Picture this. It’s January. I’m in the lobby of a huge Orlando convention hotel wearing a housecoat, a grandma wig, and an inflatable walker. So are three of my favorite sober women. We were technically there for a podcast convention. I still can’t fully explain the series of events that led to the walkers.
What I can tell you is that nobody was drunk, everybody remembers it, and the whole thing is now Episode 6 of The Sober Curator Podcast.
This one is our sober travel episode, and I brought backup: Tamar, my co-host and the woman I got matching tattoos with the first time we met in person, and Amy Liz Harrison, my ride or die, mother of eight, married to an airline executive, and the only person I know who wears a secret-compartment fishing vest through TSA to beat baggage fees. It works. She looks like she gained 30 pounds and saves about that much in overage charges.
Sober Travel Is the Upgrade, Not the Consolation Prize
I’ve said it on the show and I’ll say it here: I have never had more fun traveling than I have as a sober person. Because, wait for it, I remember everything.
Amy put her finger on the part nobody talks about. Before she got sober, trip planning meant researching liquor laws. Can I buy booze at Safeway in this state, or do I have to wait for a liquor store to open? That was the itinerary. When alcohol stops running your logistics, your brain frees up for better questions. Questions like, what do we feel like doing today? Should we get in sumo costumes?
(Yes. The answer was yes. There were eight of them. Amy buys in bulk.)
And before you ask: no, sober does not mean well-behaved. Amy and I got kicked out of the gift shop at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas in the year of our Lord 2022, arms literally full of merchandise we were trying to PAY for. I have been back twice since. I have forgiven them. Mostly. There was a $12 sticker involved and I’m still processing.
The full story, including Tamar’s theory on why getting kicked out of places sober is actually better, is in the episode.
The Airport Hack I Need You to Know About
Here’s one straight out of the church basement playbook. If you’re traveling and you’re feeling your feels, you can walk up to any gate agent and ask them to page “a friend of Bill W.” to the gate. People in recovery know the code. Your people will find you.
I’ve never done it. Amy’s never done it. Tamar? Nope. She hasn’t either. I have done it (at least) three times for pure entertainment value. What happened when the page went out at SeaTac is exactly the kind of story you should hear me tell, so I’m not spoiling it here. Go listen.
If a gate-side meetup isn’t your speed, Amy went and did the homework for the quieter option. She researched 26 airports with interfaith prayer rooms, meditation spaces, and sensory-friendly quiet rooms, all because she was jealous that the USO gets a lounge and recovery doesn’t. Airports are a real relapse zone, and she talks about that on the show with the honesty she’s known for. Bookmark her list before your next layover: 26 Airports with Alcohol-Free Calm Spaces That Support Sober and Neurodivergent Travelers
Wear the Sober Merch. Trust Me.
I didn’t come out publicly about my sobriety until I launched The Sober Curator in 2020, and for years I never wore sober merch anywhere. Now I wear it while traveling on purpose, because something happens in airports that doesn’t happen at the grocery store.
Amy compared it to a team jersey. Wear a Seahawks jersey through any airport in America and eventually somebody will “Go Hawks” you. Sober merch works exactly the same way. It’s just that your team is sober.
There’s a story in this episode about a stranger, my Sober Pop hat, and some happy tears at a gate in Seattle that I promise is worth your earbuds. Fair warning from Tamar: the drunk people also want to chat. Occupational hazard.
Cover Story: My First-Ever Retreat, and You’re Invited
Now for the reason I’ve been vibrating all season.
You didn’t get sober to sit in the back row. You didn’t get sober to be boring. You got sober to be the main character. Cover girl energy. Cover boy energy. Cover Story.
October 15 to 18, I’m partnering with Evolve Retreats at the brand-new Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas in Paradise Valley, right next to Scottsdale, Arizona. Four days, three nights, and let me be honest with you: I am not known for wellness. I am known for content, costumes, and chaos in the best possible way. So this is a different kind of retreat.
Here’s what you get:
- All meals and NA beverages
- A 30-minute on-location photo shoot with Barbie Hull, the photographer who has taken my headshots for almost two decades. She has taken pictures of me that I’ve flagged for my own memorial service. That’s how good she is. I’ll be there to help with styling.
- B-roll captured for you all weekend. If you can barely take a selfie, I will personally sit with you and your iPhone settings until you leave with real content. I will also be creating a shared album of broll that attendees can use as they see fit.
- A costume outing. It’s Sober October. We will not waste it. Details TBD.
- A live podcast recording you can be part of on The Sober Curator podcast. FUN!
- A group-built Sober in Scottsdale city guide, published right here
- At least one sound bath, plus spa time and Camelback Mountain for the morning people. I will be asleep. Respect the process.
It’s $3,299 for a single or $2,700 for a double, and I’ll make my case for the double: sharing a room with a sober friend is a grown-up sleepover. Amy and I have a whole ritual at this point. It involves Golden Girls reruns.
Prices go up to $3,499 and $2,999 on August 21, the group is small on purpose, and I genuinely think it sells out. Dinner party, not conference.
➤ Grab your spot: evolveretreats.co/cover-story
We go international in 2027. This is the test run. Be the person who can say you were there for the first one.
Press Play, Pack Later
The steam room incident. The inflatable walkers. What ChatGPT told Amy to do and what happened to the hotel bathroom over the following hour. I’m not typing it out, because hearing Amy and Tamar tell it from their two very different points of view is the best 15 minutes of the episode.
🎧 Listen to Episode 6 now
And while you’re packing: Season 2 has its own luggage line. I designed it to look like it’s covered in stickers without the heartbreak of losing actual stickers to baggage handling. You’ll never mistake it for someone else’s black bag. Find it at shopthesobercurator.com, and Backstage members always get 40% off.
Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.
So tell me: where are you traveling sober this year, and more importantly, what are you wearing?
XOXO, Alysse
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WHAT A TRIP! I’m Hosting My First Sober Retreat, and Yes, There’s a Costume Outing
SOBER TRAVEL – WHAT A TRIP! is The Sober Curator’s guide to exploring the world alcohol-free. From insider travel tips and honest destination reviews to our curated Sober Retreats Calendar, we help you plan trips that are fun, fulfilling, and booze-free. Whether your jet-setting overseas or planning a weekend getaway, our stories and resources prove that sober travel is anything but boring. Looking for a sober getaway? We’ve got your back with our Sober Retreat Calendar. Need a night out on the town? Check out our Sober Events Calendar.
We also recommend soberscribing to The Sober Sip for weekly and monthly travel + events updates. Have a life-changing sober trip to share? Send your tips and photos to thesobercurator@gmail.com—we’d love to feature your journey.
🏝️ Submit a Sober Retreat Recovery-focused, wellness, spiritual, creative, and adventure retreats. Listings start free. Featured and Sponsored placements available for retreats that want full editorial coverage. Submit your retreat →
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!
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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.
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What is Episode 6 of The Sober Curator Podcast about?
Sober travel, and why it beats the blackout version. Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly are joined by Amy Liz Harrison to share their favorite sober travel stories and hacks, from Golden Girls costumes at PodFest Orlando to airport strategies for staying grounded in transit. The episode also announces Cover Story, The Sober Curator’s first-ever retreat.
What is the “friend of Bill W.” airport page?
It’s an unofficial code used by people in recovery. Ask any gate agent to page “a friend of Bill W.” to your gate, and fellow 12-steppers who hear it will know someone sober could use company. Tamar has done it three times, and yes, people showed up. She tells the full story in the episode.
Which airports have quiet rooms or prayer rooms for travelers in recovery?
Sober Curator contributor Amy Liz Harrison researched 26 US airports with interfaith prayer chapels, meditation rooms, and sensory-friendly quiet spaces, which can be a lifesaver since airports are a common relapse trigger.
What is the Cover Story retreat?
Cover Story is The Sober Curator’s first-ever retreat, hosted with Evolve Retreats October 15 to 18, 2026 at the Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas in Paradise Valley (Scottsdale), Arizona. It’s four days and three nights built around content creation and connection: a photo shoot with photographer Barbie Hull, a costume outing, a live podcast recording, shopping, art galleries, and at least one sound bath for the wellness crowd.
How much does the Cover Story retreat cost and what’s included?
$3,299 for a single room or $2,700 per person for a double, with prices increasing to $3,499 and $2,999 on August 21, 2026. That covers your room, all meals and NA beverages, the photo shoot, outings, and retreat programming. Airfare and transfers are separate, and a $750 deposit holds your spot with payment plans available. Book at evolveretreats.co/cover-story.
Do I have to be sober to attend Cover Story?
The retreat is built for the sober, the sober curious, and everyone in between. It’s an alcohol-free experience with all NA beverages included, and nobody will be checking your sobriety date at the door. If you want a trip you’ll actually remember, you qualify.
Where can I listen to The Sober Curator Podcast?
Everywhere you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and in full video on YouTube at @thesobercurator. New episodes drop weekly. Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.
