“I literally felt like my cells were rearranging themselves because now I was complete.”
Margy Schaller
What happens when people stop hiding their sobriety — and start celebrating it out loud? For Margy Schaller, that shift felt like a physical transformation. After 18 years of sobriety lived mostly in silence, she finally came out publicly — and found freedom through Sober Life Rocks, the community she co-founded with Laura Nelson.
Together, they’re now leading something bigger: Amplify Sober Voices, a conference debuting at Podfest 2026 designed to unite sober creators, coaches, writers, and leaders from every corner of the alcohol-free world.
The mission? Simple but powerful: to turn isolation into inspiration.
From Silence to Spotlight
As Margy shares in the episode, “I wasn’t lying — but I wasn’t telling my whole truth.” For decades, stigma kept her quiet. Today, she’s helping others find their voice sooner. The Amplify conference isn’t just an event; it’s an antidote to loneliness — the kind that often lingers even after recovery.
Laura Nelson adds, “We’re creating a space where you’re not the only one in the room not drinking — you’re one of many.”
Collaboration Over Competition
Fellow guest Shane Ramer, host of That Sober Guy, reminds listeners that “time is irrelevant in recovery.” Whether someone’s been sober for 60 days or 20 years, every voice matters. That spirit of inclusivity fuels the conference’s mastermind-style sessions — where attendees swap stories, insights, and even mistakes to lift each other higher.
The Ripple Effect
For Alysse Bryson, founder of The Sober Curator and this episode’s host, collaboration has always been the heartbeat of sober culture. “We’re not gatekeeping sobriety,” she jokes. “We’re curating it — together.”
With contributors, podcasters, and creators across the world, Bryson’s work proves that recovery and creativity can coexist — and thrive. The Amplify event takes that idea off-screen and into real life.
A Movement in Motion
As Tamar Routly, co-host and podcast producer of The Sober Curator podcast, points out, “Call it sober, alcohol-free, mindful drinking — I don’t care. What matters is community.” And that’s exactly what Amplify Sober Voices is building: a movement of authenticity, joy, and belonging.
When hundreds of sober creators gather in Orlando this January, it won’t just be a conference — it’ll be a declaration. Sobriety isn’t quiet anymore.
“It’s not the end of the party,” Alysse says with a grin. “It’s just the start of a better one.”
???? Listen to Episode 38 now on The Sober Curator Podcast, and learn more about the Amplify Sober Voices Conference at Podfest 2026.
JUST ANNOUNCED 11/19/25: A Very Special Guest Is Joining AMPLIFY… and You’re Going to Want to Be in the Room – Annie Grace
Annie Grace, bestselling author and creator of This Naked Mind, is making a special appearance at AMPLIFY Sober Voices.
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.
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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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.
