"I realized that I didn't want to wake up feeling like that anymore."
FROM THE DESK OF THE FOUNDER
Happy Friday, Sober Sippers!
It's Gratitude Month, so this one is a thank-you note. These are five stories you read, shared and came back to this year more than almost anything else in the archives. Cameron Whitcomb, who got sober at 20 and does backflips on stage, was the most-read story on the entire site. Also on your list: Billy Joel's five-hour documentary, Will Arnett's "Flaked" through an addiction psychologist's eyes, Lisa Smith's "Girl Walks Out of a Bar," and the difference between hop water and NA beer.
You have excellent taste. I've always said so.
Now let’s get to it…
— Alysse Bryson (*AB That’s Me 💋) / Seattle, WA 🌃 05.01.2006
HAPPY EVERY HOUR
Happy Every Hour Review: Hoplark 0.0 Citra
If you're exploring the wide range of non-alcoholic beverages and you happen to be a lover of hops, you've likely discovered a few options known as hop water. I honestly had a hard time distinguishing between hop water and NA beer when I first started looking into my options. As a fan of hoppy IPAs, I want to smell the hops in my glass before it hits my lips. So, of course, I was curious about this category.
#QUITLIT
#QUITLIT Review: Lisa Smith's "Girl Walks Out Of A Bar"
Lisa's book resonated with me on so many levels. Many high functioning, successful people hide their addictions to alcohol and drugs. I know I did. Or, I thought I did anyway. Her lows were my lows; the black-outs, drinking around the clock, the cocaine, the lies, the depression, waking up in strange places. Yes, I knew this storyline all too well.
MOVIE NIGHT
Billy Joel's Battle With Alcohol: A Review of "And So It Goes"
I just finished the 5-hour Billy Joel documentary, "And So it Goes." I'm left with the sadness of what a serious drinking problem does to a person and also amazement at what can be accomplished even in the heights of alcoholism.
THE MINDFUL BINGE
“Flaked” Review: Will Arnett's Raw Portrayal of Addiction and Recovery – A Psychologist's Insight
How can you not love Will Arnett? I've been circling around the Will Universe for a while now, from his movies to TV shows to his present super success on the SMARTLESS podcast. I find him a delight- a hilarious, honest, snarky, authentic, passionate, compassionate friend, fellow sober human whose humor brings me joy. Since I'm a 64-year-old addiction psychologist who has listened to people's pain, drama, trauma, and torturous histories for over thirty years, a little joy is what I need. Enter “FLAKED”.
SOBER POP CULTURE
Cameron Whitcomb's Recovery Story: From American Idol to Atlantic Records
Cameron Whitcomb does a backflip on stage. Not metaphorically. Literally. The 22-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter launches himself into the air mid-performance, lands it, and keeps singing. It is the kind of move that makes you think: this kid has nothing to lose and everything to prove. He also got sober at 20, watched his best friend nearly die from an overdose, and then brought his father and brothers into recovery with him.
Attend the ANA Virtual Summit and Get the 2026 State of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry Report
November 17-18, 2026 | 12-3 PM Eastern | Free and global on LinkedIn Live
Our friends at the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA) are releasing their first-ever State of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry Report at a 2-day ANA Virtual Summit on November 17-18, and you're invited to attend.
Registration is free and includes first access to the Industry Report, sent at the end of Day 1, plus panel sessions full of data deep dives, expert discussions, and insights shaping what's next in the adult non-alcoholic (ANA) category.
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See you Monday (we hope?)
