The Sober Curator: Making Alcohol-Free Living Fun, Normal & Inspiring with Alysse BrysonThe Sober Curator: Making Alcohol-Free Living Fun, Normal & Inspiring with Alysse Bryson
The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast
Molly Watts talks with The Sober Curator’s Alysse Bryson about sober curiosity, long-term recovery and the rise of non-alcoholic options. The conversation focuses on making alcohol-free or low-alcohol living feel fun, normal and genuinely appealing.
45:55•14 Sept 2026
Making Alcohol-Free Living Fun and Normal with The Sober Curator
Episode Overview
- Choosing not to drink doesn’t need to feel odd or restrictive; it can be a positive, enjoyable decision.
- Non-alcoholic beers and other zero-proof options offer familiar rituals without the downsides of alcohol.
- There is growing representation of sober characters and stories, which helps shift cultural attitudes.
- Language around sobriety matters, and there’s space for both recovery identities and alcohol-free lifestyles.
- Curiosity and honesty about drinking habits are key steps toward building a calmer relationship with alcohol.
“It’s not about what you’re giving up. It’s about what you’re gaining.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation between mindful drinking coach Molly Watts and The Sober Curator founder, Alysse Bryson, gives a candid look at how alcohol-free living can feel fun, social and totally normal. Alysse shares how she reached 15 years sober before deciding to "recover out loud" online, eventually turning a pandemic side project into a colourful hub for zero‑proof living with over a million visitors and dozens of contributors.
She talks about spotting gaps in resources for people in long‑term sobriety and wanting a magazine-style space that reflects the everyday lives of those who don’t drink. Rather than lecturing anyone about the "right" way to be sober, she focuses on variety, humour and representation. The episode spends plenty of time on the booming non‑alcoholic drinks scene.
From craft beer reviews to vintage travel bar sets stocked with alcohol‑free options, Alysse and Molly highlight how the NA movement is making it easier to enjoy social rituals without booze. As Alysse puts it, "It’s not about what you’re giving up.
It’s about what you’re gaining." You’ll also hear them chat about changing attitudes towards alcohol since the pandemic, the rise of sober curiosity, and why Alysse wants it to be "just normalised not to drink" rather than something people feel they have to explain. Molly adds her alcohol minimalist angle, talking about choosing mostly alcohol‑free days and using non‑alcoholic options as part of a calmer, more deliberate relationship with drinking.
If you’re sober curious, in recovery, or simply aiming for more alcohol‑free days without feeling left out, this easy-going yet honest conversation might nudge you to ask a simple question: what could your life look like if what’s in your glass mattered less than how you feel?
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