Julianne Griffin, aka the Sober Swiftie, takes us down the streets of Philadelphia, sharing her journey of recovery and resilience. No canceled train or wrecked rental could stop her from dancing through life’s chaos.
Author: Julianne Griffin
Julianne Griffin
Julianne Griffin is a recovery mentor, community builder and the founder of Swift Steps. Her work is deeply shaped by her own lived experience with addiction, recovery and the search for healing that actually feels honest and sustainable. She understands what it is like to need support and not fully see yourself reflected in the spaces that are supposed to help. That experience became the foundation for everything she went on to build. Julianne founded Blank Space Recovery because she wanted to meet people where they were. What started as recovery mentoring grew into broader work: building communities, writing curriculum and creating programs that help people feel less alone in the process of change. She believes healing is not one size fits all and her work reflects that. She is committed to creating spaces that are inclusive, emotionally honest and grounded in real life, especially for people who have felt misunderstood, judged or left out by more traditional approaches. That work eventually led her to create Swift Steps, a peer-led recovery and healing community and program for Swifties navigating sobriety, mental health or just figuring it out. Swift Steps brings together structure, reflection, music and community in a way that feels more human and accessible. Today, Julianne’s work includes mentoring, curriculum development, community building and recovery centered program creation. Across everything she builds, the goal remains the same: to create spaces where people can feel seen, supported, and less alone while finding their own way forward.
A Machine Gun Kelly concert in Scranton reminded Julianne why sober community must be built with intention, compassion, and an open door for anyone curious enough to come.
Sober Curator contributor Julianne Griffin, The Sober Swiftie, shares a personal reflection on attending weddings sober and discovering that alcohol-free does not mean missing out. From choosing an outfit that made her feel confident to dancing all night and becoming the trusted adult asked to get the groom’s daughter home safely, this piece reframes sober wedding season as a chance to show up fully, clearly, and with self-respect.
Sober Curator contributor Julianne Griffin, known as The Sober Swiftie, reflects on the emotional power of Taylor Swift’s “I Can See You” through the lens of recovery, visibility, and belonging. This piece explores what it means to feel seen, supported, and reminded that even when sobriety feels lonely, you do not stand in the hallway alone.