“Hello, I’m Richard.”
That’s how the door opened for Wendy Correa — Ringo at the threshold, sobriety on the other side. The handshake at her very first AA meeting didn’t fix anything overnight; it simply gave her proof that recovery is human, possible and sometimes standing there with a Beatles grin.
Wendy’s story arcs like a mixtape: LA label years that were glittering and gritty; a DUI that snapped the soundtrack; a late-night audition in a tiny booth where knobs and sliders looked like a spaceship; and a mountain town where the request line rang at 4 a.m. with a familiar gravelly voice asking for Warren Zevon.
She had spent a decade in the industry — A&R floors buzzing, Geffen-era stories that could keep you up till last call — only to find that “fun” and “easy” weren’t the same thing, especially for women staring at the glass ceiling long before #MeToo had a hashtag. “It was a lot of fun, but it was not easy,” she says, and that sentence lands like a chorus you already know.
Then came the deal she whispered to the universe: If Aspen is meant for me, give me a DJ job. One phone call later, she was in the KSPN lobby, résumé full of label life, heart full of nerves. The program director slid her into a downstairs booth with a Ricky Lee Jones CD and said, prove it. Wendy queued the track, took a breath, and found her voice: “Wendy Moore here on KSPN-FM, Roaring Fork Radio…” She got the job. Sometimes you’re not waiting for a sign — you’re delivering one into the mic.
Aspen turned into a chapter that could only be written at altitude. There were double shifts and side gigs (Aspen rent is undefeated), and there was also Hunter S. Thompson — calling in song requests at an hour when only coyotes and DJs are awake, later asking if she’d work with him. Imagine learning to ride the rollercoaster while the rollercoaster operator phones in Warren Zevon at 4 a.m. and then hires you. That was Wendy’s classroom.
But the point of her story isn’t celebrity proximity; it’s proximity to herself. Wendy got sober in 1987 — day one stamped during the first South by Southwest — and she built recovery the way people build homes: piece by piece, with help. “I sought out Buddhism and meditation and nature and hiking,” she says. “I started going to AA… later Nicotine Anonymous. I also did psychotherapy and journaling.” When new family revelations shook the ground decades later, she added EMDR and IMTT to the mix — modalities that helped take the “zing” out of triggers without erasing the truth.
A few lines linger. On what that first AA meeting meant: “If Ringo Starr can get sober, so can I.” On recovery as a practice, not a finish line: “There is no magic bullet… You have to work.” On chosen family: keep the people who mirror back your worth. These aren’t slogans — they’re field notes from someone who’s hiked the long way home.
Her forthcoming memoir, “My Pretty Baby,” reaches into childhood innocence and what came after, threading grief, secrecy and intergenerational trauma into a narrative about what it means to heal without pretending it was easy. The cover image — little Wendy, bangs and a doll — holds a kind of time-travel tenderness. The book’s title points right at her: the pretty baby who didn’t know what was coming, but who would eventually write her own ending.
If you’re early on your path, Wendy’s episode is a reminder that recovery is cumulative. Stack what works: the meeting that feels safe, the therapist who helps you rewire the fear, the hike that lets your nervous system settle, the song that puts your breath back where it belongs. If you’re a few decades in, it’s a nudge to keep layering practices as life changes. “Life continues and you have to continue to need helpers along the way,” she says. That’s not weakness; that’s wisdom.
Listen for the stories. Stay for the tools. And if your recovery ever needs a sign, maybe imagine a friendly Beatle at the door, saying “Hello.” The rest is up to you.
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Getting sober is one thing—but staying sober? That’s where the real adventure begins.
This show is for you if you’ve ever wondered:
– Where can I find inspiring sober podcasts, apps, and creators?
– How do I give back or stay plugged into the sober community
– What are the best sober-friendly drinks and travel tips?
– Where do I find the good NA drinks that don’t taste like regret?
The Sober Curator is your go-to for sober pop culture, booze-free travel, apps, creators, and community.
We’re not here to help you get sober.
We’re here to help you live sober—and love it.
This week on The Sober Curator, Alysse sits down with rising pop powerhouse Ella Collier—singer, songwriter, producer, and sober Gen Z glitter bomb of honesty. From Atlanta rap influences to emotional sobriety, heartbreak breakthroughs, and the pop-star fantasy she both lives and parodies, Ella shares how sobriety amplifies—not restricts—her creativity. They talk anxiety, artistry, community, Muppet Recovery memes (yes, really), bedazzling disasters, and the real-life glow-up that happens when you ditch alcohol and reclaim your energy.
This episode is hilarious, heartfelt, hyperpop-coded, and filled with quotable moments that prove—once again—sobriety is the start of a way better party.
Takeaways:
Emotional sobriety changed Ella’s creative process. She channels heartbreak, internal tension, and joy directly into her lyrics and content with radical honesty.
Sobriety = glow-up. Better skin, more money, more libido, more energy. Ella calls it “the ultimate anti-aging hack.”
Pop-star fantasy meets real life. Ella loves the glam—but also pulls back the curtain on crying between takes, breakups, and imperfect reality.
Connection is part of the work. She hosts Zoom sessions with fans for each new release to build authentic community.
Creativity thrives in sobriety. Both Alysse and Ella bond over being ”painfully self-aware,” driven, and joyfully obsessive about their creative platforms.
Recovery memes are culture. Muppet Recovery = required viewing. Ella immediately writes it down.
Key Timestamps:
00:00:24 — Ella opens up about anxiety, “addiction to problems,” and survival-mode energy from childhood
00:01:53 — Alysse introduces Ella’s music career: Love Island, NBA2K, X Games, and Spotify’s SALT playlist
00:10–00:20 — Sobriety, self-expression & Ella’s relationship to emotional growth
00:29:00 — Social awkwardness in sobriety + finding community anywhere you go
00:38:00 — Bedazzled books, Barbie mishaps & the joy of crafting sober art
00:41:00 — Pop-star fantasy vs. real life: humor, heartbreak & honesty online
00:49:00 — Ella’s single-release strategy & the “I Don’t Do Drugs” moment
Resources & Links:
Ella Collier Music — https://ellacolliermusic.com
Instagram: @ellacollier
Spotify: Ella Collier
TikTok: @ellacollier
Muppet Recovery article: https://thesobercurator.com/nostalgia-memes-and-sobriety-how-muppet-recovery-on-instagram-became-a-beloved-gem/
–Alcohol + Substance Use Disorder Guide
–Recovery Nonprofit Resource Guide
–LBGTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide
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About:
Sobriety isn’t the end of the party—it’s just the start of a better one. Hosted by Alysse Bryson, media powerhouse and sobriety’s ultimate hype woman, and joined by Sober Curator contributors, The Sober Curator Podcast* delivers bold convos, pop culture deep dives, and zero-proof living that doesn’t suck. Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just looking for good vibes without the hangover, we’ve got you covered. Subscribe now—because getting sober matters, staying sober matters more.
*The Sober Curator Podcast is a space for open and honest conversations about sobriety, recovery, and alcohol-free living. While we celebrate all paths to a sober lifestyle, some topics discussed may be sensitive or triggering for certain listeners. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. If you’re in recovery or exploring sobriety, please take care while listening and seek support from trusted professionals as needed.
TSC LIBRARY: Welcome to The Sober Curator Library! We don’t just read books; we immerse ourselves in literary journeys, tune in on Audible, and craft insightful reviews. Our digital shelves are organized into four genres: #QUITLIT, Addiction Fiction, Self-Help, and NA Recipe Books.
MUSIC – PLAY IT AGAIN! 18 Top Sober Musicians You’ll Want to Put on Repeat
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