x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

91:11

Inside the Dark Reality of Drug Psychosis: Murder...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/08

Louis grew up in privilege—but addiction doesn’t discriminate. In this raw and emotional interview, he opens up about getting arrested, battling drug and gambling addictions, and testifying in a high-profile murder trial involving his former best friend. From being publicly shamed in the press to rebuilding his life through sobriety, Louis shares how he broke a generational curse and stepped into fatherhood, service, and peace.This story is about hitting rock bottom—and then going deeper. It’s about

en

54:43

She Risked Everything to Follow Her Own Path |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/06

Krystal’s story is nothing short of incredible. Her father immigrated to America from Nigeria with just $20 in his pocket and walked miles to enroll in college—on the last possible day. Years later, Krystal faced a defining moment of her own: she walked away from medical school against her family’s wishes, lied about it for months, and hustled her way from sleeping on a friend’s couch to landing a job at Spotify.In this episode of Rise Above, we unpack:Her Nigerian-American upbringing and her

en

78:58

Undercover Agent Exposes Shocking Truth About Ch*ld...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/03

Paul Hutchinson was a billionaire real estate mogul living a life of luxury—until one phone call changed everything. He went undercover to infiltrate a child sex resort being built by a cartel, and what he witnessed would alter the course of his life forever. In this gripping interview, Paul exposes the brutal reality of child trafficking, the addictions and trauma behind it, and how he made rescuing children his life’s mission.This is the true story that inspired The Sound of Freedom.⚠️ Viewer

en

105:04

I Was Addicted to the Needle | How I Survived a...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/07/01

Chris Olson was a straight-A student at an elite boarding school when he took his first ADHD pill—and it changed everything. What started as prescription meds quickly escalated to Vyvanse, Adderall, benzos, and eventually intravenous heroin and cocaine. By 21, he was prescribed 6mg of Klonopin a day and using over 100 Xanax bars weekly. At 25, on a solo hike in the South of France, Chris had a spiritual awakening that changed the trajectory of his life.In this raw and powerful interview, Chris

en

51:38

I Pulled the Trigger Just to Pay Rent | Crack...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/29

Rodney grew up surrounded by addiction, violence, and heartbreak. By 12, he was stealing food to survive. By 14, he was being paid to carry out violent crimes. He faced multiple life sentences—including for a kidnapping—and spiraled into a world of crack cocaine, street justice, and desperation while trying to save his mother from her own addiction.But this is not where his story ends. Rodney opens up about the drive-by shooting that nearly destroyed his life, the death of his mother from an

en

70:52

Cop Turned Cocaine Dealer | The Vicious Grip of...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/25

Sean went from leading Coast Guard drug busts to becoming a full-blown addict selling the very drugs he once confiscated. He was arrested more times than any cop in history, ended up homeless and addicted, and cycled through 10 rehabs. His story spirals through violence, strip clubs, overdoses, and jail—until a final moment of grace saved his life. Today, Sean runs a successful business, cares for his mother, and uses his story to help others break free.🎧 Watch the full episode to hear how he went

en

87:21

I Married a Doctor… and Ended Up With a Drug Addict I...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/24

Dr. Linda Varisco had it all: a thriving chiropractic business, two kids, and what seemed like the perfect marriage. But when her husband spiraled into drug addiction, infidelity, and shady business dealings, her world came crashing down. Caught in a $25M healthcare fraud scheme she didn’t fully understand, Linda cooperated with the FBI—and still ended up behind bars.In this explosive follow-up interview, Dr. Linda shares the raw truth about:– Walking in on her husband cheating– The moment she

en

64:16

"I Woke Up in Jail for Trying to Decapitate My Mom" |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/22

Ryan Penley was deep in a spiral of addiction — partying in Las Vegas, hooked on alcohol and 14 Roxy pills a day. But nothing could’ve prepared him for what happened next: he blacked out during a multi-day bender… and woke up in jail for trying to decapitate his own mother.In this gripping and brutally honest interview, Ryan shares:His chaotic upbringing with addicted parentsHow a broken leg led to full-blown opiate addictionLife as a bartender in Vegas while using and selling drugsWaking up in jail

en

30:48

Addiction Recovery: God saved me from a Drug +...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/20

In this first episode of Rise Above Reflections, I open up about how I lost myself to addiction—and how surrendering to God completely transformed my life.From chasing external validation to battling shame, I reflect on the moments that nearly broke me… and the spiritual breakthrough that saved me.This isn’t just my story—it’s the truth about addiction, identity, and the healing power of faith.🙏 If you're struggling, you're not alone. There is hope.🎧 Listen. Reflect. Rise Above.#AddictionRecovery

en

94:22

"My 40 Roxy-a-Day Addiction Nearly Killed Me" |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/17

Casey was deep in the Florida pill mill scene—doctor shopping, pushing 40 Roxy 30s a day, and connected to the infamous George brothers. But a violent bust and prison sentence changed everything. In this raw, unfiltered interview, Casey shares how trauma, addiction, and near-death moments led to a full transformation—from inmate to entrepreneur and father fighting for custody of his daughter.⚠️ From DEA raids to witnessing a CO kill an inmate, this is one of the most brutal and inspiring recovery

en

72:34

"I Was Doing 30 Oxycontins a Day" | Brutal Painkiller...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/14

Tyler never expected one pain pill would spiral into a full-blown opiate addiction. What started as a prescription for a finger injury turned into 30 OxyContins a day. He was sniffing pills, partying non-stop, and buying Roxys from Camden bodegas. After hitting rock bottom, losing his girlfriend, and nearly ending his life, Tyler checked into treatment and never looked back.In this raw and unfiltered interview, Tyler opens up about: -His terrifying opiate withdrawal -Partying through the “cocaine

en

81:04

Inside an Alcoholic’s Chaotic Life | Sexually Abused,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/11

Marci was just six years old when she had to choose between safety and her own mother. Raised in a home filled with alcoholism, abuse, and betrayal, her childhood was a nightmare. She was groomed, sexually abused, abandoned emotionally by both parents — and began drinking at age 12. By her 20s, she was spiraling through toxic relationships, addiction, and the pain of unhealed trauma. But everything changed after one final breaking point: a DUI that forced her to confront her past, her drinking, and

en

83:11

Inside the SHOCKING Fall of an Aspiring NHL Star |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/08

Kevin Corbin grew up in the chaos of 1980s Boston—gunshots, addiction, and dysfunction were the norm. A star athlete who played junior hockey under a former NHL player, Kevin's life spiraled after one arrest derailed his college dreams. He fell into addiction, worked security at biker bars, and ended up in prison after a toxic relationship led to felony charges. But today, he’s nearly six years sober and helping others rise from rock bottom. In this gripping interview, Kevin opens up about: His

en

81:24

My Husband’s Hidden Opiate Addiction | Surviving a...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/05

Shauna thought she’d met the perfect man—until one day, he showed up at her door high and told her the feds had just raided his office. What followed was over a decade of addiction, legal chaos, a $12 million fraud case, and prison time.In this raw and powerful interview, Shauna opens up for the first time about surviving an abusive past, building a multi-million dollar lash business from nothing, and holding her family together while her husband battles addiction and incarceration.This is a story

en

69:41

"I Tried Heroin in a Laundry Room" | David Koechner...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/02

You know him from Anchorman, The Office, and Saturday Night Live—but you’ve never heard David Koechner like this. In this raw, emotional interview, David opens up about his decades-long struggle with alcohol, the death of his best friend from fentanyl, a DUI that made TMZ, and the journey that led him to nearly two years of sobriety. He shares how Antabuse, accountability, and spiritual growth have helped him stay on track. From Hollywood fame to devastating relapse, this is a powerful story of

en

75:06

I Started Shooting Heroin at 15 | Human Trafficked,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/06/01

At just 15, Alyx was shooting heroin. By 18, she had survived jail, r*pe, and being trafficked in a drug-fueled underworld. In this brutally honest interview, she opens up about the trauma, addiction, and darkness that nearly took her life — and the moment she finally broke free. Now a sober mom and recovery professional, Alyx shares how she found healing, purpose, and peace. This is one of the rawest and most inspiring stories ever told on Rise Above.Watch until the end — her comeback will leave

en

72:29

“I Married a Junkie” | Dr. Cali Estes Exposes the...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/05/28

Celebrity addiction expert Dr. Cali Estes opens up about her late husband’s million-dollar heroin and fentanyl addiction, surviving five overdoses, and detoxing in first class at 33,000 feet. In this gripping episode, Dr. Cali reveals what it's like to detox a loved one in your own home, how she built the world’s largest addiction recovery school, and the truth behind Suboxone, SSRIs, and the broken rehab industry. From private detoxes at the Four Seasons to sex addiction, sugar withdrawals, and

en

64:33

Inside a PCP Addicts Brutal Lifestyle | Molested at...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/05/25

Alexis was molested at 10, pregnant by 16, and selling crack and smoking PCP by 20. After surviving brutal domestic violence, jail time, and near-death drug experiences, she found herself homeless, hopeless — and then, a pastor stepped in. What happened next changed her life forever. Today, Alexis is 8 years sober, a mother of five, and married to a man she met in rehab. This is one of the most raw, emotional, and transformative interviews ever shared on Rise Above.#AddictionRecovery #SobrietyStory

en

64:43

Inside the Brutality of Drug Psychosis | D1 Baseball...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/05/21

Jack seemed to have it all — a loving family, standout athletic talent, and a Division 1 baseball scholarship by the age of 16. But behind the scenes, he was battling deep emotional pain, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. In this raw and honest interview, Jack opens up about being expelled in 6th grade, spiraling into drug use by high school, and hitting rock bottom just weeks before leaving for college. After a life-saving decision to enter rehab, Jack has now found purpose helping other young men

en

65:06

The Alcoholic's Struggle: How Sobriety Changed My...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/05/18

Austin went from living in a $3 million mansion in Florida and partying like a rock star… to spiraling into full-blown addiction. After years of binge drinking and daily marijuana use, he lost direction, purpose—and even the love of his life. But on April 24, 2022, everything changed. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Austin shares how he went from a promising athlete and successful car salesman to feeling hopeless and broken, and how hitting rock bottom became the wake-up call he needed. Now

en

161 results

Similar Podcasts

The Daily Horoscope

The Daily Horoscope

The Michael Decon Program

Michael Decon

Kalimera Koveos

Andrea Koveos

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service

Smarter leben

DER SPIEGEL