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:

Bath Salt Overdose, Crack Addiction & Kratom Relapse After 7 Years Sober | I Lost Everything Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Austin’s story is one of the most intense, raw, and honest recovery journeys ever shared on Rise Above.

After 7 years sober, Austin relapsed—triggered by success, ego, and untreated trauma. What followed was a devastating downward spiral:
🔹 Crack, benzos, kratom, and gambling addiction
🔹 A near-fatal overdose at the Hard Rock Hotel
🔹 20 months running from his life in Mexico, embedded in cartel territory
🔹 Losing millions, his marriage, and himself
🔹 Multiple rehabs, jail, and starting over—again and again

But this isn’t just a relapse story. It’s a redemption story.

Austin opens up about trauma, pride, fatherhood, faith vs. spirituality, why kratom nearly destroyed him, and what finally changed after decades of trying to stay sober on his own terms. Today, he’s a present father of five, active in recovery, and the author of One Last Hit.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone struggling with addiction, relapse, ego, success, or the belief that “this time will be different.”

👉 If relapse has ever been part of your story—or someone you love—this one will hit home.

#RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #RelapseStory #OverdoseSurvivor #HardRockHotel #KratomAwareness #CrackAddiction #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryIsPossible #12StepRecovery #Alcoholism #DrugAddiction #MentalHealthAwareness #TraumaHealing #Fatherhood #SecondChances #RedemptionStory #LifeAfterRelapse

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dark Side of Alcoholism | I Was Slowly Dying From Alcohol Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Amy Simmonds had everything from the outside — a thriving real estate career, a family, success — but inside she was slowly being destroyed by alcohol.

In this raw and powerful conversation, Amy opens up about her childhood wounds, blackouts, relapse after years sober, and the moment she finally surrendered. She shares how grief — especially the sudden loss of her mother — became the catalyst for a deeper calling: a mission to break the stigma around addiction and show others that recovery is not just possible, it’s powerful.

Amy is now 12.5 years sober and launching a new movement rooted in honesty, faith, service, and daily commitment. This episode dives into:

The hidden alcoholism that no one talks about
Relapsing after long-term sobriety
Alcohol as a “solution” that quietly becomes the problem
Grief, pain, and staying sober through unimaginable loss
Why helping others is the key to lasting recovery
Breaking the stigma for professionals who “look put together”

If you or someone you love is struggling, this conversation could be the sign you’ve been waiting for.

📌 Recovery is not about perfection — it’s about connection.

#RiseAbove #Sobriety #Alcoholism #RecoveryJourney #WomensRecovery #BreakingTheStigma #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #OneDayAtATime #HealingThroughService

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Son Was Murdered… and the Man Who Killed Him Walked Free | A Father’s Unthinkable Nightmare Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Romaine Campbell is a police officer, husband, father, and a man of unshakable faith — but in 2019, his life was shattered forever.

Romaine’s two-year-old son, Hayden Campbell, was rushed to the hospital brain-dead, with a fractured skull and signs of blunt force trauma. The explanation given?
“They said he fell out of a bed.”

Medical evidence told a different story.

In this raw and heartbreaking conversation, Romaine opens up about the night he received the phone call no parent should ever get — learning that his son was fighting for his life after being left alone with his mother’s boyfriend. Despite devastating injuries, the man responsible was granted bond and walked free while Romaine buried his child.

This episode goes far beyond the tragedy.

Romaine shares:

The disturbing details surrounding Hayden’s death
What it’s like being a law enforcement officer while your own child’s killer is free
The rage, grief, and temptation for revenge — and why he didn’t act on it
How grief nearly destroyed his marriage
The painful mistakes he made while grieving
How faith, accountability, and humility saved his life
Why “it’s okay to not be okay”
How he turned unimaginable loss into purpose

Romaine is also the author of Rooted in Resilience, a deeply personal book about faith, grief, and rebuilding after loss, and is creating a nonprofit to honor Hayden’s legacy through mental health and domestic violence awareness.

This is not just a story about loss — it’s a story about restraint, resilience, and choosing not to let tragedy create another victim.

⚠️ Viewer discretion advised. This episode contains sensitive material involving child abuse and death.

If this story reaches even one parent, one grieving family, or one person standing at a breaking point — it has done its job.

#TrueCrime #JusticeForHayden #Grief #PoliceOfficer #ChildAbuseAwareness #FaithOverVengeance #MurderCase #LawEnforcementStories #FathersGrief #RiseAbove #HealingAfterLoss #MentalHealthAwareness #DomesticViolenceAwareness #Resilience #UnfilteredTruth

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction Destroys Families | The Truth About Loving Someone With Mental Illness & Addiction Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

When someone you love is struggling with mental illness or addiction, the pain doesn’t stop with them — the family feels it too.

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Brittany Bennett, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in supporting families who love someone diagnosed with conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, and substance use disorders.

We talk about:

Why families often feel shut out, confused, or helpless
The stigma around mental health and addiction — and how it hurts loved ones
Self-medication, undiagnosed ADHD, and the link between mental health and sobriety
When therapy is actually needed (not just during crisis)
Boundaries vs. enabling — and when distance may be necessary
Why self-care isn’t selfish for family members
One-on-one therapy vs. support groups
Supporting someone without losing yourself

Brittany also shares her personal journey into the mental health field, her experience working in prisons, and insights from her book Selfish Is the New Selfless, which reframes self-care as a necessity — not a luxury.

If you’re supporting a partner, child, parent, or loved one with mental illness or addiction, this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

👉 If this conversation helps you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

#MentalHealthAwareness #AddictionRecovery #FamilySupport
#MentalHealthMatters #SobrietyJourney #TherapyWorks
#BipolarDisorder #ADHD #SelfCareIsNotSelfish
#HealingFamilies #BreakingTheStigma #RiseAbove

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Was a Drink Away From Dying | Cancer, Prison & How Alcohol Took Everything Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Becky’s story is one of survival at every level.

She was sexually abused as a child, adopted into a strict household, and later diagnosed with aggressive cancer just one month after giving birth. Doctors told her she’d be lucky to see her son turn five.

She beat cancer—multiple times.

But the unresolved trauma, years of surgeries, and being told her life was a ticking clock led her down a darker path. Becky fell into severe alcoholism, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, lost her marriage, and was eventually sentenced to three years in prison.

Even behind bars, cancer returned.

Shackled in a hospital bed during radiation treatment, Becky hit a bottom unlike anything she’d ever known. What followed was a brutal reckoning with addiction, accountability, and ultimately, surrender.

In this episode, Becky opens up about:

Childhood sexual abuse and the lifelong impact of secrecy
Being told she wouldn’t live to raise her son
Alcoholism that escalated after years of trauma
Prison, cancer treatment behind bars, and total loss
The exact moment she finally surrendered and got sober
Rebuilding her relationship with her son and finding purpose again

Becky has now been sober since 2011 and serves as COO of her son’s company—built from the pain of their separation and transformed into something meaningful.

This is a powerful conversation about trauma, addiction, resilience, and what it really means to rise after losing everything.

If this episode helps even one person feel less alone, it’s worth sharing.

#AddictionRecovery #SurvivorStory #SobrietyJourney #TraumaHealing #LifeAfterPrison #CancerSurvivor #AlcoholismRecovery #RiseAbove #RedemptionStory #MentalHealthMatters

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Thought I Could Drink Again After Nearly a Decade Sober | Kratom, Relapse, and Finding Sobriety Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Juliet Warner shares her raw, unfiltered journey through addiction, relapse, recovery, and redemption. From a lonely childhood and early substance use to rehabs, relapse after nearly a decade sober, and ultimately rebuilding her life, marriage, and purpose—this conversation is a powerful reminder that addiction doesn’t always look the way we expect.

#AddictionRecovery#RelapseAndRecovery#SobrietyJourney#AlcoholismAwareness#RecoveryStories

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Swore I Was Quitting Every Morning… and Used Again by Noon | The Reality of Alcohol Addiction Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

DJ ActRight sits down with Kevin Lanning to share his powerful journey from active addiction to over 2.5 years sober — all while living a true double life.

By day, he’s a middle school teacher in West Virginia. By night and on weekends, he’s touring the country as Petey Pablo’s DJ, performing in packed venues where alcohol and temptation are everywhere. After a DUI became his wake-up call, DJ ActRight made the decision to get sober and hold himself accountable — even behind the DJ booth.

In this episode, DJ ActRight opens up about:

The shame and mental battles of active addiction
Why “once I started, I couldn’t stop” didn’t look how people expect
Getting sober in party environments and staying accountable
Touring sober, support from artists and bartenders, and setting boundaries
Marriage, living amends, and rebuilding trust
Why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery

This is a raw, honest conversation about discipline, purpose, and proving to yourself — one day at a time — that change is possible.

If this episode helps even one person, it’s done its job.

#RiseAbovePodcast #SoberJourney #Sobriety #RecoveryIsPossible #DJLife
#FromAddictionToPurpose #SoberLiving #MentalHealth #LivingAmends #OneDayAtATime

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No One Knew How Bad It Was | Living With an Eating Disorder Jan 10, 2026

Show notes

Michelle Falco opens up about the hidden battle she fought for years — an eating disorder rooted in anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, and a deep fear of not being enough.

Connect with Michelle on IG: andhaleco

In this powerful conversation, Michelle shares:

How her eating disorder began in adolescence
The role dissociation, OCD traits, and intrusive thoughts played
Why going to treatment in 2018 changed — and saved — her life
Leaving a successful career in advertising to pursue purpose
Becoming a licensed social worker and helping others heal
Building a mindfulness-based wellness brand with her husband

This episode is a raw look at what suffering can look like behind a “normal” life — and how recovery, humility, and self-awareness can lead to a completely new path.

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety, or addiction, this conversation may help you feel less alone.

You are not broken. You are human. And healing is possible.

#EatingDisorderRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #DisorderedEating #RecoveryJourney #AnxietyHealing #ADHDAwareness #MindfulnessPractice #HealingStory #WomenInRecovery #RiseAbove

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Drank a Liter of Vodka a Day While Raising My Kids Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Amy spent decades battling addiction in different forms—anorexia, obsession, control, and ultimately alcohol. From hiding vodka in her bedroom while raising her kids to blacking out during COVID, Amy lived a double life that nearly cost her everything.

In this raw and emotional conversation, Amy shares how childhood trauma, OCD, eating disorders, toxic relationships, and owning bars all fueled her addiction. She opens up about the terrifying moments her kids found her passed out, the shame of hiding bottles, and the day her family finally said the words she’d been praying to hear: “You need help.”

Three years sober, Amy proves that recovery is possible—even when alcohol is everywhere—and that sobriety isn’t about willpower, but healing the mind behind the addiction.

If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode could be the one that helps you take the first step.

#Alcoholism #RecoveryJourney #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #EatingDisorderRecovery #AnorexiaAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #FamilyDisease #RiseAbove #OneDayAtATime

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alcohol Nearly Killed Me at 27 | 13 Rehabs, Psych Wards & Near Death Experience Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Andrew’s story is a raw, unfiltered look at what severe alcoholism actually looks like behind the scenes.

From growing up with crippling anxiety and a heart condition, to discovering alcohol at 18 and immediately losing control, Andrew spiraled into years of relapse, hospitalizations, psych wards, self-harm, legal consequences, and 13 rehab attempts — all before the age of 27.

He drank every morning, worked remote jobs while intoxicated, ran from police during a wellness check involving helicopters and K-9 units, and endured life-threatening alcohol withdrawals that landed him in ambulances and ERs multiple times in a single night.

In this episode, Andrew breaks down:

Why willpower and discipline never worked for him
How anxiety, fear, and control fueled his addiction
What alcohol withdrawal really feels like
Why alcohol and benzos are among the most dangerous withdrawals
How understanding addiction as a disease changed everything
The exact moment he surrendered and finally stayed sober

Today, Andrew is over 2.5 years sober, living with purpose, helping others, and proving that even when everything looks lost, recovery is still possible.

This episode is for:

Anyone struggling with alcohol or addiction
Loved ones trying to understand the disease
People who keep relapsing and feel hopeless
Anyone who believes they’ve “tried everything”

If this story helps even one person, it’s worth telling.

#Alcoholism #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryIsPossible #MentalHealthAwareness #AlcoholRecovery #LifeInRecovery #RelapseRecovery #PsychWardSurvivor #AddictionIsADisease #NearDeathExperience #SobrietyStories #TraumaHealing #AnxietyRecovery #SubstanceAbuseRecovery #RecoveryPodcast #RiseAbovePodcast #SoberLife #SoberCommunity

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices