“I wasn’t addicted to drugs. I was addicted to acceptance.”  That sentence lands like truth usually does — quietly, then all at once. 

In Episode 48 of The Sober Curator Podcast, Jonathan Gildart doesn’t tell a redemption story wrapped in shiny sobriety clichés. He tells a human one. A story about identity, incarceration, and what happens when recovery finally becomes more than just abstinence. 

For Jonathan, addiction wasn’t born from rebellion or recklessness — it was born from longing. The longing to belong. To not be the awkward kid. To be accepted without explanation. Substances didn’t just numb pain; they created instant connection. 

Until they didn’t. 

GSM+ is not a roundup nor some average conference—it’s a vibrant, inclusive celebration for anyone in the LGBTQIA2S+ recovery community.

We’re proud to welcome EVERYONE.
Imagine workshops and meetings tailored just for you, plus highly-produced events that bring fun, fellowship, and top-notch entertainment. Set against the backdrop of Pride Weekend in New York City, this is an experience you’ll never forget!

Come MARCH with LOVE and experience NYC Pride without the cliques, the clacks or the slapbacks!!

I didn’t set out to become a podcast producer or a coach. That part still makes me laugh a little because if you’d asked me years ago what my “purpose” was, I probably would’ve said something vague like helping people and then immediately changed the subject.

But here’s what I know now: Purpose doesn’t usually show up fully formed. It sneaks in while you’re not paying attention.

COMING OUT SOBER shares personal stories from our Sober Curator contributors in the LGBTQ+ community about living sober, proud, and out loud. From hilarious mishaps to heartbreaking truths—and everything in between—these narratives explore what it means to break free from both booze and societal norms. This space celebrates authenticity, resilience, and the power of living your truth without alcohol.

Don’t miss our LGBTQ+ Recovery Resource Guide for supportive tools, connections, and inspiration.

We’re always curating sober pop culture with you in mind, and this readership survey helps us do it better. Join thousands of readers shaping sober lifestyle content. Your answers guide what we write, review, recommend, and spotlight next.

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And yes, there are prizes. Because gratitude matters.

"Easy Does It" could also qualify as one of my all-time favorite sober slogans, because 100% my default setting is "rage, crazy panic, anxiety mode" where everything's a five-alarm fire that I alone must extinguish with maximum drama.

Back when I was drinking, "urgent" meant slamming three vodka tonics and rage-texting solutions at 2 a.m., only to make everything ten times worse in record time.

Nowadays, when I catch myself revving up, I just chuckle and say, “Easy does it, broham,  nobody’s dying if this takes an extra twenty minutes.”

For me, it’s a gentle nudge that slowing down doesn’t mean doing nothing; it just means giving things a chance to work themselves out without me bulldozing them into worse shape.  Plus, it’s straight up exhausting, and nobody's got the headspace or time for that anymore.

-If you like these sober slogan reflections, you’re going to love the Sober City app.  I wrote 365 of these babies and made them FREE for all of us sober people.  Check it out on the App Store and Google Play.  -Chris Rosburg

You’ve got ideas. Stories. Opinions. A perspective shaped by lived experience, recovery, and a deep understanding that the world needs more honest conversations. And yet, the podcast is still just an idea sitting in your Notes app.

If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.

We are holding space for people who have been dreaming about launching their own podcast but don’t know where to begin or how to do it without burning out, overspending, or losing momentum halfway through episode three. LEARN MORE HERE.