???? Grab Your LaCroix and Your Emotional Support Squirrel
The October 7th episode of This Just In is here, and your sober newscasters Alysse and T-Boog are coming in hot with recovery wins, weird news, and at least one fake sponsor we wish were real.
This week’s Top 5 Buzz-Free Headlines feature everything from birth order and addiction genetics to Questlove’s sober vibes — and yes, a water-skiing squirrel who’s living his best life.
???? Big Story #1: “The Bear” – Birth Order, Family Roles & Addiction Genetics
Addiction might run in the family, but so does redemption (and sarcasm). Alysse and T-Boog break down The Bear’s kitchen chaos through a recovery lens — proving “Yes, Chef” might actually mean “Please, therapist.”
???? Big Story #2: Sober October Gift Guide 2025
Because nothing says “I love your sobriety” like a bougie candle and an “In My Sober Era” sweatshirt. This year’s guide includes gifts that let you recover out loud without ever saying a word.
⛳ Big Story #3: 72 Hours at Bethpage Black with Soba Golf
Golf, community, and camaraderie — sober style. That’s “par for the recovery course,” and T-Boog swears 72 hours of golf sounds like “rehab for extroverts.” Either way, it’s proof you can chase birdies and serenity at the same time.
⚡ Quick Hits
???? From Blackouts to Boundaries: Author Suzanne Warye shares The Sober Shift and why PTA meetings are easier without hangovers.
???? “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey Review:
Turns out the secret to life is saying “Alright, alright, alright” — but with a sponsor.
???? Fake Sponsor of the Week: People Pleaser Repellent™
“One spritz and you’ll finally say no… without a follow-up apology.”
Side effects may include inner peace, confidence, and losing 10 toxic friendships overnight.
???? Sober Celeb of the Week: Questlove
Musician. Director. Author. Recovery rockstar.
He’s living proof that rhythm, recovery, and resilience can coexist — and if Questlove ever launches a Zero-Proof Roots Picnic, we’ll be first in line.
???? Breaking Weird: Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel
Yes, you read that right. Twiggy the squirrel made waves (literally) at the Carolina Classic Fair. Alysse says Twiggy’s got better balance than half the people at a bachelorette brunch. T-Boog says if Twiggy doesn’t get a Netflix doc by 2026, “we riot.”
???? Sober Events Spotlight – Stopwatch Challenge
Five events. Thirty seconds. Zero hangovers.
- Thu 10/9: Drag Bingo – Sober AF Tacoma (Alysse will be there!)
- Fri 10/10: Stop the Shuffle Film Screening – Wilmington, DE
- Sat 10/11: Just F**ing Write Virtual Class with Tawny Lara
- Thu 10/16: Virtual Risotto Class – Teetotal Initiative, Pittsburgh
- Fri 10/17: BigVision Acoustic Series – NYC
Got a sober event? Tag @thesobercurator — we love a good sober party we don’t have to clean up after.
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
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.
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.
Our archives are neatly organized so you can easily explore Recovery Podcastland—featuring our favorite recovery-based podcasts from across the globe—and the TSC Podcast Network, where we share our own original shows on sober lifestyle, pop culture, travel, entertainment, and more.
Whether you’re seeking practical recovery tips, personal stories, or uplifting inspiration, this is your go-to listening guide. 🎧 Submit a Podcast for Review: Recovery Podcastland coverage and reviews. Shows that earn their place in our audience’s queue. Submit your podcast →
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