Podcast
Rise Above with Kevin Lanning
Hosted by Kevin Lanning · EN
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.
99episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Inside a Xanax & Alcohol Addict's Brutal Blackouts | I Was "The Devil"
Mar 1901:05:55Tap to summarizeIn this raw and unfiltered interview, Rachel Sereni pulls back the curtain on a seven-year descent into Xanax and alcohol-fueled blackouts. Rachel doesn't hold back, taking full accountability for the "Ratchet Rachel" alter ego that emerged—a persona defined by physical and mental abuse toward her loved ones and the terrifying reality of drinking and driving with her young son in the car. Rachel reveals the "brutal" lifestyle of mixing Xanax, Molly, and 99 Bananas, and the haunting trauma of finding her mother after a fatal overdose at just 16 years old. This is a story of total surrender—from collapsing in a Taco Bell field to losing 80 lbs and finding a new life in sobriety. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, there is a structured, stigma-free place to start. Today’s episode is sponsored by Compassion Behavioral Health. Recovery isn't just about removing a substance; it’s about addressing the anxiety, trauma, and depression underneath. Compassion Behavioral Health focuses on the mental health side of recovery with individualized care—from detox and outpatient support to innovative treatments like EMDR and neuro feedback. Call or Text 24/7: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march In-network with major insurance providers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I Overdosed 9 Times in One Month on Fentanyl | Oxy, Meth Psychosis, Jail & How I Finally Got Sober
Mar 1901:28:12Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Rise Above, Ali Zansberg shares one of the most intense addiction stories we’ve ever featured on the podcast. After surviving stage-four liver failure as a teenager, Ali was prescribed opioids — which quickly spiraled into doctor shopping, oxy addiction, meth use, psychosis, and repeated overdoses. At her lowest point, she overdosed nine times in a single month, experienced severe drug-induced psychosis, and found herself in and out of jail. Her addiction escalated from prescription opioids to meth and eventually kratom, where she became trapped in brutal withdrawals and a cycle she couldn’t escape. Ali opens up about surviving overdoses, being revived multiple times with Narcan, doctor shopping prescriptions, battling addiction across multiple states, and the moment she finally surrendered and asked for help. Today Ali is over a year sober, sponsors other women in recovery, and is helping others find a way out of addiction. If you’ve been listening to Rise Above for a while, you know I don’t believe in shame, stigma, or one-size-fits-all treatment. That’s why I partnered with Compassion Behavioral Health. Compassion is intentionally boutique sized so clients receive real individualized care. Whether someone needs detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, IOP, or even virtual support, they offer a full continuum of care built around evidence-based therapy along with innovative options like TMS, neurofeedback, and EMDR when appropriate. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, mental health, or both and you don’t know where to start, this is a compassionate place to begin. Call or text 844-443-5669 or visit https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march #addictionrecovery #opioidcrisis #sobrietyjourney #overdose #riseabovepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Inside a Ketamine Addict’s Brutal Lifestyle | The Crash That Left Me Blind in One Eye
Mar 1901:08:41Tap to summarizeIf you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, mental health, or both, Compassion Behavioral Health offers individualized treatment designed to address the root causes — not just the symptoms. Compassion Behavioral Health is intentionally boutique-sized, allowing clients to receive personalized care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. They provide a full continuum of care including detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, and virtual support. Alongside evidence-based therapies, they also offer innovative treatment options like TMS, neurofeedback, and EMDR when clinically appropriate. They are in-network with most major insurance providers and are available 24/7. Call or text 844-443-5669 Visit https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march Serena Lamotte joins Kevin Lanning to share her powerful story of addiction, trauma, and survival. After growing up in a difficult environment and experiencing significant loss, Serena found herself pulled into a destructive lifestyle that eventually led to a three-year ketamine addiction. What began as partying quickly spiraled into toxic relationships, dangerous living situations, and a life she barely recognized. Everything changed after a devastating drunk driving crash that left Serena with severe injuries and permanently blind in one eye. In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Serena opens up about grief, addiction, abusive relationships, surviving violence, the crash that nearly took her life, and how she ultimately found the strength to rebuild. Her story is a raw reminder that even after the darkest chapters, it’s still possible to rise above. #RiseAbovePodcast #KevinLanning #KetamineAddiction #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #RecoveryStory #DrunkDrivingCrash #DomesticAbuseSurvivor #TraumaRecovery #Sobriety #PodcastInterview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I Started Drugs at 6 & Became a Heroin Addict | Armed Robberies, Overdose & Recovery
Mar 1901:34:47Tap to summarizeRyan Yonkers grew up in a seemingly normal household outside Chicago. But behind the scenes, childhood trauma, addiction, and a chaotic home life pushed him down a dangerous path. Ryan started experimenting with substances at just six years old, eventually falling deep into drug culture. By his late teens he was selling drugs, running with dangerous people, and chasing a rap career that briefly put him on stage with artists like Young Buck. But addiction took over. What started with pills turned into heroin, armed robberies, and a life completely controlled by drugs. Ryan lost friends to overdose, watched people he loved die, and spiraled into a lifestyle he thought he would never escape. After hitting rock bottom, Ryan found recovery and a new purpose helping others battling addiction. Today he shares his story in hopes of helping someone who is still suffering. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, help is available. Compassion Behavioral Health offers compassionate, evidence-based treatment for addiction and mental health disorders. 📞 Call: 877-414-3007 🌐 https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march Recovery is possible. #addictionrecovery #heroinaddiction #sobrietystory #recoverypodcast #riseabovepodcast #mentalhealthrecovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I Couldn’t Stop Drinking Once I Started… I Blacked Out Every Time
Mar 1901:07:21Tap to summarizeThis episode is sponsored by Compassion Behavioral Health. Compassion Behavioral Health is a boutique mental health treatment center that focuses on the deeper issues driving addiction, anxiety, depression, and unresolved trauma. Their intentionally small program allows for highly individualized care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. They offer a full continuum of care including detox, residential treatment, outpatient programs, and virtual support. Alongside evidence-based therapy, they also provide innovative treatments like TMS, EMDR, and neurofeedback when clinically appropriate. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health or addiction, Compassion Behavioral Health is available 24/7. Call or text 844-443-2274 Visit https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march Jessica Tanir shares her journey from the nightlife and bartending culture of New York City to finding sobriety and clarity in Florida. What started as casual drinking slowly turned into blackouts, toxic relationships, and nights she couldn’t remember—including the moment she woke up covered in sand after passing out on the beach. In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Jessica opens up about the hidden side of alcohol misuse, the hospitality industry’s drinking culture, and how spiritual healing, retreats, and deep self-reflection helped her walk away from alcohol for good. Now over two years sober, Jessica helps others explore sobriety through mocktails, wellness practices, and mindful living. Her story is a powerful reminder that alcoholism doesn’t always look the way people expect—and that real transformation is possible. #sobriety #addictionrecovery #riseabovepodcast #alcoholism #recoveryjourney #mentalhealth #soberlife #selfhealing #mocktails #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Inside A Heroin Addicts Brutal Lifestyle | Shooting During Pregnancy, Human Trafficked & Sobriety
Mar 1901:19:32Tap to summarizeIf you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, Compassion Behavioral Health offers personalized treatment and a full continuum of care, including detox, residential, and outpatient services. Their team is available 24/7 and works with most major insurance providers. Call or text 844-443-5566 or visit https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=march Kristine Bowers lived through things most people could never imagine. As a teenager, she was pulled into escorting through her mother’s boyfriend, entering a dark world of exploitation, drugs, and survival. What started with partying and pills eventually spiraled into heroin addiction. At one point, Kristine was using heroin while pregnant. Her life became a cycle of trafficking, abusive relationships, overdoses, and near-death experiences. She even survived a terrifying medical crisis where her organs began shutting down. But Kristine’s story didn’t end there. After hitting rock bottom and nearly losing everything, she entered treatment and began rebuilding her life through sobriety, faith, and helping others struggling with addiction. Today she works in recovery and speaks openly about trauma, addiction, shame, and redemption. This is a powerful story of survival, accountability, and transformation. #AddictionRecovery #HeroinAddiction #HumanTrafficking #SobrietyJourney #RiseAbove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I Was Drinking at 12 and Doing LSD by 15 | Drugs, Modeling Party Culture & 11 Years Sober
Mar 801:02:02Tap to summarizeAva Fox opens up about the dark reality behind the modeling industry and the pressure to drink, party, and use drugs just to survive in the entertainment world. In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Ava shares how she grew up largely on her own, started drinking at just 12 years old, and fell into a lifestyle surrounded by drugs, older crowds, and a reckless party culture. As she entered the modeling industry, she saw firsthand how alcohol, cocaine, and networking culture were deeply embedded in the business. After years of chaos, health scares, and watching others lose themselves to addiction, Ava made a life-changing decision to walk away from it all. She quit drinking, changed her entire lifestyle, strengthened her faith, and has now been sober for 11 years. This is a powerful conversation about independence, addiction, boundaries, healing, and what it takes to choose a different path when the entire industry pushes you in the opposite direction. #sobriety #addictionrecovery #modelingindustry #recoveryjourney #riseabovepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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“I Shot Heroin Until I Flatlined” | Rikers Island to 10 Years Sober
Mar 500:52:57Tap to summarizeNicky 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I Tried Heroin at 16… and Everything Went Downhill From There
Mar 401:27:47Tap to summarizeKira 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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