Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

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…

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…

I hit seven years of sobriety on February 10, 2025. When I got sober, one of the first things I put on my bucket list was to get to NYC and witness the fashion world in real life. I wanted to feel the pulse of the city, to be where Halston, Studio 54 and all the great misfit creatives once came alive. I didn’t know how or when, but I knew I wanted to be in the room where style and self-expression weren’t just accepted — they were worshipped. Now, every February — on my soberversary — I go to…

“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…

I’ll never forget the first time I met Sarah Morgando. We were two nurses, walking parallel paths. Both starting our coaching practices around the same time. Board-certified. Seasoned. And no strangers to holding space for the hard, messy, deeply human stuff. But what struck me immediately about Sarah wasn’t just her clinical knowledge or calm presence — it was the way she carried her story. Gracefully. Bravely. And with a kind of purpose that makes you sit up a little straighter and listen a little harder. Sarah’s sister, Jenny, died after a long battle with addiction — one complicated by…

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…

In Episode 9 of You’ve Been Selected, I sit down with Alysse Bryson, founder of The Sober Curator, a BuzzFeed-style online magazine for the sober-curious and alcohol-free crowd. Spoiler alert: we talk fashion, recovery and the kind of friendship that starts with saying yes to something you have no clue how to do.  Alysse shares the backstory of how The Sober Curator came to life (hint: it involved a whole lot of passion and probably caffeine), and how I somehow ended up writing a fashion column — without any formal fashion experience but plenty of bold opinions and dopamine outfits. …

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…

Visiting the “Superfine Tailoring and Dandy Style” exhibit at The Met was nothing short of a masterclass in style, artistry and cultural significance. Walking through the exhibit, I was struck by the sheer range of influences on display, from impeccably tailored suits to streetwear, from Muhammad Ali’s iconic boxing shorts to the regal grandeur of Sunday church style. It was a celebration of fashion in all its forms, but more importantly, it was a celebration of Black artists and designers who have shaped this industry, often without receiving their due credit. In a time when DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)…

I read “Soberful” by Veronica Valli on a flight to NYC once, and I underlined page after page like I was cramming for a final. I didn’t need to scroll her bio or stalk her Instagram to know she was legit — her words hit hard because they were true. So when I had the chance to sit down with her for an episode of You’ve Been Selected, I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about: the wild, weird and often wonderful world of sober social media. Let’s be real: Instagram is loud. And when it comes to sobriety,…

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 do I still feel like crap even though I quit drinking?” If you’ve ever asked yourself that question in early sobriety, you’re not alone. Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is one of the most misunderstood (and frustrating) parts of the recovery process. It’s not just about getting through the first few days or weeks without alcohol — it’s the lingering mental, emotional and physical symptoms that can show up months into sobriety. And if you don’t know what’s happening, it can feel like you’re doing something wrong. In Episode 7 of “You’ve Been Selected,” we dig into PAWS: what it…

“Recovery isn’t about fitting into someone else’s mold — it’s about finding what sets you free.” In Episode 6 of “You’ve Been Selected,” I break down my personal recovery framework — one that’s built on experience, humor and the hard-won lessons of sobriety. I call it the Faucets of Freedom, and it’s not some secret cure or magic trick. There’s no shortcut to sobriety — just a willingness to show up and do the work. WHAC is simply an acronym I put together to highlight key components that have helped me along the way. At its core, WHAC stands for…

“Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a messy, beautiful, deeply personal journey.” When I first got sober, I needed structure. I needed something to hold onto, a place to go, people who understood. AA saved my life. It gave me a foundation when I had nothing else. Sitting in those rooms, I learned about surrender, honesty and the power of shared experience.  But as I started to rebuild my life, I got curious. My background in nursing and my natural love of research made me start digging deeper. I wanted to understand addiction — not just from a personal standpoint, but from…

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…