Sober living isn’t just about leaving substances behind—it’s about discovering a new richness in life, embracing humor, connection, and even the messiness of true emotion. In episode 15 of the Sober Curator Podcast, hosts Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly sit down with author and advocate Travis Sackett to explore what happens after we put the bottle down, how we heal from life’s painful curveballs, and why community matters more than ever.
Travis Sackett brings more than a decade of sobriety, a published memoir (“My Life with Karma”), and brutally honest insights into the conversation. His journey is marked by transformation, including moving from a very public, stigmatizing criminal case to becoming a harm reduction specialist, public speaker, and, most importantly, a present father and partner.
Travis stands out by his willingness to redefine how people see “addicts”—not as cautionary tales, but as people capable of profound change and advocacy. He speaks openly about how writing his story became an act of regaining his voice when the media and court system had taken it away.
When Loss Hits Hard: Grieving Our Four-Legged Family
A core theme in Travis’s story—and this episode—is the profound loss he felt when Karma, his beloved rescue dog and anchor throughout early recovery, passed away. Both Alysse and Travis share the deep, unique grief that comes with losing a pet, especially after experiencing the clarity and vulnerability sobriety brings.
Travis doesn’t shy away from describing his heartbreak and how critical it was to process this kind of pain without returning to old habits. As he puts it: “If you can feel that kind of pain, it shows you how much love you’re capable of giving and having—one can’t exist without the other.”
This raw honesty resonates with many listeners and highlights a key point: Recovery gives us a depth of feeling, both beautiful and hard, and learning to move through grief is a skill that should be honored rather than hidden.
Humor, Music, and the Joys of Sober Life
The episode isn’t all heavy, though. From hilarious stories about yard gnome mischief to recounting personal theme songs (think Dave Matthews Band, Celine Dion, and Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping”), the hosts and Travis celebrate sober culture’s quirky and joyful sides.
These moments of levity aren’t just filler—they’re proof that sobriety doesn’t end fun. Whether sharing awkward fan-girl moments outside Dave Matthews’ house or swapping tattoo stories, humor becomes an essential coping skill and a testament to the richness of sober living.
Another central theme from this episode centers around the power of vulnerability, especially for men in recovery. Travis urges others, “Machismo kept me stuck. Vulnerability is a natural part of what we are… We need that connection to thrive.” His story is a clarion call to anyone (regardless of gender) who feels pressure to keep hard feelings to themselves, reminding us that true strength lies in connection and honesty, not self-reliance or isolation.
Building a Community—One Story at a Time
The hosts and Travis highlight the importance of sharing stories in recovery. Whether it’s through publishing a memoir, connecting over a shared love of dogs and tattoos, or just showing up for others in an online sober community, these moments of connection are how stigma is smashed and hope is seeded.
As Alysse puts it, “People reading other people’s stories, hearing other people’s stories, and feeling that connection—that is what binds this community together.”
Ready for more real talk and curated recovery magic? Check out new episodes and resources at The Sober Curator. And remember, as Alysse says with a wink, “We’re way more fun than your ex’s drunk texts.”
#QUITLIT BOOK REVIEW: My Life with Karma by Travis Sackett
Listen to Episode 15 Now!
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.
Getting sober is one thing—but staying sober? That’s where the real adventure begins. The Sober Curator Podcast, hosted by Alysse Bryson and featuring the many voices of Sober Curator Contributors, proves that ditching booze doesn’t mean ditching fun, pop culture, or your social life.
Each episode serves up bold conversations, celeb interviews, zero-proof cocktail inspiration, and pop culture deep dives—all with laughs, honesty, and zero preachy vibes. Whether you’re sober or sober-curious, you’ll find insider tips, real-life stories, and endless reasons to love the alcohol-free life. Pull up a seat—this party’s just getting started!
Recovery is hard 24/7, 365 – Please know that 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. If your life or someone else’s is in imminent danger, please call 911. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call: 988.
