Season One Is a Wrap: What We Learned Making a Podcast That Wasn’t Supposed to Exist

It started the way a lot of great things do — out of mild annoyance and a stubborn refusal to say no. People kept emailing The Sober Curator, pitching themselves to appear on a podcast that, well, didn’t exist. And after one too many of those emails, Alysse Bryson looked at Tamar Routly and basically said: “I guess we’re doing this.”

Fifty-one episodes later, 23 participating Sober Curator Contributors, Season One is officially done. And this week’s finale is less of a traditional episode and more of a victory lap — with costumes, confessions, and a secret or two that neither host is particularly good at keeping.

The Highlights Reel No One Expected

When you launch something with zero expectations and a lot of enthusiasm, you end up with some pretty incredible moments. The Tchotchke Showdown — where Alysse and author Travis Sackett went head-to-head with their most prized collectibles while a panel of judges scored them — was the kind of chaotic, joyful content that only happens when people stop performing and start playing. Senior Sober Curator Contributor Alex Nyman, apparently, channeled her inner Simon Cowell. Senior Sober Curator Contributor Amy Liz Harrison couldn’t do the math. It was perfect.

Then there were the costumes. Alysse and Tamar dressed up as aliens for a Hot Takes episode. Tamar showed up as the Holiday Armadillo for a Friends-themed Matthew Perry tribute. Senior Sober Curator Contributor Tony Harte ordered a custom hat featuring a guy falling down a toilet for the Trainspotting anniversary episode. This is what happens when your show leans all the way into fun.

“You Actually End Up Doing the Things You’ve Dreamed About”

Alysse Bryson

The most powerful moment in the finale comes when Alysse pulls the thread on something that sounds simple but hits deep. She and Tamar had talked about visiting the Goonies house years before the podcast even existed. This year, they interviewed the owner — who then invited them to watch the movie in the actual house in 2026.

“That’s what happens when you live a sober lifestyle,” Alysse says. “You don’t just talk about doing shit. You actually end up going and doing the things you’ve dreamed about.” It’s not a heavy moment. It’s not recovery-speak. It’s just the truth, delivered with the kind of casual confidence that comes from living it.

Behind the Curtain

One of the things that makes The Sober Curator different is the team. There are currently 38 contributors — writers, creatives, tastemakers — scattered across the US, Canada, the UK, Poland, Spain, and Portugal. They meet monthly on Zoom. They collaborate. They build on each other’s work. And the podcast became a way to let the audience see that energy.

Running a show with that many people in that many time zones is, as Tamar put it, not easy. But it’s the kind of beautiful chaos that makes the content feel alive.

What’s Coming in Season Two

Both hosts teased Season Two plans with the enthusiasm of people who are absolutely going to spoil the surprise before it’s ready. Here’s what they could share: YouTube Lives where listeners can watch recordings in real time. The return of the Tchotchke Showdown in a game show format. More listener involvement. And a mystery Spring launch that Alysse describes as something she’s wanted for a long time and couldn’t find — so she’s building it. Sound familiar?

Season Two is expected to kick off in early April. In the meantime, check out the Sober Curator Rolodex — a free directory for sober business owners — and get on The Sober SIP newsletter.

HUGE HUGE THANKS to our fans and listeners! Because of YOU, we made it in the top 20% of video podcasts on Spotify. Because of YOU, we kept recording, even when we didn’t feel like it sometimes. Because of YOU, there’s going to be a Season Two, that is bigger, wilder, and more interactive.

As Tamar said in the sign-off: getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more. Season One proved it. Season Two is going to turn up the volume.

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Top 10 Listened to Episodes of Season One | The Sober Curator

• Is Mel Robbins WRONG About Boundaries in Sobriety?
• The Tchotchke Showdown
• The Surprising Link Between Creativity and Staying Sober (w/ Hannah Sward)
• This Country Singer Got Sober and His Music Got BETTER
• Watching Trainspotting SOBER Changed Everything I Thought About It
• Matthew Perry Documentary – What They Left OUT About Recovery
• What Finding Your People in REALLY Looks Like in Sobriety (w/ Jonathan Gildart)
• Sober Travel with Darci Murray + Cruise with The Sober Curator to Alaska – TSC Podcast
• Inside NYC’s First Sober Members Club How Justin Gurland Built The Maze | Sober Curator Podcast
• Soirée in the City Margaret Josephs & Lexi Barbuto Redefines the Party & Building a Booze-Free Brand

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