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. 6H AGO

    Heartfelt Healing: Sonia's Story

    In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan interviews Sonia, a licensed psychotherapist and first-generation Mexican American from Pomona, California, about her recovery journey. Sonia shares growing up with an alcoholic father, trauma at home, and later an abusive relationship that fueled heavier drinking and drug use, including cocaine and crystal meth. She describes a serious car accident while drinking, quitting drugs when she became pregnant in 2003, and escalating alcoholism during grad school, including drinking 12–16 beers, drinking alone, hiding bottles, and experiencing severe depression and suicidal ideation. After outpatient treatment, she found Alcoholics Anonymous, got a sponsor, worked the steps, and has been sober since 12/27/2012. Sonia discusses healing through faith, AA, and brainspotting, opening her own practice, launching the podcasts “Con Amor, Your Therapist Friend” and “Soul to Soul,” and encouraging listeners to address trauma and seek professional help.

    1h 8m

  2. 3D AGO

    Jordan: From Addiction to Accountability

    On this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Jordan from the Los Angeles area shares his sobriety date (July 27, 2025) and describes years of alcohol-fueled partying that often led to cocaine and other drugs. He recounts a childhood shaped by a loving, overprotective mother, an absent father who exposed him to heavy partying early, and how quitting sports in high school accelerated drug use, stealing alcohol, selling drugs, and seeking validation by supplying party favors. Jordan details toxic relationships, arrests, drinking on the job, and a suicide-attention attempt with painkillers. After extreme travel partying left him more depressed, a sober bartender brought him into AA, leading to 15 months sober before complacency triggered relapse and costly benders. Now nine months sober, he’s rebuilding trust with his 13-year-old son, staying active in meetings and church, and emphasizing commitment, humility, amends, self-forgiveness, and “replaying the tape.”

    48 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Embracing Recovery: From Chaos to Clarity (Tom's Story)

    In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan interviews his cousin Tom Donahoe, who shares his sobriety date (July 1, 2024), his progression from alcohol and cocaine to meth, and how family dysfunction, depression, and severe bullying and abuse from his sister shaped his self-image and fueled addiction. Tom recounts early blackouts, school failure, a Navy discharge after a cocaine drug test, a modeling career that coincided with relapses, and repeated attempts at sobriety. He describes timeshare work in Maui, relapsing into meth on his wedding day, hiding use from his wife, losing jobs, homelessness, stealing, and multiple arrests and jail time in Virginia Beach, where police nicknamed him “Spider-Man” for fleeing. He credits journaling, gratitude, meditation, meetings, rehab, and a spiritual awakening with rebuilding his life, reconnecting with his wife and daughter, and staying sober.00:00 Self Criticism Spiral01:10 Show Intro And Guest Setup02:32 Addiction Origins And Family04:23 Peer Pressure First Drink07:08 Blackouts And Early Escalation10:09 Sister Trauma And Shame14:34 School Collapse And Crank19:51 Navy Discharge Sparks Modeling24:30 LA Success Relapse Cycle27:49 Golds Gym Pills And Theft33:03 Hawaii Rehab And Timeshare35:46 Meth On Wedding Day40:16 Marriage Falls Apart40:44 Real Estate Relapse41:25 Strip Club Blackout43:18 Homeless and Meth Spiral44:57 Virginia Beach Crime Cycle47:12 Spider Man on the Run48:07 Rock Bottom and Rehab50:11 Daughter Reunion and Arrest55:29 Courtroom Miracle57:42 Dry Drunk to Spiritual Shift01:04:21 Easter Call and Forgiveness01:09:12 Self Love and Marriage Return01:14:44 Advice for Staying Sober01:18:54 Closing Quote and Goodbye

    1h 20m

  4. MAY 11

    They Took Her Freedom, Not Her Future: Celeste's Story

    In this powerful interview, a survivor shares her journey through childhood neglect, addiction, trafficking, and her path to recovery. Her story highlights the realities of trafficking and addiction, emphasizing resilience and hope.

    52 min

  5. MAY 8

    Sober, Centered, and Strong: Wendy's Comeback

    Wendy Grijalva shares her powerful journey through childhood trauma, addiction, recovery, and finding purpose. This episode offers insights into the complexities of addiction, the importance of a holistic recovery approach, and hope for those struggling.

    1 hr

  6. MAY 7

    Grief and People Pleasing (Another Quick Sip With Ryan and Rachel)

    Ryan and Rachel discuss grief and loss in addiction and sobriety, prompted by Rachel learning via social media that a former friend from her bar days has died. Rachel, 34, shares that she has lost 10–11 friends to overdoses or accidents and describes attending an upcoming candle lighting while navigating anxiety about seeing people who distanced themselves when she got sober. Ryan compares grieving in active addiction versus sober, recounting friends he lost, including Mark’s suicide and Jeff’s fatal fall, and regrets drinking through his sister’s fentanyl-overdose memorial. They emphasize being present, processing emotions without using, and how these losses motivate recovery “out loud.” The episode also touches on people-pleasing in recovery, the need for boundaries and self-preservation, and doing the work outside meetings to address underlying issues.

    27 min

  7. MAY 6

    Krista: The Sober Barbie

    In this heartfelt interview, Sober Barbie Krista shares her journey from childhood in Hilton Head Island to her struggles with alcohol and drugs, her arrest and recovery, and her inspiring efforts to help others through social media, community activism, and opening sober living homes. Discover her insights on addiction, recovery, and the power of sharing your story to inspire change.

    50 min

  8. MAY 4

    The Spectrum of Addiction: Understanding and Overcoming

    In this in-depth interview, Christopher shares his personal journey through addiction, his experiences with alcohol and drugs from a young age, and how he transformed his life to help others. Discover insights on the spectrum of addiction, the importance of support systems, and practical advice for those struggling or curious about recovery.

    55 min
See All (144)

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
    144
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © rockbottomwithryan
  • Show Website
    Rock Bottom With Ryan

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