Five years ago, in the thick of a global pandemic and armed with a lifestyle-focused media background, long-term sobriety, and a vision for something I couldn’t quite find anywhere else online, I launched The Sober Curator. It wasn’t a business plan — it was a calling. I was looking for a digital space that could show me (and others) where the joy was in sober living. Something smart. Something stylish. Something curated. A media hub for the sober lifestyle.
And when I couldn’t find it, I decided to create it.
Today, five years and over 2,200 articles later, I am in awe.
???? The Numbers Tell One Story…
Our first post was published on August 1, 2020. Since that day, when I accidentally published the site before it was ready ????????♀️and decided just to go for it with no business plan:
- 1.1M Unique Visitors | 1.5M Page Views
- 2,220+ articles
- 370 Beverage Reviews
- 146 Book Reviews
- 110 Sober Business spotlights & gift guides
- 375 Travel & Event Writeups
- 75 Fashion Features
- 160 Tarot & Astrology articles
- 75 Podcasts, 53 Movies, 45 TV Series, 50 Music Reviews
- 4M+ Reach on Pinterest (Who knew sober pinning was such a thing?)
- 17K Email Subscribers to The Sober Sip, 1M+ emails delivered, 20% open rate
- 500+ collective years of sobriety represented by our contributors
- 1,000+ Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health resources, including LGBQTAI+ and Family
- 220+ Recovery Non-Profits
- 5,000+ hours I’ve personally spent building and nurturing this platform
- 107M Views of The Sober Curator GIFs + Stickers
This isn’t a side hustle. This is a movement. Or maybe I just put the “cult” in culture. ????
???? But the People Tell a Bigger One
The Sober Curator was never meant to be a one-woman show. It started with three friends (one being my sister) — all still connected to the project today — and has grown into a vibrant collective of 39 active contributors (and over 50 since inception) who bring their lived experience, their creativity, and their humor and vulnerability to the table.
One contributor recently said The Sober Curator had become their “home group.” That hit me. If you’re familiar with 12-step language, you know what kind of sacred space that is. We are a digital home base for sober creatives, storytellers, and curious minds alike.
And while the stats are impressive, the messages we get are what fuel us:
“I love that you had the vision (and the guts!) to blend pop culture and sobriety in such a bold and creative way. You’ve built the coolest space on the internet, and I’m continually learning from your leadership and heart. Thank you for making space for voices like mine. I’m so honored to be part of this community.”
“You make sobriety look fun.”
“I didn’t know recovery content could be this cool.”
“I laughed. I learned. I stayed sober today.”
That’s the impact. That’s the real metric that matters.
???? We Don’t Shy Away from the Hard Stuff
Sobriety isn’t always glitter and gratitude. We’ve lost people. This disease takes lives. In late 2021, one of our own contributors died by suicide. That grief still echoes through our team. It’s a sharp reminder of why this work matters. Why we keep showing up. Why content — yes, content — can be part of someone’s recovery capital. Part of someone’s daily armor.
Because staying sober matters more.
???? The Evolution: From Tagline to Identity
Our original tagline was “Because Drunk Never Looks Good.” Catchy? Yes. But not inclusive enough. We aim to represent everyone who desires a sober lifestyle, whether they identify as being in recovery from substance use disorders or label themselves zero-proof, alcohol-free, or sober-curious.
Today, we say: “Getting Sober Matters. Staying Sober Matters More.”
And we mean it. This platform is for everyone walking this path, no matter how they got here or why they stay, with #NODAYSOFF. We aim to put our flag in the ground that says long-term sobriety is both hard and worth it. #ODAAT
???? What’s New? A Podcast, Of Course
You asked. A lot. And now we’ve delivered.
At the end of March 2025, we launched The Sober Curator Video Podcast — a lifestyle-first, group-hosted series that covers everything from the NA beverage boom to sober travel, movie reviews, pop culture, and interviews with authors. It’s not another “how I got sober” show — it’s a “here’s what I do with my sobriety” show.
Because we’re here to entertain, inspire, and motivate — not just tell war stories.
???? Join the Movement (It’s Free)
No paywalls. No bait-and-switch. No rehab ads. For fun, and for free, no strings attached.
Our content, newsletters, and community are 100% free — and we intend to keep it that way. If you love what we do, share it. If you’re inspired, become a contributor. If you’re just getting sober and need some encouragement, dig into the archives. There’s something here for everyone.
???? Five Years In, Still Just Getting Started
I got sober back in 2006, back when we were all still hanging out with Tom on MySpace. Recovery looked a lot different then — especially online. I didn’t recover out loud for years. But now, this is my loud. This is our loud. And I could not be prouder of the culture and community we are curating and creating.
Five years in, The Sober Curator is no longer just an idea. It’s a brand. A resource. A vibe. A collective of sober creators curating the joy, the color, the grit, and the pop culture of recovery. And friends, we are just getting started.
Keep it fun, keep it real, and keep it sober.
In service and gratitude,
AB (*that’s me)
Top 20 of Our Greatest Hits:
- THE MINDFUL BINGE: The 50+ Best TV Shows Featuring Addiction + Recovery (Sept 2022)
- SOBER LIFESTYLE: Ripple: Plant Based Vapes – Do They Live Up to the Hype? (Nov 2024)
- PLAY IT AGAIN (MUSIC): 18 Top Sober Musicians You’ll Want to Put on Repeat (Feb 2023)
- WHAT A TRIP! (SOBER TRAVEL): Top 11 Sober Retreats to Reset Your System in 2024 (April 2024)
- THE MINDFUL BINGE: The Bear – A Look at Addiction from An Al-Anon Perspective (July 2023)
- MOVIE NIGHT: The Best TV Shows, Movies, and Documentaries About Addiction & Recovery (Sept 2022)
- PLAY IT AGAIN (MUSIC): Haunting and Impactful Lyrics from Must-Listen-To, Jonas Conner, Only 15 Years Old with a Lifetime of Experience (Dec 2024)
- SOBER ENTERTAINMENT: A Curated List of SmartLess Episodes Featuring Sober Celebs (May 2024)
- SOBER POP CULTURE: Witty and Sarcastic Comebacks & One-Liners For When People Ask Why We’re Not Drinking (July 2021)
- THE MINDFUL BINGE: Loudermilk – He Puts The S.O.B. In Sober (Mar 2021)
- #QUITLIT: This Naked Mind, Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness, And Change Your Life By Annie Grace (Apr 2021)
- SOBER ENTERTAINMENT: 15 Best Sober Blogs to Follow (Jan 2023)
- PLAY IT AGAIN (MUSIC): Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode’s Inspiring Journey to Sobriety Since 1996 (Feb 2024)
- SOBER ENTERTAINMENT: 18 Sober YouTube Channels You Should Be Following (July 2023)
- MOVIE NIGHT: Top 95+ Movies Featuring Addiction & Recovery (Sept 22)
- THE MINDFUL BINGE: The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix is Easy to Binge (July 2023)
- SOBER POP CULTURE: 30 Quotes on Sobriety from Sober Celebrities (June 2023)
- WHAT A TRIP! Sober Retreats Calendar (June 2024) – Sober Curator Fun Fact: Sober Spotlight: Teresa Bergen Wins Gold for Travel Writing!
- HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Based in the Pacific Northwest, The Pathfinder Nonalcoholic Spirit Alternative Will Become Your New Favorite (Mar 2022)
- HAPPY EVERY HOUR – NA BEERS + 90s: Resident NA Beer Nerd Justin Lamb has reviewed over 125+ NA Beers (April 2021) Sober Curator Fun Fact: NA Beer Column Cracks the Top 100 Beer Blogs Feb 2025
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????TSC Podcast on Spotify Podcasts – ????WATCH THE SHOW! ????
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????TSC Podcast on Amazon Music
????TSC Podcast on iHeart Radio
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.
