Welcome to “Sober and Hot Flashing: How Gen X Women Are Owning Menopause,” a standout edition of The Sober Curator podcast that boldly intertwines the themes of sober living and menopause. This unique conversation, guided by host Alysse Bryson and co-host Tamar Routly, along with guests Megan Swan and Amy Liz Harrison, is a hilarious, honest and insightful exploration of what it means to navigate midlife — while living alcohol-free — as your hormones and real life clash.
Midlife, Mischief and the Courage to Be Sober
At its core, this episode addresses a reality many women face: how menopause and sobriety often collide in messy but meaningful ways. The panelists, all Gen Xers and The Sober Curator contributors, share personal stories about mood swings, hot flashes and the everyday chaos of menopause and recovery. The tone is empowering and authentic — none of the challenges are sugarcoated. There’s ample laughter, pop culture references and an abundance of support.
The driving reason behind this episode is to break the silence and stigma that has long surrounded both menopause and sobriety. “We created the Menoposse Ballers because, let’s be honest, midlife is already a ride. And navigating it without alcohol, that’s a whole new level of realness,” Alysse says. The group’s excitement comes from knowing that being honest about these experiences isn’t just freeing for themselves; it also gives hope and belonging to thousands of women.
The Surprising Intersection: Menopause and Sobriety
A key insight from this discussion is the real link between menopause and a higher risk of alcohol relapse among women. Tamar shares candidly about her emotional roller coaster and the importance of staying connected to community support and wellness tools. “If we’re not aware of what’s about to hit us and we don’t talk about it and realize, you know, we’re actually quite normal, I can definitely see why people would relapse,” she says.
The candid discussion demystifies why many women turn to old coping mechanisms during hormonal upheaval. Without alcohol to numb emotions, everything from anxiety to exhaustion can feel overwhelming. Megan, a wellness coach, notes, “What most of us don’t appreciate is just how our hormones affect every single system in our body, not just the reproductive parts.” The group’s collective wisdom: Knowledge, laughter and connection are vital for thriving.
Humor as a Sober Superpower
A standout strength of the Menoposse Ballers is their comedic, approachable style. They gleefully count how many times they say the word “balls,” swap travel stories about “balls” (including airport security hijinks) and even toss around business ideas such as “crotch coolers” and perimenopausal travel kits. These light moments offer more than comic relief — they powerfully remind us that humor can be a form of self-care.
Pop culture, like the famous “Sex and the City” scene in which Samantha Jones rips off her wig during a hot flash, provides both inspiration and validation. “Balls up for Samantha Jones!” becomes a lighthearted rallying cry for women supporting each other.
Lessons Learned: Sober Tools for Hot Flashes and Hormones
Listeners will finish this episode with survivor-tested advice:
- Know your triggers: No menopause experience is identical, but being emotionally and physically prepared helps. From hot flashes to memory lapses to dry eyes, it’s all on the table.
- Stay connected: Consistent communication with sober friends or professionals can be the difference during hard times.
- Educate yourself and others: Recommended resources include Oprah’s “The Menopause Revolution” special and books such as “The New Menopause” and “The Menopause Brain” by Dr. Lisa Mosconi. Proactivity matters.
- Laugh together: Community that can joke about cooling towels, fans and menopausal mishaps is resilient community.
The Why: Sober Living Is a Game-Changer
Amy, a mother of eight and the group’s “unofficial scientist/snack guru,” shares her personal why: “If I didn’t stay plugged in and talking about it, I think I would be a candidate for relapse.” Sober living gives these women clarity, resilience and self-compassion — all essential for navigating menopause. For this crew, sobriety is the ultimate life hack and the foundation of authentic joy.
Megan reflects: “When I was drinking, everything was over-exaggerated. Now, in perimenopause, I get glimpses of that — but I have the tools to cope, and I don’t need to escape.” For these women, sober living means not just survival, but true connection and enjoyment of life’s moments.
The Bigger Why: Community Matters
What makes this episode stand out is its warmth and solidarity. The laughter, confessions and honesty invite listeners to embrace their own journeys — no matter how imperfect.
Alysse’s rallying reminder: “Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more. Keep it real, keep it fun, and keep it sober.”
Key Takeaways
- You are not alone: Menopause and sobriety can both be isolating, but there’s a supportive community here.
- Talk about it: Transparency about symptoms and struggles is powerful—start conversations with friends, family and your doctor.
- Find joy in the mess: Humor and humility are your allies for life’s most chaotic moments.
- Stay sober, stay empowered: Alcohol-free living through midlife is not only possible, but it’s powerful. And you’ll remember every dance floor moment.
For more, visit The Sober Curator at thesobercurator.com. Whether you’re surviving hot flashes or sobriety’s challenges — or both — know you’re in great company. Balls up!
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Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more. That’s the whole premise.
The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture and recovery to the mic with personality, perspective and a glitter bomb of honesty. Founder and host Alysse Bryson (sober since May 1, 2006, and self-described Kevin Bacon of Recovery) is joined by co-host and show producer Tamar Routly of Podcast Impact Studio, plus a rotating bench of global Sober Curator contributors who pull up a chair as co-hosts.
What we cover, episode to episode:
Happy Every Hour: zero-proof drinks, NA beer, spirits and cocktails, reviewed by people who actually drink them.
Health and Wellness: mental health, physical health and what recovery looks like on a Tuesday.
Lifestyle: dating, parenting, shopping, style and the everyday logistics of alcohol-free living.
Entertainment: quit lit, movies, TV, music, sports and celebrity sobriety, rated with our proprietary Sobees.
Spiritual Gangster: Jesus to astrology, stoicism to the Celtic calendar.
Travel: sober events, sober retreats, Sobriety in the City and global travel without a drink in hand.
We also review other sober podcasts on Recovery Podcastland, dig into sponsored product spotlights, and go deep with contributors on how they got sober and what keeps them there. New episodes drop as video on YouTube and audio everywhere you listen.
Want more? BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator is our membership community with Media Nights, Studio Nights, Edutainment Nights and The Sober Curator Mixtape, a monthly mini-zine delivered in a cassette case. Details at https://thesobercurator.com/backstage-with-the-sober-curator/
Whether you’re sober curious or decades in, we’ve got you. We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober and love it.
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Contact: thesobercurator@gmail.com
Every October, half the internet finds out what it’s like to be the one holding a club soda at a party. Some of us have been doing Sober October for years, and the drinks have gotten a lot better since the O’Doul’s days.
This week, Alysse and Tamar sit down with the two people who know exactly what to pour: Kim Parsley and Justin Lamb, who hold down The Sober Curator’s Happy Every Hour section. Kim covers NA spirits and cocktails. Justin is roughly 150 NA beer reviews in and still can’t find a non-alcoholic single malt scotch.
In this episode:
– Sober October, Dry January, and “the always forgotten Dry July”: eye roll, gateway drug, or marketing?
– Justin’s fall NA beer list from 2024 still pops off, and some of the breweries on it are gone
– Why celebrity NA beer brands might not want sober customers (and why there should be room at the table)
– The “drink as prescribed” rule for trying NA spirits for the first time
– Kim builds Justin an NA Negroni and Alysse a pink Barbie Cosmo on the spot
– The one drink each of us is pouring for the rest of fall, plus what we’re eating with it
CHAPTERS
00:00 Club soda at the party
02:01 The Sober Curator Mixtape
04:16 Sober October: eye roll or gateway drug?
09:44 From craft beer to NA beer
13:36 Kim’s piano bar and Tanqueray 0.0
17:55 The 2024 fall beer list, two years later
20:22 “The War on Alcohol” and the SNL sketch
23:37 “They don’t want recovered addicts”
25:23 TOMONOTOMO: drink as prescribed
29:30 What drink are you?
30:57 Which NA spirits can you sip neat?
33:41 “I drink Diet Coke”
37:48 One drink for the rest of fall
TSC Articles mentioned in this episode:
– Justin’s Top 10 Non-Alcoholic Beers for Fall
– Kim’s TOMONOTOMO Tobalá review
– SNL’s “Non-Non Alcoholic Beer” sketch, pro or con
– “It’s Always Sunny,” NA Beer and the Joke That Didn’t Land for Me
– The Sober Curator Mixtape (Sober Snail Mail)
– Backstage with The Sober Curator
Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.
SEASON 2 MERCH: https://shopthesobercurator.com/
SC RESOURCES:
– Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide
– Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide
– LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide
CONNECT: www.thesobercurator.com | The Sober Sip newsletter: https://www.thesobercuratornewsletter.com/ | @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.
Other Menopause Reads on The Sober Curator:
- What Pop Culture Gets Right (and Still Misses) About Menopause
- Unlock a Peaceful Menopause Journey: How Cutting Out Alcohol Helps
- Unpacking Menopause, Sobriety, and Silver Balls—Inside “The Menopause Revolution” on The Sober Curator Podcast
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND & NETWORK at The Sober Curator is your audio haven for all things sobriety and recovery. We’re your bee-zy sober podcast enthusiasts, curating the best shows that educate, inspire, and entertain in the alcohol-free space.
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