Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

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.

Episodes

October 4, 2025 70 mins
Nick’s story is one of the most raw and inspiring transformations you’ll ever hear. Once homeless on the streets of Detroit, sleeping in dumpsters and abandoned boats, Nick’s addiction to cocaine, pills, and heroin led him to DUIs, high-speed police chases, jail time, and near-death experiences.But after hitting rock bottom, he found recovery, rebuilt his life, and is now 10 years sober. In this interview, Nick shares: What it was...
Mark as Played
Joey Gandee’s story is one of the rawest journeys you’ll ever hear. Growing up in small-town Ohio, Joey had what looked like a “normal” childhood—but addiction does not discriminate. He went from playing varsity sports to selling weed in 9th grade, living in his car while raising his younger brother, and eventually using heroin with his own mother while homeless in a tent by the river. This episode dives deep into: His first felo...
Mark as Played
Bubba Sparxxx (Warren Mathis) opens up like never before about his rise to fame, the dark years of addiction, and his path to recovery.From topping the charts with Ugly and Ms. New Booty to battling alcoholism, opiates, meth, and even suffering a mini-stroke, Bubba’s story is raw, real, and inspiring. In this interview, he shares: How addiction nearly destroyed his career, health, and relationships What it was like going from pla...
Mark as Played
Jennifer Kazilionis sits down with me to share her raw and unfiltered story of addiction, chaos, and ultimately, recovery.From growing up in Portland, Maine, to an abusive relationship, cocaine use, and two DUIs that landed her in jail, Jennifer’s path was filled with self-destruction and pain. With the help of treatment, sober living in Florida, and the guidance of a sponsor, she rebuilt her life and is now celebrating 13 years of...
Mark as Played
Karina’s story is raw, unfiltered, and powerful. From growing up as a cheerleader with early signs of heavy drinking, to panic attacks and daily withdrawals, she spiraled into isolation, suicide attempts, and repeated hospital visits.Her first rehab didn’t stick—she left planning to “drink normally” again. But after seizures, ICU stays, and liver failure, Karina nearly lost her life.What changed? During her second treatment, she fi...
Mark as Played
Kaja’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and hope.At just 14 years old, she was thrust into the world of international modeling, traveling across Europe and facing impossible standards. By 16, she encountered Harvey Weinstein for the first time—an experience that left deep scars and would be repeated again at 19.In this raw and powerful interview, Kaja opens up about:Growing up with anxiety and never feeling like she fit in.T...
Mark as Played
Jennifer grew up in a chaotic household with an alcoholic parent and perfectionist pressure driving her from a young age. Her journey took her from being a nationally ranked bowler on scholarship to the wild world of college sororities, drinking, and cocaine-fueled chaos. What began as casual partying quickly spiraled into blackouts, toxic relationships, and moments of incomprehensible demoralization—including a traumatic assault ...
Mark as Played
Richard's story is one of the most gripping tales of addiction, crime, and redemption ever told on this channel. By the age of 18, he had already served prison time for burglary. Over the next two decades, he racked up 33 felony convictions, became known as one half of the “Dynamic Duo” of cr@ck-addicted brothers in Palm Beach County, and lived in trap houses, behind shopping centers, and eventually a foreclosed home taken over by ...
Mark as Played
Izzy opens up about her 15-year battle with Adderall and how quitting cold turkey changed her life forever. From being put on ADHD medication at just 12 years old to building a fast-paced career as a hairstylist powered by stimulants, she shares how the drug shaped her identity, destroyed relationships, and disconnected her from her true self.After a divorce, years of emotional chaos, and a nationwide Adderall shortage, Izzy made t...
Mark as Played
Carl Stone spent over 30 years in law enforcement—respected, decorated, and seen as a protector. But behind closed doors, he was quietly unraveling. Haunted by childhood trauma, daily exposure to horrific crimes, and suppressed mental health struggles, Carl turned to alcohol to cope. Then one day, everything came crashing down.In this raw and unfiltered interview, Carl shares his story for the first time: witnessing brutal domestic...
Mark as Played
Hal Hughes had the perfect life: a loving wife, four kids, a successful career in law enforcement, and a reputation as a local hero. But everything changed the day he was violently attacked on the job—an incident that left him with a traumatic brain injury and a slow-burning descent into darkness.In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Hal opens up about the devastating impact of PTSD, chronic pain, and addiction. He shares how opi...
Mark as Played
Leticia grew up in a tight-knit Brazilian-American community in Danbury, CT. One night out with friends—“just two drinks”—became a life-changing DUI at 0.08. In this raw conversation, she breaks down what actually happens after the arrest: getting pulled over twice in minutes, the breath test, court, fines and fees, a year-long program, and installing an interlock on her Tesla. She also shares the emotional fallout of seeing her mu...
Mark as Played
Carla grew up in a loving home in Boston with a supportive family and big dreams of becoming a teacher. But one party after high school changed everything. She took her first Percocet—and what followed was a devastating spiral into opiate addiction, heroin, and eventually shooting up. In this gripping episode, Carla opens up about stealing $100,000 from her hardworking father, losing custody of her kids, and surviving a near-fatal ...
Mark as Played
Chevy Chase, the legendary star of Saturday Night Live and the National Lampoon’s Vacation films, sits down for a rare and unfiltered conversation about his life, career, and sobriety. From growing up in New York and Woodstock, to breaking into comedy with Lorne Michaels, to navigating sudden fame and unforgettable fan encounters, Chevy opens up like never before. He also reflects on his battle with alcohol, his time at the Betty F...
Mark as Played
Jordan was a promising D1 football recruit with full-ride offers—until a torn ACL and a bottle of painkillers changed everything.What started as surgery recovery turned into full-blown addiction: Oxy, Perc 30s, heroin, Subutex, and eventually shooting drugs with horse syringes stolen from Tractor Supply.From robbing his grandma’s wedding ring… to almost holding up a Subway sandwich shop with a butter knife… to surviving two years i...
Mark as Played
Chris Lavin's life is almost too extreme to believe.Abused as a child. Locked in a box for days. Smoking crack and running a car scam at 17. He made millions, lost it all, then lost the only thing he truly loved—his son. He held a gun to someone’s head, and almost pulled the trigger. Twice. But something stopped him.This is not just a story of survival. It’s a story of redemption, purpose, and undeniable spiritual transformation.In...
Mark as Played
He went from a small-town baseball player with a bright future… to shOOting heroin in New Jersey, smuggling bricks of dope through airports, and facing eight years in prison.In this raw and unfiltered interview, Flip shares how his life spiraled from painkillers and partying in the restaurant industry to becoming a full-blown IV drug user. This is one of the wildest redemption stories ever shared on Rise Above.👉 If you or someone ...
Mark as Played
Chris Hirschfield 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, spirali...
Mark as Played
Jaclyn Buntic opens up about her harrowing journey through addiction, starting with pain pills and Xanax at 16, leading to heroin and meth by 18. She shares how growing up in a dysfunctional household, bouncing between homes, and dating someone in a trap house sent her spiraling into drug use. Her first IV heroin injection was administered by her girlfriend — a moment that led to full-blown addiction.From overdoses and jail time to...
Mark as Played
David Funes’ life spiraled from a strict Christian upbringing into a world of manic highs, drug-fueled nights, white-collar crime, and a $3.7 million FBI investigation. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a suicide attempt and mental hospital stay, David’s story is one of chaos, shame, addiction, and ultimately — redemption. #RiseAbovePodcast #BipolarDisorder #AddictionRecovery #TrueCrimeStories #MentalHealthAwareness #DrugAddi...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Cardiac Cowboys

    The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.