine. But looking fine is one of the most misleading indicators we rely on when we evaluate alcohol. I learned that lesson the hard way, both personally and professionally. And here we are in 2025,…

Red light therapy has moved well beyond niche wellness circles and into mainstream health, recovery, and clinical environments. For people who identify as sober or in recovery from substance use disorders, interest in non-invasive, supportive wellness tools is often rooted in a desire to care for the body and nervous system without introducing substances or quick fixes. As demand grows, so does the importance of understanding device quality, safety standards, and emerging technology. For Australians in particular, TGA-approved red light therapy has become a critical benchmark when choosing a system that supports long-term wellbeing rather than empty marketing promises. From home…