Who is Bianca Criaco and why is she racing electric skateboards sober?

Bianca Criaco is an Australian rider who entered Australia's national electric skateboard championship without knowing what the event was, trained for two months on a board limited to 42 km/h, and finished last. Nine days after the race, she celebrated one year alcohol-free. Her story is proof that sobriety is less about podiums and more about showing up for things that scare you.

What is The Sober Curator Podcast about?

The Sober Curator Podcast is co-hosted by Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly, covering sober pop culture, long-term recovery, and the unfiltered realities of alcohol-free living. The latest episode digs into the hazards of podcasting sober, including what happens when your family hears an episode before you have warned them.

What is BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator?

BACKSTAGE is The Sober Curator's paid membership community for sober adults who want connection without a bar tab. Membership includes live virtual events every month, including AI meetups (Let Go & Let Claude), a writers group with author Amy Liz Harrison, a monthly Book Club, and conversations with guests like Suzanne Warye of the Sober Mom Life podcast.

Are there sober events happening in September 2026?

Yes. This edition features the Bill W and Dr Bob play in Skokie, IL (09/03), the Recovery in Unity Block Party in Bowling Green, KY (09/05), Nina Pick's Sober Secure book signing in Rhinebeck, NY (09/10), and the Sober is the New Cool Walk for Wellness happening everywhere on 09/12.

How can I join a sober book club online?

The BACKSTAGE Book Club is a new monthly virtual meetup from The Sober Curator, launching 09/13 at 11 AM Pacific. Members discuss whatever they are reading or want to read. No assigned homework, no wine required. It is included with BACKSTAGE membership.

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FROM THE DESK OF THE FOUNDER

Let's talk about Bianca Criaco, who signed up for Australia's national electric skateboard championship without knowing what it was, trained for two months, raced, and came in dead last.

Nine days later she hit one year sober. (That was yesterday, FYI)

She's calling it a comeback story, and she's right. Because here's what long-term sobriety teaches you: showing up terrified to something you might be terrible at is the whole point. The podium is optional. The pulse is not.

Also in this edition: Tamar and I get into the hazards of podcasting sober, specifically what happens when your family hears the episode before you've prepped them. Radical honesty was never supposed to mean unfiltered, and yet, here we are.

Plus your full September BACKSTAGE lineup is live, including our brand new monthly Book Club. Scroll down and pick your dates.

Now let’s get to it…

—Alysse Bryson, *AB That’s ME 💋/ Founder / Seattle, WA 🌃05.01.2006

SOBER SPORTS

Last Place, First Year: Bianca Criaco Raced Australia’s Electric Skateboard Nationals Nine Days Before Her Soberversary

Bianca Criaco signed up for Australia's national electric skateboard championship without knowing what it was, trained for two months on a board limited to 42 km/h, and came last. Nine days later she hit one year sober. She is calling it a comeback story. She is right.

SOBER CURATOR PODCAST

The Hazards of Podcasting Sober: What Happens When Your Family Hears the Episode First

Alysse Bryson and Tamar Routly take on the hazards of podcasting sober. No blackout excuse. "Radical honesty" was never supposed to mean unfiltered.

BACKSTAGE WITH THE SOBER CURATOR

Here’s the line-up for September Virtual Events included in the monthly membership

09/03 VIRTUAL: Let Go & Let Claude - Bi-weekly AI meeting for sober humans wanting to keep up with the latest tech trends, 2 PM Pacific / 5 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/07 VIRTUAL: Let Go & Let Claude - Weekly AI meeting for sober humans wanting to keep up with the latest tech trends, 12 PM Pacific / 3 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/08 VIRTUAL: The Story Session with Author, Pubisher, + Senior Sober Curator Contributor Amy Liz Harrison - Bi-weekly writers group, 1 PM Pacific / 4 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/13 VIRTUAL: BACKSTAGE BOOK CLUB - NEW monthly meet-up to discuss whatever books you’re reading (or want to read), 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/14 VIRTUAL: Let Go & Let Claude - Weekly AI meeting for sober humans wanting to keep up with the latest tech trends, 12 PM Pacific / 3 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/16 VIRTUAL: The Sober Shift - a conversation with Suzanne Warye of the Sober Mom Life podcast, 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/17 VIRTUAL: Let Go & Let Claude - Bi-weekly AI meeting for sober humans wanting to keep up with the latest tech trends, 2 PM Pacific / 5 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/21 VIRTUAL: Let Go & Let Claude - Weekly AI meeting for sober humans wanting to keep up with the latest tech trends, 12 PM Pacific / 3 PM Eastern Learn more here→
09/28 VIRTUAL: Let Go & Let Claude - Weekly AI meeting for sober humans wanting to keep up with the latest tech trends, 12 PM Pacific / 3 PM Eastern Learn more here→

JOIN here →

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🥳 FEATURED EVENTS OF THE WEEK

09/03 Skokie (IL): Bill W and Dr Bob play Learn more here→
09/05 Bowling Green (KY): Recovery in Unity Block Party 2026 Learn more here→
09/10 Rhinebeck (NY): Nina Pick, Sober Secure Book Signing Learn more here→
09/12 EVERYWHERE: Sober is the New Cool Walk for Wellness Learn more here→
09/17 New York City (NY): Drinks with Benefits Learn more here→

See you Friday Sippers!

🎧The Sober Sip 09/02: She came in last place. It's still a comeback story.