If you’re even thinking about participating in Dry July, our latest episode of the Sober Life Rocks podcast is one you do not want to miss. We were thrilled to welcome Hilary Sheinbaum—author, journalist, wellness advocate, and unofficial queen of the sober-curious movement—to the show. What started as a lighthearted New Year’s Eve bet back in 2016 turned into a major life shift that not only changed her relationship with alcohol, but helped shift the conversation around drinking in social and professional settings across the country.

In this episode, Hilary unpacks how one month of going dry evolved into a lifestyle filled with intention, health, and seriously cool alcohol-free parties.

Here’s everything you need to know from our conversation—and why this Dry July might just change your life too.

The Bet That Sparked It All

It was New Year’s Eve 2016. Hilary was at a party in New York City, enjoying the kind of night many of us know well: good friends, good vibes—and plenty of drinks. Amid the celebratory texting and tipsy exchanges, she proposed a casual idea to one of her closest friends (and frequent plus-one to red carpet events):
“Let’s do Dry January.”

The deal?

• If both of them stuck to it, great.
• If neither of them did, fine.
• But if one person completed the challenge and the other didn’t, the loser owed the winner an expensive dinner.

You can probably guess what happened: Hilary stuck it out. Her friend didn’t. And that dinner? A fancy $800 experience that she happily enjoyed, alcohol-free.

But what started as a friendly challenge quickly revealed something much deeper.

Surprising Discoveries: More Energy, More Clarity

During that first 30 days without alcohol, Hilary noticed something unexpected:
She felt better—way better.

Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. The usual bloat and sluggishness that followed her red carpet appearances, product launches, and weekend getaways all disappeared. As a lifestyle journalist covering everything from celebrity interviews to new bar openings, alcohol was simply a part of her job—and her social circle. So the realization that removing it actually enhanced her quality of life was a shock.

She also gained a heightened awareness of how alcohol-saturated our culture really is.

“Once I stopped drinking,” she said, “I realized how everywhere it was. It’s how we bond. It’s how we celebrate. It’s how we deal with stress. And suddenly, I saw it all differently.”

The Pushback—and the Inevitable Shift

As refreshing as her dry month was, not everyone around her was thrilled. At first, Hilary got mocked by friends.
“You’re being a wet blanket.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Just have one drink.”

But what’s amazing is how many of those same people—years later—have come back around. Today, several of them drink less, occasionally join her in dry months, or have given up drinking entirely.

Why?
Because they saw the transformation in her—and they realized she was still fun, still vibrant, and still fully herself… just without the booze.

What If Drinking Is Part of Your Job?

We also talked with Hilary about something that trips up a lot of people considering a dry month or sobriety:
“What if my job requires me to drink?”

Hilary gets it. From networking happy hours to taking clients out for cocktails, drinking can feel mandatory. But she’s learned to flip the script by taking the lead.

Instead of saying, “Let’s meet for drinks,” she suggests:

• A walk in the park
• A smoothie after yoga
• A sauna or cold plunge
• A group spin class followed by mocktails

By creating alternative environments, she’s found that people actually remember the experience more. It’s unique, it’s engaging—and it’s not centered around numbing out.

Reinventing the Party Scene

One of Hilary’s most exciting contributions to the sober-curious movement is how she’s redefined what a “party” can look like.

When her book, The Dry Challenge, launched during COVID, she wasn’t able to have a party. But when she finally did throw a belated launch event over a year later, she went all in:

• It started with a spin class
• The afterparty featured only non-alcoholic beverages
• No hangovers, no pressure, and no one felt like they missed a thing

People still talk about that event today.

Since then, Hilary has made these kinds of events a regular thing—hosting monthly dry gatherings in cities across the U.S., often at fitness studios or wellness spaces, followed by curated non-alcoholic tastings. The result?
A whole new kind of nightlife that feels as good the next morning as it does in the moment.

Thinking About Dry July? Here’s Her Advice

With Dry July just around the corner, we asked Hilary what advice she’d give to someone who’s curious, but hesitant.

Her top takeaways:

1. Don’t Overthink the Commitment

You don’t have to decide you’re never drinking again. This isn’t forever—it’s just 30 days. Even if you know you’ve got an event mid-month where you’ll want to drink, that’s fine.
Call it a “30-day-minus-one” challenge or a “10-day reset.”
The point is to simply try.

2. Be Gentle with Yourself

You don’t need to be perfect. If you slip, you’re not a failure. This is a chance to learn, observe, and reflect. It’s not a punishment; it’s an experiment in self-discovery.

3. Prepare for the Unexpected

One of the biggest things she noticed during her first dry month was how ill-prepared she was. Simple questions like “What do I say when someone offers me a drink?” or “What should I order at the bar?” caught her off guard.

Tools to Help You Succeed

Hilary’s experience led her to write two books:

The Dry Challenge

This book chronicles her first-ever Dry January and gives practical tips, real talk, and funny stories to help readers navigate the ups and downs of taking a month off alcohol.

The Dry Challenge Workbook

This is a deeper dive. It offers journaling prompts, self-reflection exercises, and structured guidance to help you explore your relationship with alcohol and the changes you notice when it’s no longer in the picture.

If you’re committing to Dry July, or even just sober-curious, these books are fantastic companions for the ride.

It’s Not About Saying “No” to Fun—It’s About Saying “Yes” to YOU

Hilary Sheinbaum’s story is proof that taking a break from alcohol doesn’t mean giving up fun, friendship, or adventure. In fact, it can open the door to more of it—all without the hangover, the regret, or the fuzziness.

She’s not here to preach or shame anyone. As she said in the episode, “This isn’t about never drinking again. It’s about asking, ‘What happens when I don’t?’”

So whether you’re going into Dry July with total confidence or just dipping your toe in the water, remember:
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to be curious enough to try.

Want More?

Listen to the full episode with Hilary Sheinbaum on the Sober Life Rocks podcast—available now on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Grab her book The Dry Challenge and The Dry Challenge Workbook on Amazon, Bookshop, or your favorite indie retailer.

And if you’re doing Dry July? Tag us @SoberLifeRocks and @HilarySheinbaum to let us know how it’s going. We’d love to support your journey.

Ready to say “yes” to a month of clarity, connection, and growth?
Start with Hilary’s story—and see where the next 30 days take you.

#DryJuly #SoberLifeRocks #HilarySheinbaum #TheDryChallenge #SoberCurious #MocktailParty

Stay Connected with Hilary:

Hilary Sheinbaum | hilarywritesny@gmail.com

[Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | GoingDry.co]

ORDER HILARY’S LATEST BOOK !! Going Dry: A Workbook: A Practical Guide to Drinking Less and Living More (Quarto, Sept. 2024)

Order Hilary’s other books: The Dry Challenge: How to Lose the Booze for Dry January, Sober October, and Any Other Alcohol-Free Month (HarperCollins) + A Journal For Bad Days (Simon & Schuster)

The post Episode 54: Considering Dry July? Hilary Sheinbaum’s Sober Story Might Be the Push You Need first appeared on Sober Life Rocks.