Send us a text

This week on Ducking Realitea, I sit down with my mentor, former boss, and lifelong badass Sandy Russell, someone I talk about all the time for good reason. Sandy is co-owner of Alameda’s beloved Fireside Lounge, a community hub known for live music, trivia, queer-friendly fundraisers, and the iconic “Be Nice or Leave” sign. But Sandy’s impact goes way beyond the bar.

Born on the Santa Monica boardwalk and hustling by age six, Sandy has built a life rooted in grit, generosity, and radical accountability. During the pandemic, while many bars shut down, Sandy stepped up, launching to-go cocktails, building outdoor event spaces, and helping her staff and community survive one of the hardest chapters in recent history.

She’s also a driving force behind West End Arts and the Healing Garden project, a sober bar owner who’s navigated addiction with honesty and humor, and one of the most gracious leaders I know, equal parts “do better” and “get the fuck out if you can’t be kind.”

We talk about her path from foster care to fierce community builder, why doing the right thing matters (even when no one’s watching), and what it means to keep growing when the world tells you to quit. Sandy’s story is a reminder that healing, hard work, and hilarity can—and should—coexist.

So pour yourself a mocktail (or cocktail), and get ready for a real one. Let’s dive in.