On this vibrant installment of the Sober Curator Podcast, host Alysse Bryson sits down with multi-hyphenate creative Sabyn Mayfield: musician, filmmaker, USA Boxing Masters Champion, and CEO of The Bridge to Recovery. While their conversation kicks off with a light-hearted nod to working carnival and fair gigs (and a brave adolescent stint in a cotton candy booth), it quickly dives beneath the surface. Together, Alysse and Sabyn unearth the complexities of recovery, the true meaning of healing from “wounds” rather than “trauma,” and how authentic living becomes the ultimate reward of sobriety.
Sabyn’s story is both inspiring and familiar to anyone who’s faced the rollercoaster of addiction and recovery. Sober for five years (as of the episode recording), Sabyn is open about his history of relapse and struggle:
“I’ve been trying to get this since I was 18…”
For him, the journey wasn’t a single, heroic step but an ongoing process of confronting—and accepting—his humanity. He describes early sobriety as a ticket into an amusement park: “putting the plug in the jug… is just the price of entry,” he says. Once inside, he realized that true recovery involved more than abstaining from substances. It meant healing the wounds driving his addiction and developing spiritual and mental resilience.
Wounded, Not Broken: Shifting the Language of Healing
One of Sabyn’s most resonant insights comes in his discussion of language. He prefers to talk about “woundedness” instead of “trauma,” a distinction that feels gentler yet equally honest. As he puts it:
“If you take care of a wound, you can heal a wound. Trauma feels more permanent… I really like that word wounded.”
This shift moves healing from something clinical or untouchable to something active and possible. By embracing his wounds, mourning them, and allowing them to heal, Sabyn found that the rest of recovery—especially the 12 steps—became less about avoidance and more about thriving.
Growth, Relapse, and Taking 100% Responsibility
Both Sabyn and Alysse touch on a common, often stigmatized experience in recovery: relapse. Sabyn insists, “You don’t have to go all the way to the bottom floor… it can be a speed bump rather than a train wreck.” The shame and self-blame that surround relapse can be paralyzing, but, as Sabyn shares from firsthand experience, the real transformation happens not in perfection, but in the willingness to start again and tell the truth.
He also describes the power of making amends—sometimes terrifying, occasionally anticlimactic, but always liberating. Sabyn’s advice (learned the hard way): “The linchpin for this whole thing is honesty. I had to find one person that I could tell the absolute truth to.” For him, honesty, humility, and service to others turned his recovery from mere survival into genuine, contented living.
Leading the Charge: Creating, Serving, and Giving Back
After healing his relationship with himself, Sabyn found his creative spark reignited—not as a desperate search for validation, but as a gift to himself and others. “Once I really humbled myself and I kind of had that foundational piece… it gave me the opportunity to dive back into my creative work because I wanted to, not because I had to.”
Now, as CEO of The Bridge to Recovery—a trauma and codependency residential workshop that transformed his life—Sabyn is living proof that helping others is both a calling and a cornerstone of sustained sobriety.
Perhaps the most moving takeaway from this interview is the reminder that recovery isn’t a destination but an unfolding journey. Whether you’re new to sobriety, coming back from relapse, or simply struggling with the “amusement park” of daily life, Sabyn’s message echoes: honesty, acceptance, and commitment to growth can truly set you free.
Follow along with Sabyn in all of the digital places and spaces:
- IG @sabynmayfield
- Website sabynmayfield.com
- The Bridge to Recovery
- @Sabyn on YouTube
- Sabyn Foolin’ Around Album
- Sabyn Mayfield IMBD
- Sabyn on Spotify
- Sabyn on Apple
Sabyn feat. Floyd Parton – Foolin’ Around [Sabyn Remix] (Official Video)
Sabyn & Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 to 9 (Official Video)
Listen to the Latest Episode Now
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 spend at least 40 hours a week at work. For a lot of people in recovery, that's 40 hours of navigating a culture that doesn't know you exist, or worse, doesn't care.
Eliza Zarka is changing that. She runs the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute, which certifies employers as recovery friendly, and she took an idea that started at a New Hampshire ski resort and turned it into a national movement with bipartisan federal backing. Alysse and Sober Curator contributor Sarah, a fractional HR consultant in long-term recovery, get into what it actually takes to make a job safe to be sober in.
In this episode:
Why ”there are already people in recovery that are working for you” is the sentence that changes an employer's mind
The four pillars of Recovery Friendly Workplace certification: culture, hiring, benefits, and education
How to bring this to your HR department without disclosing your own recovery
Alysse on 2006 versus 2026: why she hid it for years, and the 2016 job interview where she said it out loud on purpose
The company that made the first hour of its holiday party completely alcohol-free, with leadership required to be there
Why the holiday gift bottle of wine tells you the company knows nothing about you
Coffee tastings, tea tastings, dirty soda tastings: team building that isn't a wine flight
Pop culture close: ”The Office,” ”Parks and Rec,” and the true crime documentary habit that may be a problem
Sober Shots:
”There are already people in recovery that are working for you.” (Eliza Zarka)
”When you're in an interview, you're interviewing the company just as much as they're interviewing you.” (Alysse Bryson)
Mentioned in this episode:
National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute: https://rfwinstitute.org
Backstage with The Sober Curator: https://thesobercurator.com/backstage-with-the-sober-curator/
The Sober Curator Business Rolodex, free listings for sober business owners: https://thesobercurator.com/the-sober-curator-rolodex/
Nothing in this episode is legal or HR advice. Talk to an employment attorney about your specific situation.
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:
– Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide
– Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide
– LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide
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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.
Getting sober is one thing—but staying sober? That’s where the real adventure begins. The Sober Curator Podcast, hosted by Alysse Bryson and featuring the many voices of Sober Curator Contributors, proves that ditching booze doesn’t mean ditching fun, pop culture, or your social life.
Each episode serves up bold conversations, celeb interviews, zero-proof cocktail inspiration, and pop culture deep dives—all with laughs, honesty, and zero preachy vibes. Whether you’re sober or sober-curious, you’ll find insider tips, real-life stories, and endless reasons to love the alcohol-free life. Pull up a seat—this party’s just getting started!
MUSIC – PLAY IT AGAIN: Pop Buchanan & Sabyn Dear Addicts Remix Official Music Video
PLAY IT AGAIN is The Sober Curator’s curated playlist of sobriety anthems—songs that capture the essence of recovery journeys and lift the spirit. From timeless classics to modern hits, these tracks inspire, heal, and motivate, no matter what genre of choice. Each song is handpicked for its power to transport you to another state of mind and remind you why living alcohol-free rocks.
Got a favorite sobriety theme song? We want to hear it! Send your picks to thesobercurator@gmail.com and help us keep the playlist growing.
SOBER POP CULTURE at The Sober Curator is where mainstream trends meet the vibrant world of sobriety. We serve up a mix of movie, podcast, fashion, and book recommendations alongside alcohol-free cocktails, celebrity features, and pop culture buzz—all with a sober twist.
We’re here to shatter the “sobriety is boring” myth with a mash-up of 80s neon, 90s hip-hop edge, early 2000s bling, and today’s hottest trends. From celebrity shoutouts to red-carpet style inspo, this is where sober is as chic as it is fun. To the celebs using their platform for good—our Sober Pop Trucker hats are off to you!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
