Laughter, Recovery, and Sober Shenanigans: Highlights from The Sober Curator’s June 24th weekly episode of THIS JUST IN. From tchotchke showdowns to sober cruises, Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly deliver a dose of much-needed lightness and insight for the recovery community.
Introduction: Finding Light in Recovery
Sobriety is serious business—but, as Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly show in the latest episode of THIS JUST IN on The Sober Curator podcast, that doesn’t mean it has to be somber. With their trademark wit, a sprinkle of pettiness, and a heaping helping of heart, these two hosts invite listeners into a world where healing thrives on humor, connection, and, yes, even a healthy appreciation for fabulous tchotchkes.
This week, the duo serves a (non-alcoholic) cocktail of recovery gossip, sober event highlights, questionable yet lovable life choices, and a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the best way to cope is with laughter.
Humor as Medicine: Running Toward Lightness
Right from the start, Alysse and Tamar acknowledge the heaviness of the world—the “heavy stuff, scary stuff” we all feel. Addiction, chaos or substances were once the escape route; now, the hosts run to jokes, memes, and playful showdowns. “We’re not ignoring what’s going on… We’re just trying to offer a little light when and where we can. If this makes your day even a fraction brighter, then, hey, we’re doing our jobs.”
Their approach is clear: offer solace and community through a blend of real talk and comic relief, because recovery doesn’t have to be dour.
Hot Topics: This Week’s Top Five Articles
In classic Sober Curator style, Alysse and Tamar countdown the week’s standout articles—a blend of insight, confession, and humor:
- Tchotchke Showdown: Two sober women clean their desks and turn it into content, battling for the title of “Inclusive Tchotchke Glory.” The prize? Bragging rights and a Sober Curator fanny pack—because, of course.
- “Seat 11A, The Addict That Walks Away”: A personal essay that hits home for many—think “Eat, Pray, Cry,” but at 30,000 feet, capturing the vulnerability and transformation often sparked in unexpected moments.
- Drunk on Stealing – Sticky Fingers, Shaky Self-Worth: Hannah Sward’s candid confessions about shoplifting reveal that sometimes, what’s stolen isn’t merchandise but pieces of our identity. Raw, hilarious, and ultimately healing.
- The “Let Them” Theory: Is “just let them” solid advice or avoidance wrapped in meme culture? The Sober Curator squad of contributors is in a hot debate, arguing that “let them” is not a theory. (Episode on that coming soon!) Dr. Sarah joins the conversation, bringing receipts and healthy skepticism to the conversation in her review on Leaving CrazyTown with Finn Allen.
- Serenity Prayer Alternatives: If the Serenity Prayer feels like “a voicemail from God you don’t want to check,” this classic post offers 10 new, spicy (and some soothing) mantras to support recovery.
This lively rundown showcases The Sober Curator crew’s commitment to exploring recovery from every angle—witty, wise, and always real.
Sober Celeb Spotlight: Lexi Love
Every episode needs a role model, and this week’s “Sober Celeb Spotlight” shines on Lexi Love. Described as “the radiant, unstoppable Lexi Love,” she embodies the fierceness and heart at the core of the recovery community. Sobriety, as the hosts remind us, can be “a Beyoncé halftime show with therapy”—vibrant, bold, and unapologetically authentic. Sober Curator Pro Tip: Check out our Sober Pride Gift Guide.
Conclusion: Stay Cute, Stay Sober
With warmth, levity, and an uncanny sense for what the recovery community craves, Alysse and Tamar close the show by inviting listeners back for more: “Getting sober is cute, but staying sober with us, that’s hot.” In a world that can feel overwhelming, The Sober Curator continues to be a bright, glittery, and deeply supportive space for anyone walking the path of recovery—one laugh, event invite, and questionable tchotchke at a time.
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.
Rate, review and subscribe. It takes 60 seconds and we will love you forever.
Contact: thesobercurator@gmail.com
Everybody has the same advice for a bad job: just leave. Great. Where are you going? In 2026, most people aren’t choosing between a bad job and a good job. They’re choosing between a bad job and no job.
Work navigation strategist Lynnae Brown (1,000+ days sober) burned out in 2018, couldn’t leave, and figured out how to stay without losing herself. She and our resident sober HR lady, Sarah Alaimo, join Alysse for the episode on the job you have, not the one you want.
In this episode:
- Why “get a new job” is lousy advice right now (and why it works as dating advice)
- Burnout stories: Alysse’s heart surgery at 40, Lynnae’s $149,000 reason to stay
- Navigate, don’t negotiate: why you don’t argue with the map
- The micromanager who wrote every email with her, and how she still left at 5
- Do you even want a promotion? The invisible labor you can quietly put down
- The 7-to-7 experiment, and why acceptance is not agreement
CHAPTERS
00:00 “Just leave.” Great. Where are you going?
01:38 Meet Lynnae Brown and Sarah Alaimo
03:29 Why “get a new job” is lousy advice
06:17 Burnout: heart surgery at 40 and $149K in loans
08:44 Navigate, don’t negotiate
11:40 The boss who wrote every email with her
14:35 Gen Z, boundaries and advocacy vs. results
20:19 The path of least resistance
22:59 Three things to try this week
25:33 Irritant becomes information
32:07 Do you want to be right or happy?
36:03 Where to find Lynnae + BACKSTAGE
Sober Shots:
“You don’t argue with the map.” (Lynnae Brown)
“A paycheck is also structure, insurance, and a reason to put pants on at 8:00 AM.” (Alysse Bryson)
Find Lynnae:
– lynnaebrown.com – LinkedIn – Substack
Mentioned in this episode:
— S2E10 Recovery Friendly Workplace
Getting sober matters. Staying sober matters more.
SEASON 2 MERCH: https://shopthesobercurator.com/
This episode is brought to you by Aura House. Save 10% with code TSC10: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64140200
SC RESOURCES:
– Meet the Contributors – Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide – Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide – LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide – Family 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.
The Tchotchke Showdown brought to you by The Sober Curator | Alysse Bryson vs. Travis Sackett
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.
