Sober Curator Podcast

This week, Alysse sits down with cocktail queen, educator, and entrepreneur April Wachtel, founder & CEO of Cheeky Cocktails—the bold, minimalist, flavor-forward mixer brand changing how we drink (with or without booze). From 20 years behind the bar to launching a brand designed to make everyone feel included, April shares stories of creativity, visibility, Saved By the Bell aesthetics, brand-building in a sober-curious era, an...

It’s been 30 years since Trainspotting splashed into our lives with all the grit, grime, dark humor, and cultural punch that made it an instant classic. In this episode, Alysse, Tamar, and Sober Curator contributor Tony Harte take a wild, witty, and brutally honest deep dive into the most iconic addiction film ever made. From the infamous baby scene to the “Choose Life” manifesto to the worst toilet in Scotland, we unpack why Train...

Adam Nimoy grew up in the orbit of an icon — but his real journey was learning how to break cycles, heal resentment, and build a relationship with his father, Leonard Nimoy, that felt human rather than legendary. In this deeply honest conversation, Adam shares his path from decades of daily “wake-and-bake” to long-term sobriety, the emotional maturity he fought hard to earn, and the radical power of living amends. From Al-Anon wisd...

In this hilariously honest and deeply human conversation, Emmy-winning host Cat Greenleaf joins Alysse to spill all the sober tea—from peeing her pants during a double-booking with Tom Arnold and Art Alexakis, to discovering what sobriety actually looks like when you're no longer a “lone wolf.” Cat opens up about service, creativity, aging, friendship with Pee-wee Herman, crafting on cocaine, and the real emotional glow-up that...

We went full pilgrimage to Astoria and then sat down with Behman Zakeri — the lifelong Goonies superfan who actually bought the Goonies house. He walks us through the wild buy, the meticulous restoration (yes, the Rube Goldberg works), and how he keeps the magic open to fans without wrecking the neighbors’ peace. It’s fandom, boundaries, community… and a reminder that “Goonies never say die” is a sober mantra, too. 

Takeaways: 

• F...

Alysse sits down with Justin Gurland, founder and CEO of The Maze, a brand-new, alcohol-free members club opening in New York City’s Flatiron district — think elevated design, IRL connection, and zero-proof vibes for people in recovery and the huge sober-curious crowd who are done pretending their seltzer is vodka. Justin shares the very New York origin story (he got to rehab on Super Bowl Sunday, the Giants miraculously won, and t...

In this powerhouse episode, host Alysse Bryson gathers some of the brightest voices in the sober creator space — Margy Schaller and Laura Nelson from Sober Life Rocks, Shane Ramer of That Sober Guy, and Tamar Routly — to talk about amplifying sober voices and creating authentic community. From owning your story to curating safe, stigma-free spaces for connection, this conversation dives deep into what it means to recover out loud, ...

The Real Margaret Josephs and her bestie Lexi Barbuto bring the Housewives sparkle to The Sober Curator Podcast. Together with Alysse Bryson and her squad, they unpack the inspiration behind Soirée—a sophisticated, non-alcoholic beverage brand born from glam, inclusivity, and celebration. From Palm Springs photo shoots, inking brand deals with Ceasars Palace, and BravoCon buzz to real talk on confidence, sobriety, and female empowe...

Writer and longtime sober creative Wendy Correa joins Alysse to talk about getting welcomed to her first AA meeting by Ringo Starr, getting sober in 1987, LA music-industry years (Geffen, Joni sightings), the Aspen KSPN radio leap that led to assisting Hunter S. Thompson, and the healing practices behind her forthcoming memoir "My Pretty Baby." 

Takeaways: 

• “If Ringo Starr can get sober, so can I” — the spark that made ...

In this Halloween-adjacent, tinfoil-hat episode of Hot Takes, Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly go all in on the internet’s latest obsession: the mysterious third interstellar visitor dubbed 3I Atlas — and why it’s got TikTok convinced the aliens/UAPs/possibly-not-friendly-space-neighbors are here. They unpack what we actually know, why the NASA site went dark during the U.S. government shutdown at the exact wrong time, and — most imp...

Therapist, author and media pro Kelley Kitley joins Alysse to unpack “gray area” drinking, stigma around labels and what long-term recovery really feels like — including a visceral craving moment and the simple, honest tools that kept her sober. They also dig into cross-addictions, perimenopause curveballs, parenting teens and how sharing your story (even when it’s messy) can change lives.   

Takeaways: 

• “Gray area” drinking thri...

In this laugh-out-loud edition of Hot Takes, Alysse Bryson, Lane Kennedy, and Tamar Routly tackle the ultimate sober pop-culture curveball: a New Zealand company launching “alcohol-free wine” for pets. From “Pinot Meow” wordplay to capitalism’s cuteness complex, the trio debates whether sobriety has gone too far—or just gone mainstream. Expect irreverent humor, quick-witted banter, and a reminder that the sober movement is official...

In this laugh-out-loud edition of Hot Takes, Alysse Bryson, Lane Kennedy, and Tamar Routly tackle the ultimate sober pop-culture curveball: a New Zealand company launching “alcohol-free wine” for pets. From “Pinot Meow” wordplay to capitalism’s cuteness complex, the trio debates whether sobriety has gone too far—or just gone mainstream. Expect irreverent humor, quick-witted banter, and a reminder that the sober movement is official...

Sugar cravings in early sobriety are real — and sometimes they look like a pint of cookie-dough chaos. Alysse, producer T-Boog (Tamar), and Curators Megan Swan and Amy Liz Harrison dish on the nostalgic pull of ice cream, why alcohol can act like “liquid dessert” and how to find a saner sweet spot without losing the fun. From church-basement trail mix to daiquiri ice cult followings, this one’s a heaping scoop of honesty with sprin...

Sugar cravings in early sobriety are real — and sometimes they look like a pint of cookie-dough chaos. Alysse, producer T-Boog (Tamar), and Curators Megan Swan and Amy Liz Harrison dish on the nostalgic pull of ice cream, why alcohol can act like “liquid dessert” and how to find a saner sweet spot without losing the fun. From church-basement trail mix to daiquiri ice cult followings, this one’s a heaping scoop of honesty with sprin...

In this fiery debut of Hot Takes, Alysse Bryson, Tamar Routly (AKA T-Boog), and new co-host Lane Kennedy unpack SNL’s controversial “Non-Non-Alcoholic Beer” sketch. Was it harmless satire or tone-deaf comedy at the expense of sober folks? The trio digs into stigma, humor, and timing — with personal stories, laughter, and a few very real emotions along the way. 

Takeaways: 

• Why the SNL sketch sparked such mixed reactions in sober ...

The Curator crew dives into Netflix’s new Charlie Sheen documentary with zero-proof sass and sober clarity: from the infamous “winning” tour and media exploitation to codependency, father-son dynamics and the surprising Karate Kid near-miss — all through the lens of recovery, empathy and accountability. 

Takeaways: 

• “Winning” wasn’t winning — how exploitation and audience appetite fed the spiral.  

• The doc’s big reveal felt small;...

What happens when you swap a six-figure tech career and a dangerous addiction for a backpack, a plane ticket and a sober second chance? Meet Ryan Lee, founder of Capsule Adventures — curated group trips where the drama stays home and the booze stays out. From a meth spiral and a hospital scare to Machu Picchu treks and off-grid connection, Ryan shares how he vets travelers (no “one beer after the hike” vibes), why his itineraries a...

Recovery meets pop culture with Alysse & T-Boog’s Top 5 Buzz-Free Headlines: a recovery-lens look at The Bear, a Sober October Gift Guide you’ll actually want, 72 hours at Bethpage Black with Soba Golf, our Fake Sponsor of the Week (🧴 People Pleaser Repellent™), Sober Celeb shoutout to Questlove, and the Breaking Weird legend: Twiggy the water-skiing squirrel. Plus: a stopwatch sprint through sober events and a T-shirt-worthy ...