“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.
Hosted by Alysse Bryson & Tamar Routly, and produced by Podcast Impact Studio, The Sober Curator Podcast brings sober lifestyle, pop culture, & recovery to the mic. Alongside Alysse & Tamar, rotating global contributors join as co-hosts to explore zero-proof drinks, sober travel, quit lit, entertainment, & mental health. This is sober media with personality, perspective, & a glitter bomb of honesty. Sober-curious or living alcohol-free, we’ve got you! We’re not here to help you get sober. We’re here to help you live sober: and love it.
Golf has the 19th hole. Skiing has après. Every sport comes with a drink attached, and three sober athletes on three continents decided to keep the sport and lose the drink.
In this bonus episode, recorded live at BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator, SOBA Golf founder Corey Davis, Soberski founder Ben Coombes and electric skateboarder Bianca Criaco join Alysse Bryson and co-host Tamar Routly to talk obsession, potential and the rush that beats the buzz.
In this episode:
– How Corey went from a 30 index to a 3 in four years, and why golf has no finish line
– Why Ben quit drinking in the one place he knew would be hardest: a ski resort
– Bianca on how an electric skateboard got her through early sobriety, and finishing dead last at nationals
– ”Mr. Potential” and what happens when you finally stop wasting it
– Walking shoulder to shoulder: why sport gets people talking
– What each guest's sport gives them on a bad day
CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome to BACKSTAGE: Sober Sports 1:52 Corey Davis and SOBA Golf 6:13 Ben Coombes and Soberski 9:25 Bianca Criaco and electric skateboarding 13:21 ”I came in dead last” 13:54 How sport changes recovery 22:27 Sober on top of a mountain 23:47 How fast is an electric skateboard? 29:12 The guests interview each other 30:10 ”Mr. Potential” 33:52 Intuition over potential 41:33 Quitting in the hardest place first 46:30 Hindsight: be relentless 50:38 What your sport gives you on a bad day 54:51 Wrap-up
Sober Shots:
”With golf, there's no destination.” (Corey Davis)
”Joy, especially for me, is something that I don't think I've had my entire life.” (Bianca Criaco)
Mentioned in this episode:
– SOBA Golf: https://soba.golf
– Soberski: https://www.soberski.co.uk
– Bianca Criaco + The Choice podcast: https://www.biancacriaco.com
– Hear more from Ben on Episode 16: https://thesobercurator.com/sober-ski-trips-are-real-inside-soberskis-alcohol-free-chalet-week/
– Join BACKSTAGE for live conversations like this every month
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.
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