Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

From his humble beginnings in rural North Carolina to eventually touring the world as a tech and his recent work as a producer for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Gregory Dwane has first-hand seen many facets of the music industry. Add to his impressive pedigree a bit of alcoholism, burnout, and fatherhood, and you’ve got life experience in spades, all informing the songs on his self-titled debut record, which establishes him as the alt-country songwriter. Gregory takes us through his history, from finding his sobriety to becoming a painter and art gallery owner, only to find himself back into…

Chelsie Cahoon aka The Sober Raver is an entrepreneur, business owner, published model, singer/songwriter, and content creator who travels all over the country with her work. She is the founder and owner of the company Music Is The Drug which is a non-judgmental company that aims to show the world that whether you use substances or not, music is the ultimate drug that unites us all. She chose to live a sober life from a very young age and has been completely drug and alcohol-free her entire life. Her mission is to show people that you can literally get high…

I didn’t plan to be an alcoholic. I didn’t plan to live a life of recovery. But here I am, seven years in, leading a pretty kick-ass life. A better life than the one I contemplated over most nights after a glass or two (Rather, bottle or two) of wine. I thought all of my problems would be solved when… When I got a pay raise. When I got a promotion and found the love of my life, you see the pattern. Once one or all of those conditions were met, I would not have to drink so much. Problem…

Arlina Allen, Host of the One Day at a Time Podcast and Founder of the Sober Life School brings you the ultimate resource guide that is perfect for the first 100 days in recovery. Sober Curator Pro Tip: Even if you’ve been sober longer, you are still going to love this list! About Arlina Allen There was a time when I thought I was just a fun party girl. To say I was proud of the fact that I could drink men twice my size under the table was an understatement. For a long time, I had A LOT of fun.…

A story about how falling in love made me feel like I had relapsed katie MACK Seven years ago I was sitting in AA because I was in trouble with my boyfriend, or I guess, he was my ex-boyfriend? I was always in trouble with one ex-boyfriend/boyfriend/ex-girlfriend/girlfriend or another (being queer has increased my chances for more failure opportunities). This was why I was always drying out for one to two months for my third (or fourth?) time in this relationship, and why I was sitting in my fifth AA meeting of the week. Sponsor-less and step-less, I was still well…

Non-alcoholic beverages seem to be all the rage, so I was pumped to try Nashi Orchards Korean Giant Non-Alcoholic Perry which just so happens to be LOCAL!🍐 (to the Pacific Northwest) Welcome to Nashi Orchards on Vashon Island, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary! I got to meet the owners (husband and wife duo) Cheryl Lubbert and perry maker Jim Gerlach, for the launch of their first non-alcoholic line coined the “Hana” series. The first release is a sparkling perry made from 100% Korean Giant Asian pear juice, with no added flavoring. It seriously tastes like Asian pear in a…

It has been 5 years since I drank alcohol. It has been 5 years since I woke up in that jail cell. It has been 5 years of battling and trying to navigate life. It has been 5 years since I made a 5-year plan. In this episode, I want to share with you the five things I have learned in the past five years of being sober. I hope my lessons will help you, whether in your life journey, or the battle to sobriety. SOBER SPOTLIGHT: Jay Chase, Founder of Don’t Touch My Mindset Podcast and Mindset Coach SOBER…

Katie Mack brings a refreshing approach and vitality to storytelling through her craft of acting, writing, and Webby award-winning podcast F*cking Sober: The First 90 Days Podcast, described as an “unflinching semi-comedic mostly nonfictional narrative podcast about the first 90 days of being f*cking sober.” Over a decade of experience in theater, TV, and film, Katie not only elevates the stage with her creative input, but she is also outward about her addiction recovery and reaching two years of sobriety. Follow Along with Katie Mack: Follow along with Mei McIntosh in all of the digital spaces and places Support +…

Pivotal Moments in life are those moments that change our lives forever. They change the course of who we are and what we do. They often occur at a crossroads where we must choose and take an irrevocable step forward. Pivotal moments can be anything from realizing you have achieved what you want to getting fired from your job to getting married. They can be turning points that have both positive and negative impacts. However, they often shape our lives and help us grow as individuals. As we start off the second season of the Don’t Touch My Mindset Podcast, on pivot…

By Elizabeth Ross Hubbell Growing up in a small town without a lot of money was a motivator for me—to do better in school, to be the first on my mother’s side to finish college, to seek a new life in a vibrant, diverse city on the other side of the country. I leased a top-floor apartment in a boho neighborhood. I educated myself about wine, bought monogrammed linens, and discovered a love of jazz. I was finally an adult and having a blast! As my life progressed from single woman to married professional and my disposable income grew, that…

Originally from the west coast of Canada, singer and songwriter Michelle Reid blend dark soul-baring honesty in her lyrics with glitchy electronic production and catchy pop melodies. She releases original music under her solo artist project, “Sorcia”, where she also advocates for mental health awareness, specifically in terms of OCD, eating disorders, and alcohol recovery. Michelle got her start as a singer, dancer, and actress in the theatre, touring Canada, the US, and Europe with shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Superman, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She writes music for film and TV placements as well as…

Despite what society wants you to believe, being overwhelmed and burnt out isn’t normal and no, not all the cool kids are doing it. Being burnt out can have a negative effect on our health. It can cause elevated stress, insomnia, depression, memory issues, increased irritability, weakened immune system, and lack of productivity, just to name a few. Who knew that trying to overwhelm yourself with more tasks can actually yield opposite results! Before you know it, you’re snapping at your loved ones, can’t remember where you left your glasses (have you checked the top of your head?) and your…

Mother’s Day is special to me because…I’m a mom. But not only that, it reminds me of why I decided to cut alcohol from my life. If I hadn’t had my son, I’m not quite sure that I’d be a non-drinker today. In fact, I’d probably be going out to bars regularly and trying to relive the glory days of my early 20s. I had a blast back then – but I’m glad I’ve moved on and that I’m living my life alcohol-free. So, back to Mother’s Day – most people who take on the mother role in a child’s…

S.C. Jensen is a Canadian fiction writer, sci-fi and horror enthusiast, and literary advocate. She lives with her husband, children, and various fuzzy friends on an acreage in The-Middle-of-Nowhere (a.k.a. Northern Saskatchewan). She spends most of her days crafting stories about ordinary people forced to act in extraordinary situations and is perpetually rooting for the underdog. That’s because she used to be the underdog in her own story. Since quitting drinking on August 31, 2018, she’s come into her own as a sober creative and hopes to share her experiences with fiction lovers from all walks of life. Jensen dabbles…

For sober people, as if trying not to drink isn’t hard enough, we also have to live in a world that is filled with alcohol. It’s everywhere we turn; we can’t get away from it even if we want to. Unless you choose to live off the grid, I suppose. But, if you’re like me and live very much on the grid, you know that having confidence in your choice to live without alcohol doesn’t come easy. Drinking is normal. Not drinking isn’t.As they say in some circles, it works if you work it. The same goes for being secure…

Meredith earned her Bachelor’s Degree from ULL in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in English. Her work has been featured in Poets Choice, Anti-Heroin Chic, and the anthology “Storealities.” She is the subject of an Artist’s Feature in Hatchlings Publishings. She headlined and produced the event, A Night of Poetry, created and produced the Flood Relief Fundraiser with Paige Daye to raise over $5K for victims of the 100 Year Flood in Acadiana, has shared her work in readings at The Warehouse, Feed N Seed, Glide Dance Studio, The Warehouse Project, (Lafayette, LA) Readings on the Pike (VA), Poetry in…

Jessica Jeboult is a Sober Girl. After trying to get sober for nearly 10 years, Jessica is here to share her experiences along the way to complete and utter sobriety. From health and fitness to relationships, dating and even having sex sober, this hilariously witty and casual approach to an otherwise daunting subject is sure to give you some solid tips to getting and staying sober. Mei McIntosh: The Creative Sober Mei walks us through her sobriety journey that includes relapsing after 5 years sober. She explains how this time around is different and how her podcast, The Creative Sober,…

Friendships. What are they? Why do we need them? And why do we get so darn upset when they change? We’re humans, that’s why. And change is hard. Change is uncomfortable. But change is also inevitable, and at times, it’s something we can’t control. Sometimes, change can even be good. The Big Bang Theory – The Friendship Algorithm Let’s Define Friendship What is friendship, anyways? The dictionary has a definition for it, but who cares. We all get to decide for ourselves what it means to be a good friend. We’re all different, which means we have different wants and…

Wow. Four whole years without alcohol. I never imagined I’d have the life I have now. I didn’t know much about myself before I quit drinking. I wasn’t aware that people like me existed. What I’ve learned in the last four years is that although there is only one Blair, my story is not unique. This fact keeps me telling my story. It keeps me creating. It keeps me writing about things that matter. It keeps me growing. Four years ago I needed to hear that living a life without alcohol was OK. I needed someone to tell me the…

The Creative Sober Podcast is a collection of interviews with sober creatives from all walks of life who inspire and continue to create in sobriety and is hosted by Sober Curator, DJ Missing Mei. *Trigger Warning: With consent to release, the following is a recorded interview with Martin Lapid before his passing in Dec 2021. Topics include substance use disorder, self-harm, and alcoholism. Las Vegas resident Martin Lapid was a graphic designer, business owner, and co-founder of the recovery brand Serenitees Collection. He shares about his design career during the past 20+ years, how he found life in recovery and…

Self-trust is one of the most important parts of healing and growth. For us to move forward, we first have to trust that we are safe outside of our comfort zones. As trauma survivors, as people in recovery, as human beings, we all need to feel safe. Safety is important for our survival; it’s innate in all of us. When we go through a traumatic experience, it can cause us to feel like we can’t trust the world around us, and sometimes, not even ourselves. We live our lives in our small bubble, in survival mode. But for us to…

Author, professional speaker, substance abuse counselor, and podcast host Mike Gliem shares his in-depth story about his 20+ years battling addiction and the depths it took him. This is a raw and real read. If you’re in recovery or know anyone who is, or who may be struggling this is a MUST read! Mike writes about his struggles, trials, and tribulations, the lessons he learned from them, and how to overcome them. “The MEANING of my life was to find my purpose, my PURPOSE of life is to give it away.” Break yourself free from the bondage of addiction. We…

Tuesday Tunes Song of the Week: Daisies Artist: Katy Perry Early recovery for me was a bit of a war zone sometimes. When I drove up the driveway to the treatment center, I had a feeling come over me that I just knew this was my one shot at a new life. I entered treatment with the plan to accept all the opportunities given to me there (not always with a smile on my face or gratitude in my heart, LOL). I wanted a better life, and I was willing to work for it. The naïve me didn’t know that…

I spent the past 12 months experiencing life without alcohol. While addiction isn’t a part of my story, I never truly realized what big role alcohol played in my life and the lives around me until I decided to give it up. The original plan was to do Dry January as solidarity to my friends in recovery and a challenge to myself. Every once in a while, I like to do challenges…I always discover new things about myself. Most of them are mental challenges, and interestingly enough, I learned that I’m much better at not doing something I want to…

Tuesday Tunes Song of the Week: Brighter Days Artist: Blessing Offor It’s here…2022. If you are anything like me, you have a little hope for the new year. I, for one, welcome this energy shift. 2021, I’m so read for you to be over. I felt the weight of the world for most of 2021. It became unbearable some days. Did anything horrible happen to me or my life, no but grief was a heavy backpack I wore most days toward the end. In my quest to be inspired for 2022 I found this song, Brighter Days by Blessing Offor. …

Hey Molly, It’s me… The one who comments on your Instagram posts. I’m the one who shares your harmful mommy-wine posts on my story and DMs you about your alcohol-centered approach to social media. I’m writing you this to try to get you to understand. Imagine for a minute that you’re a mom struggling with alcohol. The days pass by, and you try to do your best. Small (and big) humans depend on you for everything. You don’t have a person to clean your house or cook your meals for you. You don’t have anyone to take care of your…

This week’s song is a no-brainer. In anticipation of the big day, we dance to the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) Past, Present, and Future: Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You. The Queen of Christmas has me jiggling my jolly parts every time I hear this one. I hope you enjoy this holiday season, and my wish for you is peace, serenity, and JOY. TUESDAY TUNES with Lauren McLaughlin: Welcome to Tuesday Tunes With Sober Curator Lauren McLaughlin, AKA @JoyfullySober, Your New Weekly Sober Dance PartyTuesday Tunes With Sober Curator Lauren McLaughlin AKA @Joyfullysober – The Holiday EditionLET IT…

It’s time for TUESDAY TUNES, and I DARE YOU not to bust out some finger-snapping, head-bopping moves to this song. I can’t resist a good boy band holiday tune during this time of year, and N’Sync brings it big with this jam. Not only is it a catchy tune, but if you listen to the words, it hits home in many ways for me. Three Lyrics I love: “It’s a wonderful feeling, feel the love in the room, from the floor to the ceiling.” Sometimes we get so wrapped up in stress during this time of year it reminds me to…

Were you looking for a fun way to jazz up your festive DryBations this Holiday season? How about a Peppermint Bark-inspired rim!?! On this Just A Merry Mocktail Monday, Let’s rim some glasses! What you will need: How to: To operate a double boiler, fill the bottom vessel with about an inch or two of water. Do not fill all the way. Turn on the heat and let the steam from the boiling water melt your chocolate. Enjoy Safely! Remember, if you give this a go, tag @thesobercurator and me in your photos!!! Until Next Week! To Your Health! Xoxo -Nik…

The Holidays are in full swing and for some, this is the first holiday season to be sober. On my first holiday, I was 8 months sober and it was scary and overwhelming and if I am being honest very humbling. I was 28 years old, living in a sober living house, working at Bath and Body Works in the Mall of America. I couldn’t afford Christmas gifts and I didn’t have extra money to buy supplies to do any baking (nor did I have my own kitchen). There was no tree to decorate. I was embarrassed and angry…