“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.
Sober is having a moment. NA beer is outselling the real thing in some markets, Dry January is an industry, and everyone is saying ”gray area drinking” like it's new slang. So we brought in two people who've been in this conversation from opposite ends: Ruby Williams spent 20 years in the wine industry. Susan Larkin spent 20 years at Yale School of Medicine. They met as This Naked Mind coaches, became meditation partners, and now host the Sober & Lit podcast, 140 episodes deep.
Same landing spot, two totally different rooms. Alysse and Tamar wanted to know what the collision looked like.
In this episode:
RAIN (recognize, allow, investigate, nurture), and why the same practice works whether you invite God or the universe
Why they renamed the show to reclaim the word ”sober”
How mommy wine culture normalized a bottle a night, from play-date teacups to swim-meet water bottles
Reverse purse wine: the NA bottles Susan brings to parties (Oddbird, Tomorrow Cellars, Jøyus, H2o), and what happened when Tamar poured hers in a tumbler
”If you go to the barber, you're gonna get a haircut,” and why NA wine works for some people and not others
Alysse's Mad Men martini dining room, Ruby's stacks of ”rosé all day” shirts, and the dad who replaced a wine club with National Geographic
The nurse at the cardiologist who said ”if I miss, I owe you a drink”
Normal drinkers don't justify: Tamar's one-line test
CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: sober is having a moment 01:41 How Ruby and Susan met 03:07 RAIN: recognize, allow, investigate, nurture 05:34 God or the universe, same practice 06:40 Why they renamed it ”Sober & Lit” 11:27 A word from our sponsor: Aura House 12:15 The trends that made them cringe 18:04 Mommy wine culture: play dates, teacups, swim meets 21:54 Supersize my wine: the 13-ounce pour 24:02 NA wine picks: Oddbird, Tomorrow Cellars, Jøyus, H2o 26:56 Tamar's four bottles and the placebo effect 31:44 ”Keep the ritual, ditch the alcohol” 33:00 Alysse's Mad Men martini dining room 34:39 Rosé all day: Ruby's wine-industry purge 35:39 Susan's dad, the wine club, and National Geographic 40:06 Hayden Panettiere and Brad Pitt, same week 41:14 Yale, gray area drinking, and doctors who prescribe wine 43:00 The pitcher plant: don't wait for rock bottom 44:17 ”I owe you a drink”: the cardiologist story 46:44 Normal drinkers don't justify 48:24 Would you pass around cigarettes at church? 50:55 Backstage, and why sober is the new trench coat
Nothing in this episode is medical advice. If your relationship with alcohol worries you, talk to a licensed professional. SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357.
Mentioned in this episode:
SEASON 2 MERCH: shopthesobercurator.com
This episode is brought to you by Aura House. Save 10% with code TSC10: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64140200
SC RESOURCES:
CONNECT: thesobercurator.com | The Sober Sip newsletter | @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 →
SOBERSCRIBE NOW!
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.
