The Next Fix

Ryan Penley
  • 5.0 (11)
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Sobriety is just the beginning⛓️‍💥—The Next Fix shares comeback stories that spark reinvention🚀. Host Ryan Penley, founder of the My Rock Bottom Recovery community, sits down with addicts, alcoholics, addiction specialists, healing practitioners and people dedicated to rebuilding after hitting rock bottom 📈. Each episode delivers real strategies for goal achievement, resilience and self‑discovery beyond addiction, helping you turn recovery into a purposeful new chapter🏆. If you’re ready to redefine yourself and pursue a life filled with meaning, this show guides you through what comes next. Backed by a recovery community of over 240,000 followers, The Next Fix is more than inspiration—it’s a movement. Join us weekly and connect with the community at https://www.facebook.com/myrockbottomrecovery

  1. 1H AGO

    Drugs & Alcohol Work… That’s the Problem (Ep12)

    What if drugs and alcohol aren’t the problem… because they actually work? In this episode of The Next Fix, Ryan Penley sits down with author and recovery advocate Jeff Hayward of Simple Theory for a raw conversation about the complexity of addiction. Jeff shares his journey from a lifestyle built around partying — “I can make a career out of partying” — to hitting rock bottom, acknowledging the need for help, and rebuilding his life from the inside out. They explore: Why substances “work” emotionally and neurologicallyThe void that keeps people chasing the next fixAddiction as an abusive relationshipThe emotional layers underneath dependencyWhy values are the foundation of sustainable recoveryThe role of community supportHow sharing your story builds confidence and purposeRyan opens up about chasing anything that made him feel alive — drugs, booze, sex, snowboarding, the rush — and realizing that pursuing happiness itself can become bottomless. Jeff introduces his book, Simple Shit for Complicated People, a guide to clarity, values, and self-discovery for anyone ready to stop running and start rebuilding. If you’ve ever felt the void…If you’ve ever wondered why you keep going back…If you’re ready for something deeper than surface-level recovery… This episode is for you. Connect with Jeff HaywardFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennys.beansWebsite: https://simpletheory.ca Connect with Ryan Penleyhttps://www.myrockbottomrecovery.com

    52 min

  2. FEB 14

    What’s Worse Than Suicide? Not Caring If It Happens (Ep11)

    What do you do when your own mind tries to convince you that your life doesn’t matter? Ryan Penley sits down with Joseph M. Lenard, a suicide attempt survivor who overcame addiction to Xanax and battled leukemia — and came back with a message about the value of life. Joseph opens up about mental health, suicidal ideation, and the moment he realized every life carries meaning. He shares how creativity and writing became part of his healing journey, and how storytelling can become a lifeline for others. We discuss: • Addiction recovery and resilience• Leukemia and facing mortality• Suicide prevention and choosing life• The butterfly effect of small positive actions• Creativity as therapy• Faith, personal responsibility, and the Christitutionalist philosophy Joseph says it plainly: “I am a suicide attempt survivor.” This episode is a reminder that your life matters — even when your mind tries to convince you otherwise. If you’ve ever questioned your value, this conversation is for you. 🔗 Connect with Joseph M. Lenard🌐 https://JosephMLenard.us🔗 https://linktr.ee/jlenarddetroit𝕏 https://x.com/JLenardMichigan 🔗 Connect with Ryan Penley🌊 https://www.ryanpenley.org

    43 min

  3. FEB 7

    “I Was Done Dying”: How Jail Became the Start of Laura Straniak’s Recovery (Ep10)

    What happens when the addicted brain finally runs out of excuses—and the will to live kicks in? In this powerful conversation on The Next Fix, Ryan Penley sits down with Laura Straniak, who shares her raw journey from early exposure to addiction, through heroin and fentanyl, to the moment jail became the wake-up call that saved her life. Laura doesn’t sugarcoat the chaos—but she also doesn’t stay there. She opens up about medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone, the role of community in a small town, and why progress over perfection became the mindset that changed everything. At 20 months sober, Laura reflects on rebuilding trust, finding purpose, and using her story to help others believe they’re stronger than they think. This is a grounded, honest look at recovery—focused on resilience, momentum, and what happens when someone finally decides: I’m done. Key themes: recovery, addiction, sobriety, Suboxone, mental health, community support, resilience, transformation Memorable moments: “I was tired. I was just done.” • “Progress, not perfection.” • “I feel like I’m doing it.” 🔗 Find Ryan & the podcast: https://www.ryanpenley.org 🔗 Connect with Laura on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lstraniak If you’re navigating recovery—or walking alongside someone who is—this episode is proof that change is possible, even after rock bottom.

    37 min

  4. JAN 31

    “I Was a F*ing Nightmare” | Kevin Moran (Ep9)

    Kevin Moran doesn’t soften his story. He names the chaos, the damage, and the near-death moment that forced him to confront who he’d become—and the long, imperfect road back. Addiction started early, escalated fast, and became tangled with identity, money, and survival. No glamor. No shortcuts. Just truth. This isn’t a clean redemption arc. It’s a real one. In conversation with Ryan Penley, Kevin talks candidly about addiction, recovery, mental health, and sobriety—and why isolation is often more dangerous than relapse. He explains how community became essential, not as a fix, but as a lifeline for staying present and accountable. Kevin also shares how creativity became a way forward. Through projects that honor his late fiancée, he’s transformed grief into connection—using story and expression to support others navigating loss, recovery, and personal growth. His work isn’t about attention. It’s about contribution. What emerges is a grounded conversation on resilience, compassion over perfection, and choosing engagement—one honest day at a time. Guest: Kevin MoranConnect with Kevin on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003464248283 Host: Ryan PenleyFind Ryan at:https://www.ryanpenley.org A raw conversation on addiction, recovery, mental health, sobriety, community, resilience, and how shared stories help others heal.

    32 min

  5. JAN 24

    Audacity Isn’t Loud — It’s Choosing Not to Stay Stuck (Ep8)

    Who would you become if comfort wasn’t the goal? That question sits at the heart of this powerful conversation with Audley Stephenson — host of The Audacious Living Podcast and author of the upcoming book Living Your Best Audacious Life: How Unleashing Your Inner Greatness Can Change the World (releasing spring 2026). Audley brings a grounded perspective on courage, identity, and intentional living. Growing up around substance abuse without ever using himself, he watched his mother transform her life — reshaping his understanding of resilience, mercy, and choice. What emerged wasn’t bravado but audacity practiced daily. Ryan and Audley explore storytelling, fatherhood, failure, leadership, and the B.O.L.D. framework — a philosophy built on progress, truth, and disrupting the patterns that keep people stuck. This isn’t about fixing your past.It’s about refusing to stay where you are. 👉 Connect with Audley:• Website: https://www.bestaudaciouslife.com/ — home of The Audacious Living Podcast + resources • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaudman/ — audacity, storytelling & insights from Audley 🎙️ “You can’t stay there.”

    42 min

  6. JAN 17

    This Is Not an Interview: A Father, a Son, and the Reckoning That Changed Everything (EP7)

    This is not an interview—it’s a reckoning.Ryan Penley sits down with his father, Wade Penley, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about addiction, responsibility, forgiveness, and the long road back to each other. Wade shares his journey through decades of substance abuse, false starts in recovery, and the moment he realized he couldn’t build a new life while clinging to old patterns. Together, father and son confront the generational impact of addiction—and what it actually takes to break the cycle. 🔑 What this episode dives into:🔥 Rock-bottom honesty and the cost of avoidance🔄 Breaking generational cycles instead of repeating them🧠 Self-inventory, ownership, and radical responsibility🤝 Forgiveness without minimizing the past🌱 Turning pain into purpose through recovery and service✝️ The role of faith, timing, and humility in real change This episode is for anyone in recovery, anyone carrying family wounds, or anyone quietly wondering if healing is still possible. It is. Check out my pops on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wade.penley

    1h 4m

  7. JAN 14 · BONUS

    Why Smart People Fall Into Addiction | D.E. Foster

    Addiction doesn’t always look reckless. Sometimes it looks rational.Fast relief. Low cost. Immediate results. What rarely gets talked about is what happens over time — the dependence, the identity loss, and the long road back to clarity. In this republished conversation, I sit down with D.E. Foster of Uneven Life to unpack the realities most people never hear about. We get honest about benzo dependence and withdrawal, why intelligent people fall into addiction, and why denial can quietly steal years — even decades — from someone’s life. This episode isn’t about fear-mongering or labels. It’s about truth, awareness, and what it actually takes to rebuild when the thing that once “worked” starts taking everything. We cover: Why addiction often makes sense at first — especially for smart peopleThe overlooked reality of benzo dependence and withdrawalWhether benzo withdrawal is worse than opiatesHow addiction slowly erodes identityWhy honesty is the real turning point toward freedomIf you or someone you love is navigating anxiety meds, dependence, or the aftermath of withdrawal, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and hope. Learn more about D.E. Foster’s work here:👉 https://www.unevenlife.com

    47 min

  8. JAN 10

    White-Knuckling vs Walking With God: A Man’s Comeback Story (Ep6)

    From white-knuckling life to walking with purpose, from silent struggle to true masculine leadership—this conversation is about calling men forward 🧭🔥 On The Next Fix, I sit down with Mike Van Pelt to unpack a real comeback story—one many men are living quietly. Mike opens up about losing his sense of purpose as a stay-at-home dad, and how effort, discipline, and “doing the right things” weren’t enough. The real shift came through intimacy with God, brotherhood with other men, and the humility to ask for help. This episode dives into:• why willpower alone keeps men stuck• how buried childhood wounds resurface later in life• the role of faith in reclaiming identity• the power of male community and mentorship• family dynamics and the weight of leadership• breaking cycles and building a legacy• the True Man philosophy for modern masculinity If you’ve been grinding but not growing…If you feel called to lead but don’t know where to start…If you’re ready to stop surviving and start becoming— 🎧 This conversation will meet you where you are. Learn more about Mike and his work:https://www.truemanlifecoaching.com/ Explore more episodes, coaching, and resources:https://www.ryanpenley.org/ You are the leader of your family.You can break the cycle.Your comeback starts now.

    55 min
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About

Sobriety is just the beginning⛓️‍💥—The Next Fix shares comeback stories that spark reinvention🚀. Host Ryan Penley, founder of the My Rock Bottom Recovery community, sits down with addicts, alcoholics, addiction specialists, healing practitioners and people dedicated to rebuilding after hitting rock bottom 📈. Each episode delivers real strategies for goal achievement, resilience and self‑discovery beyond addiction, helping you turn recovery into a purposeful new chapter🏆. If you’re ready to redefine yourself and pursue a life filled with meaning, this show guides you through what comes next. Backed by a recovery community of over 240,000 followers, The Next Fix is more than inspiration—it’s a movement. Join us weekly and connect with the community at https://www.facebook.com/myrockbottomrecovery

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Penley
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ryan Penley
  • Show Website
    The Next Fix