“I didn’t know I wanted to write this.”
Niesha Davis
That’s how Niesha Davis describes the beginning of her journey with The Sober Curious Activity Book—and it’s exactly why her story resonates.
Sober curiosity doesn’t arrive with sirens or ultimatums. Sometimes it shows up as bloating. Anxiety. Bad sleep. A quiet sense that something’s off. For Niesha, those whispers were impossible to ignore. Her body was asking questions long before she had language for the answers.
In a culture that glorifies extremes—rock bottom or nothing—sober curiosity offers a third path. One rooted in noticing. Reflecting. Getting honest without making lifelong declarations.
What makes Niesha’s approach refreshing is its creativity. Journaling, drawing, tactile play—these aren’t distractions from healing; they’re gateways into it. Where alcohol once blurred discomfort, creativity now gives it shape. Color. Context.
There’s also courage in her honesty about grief. Letting go of alcohol can feel like letting go of youth, identity, or social currency. That mourning period? It’s real. But so is the relief on the other side—where presence replaces performance and connection deepens without a buzz.
Neisha reminds us that sober curiosity isn’t about perfection. It’s personal. Some people love non-alcoholic drinks. Some don’t. The win isn’t what’s in your glass—it’s that you chose it consciously.
And perhaps the most powerful truth of all: you don’t owe anyone an explanation. Curiosity is enough. Listening is enough. Starting where you are is enough.
If you’ve ever wondered what life might feel like with a little less numbing and a little more noticing, this conversation is your invitation.
???? Listen to the full episode of The Sober Curator Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
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.
Some people look at a mountain and see a party. Ben Coombes used to be one of them: magnums of rosé at lunch, shots on the chairlift, and more near misses than he can count. Then he tried something nobody in a ski resort does. He did a sober season.
Now Ben runs Soberski, alcohol-free chalet weeks in Méribel in the French Alps, and he’s our newest Sober Curator contributor. Alysse and Tamar (a snowboarder, it turns out) talk with him about what happens when you keep the mountain and lose the après.
In this episode:
Ski, work, or drink: pick two. Ben’s seasons driving guests for a luxury chalet company
The sober season that became an Instagram page, then a business
The first booking came from New Jersey, and Ben thought it was a scam
Never skied? Ben’s guest who went from zero to flying around the mountain in about six hours of lessons
Private chefs, cold plunges, daily yoga, and evening workshops
The January 22 to 29, 2027 week in Méribel, and who it’s for (sober, sober curious, or just done with hangovers on holiday)
Ben’s pick for your queue: “The Gentlemen” on Netflix
Why Ben didn’t build a support group on a mountain. He built a room.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold open
01:29 You got sober. Now what?
04:06 Falling for the mountains at 21
05:13 Ski, work, or drink: pick two
06:36 The sober season experiment
08:43 Tamar’s 20-year-old snowboarder brain
09:36 Rosé at lunch, shots on the chairlift13:41 A word from our sponsor: Aura House
14:30 January 2027 in Méribel
15:34 North Americans welcome
18:06 Never skied? Start here
24:39 Watching strangers become friends
28:53 Pop culture pick: The Gentlemen
31:36 The Sober Swap, new in Backstage
35:13 Yoga, cold plunges, evening workshops
37:48 He didn’t build a support group. He built a room.
38:37 Where to find Soberski
Sober Shots:
“If I can not drink in a ski resort, then I can probably not drink anywhere.” (Ben Coombes)
“You are allowed to go somewhere ridiculous and beautiful to find him or her.” (Alysse Bryson)
Mentioned in this episode:
– Soberski | Instagram @s0berski
– Backstage with The Sober Curator: https://thesobercurator.com/backstage-with-the-sober-curator/
– The Sober Swap, our new October Backstage hang
– Krysty Krywko, “Skiing Sober: Rewriting Après-Ski Without Alcohol”
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
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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