Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Kevin Lanning
  • 4.9 (224)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. Heroin Was Killing Me | I Smuggled Drugs into Rikers Island & Nearly Died

    13H AGO

    Heroin Was Killing Me | I Smuggled Drugs into Rikers Island & Nearly Died

    John Rokee’s story is a terrifying look at the lengths an addict will go to maintain a "perfect" life. By day, he was a high-earning union steamfitter. By night, he was a "chameleon" trapped in a $1.2 million downward spiral, snorting up to 200 bags of heroin a week. In this raw and "brutal" interview on Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, John details the physical and financial devastation of his addiction: The $1.2M Habit: The math behind a decade of OxyContin and heroin use that drained every union fund, savings account, and personal loan. The "Water Overdose": The shocking medical anomaly that put him in a week-long coma after he tried to flush his system to beat a drug test. Knocking at the Pearly Gates: Waking up in a hospital bed to find a priest performing his last rites when doctors said he would be a "vegetable." The True Healing: How John moved past 11 years of "white-knuckle" abstinence to find true spiritual recovery and a new life as a sober coach. Connect with John Rokee: Instagram/TikTok: @JohnRokee21 Website: JohnRokee.com If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment. Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=april #RiseAbove #HeroinAddiction #RecoveryStories #ComaSurvivor #LastRites #JohnRokee #KevinLanning #AddictionRecovery #SoberCoach #OpiateCrisis #MentalHealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 7m
  2. Inside A 14-Year-Old Stripper’s Brutal Addiction | Meth, Overcoming Cancer & Sobriety

    23H AGO

    Inside A 14-Year-Old Stripper’s Brutal Addiction | Meth, Overcoming Cancer & Sobriety

    Kim House’s life story sounds like a movie script, but the trauma was all too real. After fleeing an abusive home at just 14 years old, Kim found herself winning bikini contests and dancing in clubs just to survive. By her early 20s, she was diagnosed with a rare, "terminal" bone marrow cancer—but instead of getting sober, she ramped up her drug use, even attempting to balance chemotherapy with meth and alcohol. In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Kim details the harrowing "redline" abuse of her childhood, the insanity of flying drugs across state lines, and the moment of "existential clarity" that led her to nearly a decade of sobriety. Today, she’s the founder of Sober Surfers, turning her darkest trials into a message of hope for foster youth and addicts everywhere. Connect with Kim House: Website: sobersurf.org If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment. Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=april #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #RiseAbove #CancerSurvivor #MethAddiction #RecoveryStory #KevinLanning #SoberSurfers #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthAwareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m
  3. I Blacked Out at 16… Then Tried to End It All | How I Rebuilt My Life in Sobriety

    3D AGO

    I Blacked Out at 16… Then Tried to End It All | How I Rebuilt My Life in Sobriety

    Molly Haneke opens up about her journey from early self-harm and blackout drinking at just 16, to hitting a breaking point that landed her in a mental hospital at 22. What started as insecurity and isolation quickly spiraled into daily drinking, drugs, and destructive coping mechanisms. After a life-threatening moment forced everything to stop, Molly entered treatment and completely rebuilt her life. Now over two years sober, she shares how recovery, discipline, and community helped her turn pain into purpose—and how young people can get sober too. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment. Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=april #addiction #sobriety #mentalhealth #recovery #selfharm #alcoholism #sobertok #healingjourney #rockbottom #riseabove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 13m
  4. From Combat Hero to Homeless Addict: An Unbelievable True Story

    4D AGO

    From Combat Hero to Homeless Addict: An Unbelievable True Story

    Sean Young survived three deployments to Afghanistan, saw his brothers-in-arms blown up in front of him, and lived through a childhood that sounds like a horror movie. In this raw and unfiltered interview on Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Sean reveals the most salacious details of his past—including the infamous day he finalized a divorce at noon and was remarried to another woman by 3:00 PM. From the high-stakes adrenaline of being a Forward Observer in the Army to the soul-crushing reality of a suicide attempt in the Alaskan wilderness, Sean’s story is a masterclass in survival and the power of total surrender. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment. Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=april #RiseAbove #KevinLanning #SeanYoung #VeteransRecovery #CombatPTSD #SobrietyStory #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #ArmyVeteran #HealingTrauma #RecoverOutLoud Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 25m
  5. Fentanyl Nightmare in Kensington | I Witnessed Hell

    4D AGO

    Fentanyl Nightmare in Kensington | I Witnessed Hell

    Cassidy’s story is one of the darkest I’ve ever heard. She grew up in a good home, loving parents, big family… and still addiction found a way in. One pill turned into daily use… then heroin… then fentanyl… then she ended up in the most dangerous open-air drug market in America — Kensington. What she experienced there is not normal addiction. It’s human trafficking. Violence. Rape. Murder. Bodies in the street. Burning victims alive. Trap houses. Dealers beating people for losing product. Young girls disappearing. This is a level of hell that most people in this country will NEVER see. And she survived it. Cassidy opens up about overdoses, abusive relationships, jail, street life, losing friends, and the spiritual war that fentanyl brings with it. She rebuilt her life — and is now sober — and her story will change perspectives for families everywhere struggling to understand addiction. Watch this entire interview start to finish — share with a parent, sister, brother, someone who needs to know the reality of fentanyl before it’s too late. Rise Above. Always. #kensington #fentanyl #fentanylepidemic #opioidcrisis #philadelphia #addiction #recovery #sobriety #drugabuse #narcansaveslives #harmreduction #addictionawareness #recoveryispossible #riseabovepodcast #drugcrisis #openairdrugmarket #truecrime #streetsurvival #kensingtonphilly #fentanlyawareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 34m
  6. "I Didn’t Want to Exist Anymore" | She was the #1 European Tennis Pro But Her Mental Health was Secretly Unraveling

    6D AGO

    "I Didn’t Want to Exist Anymore" | She was the #1 European Tennis Pro But Her Mental Health was Secretly Unraveling

    Ema Burgic was the #1 ranked junior in Europe, a standout star at Baylor, and a professional tennis powerhouse. On the outside, her life looked perfect: a successful career, a "perfect" husband, and a beautiful home. But inside, Ema was fighting a silent battle with major depression and a loss of identity that nearly cost her everything. In this episode of Rise Above, Ema gets vulnerable about the reality of being a professional athlete under extreme pressure, the "numbness" of long-term medication, and the grueling journey of rebuilding her life from zero after a divorce and a 10-year hiatus from the sport. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to my partners at Compassion Behavioral Health. They offer individualized care and a full continuum of treatment. Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Visit: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=april #MentalHealth #Tennis #EmaBurgic #RiseAbove #DepressionRecovery #ProAthlete #OvercomingAdversity #DivorceRecovery #Bosnia #WTA #SurvivorStory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 11m
  7. Inside a Rockstar's BRUTAL Addiction to Fentanyl | The Miracle Call That Saved My Life

    APR 3

    Inside a Rockstar's BRUTAL Addiction to Fentanyl | The Miracle Call That Saved My Life

    Justin Clancy was a rising star in the music industry, but behind the scenes, he was battling a soul-crushing addiction to opiates. In this episode of Rise Above, Justin gets incredibly vulnerable about the "white light" moment that saved his life—literally seconds away from ending it all. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or mental health, you don't have to do it alone. Compassion Behavioral Health offers individualized, stigma-free care.  Visit them here: https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/?utm_source=rise%20above%20with%20kevin%20lanning&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=march Call or Text: 844-443-5669 Follow Justin Clancy:  Instagram: @justin_clancy TikTok: @justinclancy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 14m
  8. The Day I Lost Everything | My Battle With Alcohol & The Truth About My Struggle

    APR 1

    The Day I Lost Everything | My Battle With Alcohol & The Truth About My Struggle

    Chris 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, spiraling into daily drinking, and the powerful moment of surrender that saved his life. Now sober and rebuilding, he’s using his pain to help others—including coaches, athletes, and anyone silently struggling. Chris's website: Www.movethechains.squarespace.com #AddictionRecovery #CoachingLife #SobrietyJourney #RockBottom #FootballCoach #DUIRecovery #StateChampion #MentalHealthAwareness #HighSchoolFootball #AlcoholAddiction #RedemptionStory #RiseAbovePodcast #MoveTheChain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 13m
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Trailer

Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
224 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Lanning
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    255
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

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