Author: Stephen Kimball

What if the story we’ve been told about addiction in America is only half the truth? In Episode 85, host Stephen Kimball sits down with David Herzberg, historian, professor at SUNY Buffalo, and author of “White Market Drugs: Big Pharma and the Hidden History of Addiction in America.” What unfolds is a sharp, unsettling, and deeply human conversation about how addiction has been shaped not just by substances, but by power, policy, and privilege. Herzberg traces the roots of the so-called war on drugs back to the late 19th century, long before modern headlines and political slogans. He reveals how…

This was a fantastic year for music. I find new music by new artists, which always excites me, as well as happily getting new music from bands and musicians I have been listening to for a long time. Below is a list that is in no particular order. But I will shout out Dave Hause, Tyler Childers, and Bryan Lee (The Jacknives), who are all sober musicians who made this list. There was, from my perspective, a ridiculous conversation this year about what punk and hardcore music are. This, to me, was really a form of narrow-minded gatekeeping. And a…

In this episode of Sober Dad Crew, host Stephen Kimball sits down with Alysse Bryson, the founder and creative force behind The Sober Curator—a vibrant online hub celebrating sobriety, recovery, and sober-curious living through the lens of pop culture. Alysse’s story is one of reinvention and resilience. She opens up about her personal journey through addiction and recovery, from years spent chasing success in the media world to the hard-earned clarity that led her to sobriety. Now, nearly two decades later, she’s turned that experience into a mission: to make recovery not just respected, but cool. Creating Community Through Storytelling…

Dave Hause’s new album, “… And The Mermaid,” starts with a trumpet blare, a distorted guitar and drums. And with that, Dave Hause lets us know what this record is all about — a call to action for dark times. It’s a return to his punk rock roots and is full of songs that are a rallying cry to get us to look at what’s happening around us, to our neighbors, and fight for a world that is better than the one we find ourselves in. If you’re not familiar with his music, the best way I can describe it…

Every episode of Sober Dad Crew is a chance to sit down with someone who’s walked a unique path in sobriety, and this week I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Michael Valarelli. Michael’s story starts in Florida, but really takes shape in Westchester, New York, where he grew up as a punk rock kid. Music wasn’t just a phase for him — it was a lifestyle, a lifeline, and a driving force that carried him through his teens and into his 30s, playing in bands and living the DIY spirit of punk. These days, Michael has traded in…

On the Morning of July 14, 2025, my father called to tell me that my mother had died. My mother died the day after her 85th birthday. In reality, she went to sleep the night of her 85th birthday and went wherever you go when you die. It was also one day shy of a year since she moved into a memory care facility, as her needs had become more than my dad was able to safely manage. My mom’s death was the end of a 10-year journey since she’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is a cruel disease.…