FEATURED

Interview with a 63-year-old Sober Person: Tommy Swerdlow

Jan 20, 2026

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17 min read

Interview with a 63-year-old Sober Person: Tommy Swerdlow

“I used to be a bit of a cocky jerk and judgmental asshole, but there’s nothing like a twenty-year heroin habit to knock some of the snot nose out of you.”

EDITOR PICKS

What Is It Like to Go to Sleep?

Jan 18, 2026

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13 min read

What Is It Like to Go to Sleep?

A new prompt for this month. Buddhism Megablast! Pema/Kornfield. More Ram Dass.

We Are All Drafts

Jan 16, 2026

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6 min read

We Are All Drafts

Maggie Smith is this month’s TSB Poet Laureate.

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CHECK-INS

“Please Don’t Tell My Wife I Was Playing Kickball”: What It’s Like to Go to Rehab

“Please Don’t Tell My Wife I Was Playing Kickball”: What It’s Like to Go to Rehab

Our readers tell their treatment center tales.

It Was as Bad as I Thought

It Was as Bad as I Thought

Say goodbye to Daylight Savings and hello to . . . November check-ins

What It’s Like to Go to Rehab

What It’s Like to Go to Rehab

The first day of the rest of your life.

Does It Get Better?

Does It Get Better?

October check-ins are here, and we’re just asking for a friend . . .

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The Small Bow Podcast

Writers, comedians, actors, and musicians share their darkest stories—success, addiction, shame, depression, grief—and how they made it through. New season in 2026.

INTERVIEWS

Interview with a 51-Year-Old Sober Person: Carvell Wallace

Interview with a 51-Year-Old Sober Person: Carvell Wallace

“I don’t have to become perfect. I just have to get up every day and do the work to get better.”

Interviews with a Bunch of Older Sober People

Interviews with a Bunch of Older Sober People

A look back at another year of Sober Oldster questionnaires.

Interview with a 56-Year-Old Sober Person: Elizabeth Gilbert

Interview with a 56-Year-Old Sober Person: Elizabeth Gilbert

“I honestly cannot think of anything about being in recovery that is harder than not being in recovery.”

Interview with a 54-Year-Old Sober Person: Rhett Miller

Interview with a 54-Year-Old Sober Person: Rhett Miller

“It’s hard feeling isolated in a roomful of partying people, and the hilarious thing is that that’s my job.”

WHAT IT’S LIKE

More on What It’s Like to Be Addicted to, Yes, Weed

More on What It’s Like to Be Addicted to, Yes, Weed

“Plenty of people have a normal relationship with weed. Surely, this time, I can too?”

What It’s Like to Be Addicted to...Weed?

What It’s Like to Be Addicted to...Weed?

Is that even possible?

Heroin Is More Powerful Than the Love We Share

Heroin Is More Powerful Than the Love We Share

Another first-person essay on what it’s like to love an addict.

More on What It’s Like to Love an Addict

More on What It’s Like to Love an Addict

“When I consider what it must be like for him to feel that concern for other humans each day, I don’t have to wonder why it all became too much.”

ESSAYS

Character Witness

Character Witness

by Jason Brown

Cold Blooded Old Times

Cold Blooded Old Times

“Once you’ve stopped anesthetizing yourself from reality you’re immediately forced to become present or die trying.”

Heroin Is More Powerful Than the Love We Share

Heroin Is More Powerful Than the Love We Share

Another first-person essay on what it’s like to love an addict.

Why 2% of Me Wants to be Sick Again

Why 2% of Me Wants to be Sick Again

A love song for Andrea Gibson.