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 Started Shooting Heroin at 16 | Childhood Abuse, Baker Acted & How I Finally Got Clean & Sober Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Ben was s*xually abused at age 10 by a trusted camp counselor. That trauma led him to heroin by 16, methadone addiction, and eventually losing custody of his son. But through God's grace, relentless 12-step work, and a fierce desire to help others, Ben got clean—and stayed clean for 14 years. In this raw interview, he shares how he went from shooting up daily and nearly dying from withdrawal… to adopting a child whose mother overdosed in a trailer surrounded by syringes. This is one of the most powerful redemption stories we’ve ever featured.

#AddictionRecovery #SexualAbuseSurvivor #HeroinAddict #MethadoneWithdrawal #TraumaHealing #SoberDad #AdoptionStory #FentanylCrisis #RiseAbovePodcast #FaithInRecovery

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I Blew a .37 and Woke Up in a Hospital | DUI, Benzos, Cocaine & a Life Rebuilt Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Tom grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, raised by a single father after his mother abandoned him and his sister. By 13, he was drinking. By 25, he was blacking out, driving drunk, popping benzos, and working high. After a devastating DUI and a near-death experience, Tom got on a plane to Florida—and never looked back. Now over 14 years sober, he’s a father, a son, a podcast host, and the man who helped his long-lost sister into recovery. This is a powerful story of redemption, family, and what it truly means to “Rise Above.”

#addictionrecovery #sobrietyjourney #dui #alcoholism #realrecoverystory #recoverycommunity #mentalhealthawareness #riseabovepodcast #fromaddictiontorecovery #familyhealing #recoverywarrior #hopeandhealing #soberlife

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Fentanyl Sent Me Into Psychosis | Brutal Jail Detox & My Journey to Get Clean and Sober Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Dina grew up excelling in school and sports — but behind the scenes, she was spiraling. Expelled from multiple schools, battling attention-seeking behavior, and drawn to chaos, her life took a dark turn into opiate addiction. She lived a double life, fooling friends, family, and even herself — until her parents made the hardest decision of their lives: to cut her off and have her arrested.What followed was a brutal detox, a terrifying jail psychosis, and a spiritual awakening that changed everything. In this powerful conversation, Dina shares her full journey — from fentanyl addiction and manipulation to rebuilding trust, discovering God, and finding peace through fitness and family.If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, family betrayal, or finding purpose after rock bottom — this story is for you.#AddictionRecovery #SobrietyStory #FentanylCrisis #JailSavedMyLife #RiseAbovePodcast #MentalHealthMatters #FaithAndRecovery #OvercomingAddiction #WomensRecovery #OpioidAddiction #HealingJourney #FamilyRecovery #RehabToRedemption #RockBottomToRecovery #DrugAddictionHelp

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Addicted to Porn: The Brutal Truth About Porn Addiction Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Zach was addicted to porn for over a decade — a secret he hid while building a successful career and life overseas. His sex addiction escalated into dark, isolating patterns that he couldn’t escape — until he hit a breaking point. In this raw and revealing interview, Zach opens up about the childhood traumas, depression, and validation-seeking that fed his addiction.Now over 9 years sober, Zach is the founder of Open Recovery, an innovative app using AI to help people battling addiction get the support they need — anytime, anywhere. We dive deep into the psychology of sex addiction, the stigma that keeps people sick, and how Zach turned pain into purpose through recovery and tech.If you’ve struggled with any form of addiction — drugs, alcohol, porn, validation — this conversation will hit home.🧠 Open Recovery App: https://openrecovery.com📲 Download “Open Recovery: Addiction Help” on iOS & Android

#PornAddiction #SexAddictionRecovery #ZachStory #OpenRecovery #AddictionHelp #RecoveryAI #RiseAbovePodcast #AddictionAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #RecoveryJourney #AIinRecovery #RelapsePrevention #PornRecovery #12StepRecovery #CBTtherapy #TraumaHealing #MenAndAddiction

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28 Years on Adderall: Ricki Friedman’s Story of Addiction, Recovery, and Rebuilding Her Life Jul 27, 2025

Show notes

Ricki Friedman was prescribed Adderall at just 7 years old. After losing her mom to cancer at 13, she battled decades of emotional pain, a secret marijuana addiction, and an identity built around medication. Despite creating a successful brand and coaching thousands through “Break the Weight,” Ricki was silently crumbling. In this raw and unfiltered interview, Ricki opens up about living a double life, her decision to quit weed and Adderall cold turkey, and how community, therapy, and purpose helped her rebuild everything. From founding the “Steps Forward” podcast to helping over 800 people walk away from weed, this is Ricki’s incredible journey of healing and truth. IG: iamrickifriedman Podcast: Steps Forward with Ricki 👉 Subscribe for more stories of recovery and transformation. #AddictionRecovery #AdderallAddiction #MentalHealthMatters #WeedAddiction #SobrietyJourney #WomensRecovery #TraumaHealing #StepsForward #RecoveryPodcast #BreakTheWeight #KevinLanning #RickiFriedman

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Doctor Turned Drug Addict | Inside A Doctor's Brutal Addiction To Opioids Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Sheila spent years as a top critical‑care nurse, running ICU floors and even traveling coast to coast as a contract RN. But after a brutal ankle injury and two surgeries, legitimate pain management morphed into a secret prescription racket. Sheila reveals how she ran a telehealth practice from her home, writing pain‑killer scripts for herself—and even family members—until the medical board caught her and stripped her license. In this raw, unfiltered interview, she walks us through the moment she crossed the line, the shame of hiding her addiction, and the faith that ultimately saved her.

#AddictionRecovery #OpioidEpidemic #NurseConfession #RecoveryJourney #PrescriptionScandal #RiseAbovePodcast #OpenRecovery

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Inside an Alcoholic’s Brutal Fall: From National Champion to Homelessness Drinking Hand Sanitizer Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

At just 9 years old, Eric watched a man strangle his mother with a phone cord—the same man who later became a convicted serial killer. That moment shaped his entire life. From martial arts champion to nightclub enforcer, to losing his wife to a terminal illness, and ending up homeless and suicidal—Eric’s story is raw, powerful, and ultimately redemptive.In this gripping episode, Eric opens up about addiction, grief, violence, and how faith and service helped him rebuild everything. Now 7 years sober, Eric works in recovery, speaks nationwide, and helps families heal.If you've ever felt hopeless, invisible, or like you couldn’t recover—watch this. You’re not alone.

#addictionrecovery #childhoodtrauma #alcoholism #sobrietyjourney #recoveryispossible #mentalhealthawareness #homelessness #traumasurvivor #faithandrecovery #openrecovery #realrecoverytalk #aa #recoverywarrior #riseabovepodcast

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The Dark Side of IV Heroin Use: Jail Time, Overdose, and the Road to Sobriety Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

At just 19 years old, Andrew’s life imploded after selling weed to an undercover cop and spending 30 days in jail. What followed was a six-year spiral into OxyContin, heroin, and IV drug use that nearly killed him—literally. On Christmas Eve, after a near-fatal overdose, his life changed forever.In this raw and inspiring episode, Andrew opens up about:Growing up in Jersey and the trauma of divorceHow college freedom led to experimenting with every drug imaginableHis arrest, addiction, and overdoseGetting clean in a halfway house with nothing but two suitcasesWorking at a pizza shop with 3 feloniesRebuilding his life, starting a business, and becoming a fatherHow fitness, community, and spirituality keep him grounded 14 years laterThis is one of the most powerful transformation stories we've ever heard on Rise Above.

#addictionrecovery #heroinaddict #sobrietyjourney #recoveryispossible #drugaddiction #mentalhealthawareness #cleanandsober #soberlife #fromaddictiontorecovery #faithoverfear #overdoseawareness #rebuildyourlife #oxycodone #halfwayhouse #recoverycommunity #spiritualgrowth #soberliving #addictionstories #riseabovepodcast

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My Brutal Addiction to Perc 30s, Locked Up, and Left for Dead Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

Maddee was prescribed 300 oxycodone 30s a month after a minor injury. What followed was years of addiction, jail time for marijuana DUIs, a suicide attempt, and being told she had 8 years of prison hanging over her head. But when rock bottom came, she made a decision that would change her life forever.Now 10 years clean, Maddee shares how jail saved her life, how journaling and prayer helped her stay off opiates, and what it means to live in God’s will. She opens up about her childhood trauma, being prescribed drugs by a corrupt doctor, and the moment she chose to live — not just for herself, but for those who didn’t make it out.

#AddictionRecovery #OxyContinCrisis #FaithInSobriety #PrisonSavedMe #RedemptionStory #DrugCourt #OvercomingAddiction #WomenInRecovery #SuicideSurvivor #MentalHealthAwareness #JailToFreedom #RiseAbovePodcast #OpenRecovery #SoberLife #TraumaHealing #GodsPlan #MiracleStory

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Inside an Alcoholic's Battle with Severe Depression | How I Got Sober & Found Mental Clarity Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

At 25, Michael Barschi was crippled by anxiety, drowning in addiction, and secretly planning to end it all. Today, he's 22 years sober, a father of three, and one of the most respected therapists in the recovery space.In this powerful episode, I sit down with the man who helped me through my first year of sobriety—my former social worker, Michael Barschi. We talk about his darkest moments: the shame of dropping out of law school, suicidal depression, and the painful journey through early recovery.He opens up about the moment that changed everything, how therapy saved his life, and why relapse doesn’t always mean failure. Michael also shares the truth about maintaining sobriety, building a life after addiction, and why there's no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery.Whether you're newly sober, struggling with mental health, or just searching for hope—this episode will leave you inspired.🔗 Michael’s Website: https://michaelbarschi.com📲 Sponsored by OpenRecovery – Download the app for 24/7 support in your sobriety journey. #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #RelapseRecovery #TherapyWorks #AA #Anxiety #SoberLife #AddictionHelp #SoberCommunity #OpenRecovery #RecoveryPodcast #FromRockBottom #HealingJourney #RiseAbovePodcast

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