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 Shot Heroin Until I Flatlined” | Rikers Island to 10 Years Sober Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Nicky Santora grew up in Staten Island surrounded by addiction, chaos, and loss. When he was just 15 years old, he found his mother dead after an overdose from Percocet and OxyContin.

What followed was years of destruction.

He started with weed and cocaine as a kid… then moved to Roxy blues, Xanax, and eventually heroin. Within months he was shooting heroin, robbing houses, stealing air conditioners out of windows, and overdosing.

At his lowest point, Nicky was homeless, facing multiple arrests, and eventually landed inside Rikers Island, where violence and drugs were everywhere.

But somehow, he made it out.

Today Nicky is over 10 years sober, a father of three, and a rising comedian who uses his brutally honest story to help others battling addiction.

This is a raw conversation about addiction, recovery, prison, and rebuilding a life when everyone thinks you're finished.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, stories like this prove that recovery is possible.

#addictionrecovery #heroinaddiction #soberstory #recoveryjourney #rikersisland #opioidcrisis #recoverypodcast #riseabove

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I Tried Heroin at 16… and Everything Went Downhill From There Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Kira looked like the “good kid.”
3.8 GPA. Band. Job. Involved in everything.

Behind the scenes, she was self-harming at 12, drinking at 12, snorting ketamine in the school bathroom, selling alcohol through her locker, and attempting suicide multiple times.

At 18, she shaved her head, stopped showering, lived with strangers, and drove 12 hours to Georgia to move in with a man she met online… before barely escaping.

Her true rock bottom?
A little kid knocking on a drug dealer’s bedroom door asking for his dad.

That moment changed everything.

Today, Kira is 6+ years clean and sober, graduated from Michigan State, worked in Child Protective Services, and is now pursuing her Master’s in Social Work.

This episode is about addiction that doesn’t look “broken,” mental health, grooming, suicide attempts, recovery at 18, and how contentment—not happiness—is the real goal.

If you’re struggling, there is hope. Stay.

#AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #SobrietyJourney #SuicidePrevention #YoungPeopleInRecovery #KetamineAbuse #RecoveryStory #AARecovery

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I Was Drinking Every Day at 16… Flipped My Jeep Drunk at 17 | Then Gambled $3.7 MILLION in Sobriety Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

Logan Houle looked like he had it all.

Triple-A hockey. A long-term girlfriend. Good grades. No major trauma. A “normal” life.

But behind closed doors, he was blacking out daily by 16… flipping his Jeep while drunk at 17… and later—after getting sober—developing a hidden gambling addiction that led him to wager over $3.7 million in just four months.

From stealing from family, draining paychecks in hours, and losing $10,000 in under 60 minutes… to rehab, self-exclusion, faith, and helping the next generation through his podcast New Generation Sobriety — this is one of the most powerful young recovery stories you’ll hear.

Addiction isn’t always drugs.
Sometimes it’s alcohol.
Sometimes it’s gambling.
And sometimes it’s the pain underneath it all.

If you're struggling, you're not alone.

#AddictionRecovery #GamblingAddiction #SobrietyJourney #AlcoholismRecovery #RiseAbove

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I Was Having Cocaine-Induced Seizures 5x a Day | Gang Life, Trauma & Redemption Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

Sponsored by Cozy Earth — elevate your everyday with premium bedding designed for deeper rest and calmer nights. Use code RISEABOVE for up to 20% off at cozyearth.com.

Fausto grew up in fear. A narcissistic, abusive father. Sexual abuse at 7 years old. Bullying. Codependency. Addiction to validation.

By 14, he was faking his own death on MySpace, getting 5150’d into a psych ward, drinking Jack Daniel’s daily, and chasing ecstasy just to feel normal.

By his 20s, he was smoking meth, having 3–5 grand mal seizures a day, overdosing on pills, blacking out on cruises, and attempting suicide more than once.

He says alcohol saved his life before it nearly killed him.

But that wasn’t even the end.

In sobriety, he faced betrayal, family deaths, brain aneurysms, EMDR trauma breakthroughs, and a collapse that almost took him out at six years clean.

This is a raw conversation about sexual abuse, addiction, masculinity, forgiveness, service, and protecting your peace.

If you’ve ever felt broken, ashamed, or alone… watch this.

There is purpose in pain.

—

Follow Fausto:
YouTube / IG / TikTok: @HopeDealers

If you’re struggling with addiction or trauma, you are not alone. Reach out. Help exists.

#AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #TraumaHealing #MensMentalHealth #SexualAbuseSurvivor #FromRockBottom #5150 #GrandMalSeizures #AARecovery #RiseAbovePodcast

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I Had No Veins Left… Fentanyl Was Eating My Body | Dr. Phil, Grand Theft Auto & Sobriety Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Sponsored by Cozy Earth — elevate your everyday with premium bedding designed for deeper rest and calmer nights. Use code RISEABOVE for up to 20% off at cozyearth.com.

At 23, Jordan Lexell was exposed on national television after appearing on Dr. Phil in an episode titled “Young, Reckless & Enabled.”

By 35, she was shooting heroin on the South Side of Chicago, addicted to fentanyl, arrested nearly 30 times, faking drug tests, and living in and out of hotels while facing multiple felonies — including Grand Theft Auto, possession of fentanyl, and her third DUI.

She overdosed in her mother’s home. She detoxed in Sarasota County Jail. She was looking at serious prison time.

On August 24, 2022, Jordan did her last line of fentanyl pulling into treatment.

Today, she’s over three and a half years sober — rebuilding her life from the ground up, repairing her relationship with her mom, grieving her father’s death in sobriety, and proving that even after 30 arrests… redemption is possible.

This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about:

Heroin & fentanyl addiction
Being enabled by family
Fake rehab culture vs state-funded treatment
Jail detox and felony probation
Brain recovery after opioids
Losing a parent in sobriety
Rebuilding from rock bottom

If you or someone you love is battling addiction — this episode is proof that no one is too far gone.

Recovery is possible.

#FentanylCrisis #HeroinAddiction #DrPhil #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #GrandTheftAuto #OpioidEpidemic #RiseAbove #RecoveryIsPossible #FelonToFreedom

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Alcohol Was Killing Me | Hallucinations, Severe Esophagitis and How I Found Sobriety Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Spencer Forester had the dream résumé.
CPA. 4.0 student. Six-figure career. Big firm promotions.

But behind closed doors? He was drinking at 6:30 AM just to steady his hands.

What started as weekend partying turned into round-the-clock alcohol dependence. Hallucinations. Severe esophagitis. Resting heart rate over 150. Doctors debated ICU. One doctor told him directly:

“Rehab is going to save your life. You’re going to die if you don’t go.”

Instead of disappearing, Spencer raised his hand and asked for help.

Three meetings a day. Calling sober men constantly. Rebuilding from zero.
Now 2.5 years sober, he left his CPA career and is building something in the recovery space to help others.

This episode is proof that addiction does not discriminate. You can look successful on the outside and still be dying on the inside.

If you’re struggling — raise your hand. Ask for help. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Follow Spencer: @sober.spenny
Follow Rise Above for more real recovery stories.

#AlcoholAddiction #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryIsPossible #DetoxStory #AARecovery #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #MensRecovery #HealingJourney #RaiseYourHand

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I Fought in the UFC on LSD | Cartel Arrest, Ayahuasca in Peru & Getting Sober Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Sponsored by Cozy Earth — elevate your everyday with premium bedding designed for deeper rest and calmer nights. Use code RISEABOVE for up to 20% off at cozyearth.com.

Blake Bilder went from a small-town kid in Minnesota to signing with the UFC… but behind the fights was chaos no one saw.

Blackout drinking. Adderall and cocaine. Microdosing mushrooms every day. Taking LSD before a UFC fight. Smuggling 81 pounds of weed. Arrested before his debut. Facing federal charges. His brother’s suicide. Ayahuasca ceremonies deep in the Amazon jungle.

At the height of his career, Blake was spiraling.

In this raw interview, Blake opens up about nearly ending his life, relapsing in sobriety, cartel involvement, fighting on psychedelics, prison time, and the moment he finally surrendered and asked for help.

This is a story about ego, faith, shame, redemption, and what it really costs to chase greatness.

If you’re struggling with addiction, depression, or suicidal thoughts — you are not alone.

Watch until the end.

#RiseAbove

#UFC #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #BlakeBilder #RiseAbove #Psychedelics #AyahuascaExperience #MMAFighter #FromAddictionToRecovery #SuicideAwareness #RecoveryIsPossible

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A Heroin Addict’s Brutal Double Life | 18 Arrests, Federal Prison & a Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Ring Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Sponsored by Cozy Earth — elevate your everyday with premium bedding designed for deeper rest and calmer nights. Use code RISEABOVE for up to 20% off at cozyearth.com.

Evan grew up in a good Italian family on Long Island. Loving parents. Sunday dinners. Sports. No trauma to blame.

By 12, he was smoking weed.
By high school, he was selling cocaine.
By his early 20s, he was running mortgage fraud in Florida.

After his father tragically took his own life, Evan spiraled deeper into addiction — first pills, then heroin, then meth.

In California, he built a sophisticated mail theft and credit card fraud operation, stealing checks directly from post office boxes, washing them with chemicals, and cashing out thousands of dollars a day.

He was arrested 18 times.

When the feds finally caught him, he was facing serious prison time.

Behind bars during COVID lockdown, locked in a cell for months, starving and isolated, Evan made a decision that would change his life forever.

Today, he’s sober, rebuilding his relationship with his children, and running operations at one of the fastest-growing supplement companies in the country.

This is a story about greed, addiction, federal prison, and what happens when you finally stop running.

If you’re struggling — don’t give up.

#FederalPrison #FraudStory #AddictionRecovery #HeroinAddict #RedemptionStory #TrueCrimeStory #RiseAbove #SoberLife #PrisonStory #FromPrisonToPurpose #RecoveryJourney #ExConSuccess

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Addiction Sent Me to Federal Prison | Drug Trafficking, Sobriety & Managing Surf Legend Andy Irons Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

Steven Clark was living two lives.

From delivering cocaine between California and Hawaii and serving over five years in federal prison… to managing some of the biggest names in professional surfing — including world champions during the height of the Andy Irons and Kelly Slater era.

On paper, he had it all. Global travel. Elite athletes. Money. Status.
Behind the scenes? Alcohol. Drugs. Ego. Emptiness.

At 50 years old, sitting at a high-profile event surrounded by celebrities and legends, Steven realized he had never felt more alone.

That night he asked God for help.

The next day, a childhood friend showed up and took him to his first AA meeting. He hasn’t had a drink since.

In this episode of Rise Above, we talk about:

• Federal prison and mandatory minimums
• Surf industry fame and managing world champions
• High-functioning addiction in elite environments
• Andy Irons’ impact on him personally
• The moment of clarity that changed everything
• 90 meetings in 90 days
• Making amends
• Life on life’s terms
• Finding real fulfillment in sobriety

This is a story about ego, consequences, humility, and spiritual transformation.

If you're struggling, know this: You don’t have to feel that way again.

#AddictionRecovery #FederalPrison #SurfCulture #AARecovery #RiseAbovePodcast #SobrietyJourney #KellySlater #AndyIrons #CocaineTrafficking #HighFunctioningAddict

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Kidney Failure at 21 from Alcohol & Drugs | I Was Hours From Death Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Landon Finn had everything going for him.
Good grades. Fraternity president. Bright future.

But behind closed doors he was drinking at 7AM, tripping on LSD four times a week, blacking out in a Bugs Bunny costume, and hearing voices that weren’t there.

He lied to his parents.
He lied to his sponsor.
He lied to himself.

After passing out behind the wheel and landing in acute kidney failure at 21 years old, doctors told him if he showed up a few hours later… he wouldn’t be here.

This is the raw story of alcoholism, psychosis, relapse, overdose loss, humility, and rebuilding a life from rock bottom.

Three years sober.
University of Colorado recovery center leader.
Working to open treatment centers and change the system.

This is what choosing life looks like.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, this episode could save a life.

#AddictionRecovery #Alcoholism #SobrietyJourney #RockBottom #MentalHealth #LSDTrip #Psychosis #YoungAndSober #RecoveryIsPossible #RiseAbove

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