When The Real Margaret Josephs tells you she’s “always been the designated driver—and the life of the party,” you know she means it. Alongside her best friend and business partner Lexi Barbuto, she’s rewriting what it means to celebrate with Soirée—a luxury non-alcoholic drink brand that’s part beverage, part movement.

Soirée in the City Margaret Josephs & Lexi Barbuto Redefines the Party & Building a Booze-Free Brand

Soirée isn’t just a pretty can—it’s a vibe. Vintage prints, glamorous design, and flavor profiles that whisper Palm Springs and confidence. Think cucumber-mint lychee, watermelon-basil, or the new Café Spritz launching for Dry January. Each sip says: you belong here, no explanations needed.

For Margaret, the inspiration came from watching her mother’s complicated relationship with alcohol and realizing early on that fun doesn’t need a chaser. “There’s no stigma in not drinking,” she says. “You can still have a great time—and a great drink.”

That mindset drives Soirée’s mission: to end the awkwardness. No more whispering “what are you drinking?” at parties. No more soda water in plastic cups. With Soirée, everyone’s glass looks elevated, everyone feels included, and no one misses out.

Beyond the fashion and fizz, the women behind Soirée are focused on impact. They dream of bringing their brand to college campuses, giving young women an alternative to blackout culture. “We want a Soirée Society,” Margaret says, “where confidence is the buzz and safety is the standard.”

Their movement is also cultural. With Caesar’s Palace bringing Soirée to its Las Vegas venues just in time for BravoCon, it’s a sign of the times: even in Sin City, sober is in. “The party girls and the party boys deserve options,” Lexi says. “It’s not about restriction—it’s about freedom.”

By the end of the interview, it’s clear: Soirée isn’t selling drinks. It’s selling permission—to shine, to show up, to feel glamorous without the glass of regret.

As Alysse Bryson puts it: “The best kind of buzz is the one you remember.”

Sober Curator Podcast

Hosted by Alysse Bryson & Tamar Routly, and produced by Podcast Impact Studio, The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture, & recovery to the mic. Alongside Alysse & Tamar, rotating global contributors join as co-hosts to explore zero-proof drinks, sober travel, quit lit, entertainment, & mental health. This is sober media with personality, perspective, & a glitter bomb of honesty. Sober-curious or living alcohol-free, we’ve got you! We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober: and love it.

You hit publish, and right in the pit of your stomach it lands: someone you have never told is about to hear it anyway. In this house, that feeling has a name. We call it Wednesday.

This week Alysse and Tamar take on the hazards of podcasting sober. Sober podcasters do not get the blackout excuse, and ”radical honesty” was never supposed to mean unfiltered. Alysse tells the story of the episode her mom should have heard from her first, Tamar tells the story of what her parents said the morning after they read her book, and both of them admit the stories that land at a sober meeting do not always land on a first date. Then it gets practical: how to pitch a podcast without embarrassing yourself, the mic that survived Goldilocks and the three mics, why real beats AI in 2026, and the single best hazard-reducer any host can have. A co-host.

IN THIS EPISODE:

”We call it Wednesday”: the cold-open feeling every sober podcaster knows
The story Alysse's mom heard on a podcast instead of from her daughter
Tamar's parents read her book. Both called the next morning.
Know your audience: the dating stories that killed every second date
How to pitch a podcast (and the seven ”top 50” sober podcasts that are quietly dead)
Tech talk: mics, video, Riverside, Descript, and the AI image a celebrity asked Alysse to take down
Get a co-host, wear a costume, keep it fun
Backstage with The Sober Curator, plus The Sober Curator Mixtape: seven mini zines in a cassette case, mailed monthly

SOBER SHOTS:

”Because we're sober, we can't blame being blacked out on saying something stupid. We just have to own that we said something stupid.” (Alysse)

”You're allowed to say the true thing before you've rehearsed it into something safe.” (Alysse)

MENTIONED:

Backstage with The Sober Curator
The Sober Curator Mixtape (free for Backstage members, just cover shipping):
Podcast Impact Studio, Level Up Labs + the Off Script course
Tamar's book: Beyond Recovery – Discover your purpose, embrace your authentic self, and live up to your true potential

Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.

SEASON 2 MERCH: https://shopthesobercurator.com/

This episode is brought to you by Aura House. Save 10% with code TSC10: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64140200

SC RESOURCES:

CONNECT: thesobercurator.com | The Sober Sip newsletter | @thesobercurator on Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube + Pinterest

Love the show? Rate, review + follow. It takes 60 seconds and helps more people find us. Feedback + guest ideas: thesobercurator@gmail.com

Hosted by Alysse Bryson with co-host + producer Tamar Routly. For informational and entertainment purposes only; not a substitute for professional advice.

Music: TSC S2 theme ”Sober Shots” created by Alysse Bryson using Suno AI, under Suno's commercial license.

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The Hazards of Podcasting Sober: When Your Mom Hears It Before You Tell Her

September 2, 2026