FROM THE DESK OF THE FOUNDER
Sunday night I walked into my parents' house late and Hayden Panettiere's face was on the TV with "Dead at 36" underneath it. I stood there saying "that's not possible" to my mother about six times.
Today we publish our Quit Lit episode. We recorded it in July. Her memoir got the highest score of the three books.
So Monday morning the three of us got behind the mic and recorded a bonus episode. It is not an obituary and it is not a hot take. Her cause of death had not been released at the time of the recording and we are not speculating, full stop.
What we did talk about is the week. Hers, and Brad Pitt telling Esquire he is drinking again after seven years, and what the sober internet did with both stories. A lot of judgment. A lot of grading other people's programs. A lot of people deciding they knew.
If this week is heavy for you, that is a normal reaction and you are not being dramatic. Resources are available.
The rest of the issue is still here, because life keeps going and so do we. The Quit Lit episode itself: "Famesick," "We Did OK Kid," and "This Is Me," scored by a room full of Sober Curator contributors. Hunter Biden, sober since 2019 with the entire country watching, commenting, and subpoenaing, now talking about relapse and recovery with the kind of honesty you only find when there's nowhere left to hide.
And last call on the Mixtape. Volume 001 ships tomorrow, only 100 exist. Sober Snail Mail, seven mini zines in a cassette case, every month for six months. If you've been meaning to, this is the meaning-to moment.
Take care of yourself today.
—Alysse Bryson, *AB That’s ME 💋/ Founder / Seattle, WA 🌃05.01.2006
SOBER CURATOR PODCAST
Hayden Panettiere, Brad Pitt, and How We Talk About Recovery When the News Breaks
Hayden Panettiere died at 36. Brad Pitt says he's drinking again. Two stories, one week, and a conversation the recovery community keeps getting wrong.
SOBER CURATOR PODCAST
Quit Lit Book Reviews: "Famesick," "We Did OK Kid" + "This Is Me," Rated by Sober Readers
Three memoirs came out this year from three people who could not be more different, and every one of them was writing about the same thing. We pulled the Sober Curator super readers into a virtual room and talked about all of them, plus a few more. It’s our new favorite way to hold a book club. Just show up and talk about whatever you’re reading.
#ADDTOCART
LAST CALL! We Made You a Mixtape
We made you a mixtape. Only 100 are being created of Volume 001. Order yours today. We ship on August 20th. We’re calling it Sober Snail Mail and it’ll be the coolest thing to land in your actual mailbox for the next six months.
SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD!
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Hunter Biden on Sobriety, Relapse and the Politics of Recovery
Hunter Biden’s addiction and recovery have unfolded under extraordinary public scrutiny. Now sober since 2019, he is increasingly using his experience with relapse, shame and radical honesty to talk about recovery, resilience and what happens when there is nowhere left to hide.
SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD!
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Maybe We've Been Asking the Wrong Question About Sobriety
Brad Pitt’s revelation that he is no longer sober after seven years without alcohol quickly became a debate about relapse, moderation and who gets to define sobriety. Danielle Elliott Smith argues that we may be asking the wrong question entirely.
🥳 FEATURED EVENTS & RETREATS OF THE WEEK
08/20 VIRTUAL- BACKSTAGE MEMBERS ONLY: Claude Anonymous | The Bi-Weekly Thursday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind Learn more here→
08/20 Houstin (TX): Sober Girls Houston: Texans Game Day Learn more here→
08/21 NYC (NY): Sober And Socializing: Rec Center Realness Learn more here→
08/22 Rehoboth Beach (DE): Sober Monthly Social: Hippie Party Learn more here→
08/27-30 Leavenworth (WA): CAMP RECOVER BEYOND Learn more here→
11/01 - 04 Scottsdale (AZ): Cover Story Sober Travel Experience with The Sober CuratorY Learn more here→
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