Can a handful of silver massage balls, a lively menopausal posse, and a sober approach to wellness change how we talk about aging women’s health? After listening to the latest bonus episode of The Sober Curator Podcast—“Bonus Buzz – The Menopause Revolution Full”—the answer is a resounding YES.
A Laugh-Packed, Truth-Bombed Roundtable
This special episode, hosted by Alysse Bryson with co-host Tamar Routly and guests Anne Marie Cribbin, Amy Liz Harrison, and Lane Kennedy, dives deep into the menopause conversation that should be happening everywhere. If you thought menopause was just hot flashes and hormone jokes, buckle up—these ladies are here to disrupt the silence with vulnerability and a ton of humor.
From the opening banter about “cold silver balls” (trust us, just listen) to honest admissions about hormone therapy, brain fog, and surviving teenage children while perimenopausal, the group sets the uniquely inclusive and irreverent tone we love from The Sober Curator. They’re frank about fluctuating symptoms, emotional rollercoasters, and the unique challenges (and gifts) that sobriety brings to navigating menopause.
Why Oprah’s Menopause Special Matters
Much of this episode pivots around Oprah’s recent ABC special, “The Menopause Revolution,” which did what Oprah does best: elevated a secretive, often-ignored women’s health topic to main-stage pop culture status. The hosts and guests gush over the importance of seeing powerhouses like Oprah, Halle Berry, and Naomi Watts speak honestly about menopause—destigmatizing symptoms, misdiagnoses (heart disease, anyone?), and busting old myths (no, your journey isn’t exactly like your mother’s).
They draw a compelling parallel: menopause is to sobriety as an awkward, uninvited cousin is to a family reunion—both bring discomfort, mood swings, and (if handled right) a sense of wildly overdue relief and freedom.
Sobriety, Symptoms & That Sober Sixth Sense
What sets this discussion apart is how the panel ties menopause to sobriety. All the women share that being sober made them far more in tune with their bodies—no more masking symptoms with alcohol or chalking up night sweats to a hangover. “Sober living gives you tools and the ability to accept outside help,” Amy notes. Anne Marie adds how she drank at her perimenopause symptoms without realizing it; now, she finds the whole experience more manageable (and even something to celebrate).
Lane Kennedy brings her wellness expertise, pointing out that alcohol is a hormone disruptor—it doesn’t delay menopause, it just makes everything worse. Hot flashes and hangovers? Hard pass.
Hot Flashes or Hot Takes?
There’s real power—and comfort—in recognizing the diversity of menopause experiences. Some have years of emotional turbulence and irregular cycles, while others, like Alysse, seem to “sail through” with minimal symptoms (other than a memorable breakdown year or two). The group validates that menopause does not come with a one-size-fits-all script—and, crucially, if doctors or society aren’t talking about it, we should be.
Also? The show is hilarious. From dreams of menopause-themed t-shirts (“I’m Sober & Periwinkle” anyone?) to reclaiming “the crone” as a wise, celebratory phase, these comments make clear: the story of aging is ready for a major rewrite.
Embracing the Revolution—And Each Other
Perhaps most poignant is the idea that menopause, like sobriety, is more than just a thing to “get through.” It’s a revolution—one that’s about reclaiming agency, building community, and saying the things our mothers and grandmothers never could. These women talk about shrinking friend groups, clearer priorities, and the gift of dreaming into their futures with clarity and purpose—minus the booze.
They wrap up with rapid-fire “sober shots” (fave mocktails, playlist anthems), menopause Netflix pitches (“The Menopausse!”), and a nod to the Golden Girls as ultimate icons of aging fabulously on their own terms.
Want More?
If you want honest, hilarious talk about menopause, sobriety, and smashing taboos, this episode is essential. Tune in and, as Alysse says, “Keep it real, keep it fun, and keep it sober.”
Find more curated magic at The Sober Curator.
And don’t forget your silver balls. #ADDTOCART ON AMAZON
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Want More? Read Anne Marie’s What Pop Culture Gets Right (and Still Misses) About Menopause
Want more? Read Megan Swan’s Unlock a Peaceful Menopause Journey: How Cutting Out Alcohol Helps
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