Rock Bottom With Ryan

rockbottomwithryan
  • 4.3 (8)
  • Mental Health

After 18 years of drinking, countless blackouts, arrests, and hospital stays, I finally hit my bottom—and started to climb. This podcast is about what it really looks like to get sober. No sugarcoating. No step-by-step manual. Just honest conversations about addiction, recovery, relapse, and everything in between. If you’ve struggled, if someone you love is struggling, or if you just want to understand the chaos behind the bottle—this is for you. Let’s talk about what happens after rock bottom.

  1. 1d ago

    Dora - Freedom at Last

    Dora’s Rock Bottom: Juvenile Hall, Meth Addiction, Losing Her Kids & Finding Recovery | Rock Bottom with RyanOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, Dora shares her story of trauma and addiction: losing a sister before birth, being taken by CPS as a baby, growing up in foster care and group homes, early diagnoses and medication, sexual abuse triggers, and entering juvenile hall from ages 12–17 after a violent incident. She describes starting drugs and alcohol young, falling hard into meth at 14, toxic and abusive relationships, escalating theft and burglary charges, repeated incarceration, and the pain of CPS taking her four children, whom she hasn’t spoken to in 15 years. A major turning point was her brother’s heroin overdose at 16, and later a suspended prison sentence that pushed her into a Christian-based program, meetings, sponsorship, and step work. Sober since March 27, 2017 after a brief relapse, Dora now works in addiction services, is pursuing CADAC, and discusses triggers, helping overdose patients, and advice for newcomers.00:00 Juvie and Family Struggles01:01 Show Intro and Sponsor02:08 Meet Dora and Sobriety03:10 Trauma and Foster Care06:00 Abandonment and Rebellion07:13 Mental Health Diagnosis10:54 Juvie Cycle Begins14:51 First Drugs and Meth Hook16:11 Sexual Trauma Triggers18:01 Adult Jail and Street Life23:14 Wake Up Call Brother Dies25:39 Trying School and Work26:07 Dropping Out and Setbacks26:39 Years In and Out of Jail27:06 CPS Took My Kids27:57 Domestic Violence and Addiction28:52 Facing Prison Changed Everything31:43 Program Work and Relapse35:46 Fourth Step and Trauma37:32 Daily Sobriety Routine38:25 Kids and Making Amends40:05 New Relationships and Marriage42:21 Career Turnaround in Recovery44:13 Clinic Work and Overdose Scare47:43 24 Hours Then vs Now49:25 Triggers and Staying Accountable50:07 Advice and Closing Quotes52:12 Final Thanks and Sign Off

  2. 5d ago

    186: Recovering Loudly - Allyssa

    Allyssa’s Rock Bottom: Foster Care Trauma, Relapse, and Finding Purpose at 21 | Rock Bottom with RyanIn this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Allyssa, 21, from Texarkana, Texas, shares her path into addiction and recovery after growing up around widespread meth use, family bullying, poverty, and her mother blaming her for a suicide attempt. She describes early exposure to alcohol, heavy drinking and daily marijuana use during depression in the COVID era, and trauma including sexual assault in foster care and time in a mental hospital. Allyssa entered rehab initially for housing, stayed 45 days, relapsed in sober living, and later completed a second 40-day program. After getting her own apartment, she attempted suicide by overdosing on pills and self-harming, then chose to live, sought medical help, and recommitted to sobriety through faith, medication, and rebuilding her life. She discusses goals to start a podcast, pursue LVN/LPN nursing, and stay sober for her growing family.00:00 Depression and Drinking01:40 Show Intro and Sponsor02:45 Meet Alyssa and Sobriety Date05:16 Family Addiction and Childhood08:00 Early Drinking and Escapes10:41 School Struggles and ADHD14:16 Weed and Patterns Repeat17:25 Treatment Decision and Rehab22:40 Sober Living and Relapse25:57 Temptation and Secrets26:33 Republic Square Relapse27:59 Drug Test Fallout28:42 Second Chance from Bob29:26 Gummies and Paranoia32:42 Holiday Loneliness Breaks34:30 Back to Rehab Reset35:35 Apartment and Overdose39:59 God Says Live42:52 Six Months Sober Now46:22 New Goals and Nursing49:32 Advice and Farewell

  3. 6d ago

    185: Lindsay - Ambition Without Alcohol

    High-Functioning Alcoholism to Alcohol-Free Success: Lindsay’s Sobriety Journey | Rock Bottom with RyanLindsay shares how she began drinking young amid her parents’ divorce and a family culture that glamorized alcohol, then carried heavy partying into college and adulthood. Though outwardly successful, she became a high-functioning daily drinker in her 30s during a divorce and a workplace with a strong drinking culture, secretly drinking at home, constantly negotiating rules, and feeling depleted, irritable, and disconnected. After a failed AA attempt, a sobriety book in 2018 sparked a “sober curious” path of practicing not drinking in key situations (like football Sundays) and reshaping her identity. Her last drink was August 9, 2020; she quit ahead of a hysterectomy and a demanding new job, excelled professionally, improved her marriage and family relationships, and now coaches high-achieving women on self-trust, discomfort tolerance, and breaking drinking negotiations.00:00 Early Drinking Roots01:39 Show Intro and Sponsor02:48 Meet Lindsay and Sober Stats05:29 Childhood and Family Drinking08:40 College Partying to Career12:01 Divorce and Daily Coping14:29 Trying to Drink Normally17:27 Secret Drinking and Shame20:47 Sober Curious Breakthrough27:15 Lifestyle Changes and Marriage31:24 Family Holidays Without Alcohol33:38 Dropping the Stigma35:05 Repulsed by Drinking35:31 Showing Up for Family38:07 Practicing Not Drinking41:23 Career Wake Up Call47:37 From Sobriety to Coaching48:27 Rebuilding Self Trust49:53 Negotiating and Rewards54:10 Pressure and Perfectionism01:02:05 Advice and Closing

  4. Aug 12

    184: Showing Up Anyways - With Leslie Patricia

    Leslie Patricia: Drunk Driving Crash, Childhood Trauma, and 9 Years Sober | Rock Bottom with RyanRyan interviews author Leslie Patricia Lohr, who shares her sobriety date (Oct 31, 2017), alcohol as her main addiction, and a childhood marked by generational abuse, alcoholism, and instability. She describes becoming a high-functioning alcoholic who drank heavily, experienced withdrawals, shame cycles, and strained relationships, while her father later got sober but died of liver cancer and her mother died young while still drinking. Leslie’s turning point was a severe drunk-driving crash after drinking at lunch and a hockey game, leaving her with major injuries and legal consequences, plus the haunting realization she could have killed someone. Early sobriety involved SMART Recovery, therapy, and intense grief and suicidal thoughts, but she never relapsed and rebuilt her life through endurance training, fitness and nutrition credentials, and writing her book, Showing Up Anyways, about forgiveness and embracing her inner child.00:00 Losing Mom Young01:26 Sponsor Break02:39 Meet Leslie Patricia04:20 Sober Date Basics05:45 Family Trauma Roots09:33 Teen Drinking Escape10:53 Functioning Alcoholic Life14:01 Parents Deaths Impact16:49 When Drinking Got Noticed18:49 Worst Days and Withdrawals22:53 Wake Up Calls and Shame24:37 Crash That Changed Everything27:59 Aftermath and No Harm Reduction29:57 Host DUI Reflection31:08 Crash Aftermath31:50 SMART Recovery Lifeline34:10 First Year Sober36:40 Healing Self Loathing37:48 Fitness As Recovery40:56 Turning Journal Into Book43:29 Hardest Chapters46:39 Second Chance Mindset48:50 Leaving Meetings Behind52:56 Advice Just Do It54:37 Meaning Keep Showing Up56:49 Book Quote And Farewell

  5. Aug 10

    183: The Real Talk Sessions Part 2 - Trials, Tribulations, and Near Death Situations

    Near-Death Moments, Survivor’s Guilt & Finding Purpose in Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan (Real Talk Sessions Pt. 2)In part two of “Real Talk Sessions” on Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan and returning guest Amber discuss the dangerous, near-death situations they experienced during addiction and how normal chaos felt at the time. Amber shares stories of driving while using crack and cocaine, living in a San Francisco crack house, using counterfeit money, having a gun held on her in a drug den, and being thrown off a balcony where a doctor said she would have died or been paralyzed if not intoxicated. Ryan describes reckless drug use, drunk driving, hallucinations from alcohol, and a crash that nearly sent his car off a cliff. They talk about survivor’s guilt, isolating from family, spiritual experiences, learning to process feelings in recovery, and believing their darkest moments now fuel a purpose of helping others.00:00 Blizzard Crack Run00:28 Isolation Cycle01:04 Show Intro Sponsor02:14 Welcome Back Amber03:14 Mortality And Clean Time04:35 Chaos As Normal06:54 Tenderloin Crackhouse Week08:10 Counterfeit Cash Trouble09:10 Gunpoint In The Den11:36 Gangbangers Close Call14:44 Balcony Fall Survival16:42 Self Destruction Accidents18:56 Forever 21 Mindset19:56 Ancestors And Spirits20:55 Paranormal Basement Night24:09 Grandma Walks Through Wall26:58 Blessed to Be Here28:00 Alcohol Hallucinations29:19 Survivors Guilt Hits29:56 Near Miss Road Stories33:43 Reckless Driving Confession35:17 Amends and Letting Go36:30 Boring Life Gratitude38:45 Story Not Over42:23 Inside Job Recovery46:17 Purpose from Darkness47:25 Resources and Reach Out50:41 Closing Thanks

  6. Aug 7

    182: Jazmin - Chasing Gold, Choosing Sobriety

    From Rock Bottom to Sober Strong: Jazmin’s Recovery, Motherhood, and Return to Elite ThrowingOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest Jazmin shares how alcohol and benzos escalated after her 21st birthday into drinking alone, dangerous decisions, and worsening consequences while trying to balance life as a D1 athlete. Her drinking contributed to the end of her throwing career after an ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery before conference championships, and she later endured an abusive relationship, a suicide attempt leading to a 72-hour hospital hold, a three-day bender, job losses, a DUI, and severe withdrawals from pills and alcohol. Jazmin got sober on January 9, 2020 after a positive pregnancy test, relapsed for about five months in 2023 amid stress, a miscarriage, and parenting her autistic/ADHD son, then recommitted after a devastating hangover. She returned to training through the Highland Games and discus with disciplined routines, support, and a sports psychologist, discusses an adult autism diagnosis, and explains her involvement with Sober Strong while setting a goal of LA 2028.00:00 Athletic Career Collapse00:59 Aha Moment Tease01:26 Podcast Intro and Sponsor02:30 Meet Jasmine and Sober Basics03:45 Childhood Red Flags05:59 Turning 21 and Bar Life10:05 Isolation and Drinking Alone11:26 D1 Athlete Double Life12:56 Miscarriage and Abuse17:00 Work Drinking and Withdrawal19:16 Suicide Attempt and Hold20:51 Trap House Bender22:06 Jobs Lost and Relapse Triggers25:24 Pills and Rehab Attempts29:19 Pregnancy Sparks Sobriety30:59 Relapse and Parenting Stress31:44 Relapse Rationalization32:37 Miscarriage and Overwhelm32:58 Five Month Spiral33:44 Hangover Wake Up Call35:13 Finding Purpose Again36:24 Highland Games Gateway37:32 Discus Training Commitment37:56 Tools and Giving Back40:07 Training Without Meetings42:37 Handling Failure and Patience45:48 Late Autism Diagnosis47:30 Advice to Past Self51:29 Goals LA 28 and Yips54:38 Sober Strong Ambassador57:23 Closing Advice and Shout Outs01:00:08 Final Quote and Wrap

  7. Aug 5

    181: Lauren - Beauty from the Broken

    Lauren Brown: From Alcohol & Heroin to Recovery, Motherhood, and Becoming a Counselor | Rock Bottom with RyanOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, Lauren Brown from Long Island shares her story of growing up around alcoholism, family dysfunction, and early trauma, first drinking at 8–9 and quickly chasing “more.” She describes bullying and self-harm in adolescence, escalating teen drug use (cocaine and opiates), functional success in school, and later severe alcoholism intensified after gastric sleeve surgery, leading to blackouts, violence, a 2017 accident, and a 2019 DWI. After her marriage ended, she became involved with a partner, relapsed into heroin, progressed to IV heroin/fentanyl, crack, and meth, became homeless, accumulated multiple charges during COVID, and survived a near-intentional fentanyl overdose. Facing prison time, she entered detox and long-term treatment, relapsed in early rehab, then self-reported drinking on Nov 3, 2020—her sobriety date—committing to recovery, AA, therapy, and steps. She later became a drug and alcohol counselor, built a family, and created an art business focused on finding beauty in the life cycle, emphasizing openness, teachability, boundaries, and balance.00:00 Early Friendship Hook01:03 Detox Decision01:31 Show Intro Sponsor02:46 Meet Lauren Brown04:25 Childhood Alcohol Normalized06:17 Dad Mental Health Secrets08:10 Siblings Divorce Codependency12:13 New Town Teen Turmoil14:00 Finding Misfit Crowd17:41 Older Friends Shoplifting Rush19:57 High School Drugs Escalate24:17 Functional Drinking Adult Life24:31 Surgery Blackouts Spiral27:59 Marriage Collapse After DWI30:18 Violence New Relationship DWI34:04 Dating App Recovery Guy36:04 Heroin Kit Discovery36:26 Back to Opiates37:06 First Time Shooting38:17 Homeless and Spiraling40:02 COVID and New Charges42:26 Fentanyl Overdose45:36 Detox Setbacks48:02 Treatment and Breakup51:12 Rehab Drama to Womens Program54:58 Rebuilding a Life01:00:14 Art as Healing01:04:05 Service and Harm Reduction01:06:01 Advice and Closing

  8. Aug 3

    180: Mary - Sobriety Over Survival

    From Chaos to Clarity: Mary’s Rock Bottom, Detox & Recovery | Rock Bottom with RyanMary from Salem, Oregon shares her recovery story with host Ryan, including her sober date (August 7, 2024) and drug of choice (alcohol and cocaine, mostly alcohol). She describes a chaotic childhood marked by her father’s schizophrenia, her mother’s gambling addiction, a painful divorce, raising her younger brother, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, which led her to seek stability through weed, pills, and later heavy drinking. After a car accident ended her soccer scholarship, she became involved with painkillers and later abused prescribed Xanax with alcohol while trying to be a “perfect” mother. Her drinking escalated during marital breakdown, her husband’s affair, and her daughter leaving for college, culminating in a blackout and a near-fatal drunk-driving incident. She entered detox and residential treatment, worked Step One, relied on meetings and a sponsor, and discusses humility, accountability, boundaries, and running as part of her recovery.00:00 Chaotic Home Life01:24 Show Intro and Sponsor02:53 Meet Mary and Sober Stats05:04 Growing Up in Chaos09:40 Self Harm and Suicidal Thoughts14:44 First Highs and Escalation18:59 Soccer Dream Then Pills21:34 Motherhood and Drinking23:56 Xanax and Functioning Addiction29:24 Marriage Collapse and Last Blackout30:51 Boxed Wine Spiral31:27 Winery Culture Triggers32:03 Paddleboard Blackout Drive34:25 Rehab Ultimatum35:02 Detox Identity Crisis38:13 Treatment Breakthroughs40:49 Divorce After Rehab43:44 Meetings And Tools45:09 Character Defects Work48:27 Best Vs Worst Days50:52 Running As Recovery52:32 Advice And Closing

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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

After 18 years of drinking, countless blackouts, arrests, and hospital stays, I finally hit my bottom—and started to climb. This podcast is about what it really looks like to get sober. No sugarcoating. No step-by-step manual. Just honest conversations about addiction, recovery, relapse, and everything in between. If you’ve struggled, if someone you love is struggling, or if you just want to understand the chaos behind the bottle—this is for you. Let’s talk about what happens after rock bottom.

Information

  • Creator
    rockbottomwithryan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © rockbottomwithryan
  • Show Website
    Rock Bottom With Ryan

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