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 uplift, educate, and inspire. Tune in and discover the strength within you.

Latest Episodes:

I Blacked Out at 16… Then Tried to End It All | How I Rebuilt My Life in Sobriety Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Molly Haneke opens up about her journey from early self-harm and blackout drinking at just 16, to hitting a breaking point that landed her in a mental hospital at 22. What started as insecurity and isolation quickly spiraled into daily drinking, drugs, and destructive coping mechanisms.

After a life-threatening moment forced everything to stop, Molly entered treatment and completely rebuilt her life. Now over two years sober, she shares how recovery, discipline, and community helped her turn pain into purpose—and how young people can get sober too.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment. Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=april

#addiction #sobriety #mentalhealth #recovery #selfharm #alcoholism #sobertok #healingjourney #rockbottom #riseabove

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From Combat Hero to Homeless Addict: An Unbelievable True Story Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Sean Young survived three deployments to Afghanistan, saw his brothers-in-arms blown up in front of him, and lived through a childhood that sounds like a horror movie. In this raw and unfiltered interview on Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Sean reveals the most salacious details of his past—including the infamous day he finalized a divorce at noon and was remarried to another woman by 3:00 PM.

From the high-stakes adrenaline of being a Forward Observer in the Army to the soul-crushing reality of a suicide attempt in the Alaskan wilderness, Sean’s story is a masterclass in survival and the power of total surrender.

#RiseAbove #KevinLanning #SeanYoung #VeteransRecovery #CombatPTSD #SobrietyStory #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #ArmyVeteran #HealingTrauma #RecoverOutLoud

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Fentanyl Nightmare in Kensington | I Witnessed Hell Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Cassidy’s story is one of the darkest I’ve ever heard.

She grew up in a good home, loving parents, big family… and still addiction found a way in. One pill turned into daily use… then heroin… then fentanyl… then she ended up in the most dangerous open-air drug market in America — Kensington.

What she experienced there is not normal addiction.
It’s human trafficking. Violence. Rape. Murder. Bodies in the street. Burning victims alive. Trap houses. Dealers beating people for losing product. Young girls disappearing. This is a level of hell that most people in this country will NEVER see.

And she survived it.

Cassidy opens up about overdoses, abusive relationships, jail, street life, losing friends, and the spiritual war that fentanyl brings with it.

She rebuilt her life — and is now sober — and her story will change perspectives for families everywhere struggling to understand addiction.

Watch this entire interview start to finish — share with a parent, sister, brother, someone who needs to know the reality of fentanyl before it’s too late.

Rise Above. Always.

#kensington #fentanyl #fentanylepidemic #opioidcrisis #philadelphia #addiction #recovery #sobriety #drugabuse #narcansaveslives #harmreduction #addictionawareness #recoveryispossible #riseabovepodcast #drugcrisis #openairdrugmarket #truecrime #streetsurvival #kensingtonphilly #fentanlyawareness

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"I Didn’t Want to Exist Anymore" | She was the #1 European Tennis Pro But Her Mental Health was Secretly Unraveling Apr 05, 2026

Show notes

Ema Burgic was the #1 ranked junior in Europe, a standout star at Baylor, and a professional tennis powerhouse. On the outside, her life looked perfect: a successful career, a "perfect" husband, and a beautiful home. But inside, Ema was fighting a silent battle with major depression and a loss of identity that nearly cost her everything.

In this episode of Rise Above, Ema gets vulnerable about the reality of being a professional athlete under extreme pressure, the "numbness" of long-term medication, and the grueling journey of rebuilding her life from zero after a divorce and a 10-year hiatus from the sport.

Call or Text: 844-443-5669

Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=april

#MentalHealth #Tennis #EmaBurgic #RiseAbove #DepressionRecovery #ProAthlete #OvercomingAdversity #DivorceRecovery #Bosnia #WTA #SurvivorStory

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Inside a Rockstar's BRUTAL Addiction to Fentanyl | The Miracle Call That Saved My Life Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Justin Clancy was a rising star in the music industry, but behind the scenes, he was battling a soul-crushing addiction to opiates. In this episode of Rise Above, Justin gets incredibly vulnerable about the "white light" moment that saved his life—literally seconds away from ending it all.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don't have to do it alone. Compassion Behavioral Health offers individualized, stigma-free care.

Visit them here: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=march

Call or Text: 844-443-5669

Follow Justin Clancy:

Instagram: @justin_clancy

TikTok: @justinclancy

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The Day I Lost Everything | My Battle With Alcohol & The Truth About My Struggle Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Chris 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 saved his life. Now sober and rebuilding, he’s using his pain to help others—including coaches, athletes, and anyone silently struggling.

Chris's website: Www.movethechains.squarespace.com

#AddictionRecovery #CoachingLife #SobrietyJourney #RockBottom #FootballCoach #DUIRecovery #StateChampion #MentalHealthAwareness #HighSchoolFootball #AlcoholAddiction #RedemptionStory #RiseAbovePodcast #MoveTheChain

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I Was Held Hostage by a Biker Gang | Shooting Heroin at 15 Nearly Killed Me Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

"I knew the moment I did it, this will ruin my life—and I’m going to keep doing it."

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Rise Above, Kevin Lanning sits down with Alyx Gold for a follow-up to her viral interview. Alyx takes us deeper into the "underworld" of her addiction—a journey that started with shooting heroin and meth at just 15 years old.

Alyx reveals the terrifying details of being held hostage for over a week by a biker gang president, the moment she was stabbed and nearly killed in an abandoned alleyway, and the miraculous stranger who saved her life.

But this isn't just a story of darkness. Today, Alyx is over 8 years sober, a dedicated single mother, and is in the process of opening the Gold Center for Recovery to help others escape the same trenches she once lived in.

In this episode, we discuss:

The reality of being a 15-year-old IV drug user.
The harrowing escape from a biker gang "trap house."
Surviving a brutal assault and the "angel" who intervened.
How Alyx changed her entire belief system to stay sober for 8 years.
The launch of the Gold Center for Recovery.

Connect with Alyx Gold: Instagram: @_alyxgold TikTok: @in_my_everything_era

If you or someone you love is struggling, reach out to Compassion Behavioral Health: 844-443-5669 or visit https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march

#RiseAbove #Recovery #Addiction #HeroinAddict #Sobriety #AlyxGold #KevinLanning #BikerGang #TraumaHealing #RedemptionStory

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"I Wanted The Batch That Killed 5 People" | Inside A Brutal Fentanyl Addiction Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Rise Above, I sit down with Anthony Wilson, a top 1% real estate agent whose journey to the top started at the absolute bottom. Born addicted to methadone and raised in the chaos of a "trap house" family environment, Anthony’s life was a cycle of high-stakes sales and low-bottom addiction.

Anthony gets brutally honest about:

The "Eddie Haskell" Charm: How he used his innate personality to manipulate dealers out of thousands of dollars.
The Breaking Point: Finding out his father was smoking crack in the next room while Anthony was trying to build a career.
The Real Estate Secret: Why being "hand-delivered" by God to a broker who understood his struggle changed everything.
The 1% Mindset: How sobriety gave him the "ice in his veins" to close million-dollar deals without breaking a sweat.

This isn’t just a story about real estate; it’s a masterclass in internal change, spiritual surrender, and what happens when you stop chasing and start attracting.

Connect with Anthony Wilson: [Insert Social Media Links/Website]

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. I’ve partnered with Compassion Behavioral Health because they offer true individualized care, from detox to virtual support. They are in-network with major providers and available 24/7.

📞 Call or Text: 844-443-5669 🌐 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=march

🙏 A Message from Our Sponsor

#RealEstate #AddictionRecovery #SuccessStory #Sobriety #Entrepreneurship #MillionDollarListing #RiseAbove #Inspiration #MentalHealthMatters

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I Made $1.2 Million Selling Sneakers While High on Lean & Percocet Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

Arthur Favors joins the podcast for an unfiltered look at the cost of success. From selling peanut brittle in the 8th grade to generating $1.2 million in sneaker sales, Arthur has always had the "hustler" spirit. But behind the scenes of his successful Atlanta storefront, a deadly addiction to Lean, Percocet, and Xanax was spiraling out of control.In this episode, Arthur opens up about:The "backdoor" sneaker world and how he flipped his way to the top.Living a double life: Managing a retail empire while fueled by opioids.The terrifying moment he was robbed at gunpoint with his daughter in the car.Why he chose to close his successful store to save his mental health and his family.His journey to 2 years of sobriety and finding peace through yoga and fatherhood.Recovery isn't just about stopping the substance; it’s about healing what’s underneath. If you or a loved one is struggling, reach out to Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care, from detox to virtual support, and are in-network with major insurance providers.

Call or Text 24/7: 844-443-5669

Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=march

#ArthurFavors #SneakerReseller #SobrietyJourney #AtlantaHustle #RecoveryIsPossible #SneakerHead #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealthMatters #Podcast #AddictionRecovery

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Inside a Heroin Addict's SHOCKING Addiction | How I Lost Everything and Now 12 Years Sober Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

Mike Boyer had the "Hallmark" childhood: two loving parents, a stable home, and a dream career as a sports broadcaster. But behind the scenes, a secret OxyContin habit spiraled into a daily heroin addiction that turned him into a "slave" to the substance while he was traveling with sports teams and working for the State Capitol.

In this raw and revealing interview, Mike discusses:

The "Twin Intuition": How his addiction fractured the bond with his twin sister.
The Broadcaster's Secret: Balancing an on-air career while battling the constant fear of withdrawal.
The Breaking Point: The day he stole from his boss at the State Capitol and the police intervention that saved his life.
12 Years of Sobriety: How he moved from "chaos and crisis" to building a beautiful life as a father and husband.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, there is a way out. Our sponsor, Compassion Behavioral Health, focuses on the "why" behind the addiction, offering individualized care and innovative treatments like TMS and EMDR.

Start your journey here: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=march

Call or Text 24/7: 844-443-5669

#Addiction #RecoveryStory #HeroinAddict #Sobriety #Broadcaster #MentalHealth #RiseAbove #MikeBoyer #DrugAddiction #RecoveryIsPossible #Documentary

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