Ask a Sober Oldster Series

Ask a Sober Oldster #17: Nick Flynn

"Life was both very dramatic and very boring when I was using. Now that formula has been inverted—life is full of surprise yet free of drama. "

Nov 19 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #16: Author Kristi Coulter

"I don’t think being in recovery is hard. I think life is hard, and there is real horror in understanding that drinking cannot actually alter reality."

Oct 15 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #15: Go-Go's Bassist and Memoirist Kathy Valentine

"The very best parts of my life are my 21-year-old daughter Audrey, and my sobriety."

Sep 17 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #14: Chris Wells

"The actions of forgiveness, acceptance and letting go are crucial. I do them imperfectly, and will practice them—imperfectly—until I die."

Aug 20 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #13: Retired Lawyer Anne Gregory

"I have a note to myself on my fridge that reminds me that I am a capable adult and can and will deal with whatever life is going to throw at me."

Jul 16 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster: First-Year Highlight Reel

Happy first birthday to our "Sober Oldster" collaboration with The Small Bow newsletter! 🎂 Here, tidbits from the first dozen interviews in this…

Jun 18 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #12: Author Claire Dederer

"I was a person-shaped void, an infinite black hole walking around in a pair of clogs. I just kept pouring alcohol into the emptiness."

May 21 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #11: Author Jerry Stahl

"In my old age, I have come to realize that everybody on the planet is recovering from something."

Apr 16 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #10: Author Kim Wozencraft

"It’s nice to have my wits about me, even in unpleasant circumstances..."

Mar 19 •

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Ask A Sober Oldster #9: The Small Bow's A.J. Daulerio

"A few months past my 42nd birthday, I began an earnest attempt at full-time, full-hearted recovery that has stuck."

Mar 18 •

Ask a Sober Oldster #8: Joan Wasser aka "Joan as Police Woman"

"Playing music is a profession where it's easy to be wasted most of the time. It was expected. I was good at it."

Feb 20 •

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Ask a Sober Oldster #7: Claudia Lonow

"The chubbiness became a problem until I found the perfect way to stay at my goal weight: cocaine."

Jan 16 •

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