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The Sober Sip: Because Your Monday Deserves More Than Meh
Pop culture, sober wins and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.
FROM THE DESK OF THE FOUNDER (*covered in tchotchkes)
Hey Sober Stars,
Whew. Can you believe we’re already cruising through August like Carmy through a kitchen meltdown in “The Bear?” (Yes, we’re going there.) If your emotional bandwidth feels like Richie’s mouth — loud, messy and oddly endearing — then you’ve come to the right inbox.
This week’s Sober Sip is serving full-course feels: from Jamie Lee Curtis absolutely decimating our souls in “The Bear” (episode 9 deserves a warning label) to radioactive tweakers in a graphic novel, to a NA beer brand that’s basically the Beyoncé of sobriety. We’re also shining a spotlight on “Turn Off,” a gutsy indie short film that has us screaming “yes, THIS!” from our metaphorical (and literal) rooftops.
Need more? STANS hit theaters for a limited time and Sir Elton John just hit 35 years sober (Rocketman, indeed 🚀), Ms. Pat’s memoir “Rabbit” will rip your guts out and have you cackling, and yours truly just turned 50 and declared war on bad wardrobe energy. We’re floating on Pink Cloud Coffee, crying over “Mama Love” and dreaming of beaches in Zanzibar.
So sip slow, laugh loud and remember — sobriety is anything but boring.
— Alysse Bryson (*AB That’s Me 💋) / Seattle, WA 🌃 05.01.2006

MOVIE NIGHT
STANS: A Love Letter to Eminem from His Ride-or-Die Fans - A Raw Look at Sobriety, Fandom, and Mental Health
Released in 2000, Eminem’s “Stan” became more than a hit — it became an integral part of the cultural lexicon. Literally, the Oxford English Dictionary added stan in 2017 to describe a devoted (and sometimes obsessive) fan. In the song, the character Stan handwrites emotional letters to Em, repeating the line: “I’m just like you.”
THE MINDFUL BINGE
“The Bear” Season 4: A Masterclass in Amends (and Maybe the Last Course We Needed)
Whew. If you’ve made it to Season 4 of “The Bear,” then congratulations — you’ve survived Carmy’s emotional hostage situation, Sydney’s patience of a saint, Richie’s mouth (bless it), and enough trauma-loop flashbacks to make your therapist throw a shoe at your TV. But let’s get one thing straight: Jamie Lee Curtis in Episode 9? That woman didn’t just act — she excavated.
ADDICTION FICTION
Welcome to “Twitchland,” Where Quasi-Tweakers Get High on Nuclear Waste
In Richland, bats have gotten into the nuclear waste dump. Irradiated, they wantonly bite people around this eastern Washington city. The bitten people feel like shit — they look like zombies, have itchy skin, sick stomachs and violent urges to rip people apart. But a drug made from toxic waste makes them feel better. For a while. They line up to get it, desperate. Then crash again hours later.
This is the basic premise for Tim Mulligan’s new graphic novel, “Twitchland” — quasi-tweakers getting high on nuclear waste. It’s the third installation in his “Witchland” series that combines horror, humor and addiction, all set in the most toxic place in the Western Hemisphere.
ENTERTAINMENT
Lights, Camera, Sobriety: Why We’re Rooting for the SEED + SPARK Campaign of “Turn Off”
At The Sober Curator, we’re always on the lookout for content that dares to tell the messy, awkward, soul-crushing and soul-redeeming truth about addiction — and recovery. So when we came across the SEED + SPARK campaign for “Turn Off,” an indie short film born from lived experience, fueled by heart, and wrapped in grit and laughter, we knew this one wasn’t just worthy of our attention — it deserves yours too.
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND
Brewed for the Best: How Best Day Brewing is Redefining NA Beer and Sober Pop Culture
Sparking a Sober Revolution — One Sip at a Time: If you’d told anyone a decade ago that non-alcoholic craft beer would be the “it” drink on a Friday night, you’d be met with raised eyebrows and maybe a polite chuckle. But as Tate Huffard, founder and CEO of Best Day Brewing, explains in his lively chat with Alysse Bryson and Justin Lamb on The Sober Curator Podcast, times — and tastes — have changed dramatically.
#QUITLIT
#QUITLIT BOOK REVIEW: “Rabbit” – A Memoir by Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat) with Jeannine Amber
Some memoirs are polished and carefully curated, offering up sanitized trauma for easy consumption. “Rabbit” is not that book. Patricia Williams, better known today as comedian Ms. Pat, tells her story with a level of raw honesty that will knock the wind out of you — and then, somehow, make you laugh while you’re gasping for air.
#WEDORECOVER

🎹Sober Celeb of the Week: Sir Elton John
Thirty-five years and still standing! 🎉 Sir Elton John recently celebrated 35 years of sobriety — a milestone as legendary as his music. He’s proof that recovery doesn’t dim the spotlight — it amplifies it. Cheers to the Rocketman who chose clarity over chaos and continues to shine brighter than ever.
For anyone struggling, know that help is available: 📞 1-800-662-HELP (SAMHSA Helpline).
WALK YOUR TALK
Walk Your Talk: This Curvy Queen Just Turned 50 and My Wardrobe Has ZERO Time for Bullsh*t
Here’s the deal. I recently strutted into the sparkling, slightly-sassy and delightfully unapologetic chapter of my life called: 50 and Fabulous. That’s right, I hit the big 5-0, and I have never felt more in tune with who I am. My vibe? Magnetic. My mood? Mostly grateful. My style? Evolving faster than a pre-teen at a Taylor Swift concert.
And you better believe that this curvy queen walks her talk.
#QUITLIT
“The Many Lives of Mama Love” Wrecked Me in the Best Way
I cried as an alcoholic.
I cried as a mother.
I cried as a 41-year-old woman raising a nearly three-year-old child, reading in the rare, quiet moments of a busy life.
A busy life that recovery has given me. The life of recovery I wanted for Mama Love as well. This book cracked something open in me. I couldn’t put it down. I started it late one night, thinking I’d read a few chapters before bed, and instead I stayed up far too late with a racing heart and full tissue box. I finished it the next day, completely gutted and grateful. I honestly can’t remember the last time I tore through a book in less than 24 hours. This one pulled me in that deeply.
#ADDTOCART
#ADDTOCART: Pink Cloud Coffee – Where Caffeine Meets Clarity
Let’s talk about the ultimate sober lifestyle power couple: coffee and connection. Now enter: Pink Cloud Coffee — a brand that serves up both with unapologetic intention, soul-soothing aesthetics, and a mission that’s got me floating like a pastel-hued balloon straight into the fourth dimension. (Yes, that fourth dimension — the same name as my home group. Synchronicity much?)
WHAT A TRIP!
Ultimate Zanzibar Travel Guide: Best Attractions, Tours & Tips
Zanzibar is a tropical paradise known for its stunning beaches, rich history and unique attractions. Whether you’re looking for wildlife encounters, breathtaking restaurants or adventure, this guide will help you navigate the must-see spots and things to be cautious about.

See You Wednesday!
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