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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

58:42

Inside a Binge Drinker’s Double Life on Cocaine &...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/28

Jennifer Kazilionis sits down with me to share her raw and unfiltered story of addiction, chaos, and ultimately, recovery.From growing up in Portland, Maine, to an abusive relationship, cocaine use, and two DUIs that landed her in jail, Jennifer’s path was filled with self-destruction and pain. With the help of treatment, sober living in Florida, and the guidance of a sponsor, she rebuilt her life and is now celebrating 13 years of sobriety.In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Jennifer

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127:31

"I Was Throwing Up Blood and Still Drinking" |...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/24

Karina’s story is raw, unfiltered, and powerful. From growing up as a cheerleader with early signs of heavy drinking, to panic attacks and daily withdrawals, she spiraled into isolation, suicide attempts, and repeated hospital visits.Her first rehab didn’t stick—she left planning to “drink normally” again. But after seizures, ICU stays, and liver failure, Karina nearly lost her life.What changed? During her second treatment, she finally surrendered—acceptance, honesty, and community transformed her

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68:03

Harvey Weinstein Assaulted Me at 16 | Alcohol Abuse,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/22

Kaja’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and hope.At just 14 years old, she was thrust into the world of international modeling, traveling across Europe and facing impossible standards. By 16, she encountered Harvey Weinstein for the first time—an experience that left deep scars and would be repeated again at 19.In this raw and powerful interview, Kaja opens up about:Growing up with anxiety and never feeling like she fit in.The pressures and exploitation she faced as a teenage model.Her

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50:51

Blackouts, Shame & the Illusion of Control | The...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/20

Jennifer grew up in a chaotic household with an alcoholic parent and perfectionist pressure driving her from a young age. Her journey took her from being a nationally ranked bowler on scholarship to the wild world of college sororities, drinking, and cocaine-fueled chaos.What began as casual partying quickly spiraled into blackouts, toxic relationships, and moments of incomprehensible demoralization—including a traumatic assault that left lasting scars. But Jennifer’s story doesn’t end there. At

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80:54

I Smoked Myself Into a Crack Psychosis | 33 Felonies,...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/17

Richard's story is one of the most gripping tales of addiction, crime, and redemption ever told on this channel. By the age of 18, he had already served prison time for burglary. Over the next two decades, he racked up 33 felony convictions, became known as one half of the “Dynamic Duo” of cr@ck-addicted brothers in Palm Beach County, and lived in trap houses, behind shopping centers, and eventually a foreclosed home taken over by drug dealers and pr0stitutes.His downward spiral included multiple

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66:20

Coming Off Adderall Was the Worst Experience of My...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/16

Izzy opens up about her 15-year battle with Adderall and how quitting cold turkey changed her life forever. From being put on ADHD medication at just 12 years old to building a fast-paced career as a hairstylist powered by stimulants, she shares how the drug shaped her identity, destroyed relationships, and disconnected her from her true self.After a divorce, years of emotional chaos, and a nationwide Adderall shortage, Izzy made the life-altering decision to walk away from the pills—and every

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65:18

I Caught My Wife Cheating, Blacked Out & Landed in...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/14

Carl Stone spent over 30 years in law enforcement—respected, decorated, and seen as a protector. But behind closed doors, he was quietly unraveling. Haunted by childhood trauma, daily exposure to horrific crimes, and suppressed mental health struggles, Carl turned to alcohol to cope. Then one day, everything came crashing down.In this raw and unfiltered interview, Carl shares his story for the first time: witnessing brutal domestic abuse as a child, becoming a police officer to escape that cycle,

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83:43

Inside a Police Officers Brutal Addiction to...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/12

Hal Hughes had the perfect life: a loving wife, four kids, a successful career in law enforcement, and a reputation as a local hero. But everything changed the day he was violently attacked on the job—an incident that left him with a traumatic brain injury and a slow-burning descent into darkness.In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Hal opens up about the devastating impact of PTSD, chronic pain, and addiction. He shares how opiates hijacked his life, how he almost lost everything, and what

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52:32

My Mugshot Was Everywhere: The Brutal Consequences of...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/11

Leticia grew up in a tight-knit Brazilian-American community in Danbury, CT. One night out with friends—“just two drinks”—became a life-changing DUI at 0.08. In this raw conversation, she breaks down what actually happens after the arrest: getting pulled over twice in minutes, the breath test, court, fines and fees, a year-long program, and installing an interlock on her Tesla. She also shares the emotional fallout of seeing her mugshot blasted online, navigating family and community judgment, and

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67:27

"Once I Shot Heroin, It Was GAME OVER" | My Dark...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/08

Carla grew up in a loving home in Boston with a supportive family and big dreams of becoming a teacher. But one party after high school changed everything. She took her first Percocet—and what followed was a devastating spiral into opiate addiction, heroin, and eventually shooting up. In this gripping episode, Carla opens up about stealing $100,000 from her hardworking father, losing custody of her kids, and surviving a near-fatal seizure during detox.But Carla’s story doesn’t end in tragedy—it’s

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27:34

Chevy Chase RAW & UNCUT | Hollywood Stories, Wild...

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning ·

2025/09/07

Chevy Chase, the legendary star of Saturday Night Live and the National Lampoon’s Vacation films, sits down for a rare and unfiltered conversation about his life, career, and sobriety. From growing up in New York and Woodstock, to breaking into comedy with Lorne Michaels, to navigating sudden fame and unforgettable fan encounters, Chevy opens up like never before. He also reflects on his battle with alcohol, his time at the Betty Ford Center, and how he’s maintained 47 years of sobriety. Honest,

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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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