SOBRIETY IN THE CITY

Embracing Recovery for Everyone: National Recovery Month 2025

Every September, National Recovery Month shines a critical spotlight on the importance of mental health and substance use disorder recovery across the United States. This annual observance, initiated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is designed to increase awareness, reduce stigma and celebrate the successes of those who have embarked on the journey of recovery. The 2025 theme, “Recovery is For Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community,” powerfully underscores that recovery is not limited to a select group; rather, it belongs to every individual and is vital for families and communities nationwide. 

SOBERSCOPES

September SoberScopes: Riding the Wave of Change | Eclipse Season Begins

Welcome to September’s SoberScopes — your sober-minded horoscope, here to help you navigate life with awareness, soul growth and a deeper sense of purpose. The first half of September is a time for review, revision, retractions, revolution and release. The cosmos is pressing us to slow down, confront what’s no longer aligned and step into deeper authenticity.

CLASSY PROBLEMS

What More We Learned. What Did You Learn? WARNING: Swag Included. 

Classy Problems is a daily signal. A recurring pulse of clarity in a world flooded with noise and complexity, with a short, layered riff each day.

We’ve learned a lot over the last 365+ days and we want to know — what did you learn in the last year?  

LET US KNOW and get your Classy swag. 

SOBER CURATOR PODCAST

Pete Droge on Sobriety, Creativity and Finding Clarity After the Spotlight 

In Episode 28 of The Sober Curator podcast, host Alysse Bryson welcomes musician Pete Droge for an honest and evocative conversation about sobriety, creativity and self-discovery. The singer-songwriter, known for his 1990s alternative rock hit “If You Don’t Love Me, I’ll Kill Myself” from the film “Dumb and Dumber,” opens up about how living a sober life has fueled his transformation, both personally and professionally. 

SOBER UNBUZZED FEED

25 Creative Structure Ideas to Help You Write Your Quit Lit Story in 2025

It’s Recovery Month, and what better way to celebrate than finally writing that quit lit book? Ever wondered how to craft a quit lit story? Is a memoir a quit lit story? Yes. A memoir is essentially a snapshot from your life — what it was, what happened, and what it’s like now. It focuses on a specific lesson learned and how you’ve changed. A quit lit memoir, short for “quit” literature (as in “I quit drinking”), chronicles the journey from drunk to sober. It’s not a cradle-to-grave autobiography; rather, it captures a distinct slice of life — a period marked by a before, an incident and an after. 

MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR

"Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot” Offers An Authentic Look At Recovery

“Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot” is a moving portrait of recovery that avoids Hollywood clichés. Director Gus Van Sant’s biographical drama, filmed in Portland, Oregon, follows cartoonist John Callahan’s journey through alcoholism, disability and the uneven process of rebuilding a life. Starring Joaquin Phoenix in a transformative role, the film blends dark humor, emotional honesty and compassion to create a story that resonates with anyone touched by addiction or the recovery process. 

#WEDORECOVER

Sober Celeb of the Week: Mary J Blige

Mary J. Blige has been open about her struggles with addiction and the powerful lessons learned in recovery. She has shared how she once used substances to numb deep pain, admitting, “We numb ourselves with drugs and alcohol and people and shopping and shit, to cover up what's really going on inside.” After realizing her life and career were at risk, she chose to confront her issues head-on, crediting prayer and faith for guiding her sobriety since 2012. Inspired by the tragic loss of Whitney Houston, Blige committed fully to healing her inner child and embracing accountability. As she says, “You got to feel it, deal, then heal.”

For anyone struggling, know that help is available: 📞 1-800-662-HELP (SAMHSA Helpline).

SOBER TRAVEL

15 Wellness Retreats to End Your Year with Intention (and Zero Hangovers)

As the seasons shift from pumpkin spice everything to twinkling lights and fresh-start energy, it’s the perfect time to ask yourself: How do I want to close out this year and step into the next? For many of us living alcohol-free, the answer is simple — with clarity, connection and maybe a little downward dog.

We’ve curated a list of 15 incredible wellness retreats happening this Fall and Winter — from the mountains of North Carolina to the sacred valleys of Peru. While not all of these retreats are explicitly alcohol-free, every single one places a strong emphasis on health, wellness and intentional living. As always, we encourage you to read the fine print and choose the experience that best supports your sobriety journey.

SOBRIETY IN THE CITY - SOBER EVENTS

DopeyCon Six: 10 Years of Dumb Sh*t, Recovery, and Katz’s Pastrami

Ten years. Countless stories. Too many laughs to track. And more dumb sh*t than anyone can reasonably measure.

Welcome to DopeyCon Six — the annual gathering of the Dopey Nation, where recovery gets real, comedy cuts deep and everyone knows the difference between clean time and screen time.

On Saturday, October 4, Dopey host David Manheim will take the stage at the Church of the Holy Apostles in NYC to celebrate a full decade of the podcast that has made addiction, recovery and ridiculousness its permanent brand.

And because this is Dopey, the evening won’t just be a show — it’s a three-and-a-half-hour collision of comedy, music, games, prizes and stories that are as gut-punching as they are gut-busting. Oh, and the reception? Catered by the legendary Katz’s Delicatessen. (Because nothing says “serenity” like pastrami.)

SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD!

Starting Over and Making It Count: A Beginner’s Guide to Early Recovery

Recently I celebrated my sixth year of sobriety. Am I an expert on the topic? God no. But something that I can share confidently and tangibly is my personal experience, plus more than 5 years working as a frontline addiction worker throughout the COVID era and beyond.

I myself can only share through the lens of someone who is fortunate enough to have a supportive family and the means to seek the right help that was appropriate for me. I believe my sharing points are applicable to most, though, and I think a lot of the symptomology of early recovery is fairly universal.