Recovery in Plain Sight
Most people picture recovery as something that happens behind closed doors. But research on social recovery keeps finding the same pattern: connection is not a side benefit of recovery—it is part of h…
Topic
Sober Social
Alcohol-free social life — sober bars, Phoenix workouts, sober-curious gatherings, and the new scene that says you don't have to drink to belong.
12 stories
In the Heart of Phoenix, a Recovery Movement Rises
On a Monday night under park lights in Scottsdale, more than twenty people in recovery circle up for volleyball. No church basement, no folding chairs. Just movement, music, and laughter. In Phoenix,…
Rethinking Gatherings
A conference organizer noticed attendees clustering near the bar, making small talk. Others lingered at the edges, disconnected. By shifting focus from cocktails to structured networking and creative…
Rethinking Gatherings Recovery Friendly for Everyone
At a networking conference, a professional in recovery watched colleagues cluster around the bar while she stood alone with sparkling water. Event planners are rethinking gatherings to welcome everyon…
The Phoenix Building Strength and Community Through Sober Active Living
Scott Strode founded The Phoenix after recognizing that recovery needed more than abstinence. Through rock climbing, yoga, running, and weightlifting, this nonprofit builds community where people in r…
Tom Filippini
Discover the inspiring journey behind Pepper Pong—a game of healing and connection. Dive into Tom Filippini’s story of recovery, community, and joy. Play, connect, and find hope with Pepper Pong.
James Dillon III
James Dillon stands soaked at Portland's Pride Festival, hosting a mocktail bar for the recovery community center while rain streams down the park. Drenched and grinning, he realizes something: both h…
Sober Social Society
A beer spilled down her back at a Disney matinee. A wine glass at a six-year-old's birthday party. When this writer stopped drinking almost four years ago, she realized alcohol wasn't just part of her…
4 Types of Recovery Communities
Someone scrolling late at night, searching for voices that understand, discovers a recovery account with thousands of followers sharing their stories. That moment of connection reveals something resea…
Cheers to a New Sober Social Scene
Abby Ehmann watched customers at her New York City sober bar weep with gratitude over their first mocktail in years. Across the country, from football stadiums to concert venues, people in recovery an…
Thriving During the Holidays
A person navigates a family dinner in December, watching others raise glasses while holiday music plays. The season brings joy for many, but for those in recovery from substance use disorder, the holi…
A Life Second To None
When she first stopped drinking, she imagined a gray future: survival, not joy. She assumed life without alcohol meant a small, dull existence. Instead, recovery opened doors she never knew existed. T…