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PODCAST

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Welcome to Rise Above with Kevin Lanning. Join Kevin, a former Google executive in sobriety, as he shares inspiring stories of resilience. Each episode features individuals who have faced life’s toughest challenges—addiction, trauma, anxiety, and more—and emerged stronger. These conversations aren’t just about survival; they’re about thriving and finding practical solutions to rise above adversity. Kevin’s own journey through addiction and childhood trauma fuels his passion for sharing stories that

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All Episodes

74:47

A Heroin Addict's SHOCKING Descent | D1 Football Full...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/05

Jordan was a promising D1 football recruit with full-ride offers—until a torn ACL and a bottle of painkillers changed everything.What started as surgery recovery turned into full-blown addiction: Oxy, Perc 30s, heroin, Subutex, and eventually shooting drugs with horse syringes stolen from Tractor Supply.From robbing his grandma’s wedding ring… to almost holding up a Subway sandwich shop with a butter knife… to surviving two years in state prison where he watched people overdose and even saw someone

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59:54

I Started Smoking Crack at 17 | Drug Addiction Story,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/02

Chris Lavin's life is almost too extreme to believe.Abused as a child. Locked in a box for days. Smoking crack and running a car scam at 17. He made millions, lost it all, then lost the only thing he truly loved—his son. He held a gun to someone’s head, and almost pulled the trigger. Twice. But something stopped him.This is not just a story of survival. It’s a story of redemption, purpose, and undeniable spiritual transformation.In this raw and emotional interview, Chris shares the darkest parts of

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84:13

The Needle Became My Addiction | From OxyContin to...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/29

He went from a small-town baseball player with a bright future… to shOOting heroin in New Jersey, smuggling bricks of dope through airports, and facing eight years in prison.In this raw and unfiltered interview, Flip shares how his life spiraled from painkillers and partying in the restaurant industry to becoming a full-blown IV drug user. This is one of the wildest redemption stories ever shared on Rise Above.👉 If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, know that recovery is

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73:13

I Was a Head Football Coach and a Raging Alcoholic |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/27

Chris Hirschfield was a high school football coach on top of the world—winning state championships, raising two kids, and leading one of Georgia’s most promising teams. But behind the success was a man silently battling addiction. After a devastating DUI, Chris lost everything—his job, his reputation, and his sense of self.In this raw and emotional interview, Chris opens up about childhood trauma, pressure to prove himself, spiraling into daily drinking, and the powerful moment of surrender that

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62:27

Addicted to Heroin at 17 | Trap Houses, Overdose,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/25

Jaclyn Buntic opens up about her harrowing journey through addiction, starting with pain pills and Xanax at 16, leading to heroin and meth by 18. She shares how growing up in a dysfunctional household, bouncing between homes, and dating someone in a trap house sent her spiraling into drug use. Her first IV heroin injection was administered by her girlfriend — a moment that led to full-blown addiction.From overdoses and jail time to the shocking murder of her best friend’s parents, Jaclyn’s story is

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79:52

Inside the BRUTAL Psychosis of a Bipolar Drug Addict

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/23

David Funes’ life spiraled from a strict Christian upbringing into a world of manic highs, drug-fueled nights, white-collar crime, and a $3.7 million FBI investigation. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a suicide attempt and mental hospital stay, David’s story is one of chaos, shame, addiction, and ultimately — redemption.#RiseAbovePodcast #BipolarDisorder #AddictionRecovery #TrueCrimeStories #MentalHealthAwareness #DrugAddiction #FBIInvestigation #CocaineAddiction #WhiteCollarCrime

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70:39

My Addiction Wasn’t Just Heroin, It Was the Needle |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/21

Destiny's story is one of unimaginable pain and powerful transformation. Molested as a child, abandoned by her mother, and raised in dysfunction, she battled self-worth issues from an early age. After a blackout car accident nearly claimed her life, she spiraled deeper—eventually overdosing multiple times, spending 10 months in jail, and shooting up for the last time on her grandmother’s floor. Today, Destiny is 8 years clean and sober. She works in treatment, is studying to become a nurse, and is

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64:16

Valedictorian Turned Addict: Inside His Secret Life...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/20

Chandler was a bright kid — valedictorian, pre-med student, academic scholarships. But beneath the surface, addiction was brewing. From his early battles with leukemia to his first drink at 11, the seeds were planted early. College became a war zone: psychedelics, alcohol, Xanax, and eventually cocaine took over his life. He overdosed multiple times, dropped out of school, and spiraled into daily DoorDash hustles just to get high.🙏 Drop a comment if this story resonates, and don’t forget to like,

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68:13

The Dark Side of Alcoholism | Half a Gallon of...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/18

He grew up in a small Mississippi town, hiding trauma, abuse, and addiction behind sports, work, and alcohol. By his 40s, he was drinking half a gallon of Fireball a day, facing divorce, and trapped in generational dysfunction.In this raw conversation, he opens up about:Surviving childhood abuse and fearHis first drink at 9 years oldThe downward spiral into alcoholism and opiate useHitting bottom and finally surrendering to sobriety in NashvilleBreaking family cycles of trauma and building a new

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60:53

Incest Survivor | Raised in a House of Horrors

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/17

Tina survived the unthinkable. Molested by the man she thought was her father. Raised in a home of violence, secrecy, and fear. Then, decades later, she uncovered a chilling family secret — her real father was her grandfather.In this raw, emotional episode of Rise Above, Tin shares her journey through childhood trauma, the military, motherhood, and recovery. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and breaking generational cycles. From surviving incest and abuse to reclaiming her identity and

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61:16

I Was a Teacher—and a Raging Alcoholic | How I Lost...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/14

Matt grew up in a loving home in Westchester, NY—but alcohol and cocaine nearly destroyed everything he built. From blackouts and bartending in Florida to getting strip-searched at Gun Club Jail, Matt reached his breaking point. What followed was a powerful journey through recovery, multiple relapses, deep therapy, and ultimately transformation.In this raw interview, Matt opens up about:His battle with addiction while teaching kids and coaching baseballThe death of his father and how unprocessed

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58:55

Alcohol Was My Freedom Until It Destroyed Everything...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/12

Keesha’s journey is one of resilience, heartbreak, and purpose. After battling alcoholism, losing her husband to a drug overdose, and raising twins alone, she turned her pain into a mission — helping teens and families struggling with addiction and mental health.In this powerful interview, Keesha shares: How she got sober after years of destructive drinking The devastating day her husband relapsed and passed away Parenting twins alone while grieving Opening Guardian Recovery and dedicating her

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42:17

Addicted to Fentanyl: Inside a Stripper’s Life of...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/10

Brittany’s life spiraled from anxiety-filled childhood to a devastating descent into addiction. After surviving sexual coercion in high school, she turned to stripping, entered an abusive relationship, and was introduced to fentanyl. Soon, she was homeless, living in a van with her dealer, surrounded by children watching their parents shoot up, and caught in the middle of a motel shootout.This is her raw, unfiltered story — from donating plasma to get high, to surviving brutal withdrawals, to

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73:31

Fentanyl Nearly Killed Me: The Darkest Days of...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/08

In this raw and unfiltered interview, Matt Stoddard opens up about his journey through addiction, from his traumatic childhood to a life spiraling out of control with pain pills, OxyContin, and Fentanyl. He shares his darkest moments, including playing "Russian roulette" with his life, hitting rock bottom, and finding his way to recovery. With brutal honesty, Matt reveals the mental and physical toll of addiction, his struggles with rehab, and how he turned pain into purpose through music. This

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63:53

I Started Shooting Heroin at 16 | Childhood Abuse,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/06

Ben was s*xually abused at age 10 by a trusted camp counselor. That trauma led him to heroin by 16, methadone addiction, and eventually losing custody of his son. But through God's grace, relentless 12-step work, and a fierce desire to help others, Ben got clean—and stayed clean for 14 years. In this raw interview, he shares how he went from shooting up daily and nearly dying from withdrawal… to adopting a child whose mother overdosed in a trailer surrounded by syringes. This is one of the most

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67:25

I Blew a .37 and Woke Up in a Hospital | DUI, Benzos,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/08/04

Tom grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, raised by a single father after his mother abandoned him and his sister. By 13, he was drinking. By 25, he was blacking out, driving drunk, popping benzos, and working high. After a devastating DUI and a near-death experience, Tom got on a plane to Florida—and never looked back. Now over 14 years sober, he’s a father, a son, a podcast host, and the man who helped his long-lost sister into recovery. This is a powerful story of redemption, family, and what it

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72:54

Fentanyl Sent Me Into Psychosis | Brutal Jail Detox &...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/31

Dina grew up excelling in school and sports — but behind the scenes, she was spiraling. Expelled from multiple schools, battling attention-seeking behavior, and drawn to chaos, her life took a dark turn into opiate addiction. She lived a double life, fooling friends, family, and even herself — until her parents made the hardest decision of their lives: to cut her off and have her arrested.What followed was a brutal detox, a terrifying jail psychosis, and a spiritual awakening that changed

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69:20

Addicted to Porn: The Brutal Truth About Porn Addiction

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/30

Zach was addicted to porn for over a decade — a secret he hid while building a successful career and life overseas. His sex addiction escalated into dark, isolating patterns that he couldn’t escape — until he hit a breaking point. In this raw and revealing interview, Zach opens up about the childhood traumas, depression, and validation-seeking that fed his addiction.Now over 9 years sober, Zach is the founder of Open Recovery, an innovative app using AI to help people battling addiction get the

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79:55

28 Years on Adderall: Ricki Friedman’s Story of...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/27

Ricki Friedman was prescribed Adderall at just 7 years old. After losing her mom to cancer at 13, she battled decades of emotional pain, a secret marijuana addiction, and an identity built around medication. Despite creating a successful brand and coaching thousands through “Break the Weight,” Ricki was silently crumbling.In this raw and unfiltered interview, Ricki opens up about living a double life, her decision to quit weed and Adderall cold turkey, and how community, therapy, and purpose

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55:17

Doctor Turned Drug Addict | Inside A Doctor's Brutal...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/25

Sheila spent years as a top critical‑care nurse, running ICU floors and even traveling coast to coast as a contract RN. But after a brutal ankle injury and two surgeries, legitimate pain management morphed into a secret prescription racket. Sheila reveals how she ran a telehealth practice from her home, writing pain‑killer scripts for herself—and even family members—until the medical board caught her and stripped her license. In this raw, unfiltered interview, she walks us through the moment she

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167 results

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