Episode 21: Creating a social life without alcohol with Ryann Cooke

On this week’s Stack’n’Days podcast host Ray is speaking to Ryann Cooke, founder of Rys. Rys (Radiate your sobriety) is a BIPOC-centered app for those who are sober or sober-curious and is in the development stages. Ryann shares her journey with alcohol and how it started as a means of escape and fun in high school.

Struggles with alcohol and seeking help 

Ryann recounts a New Year's Eve incident where she ended up in the hospital after a night of drinking. Despite this experience, she continued drinking and didn't see it as a problem until she turned 25 and started seeing a new therapist. The therapist helped her realize the connection between her trauma and drinking, leading her to express a genuine desire to quit.

Experience with AA meetings 

Ryann tried attending AA meetings but felt uncomfortable in some meetings, being the only woman and the only black person in the first meeting she attended and then the only black person in an all-women group she found. After a relapse, she found BIPOC AA meetings, which provided some support. However, she still felt that the meetings followed outdated rules. 

Ryann shares her negative experiences in AA meetings, including feeling unsafe and not having her opinions valued. She mentions being preyed upon by an older man and feeling unsupported by the group. These experiences led her to leave AA and seek support elsewhere.

Navigating change and building a foundation in a new city 

Ryann discusses her experience of moving from Washington, D.C. to Tulsa and the challenges she faced during this transition. The rules in AA discouraged big changes before a year of sobriety but Ryann felt this move would be good for her. She made an effort to get to know people and engage in activities she enjoyed.

Building a sobriety toolkit and finding support 

Ryann discusses the steps she took to build her own toolkit for staying sober, including finding a new therapist in her new home and connecting with other sober individuals through social media. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a routine and staying connected with family while building a new life.

Openness about sobriety 

Ryann talks about openly sharing her journey of sobriety on social media and the vulnerability and accountability that come with it. She emphasizes the importance of not putting her life on hold for sobriety and finding a way to pursue both. She celebrates her soberversary and plans to go to a spa for this year's celebration.

Ryann explains that she started sharing her journey of sobriety on Instagram to show the shift in her life and reach out to other young black women who were part of a boozy culture. She wanted to break the taboo and show that stopping drinking can lead to positive changes.

Building an app for sobriety 

Ryann discusses her journey of building an app for sobriety, Rys, which is BIPOC-centered and aims to create a community for those who are sober, sober-curious, or looking to drink less. The app allows users to connect with others, find non-alcoholic events and venues, and support one another. She is currently conducting product market research and organizing events to gather feedback and understand user preferences.

She is also in the process of looking for funding for the app. 

Advice for a sober lifestyle

Ryann advises someone pursuing an alcohol-free life of sobriety to not be afraid to ask for help and find a trusted person to confide in. She suggests taking small steps.

Ryann’s details

Website: Rysapp.co

Instagram: 

Rys: @radiateyoursobriety 

Personal: @girlRyannn 

Tiktok: @thegirlRyannn 

Contact the show:

Website: stackndays.com

Email: rdg@stackndays.com

Instagram and TikTok: @stackndays