The Next Fix

Ryan Penley
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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. 5d ago

    He Lost His Daughter, Went to Prison, and Still Came Back | Mike Curry Ep33

    Is it ever too late to come back? Mike Curry lost his parental rights, went to prison, became homeless, battled meth and heroin addiction, and reached a point where almost nothing remained. But his story did not end there. In this episode of The Next Fix, Mike shares how faith, sobriety, personal responsibility, and relentless growth helped him rebuild his life from the inside out. We talk about: • The hidden pain he carried for years • Robbing pharmacies and going to prison • Losing his rights as a father • Homelessness, meth, heroin, and self-sabotage • The moment he finally admitted, “I’m the problem” • How God began rebuilding his life • Turning addictive tenacity into discipline, service, and purpose • Rebuilding trust with his daughter • Why sobriety is only the beginning • Creating a life worth staying sober for Mike now helps business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals break free from alcohol and discover who they are without it. His comeback is proof that no life is too far gone and no chapter has to be the last one. Connect with Mike Curry Website: MikeCurryCoaching.com Instagram: @mikecurryofficial Podcast: Sobriety, Spirituality, and Sales Connect with Ryan Penley Website: MyRockBottomRecovery.com Book: Man Up. Sober Up. Podcast: The Next Fix Sobriety is not the finish line. It is the beginning of the life you were meant to build.

  2. Jul 18

    He Left a Cult at 38. Then His Life Fell Apart | Fernando Alessandri Ep32

    How does a psychologist become powerless over his own worst decisions? Fernando Alessandri spent years helping people through trauma, PTSD, psychosis, and crisis. Yet in his own life, he kept making one costly mistake: forcing solutions before he had clarity. At 38, Fernando left a religious organization he had belonged to since age 15 and now describes as a kind of cult. The years that followed brought broken relationships, professional consequences, and an exhausting search for love and certainty. Then Fernando discovered Al-Anon. Its first three steps helped him confront his powerlessness, believe sanity could be restored, and finally stop trying to force every answer. In this raw, funny, and deeply human conversation, Ryan and Fernando explore: The childhood tragedy that shaped Fernando’s familyLeaving a controlling religious environment after 23 yearsBecoming “powerless over stupidity”The danger of making decisions before clarity arrivesHow our worst choices develop through a “perfect storm”What maximum-security prison taught him about dignity and serviceWhy helping someone else can keep you moving when your life is falling apartThe role of faith, Al-Anon, and dark humor in his comebackFernando also reveals the unexpected creative opportunity that emerged from his professional setback. Agent Bigglesby: Not Dead Yet follows an 84-year-old superspy who is officially dead, trapped in senior living, and convinced his enemies are still coming for him. The problem is that nobody believes him. The story began as a screenplay more than 20 years ago. Fernando transformed it into a comedic novel, but the larger vision remains: bring Agent Bigglesby to the screen. Want to help Bigglesby make the jump from the page to the movies? Buy the book, leave a review, share it with someone who loves smart comedy, and sign up for project updates. Connect with Fernando: Everything Fernando: https://linktr.ee/fernfactor Discover Agent Bigglesby: Not Dead Yet, sample the story, and follow its journey toward the screen: https://jamesprochester.com Download free “mental health CPR” resources for helping loved ones in crisis: https://incapables.org Explore Fernando’s comedy, messaging, merchandise, and fundraising ideas: https://fernfactor.com TikTok: @fernfactor.com Connect with Ryan Penley: https://myrockbottomrecovery.com https://ryanpenley.org #comeback #AlAnon #MentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #PTSD 5.6 SolLight5.6 SolMedium5.6 SolHigh5.6 SolExtra High5.6 SolMax5.6 TerraLight5.6 TerraMedium5.6 TerraHigh5.6 TerraExtra High5.6 TerraMax5.6 LunaLight5.6 LunaMedium5.6 LunaHigh5.6 LunaExtra High5.6 LunaMax5.5Light5.5Medium5.5High5.5Extra High5.6 TerraLight5.6 SolLight5.6 SolMedium5.6 SolHigh5.6 SolExtra High

  3. Jul 11

    The Lie Behind “I’ve Got This” | Mike Acker Ep31

    Mike Acker helped people speak with confidence, but alcohol forced him to admit the truth he kept avoiding: “I don’t got this.” In this episode of The Next Fix, Mike Acker opens up about sobriety, pride, pressure, faith, family, public speaking, and the quiet alcohol cycle so many people understand: Stop drinking. Feel back in control. Find a reason to drink again. Crash. Repeat. Mike is the founder of Uplevel Communication, a keynote speaker, executive communication coach, and bestselling author of Speak With No Fear. He helps leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and teams communicate with confidence, clarity, and influence. But behind the success, Mike was wrestling with something deeper. After years of stopping and starting, he finally realized that “I’ve got this” was not confidence. It was pride. And the comeback began when he told himself the truth. This conversation is about more than alcohol. It is about breaking the cycle. It is about becoming honest. It is about rebuilding your life before your family has to meet the version of you that alcohol brings out. If you have ever said, “I’ve got this,” while knowing deep down that you don’t, this episode is for you. 🎧 Topics in this episode: • Mike Acker’s first experiences with alcohol • Going from pastor to corporate communication coach • The hidden danger of “I’ve got this” • Binge drinking, pride, and the yo-yo sobriety cycle • Why breaking the streak gave him permission to drink again • Becoming sober for his marriage, children, health, and future • Public speaking, confidence, and building a life that helps people Learn more about Mike Acker: Official Website: https://mikeacker.com Uplevel Communication: https://uplevelcommunication.com Speak With No Fear: https://speakwithnofear.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADVANCEwithMikeAcker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeackerdotcom Learn more about Ryan Penley: Website: https://www.ryanpenley.org The Next Fix Podcast: https://www.ryanpenley.org/podcast My Rock Bottom Recovery: https://www.myrockbottomrecovery.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ytlQkbD5R8vxtM3KAO0Xs Subscribe for more comeback stories, recovery conversations, and real talk about what happens after the rock bottom.

  4. Jul 4

    The Doctor Who Says Recovery Must Go Higher | Dr Nasir Ep30

    Survival was not the finish line. What if real recovery is not just getting clean, but becoming whole enough to live with purpose again? Dr. Sarah Nasir joins The Next Fix for a powerful conversation on addiction, stigma, medicine, purpose, and what it means to transcend the old version of yourself. Dr. Nasir is a dual board-certified physician in family medicine and addiction medicine. She brings a rare mix of medical insight, compassion, and whole-person thinking to the recovery conversation. In this episode, we talk about: Why addiction is not simply a matter of choiceHow stigma shows up in healthcareWhy shame does not help people healThe role of medication-assisted treatmentWhole-person recovery: body, mind, spirit, relationships, finances, and purposeWhat it means to become “transcendent”Why survival was never meant to be the final destinationIf you have ever wondered what comes after getting clean, this conversation is for you. Learn more about Dr. Sarah Nasir: Dr. Sarah Nasir’s Website: https://sarahnasir.com/ Transcendant You: https://transcendantyou.com/ Zenara Care: https://zenaracare.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahnasirdo/ Learn more about Ryan Penley and The Next Fix: Ryan Penley Website: https://www.ryanpenley.org/

  5. Jun 27

    The Addiction Parents Are Afraid To Say Out Loud | Ep29

    Pornography, the "P" Word, addiction is quietly shaping a generation while most parents and leaders are still too uncomfortable to even say the word out loud. If we don’t start having honest conversations now, we risk losing our kids to a battle they’re fighting in silence. In this episode of The Next Fix, Ryan Penley sits down with Chris Rogers, founder of Rebooted Teen, to talk about pornography addiction, compulsive behavior, shame, recovery, and what it really means to “reboot” instead of just white-knuckling your way through change. Chris spent much of his professional life as an educator, but behind the scenes, he was fighting his own battle with pornography and unhealthy coping patterns. Now, he helps parents and teens address one of the most overlooked struggles facing young people today. This conversation goes far beyond “stop doing the bad thing.” Ryan and Chris talk about: • Why pornography is often treated like the hidden addiction • How shame keeps teens and adults stuck in secrecy • Why recovery is more than just swapping one behavior for another • What it means to rewire the brain and rebuild identity • How parents can lead with curiosity instead of condemnation • Why the home should be a safe place to practice hard conversations • How Chris helps families through Rebooted Teen One of the most powerful ideas from this episode is simple: If you lead with shame, they will stay the same. This episode is for parents, people in recovery, men fighting hidden battles, and anyone who wants to understand how compulsive behavior takes root and how real freedom begins. Learn more about Chris Rogers and Rebooted Teen: https://www.rebootedteen.com/ Host: Ryan Penley https://www.ryanpenley.org

  6. Jun 20

    How to Crawl Out of the Life That Almost Destroyed You | Ep28

    What does it feel like to be trapped in the bucket of life? After years of addiction, chaos, homelessness, and trying to outrun the pain of his past, Bryan Blackmon found himself in Huntington Beach, California with almost nothing left. But through a series of what he calls God moments, including a powerful mirror moment where he heard “you are worth it,” Bryan began rebuilding his life one day at a time. In this episode of The Next Fix, Bryan shares how a dream to move west turned into a fight for survival, how his 87-year-old landlord Elaine became a surprising source of love and stability, and how getting sober helped him turn pain into purpose. We talk about addiction, identity, the lies we start believing about ourselves, the power of resilience, and how Bryan’s Crab Crew Life was born from the idea that some people pull you back into the bucket, while the right crew helps you crawl out. This conversation is about more than sobriety. It is about becoming clean, resilient, adaptable, and grounded in belief. Because sometimes the life that almost destroyed you becomes the story God uses to help someone else keep going. Connect with Bryan Blackmon: Crab Crew Life: https://crabcrewlife.com/ Bryan’s official links: https://linktr.ee/bryanandelaine TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanblackmon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bblackmon25/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bryanblackmon25 Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/bblackmon25 Crab Crew Discord: https://discord.com/invite/Vg9sFSGWw6 Connect with Ryan Penley: Website: https://www.ryanpenley.org/ #TheNextFix #sober #alcoholic #CrabCrewLife #sober #wedorecover #comebackstory #addictionrecovery

  7. Jun 13

    Recovery Is Not One-Size-Fits-All Ep27

    What if recovery was never meant to be one-size-fits-all? Andrew Zamacona, founder of The CCRI Project, joins The Next Fix to talk about addiction, connection, identity, and building a life you no longer need to escape from. Andrew’s story started with a search for belonging. What began as connection through drug culture eventually led to consequences, arrests, surrender, and a deeper question: What does real transformation actually look like? In this episode, Andrew talks about: • How drug culture gave him a sense of connection, meaning, and direction • Why escape and belonging can both pull people into addiction • The moment he realized the street life was either going to lead to prison or death • Why traditional recovery helped him, but did not feel like the full answer • The danger of performing recovery on the outside while feeling stuck on the inside • Why recovery should be dynamic, not static • Why AA and 12-step programs can be a way, but not the only way • How lived experience can become a mission to help others Andrew also explains The CCRI Project, which stands for Consciousness-Centered Recovery and Integration. CCRI is built around three core pillars: Consciousness Awareness, presence, reflection, and learning to notice the patterns running your life.Recovery Turning awareness into action by correcting imbalance, adjusting misalignment, and making measurable changes.Integration Building consistency, restoring wholeness, and creating a sustainable life that does not require escape. This conversation is about recovery beyond checking boxes. Beyond pretending. Beyond survival. It is about becoming aware, taking action, and building a life that actually holds you. Connect with Andrew and The CCRI Project: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ccri.project YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theccriproject Connect with Ryan Penley: Website: https://www.ryanpenley.org Subscribe for more comeback stories, recovery conversations, and real strategies for rebuilding life after addiction. #TheNextFix #Recovery #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #WeDoRecover

  8. Jun 6

    More People Walked on the Moon Than Did This | Dan Schlund Ep26

    🚀 More people have walked on the moon than professionally flew a Rocketbelt. Dan Schlund is known as The Last Rocketman, one of the few people on earth to professionally fly a real Rocketbelt. He spent years flying jetpacks across 26 countries and six continents, but behind the incredible performances was a much deeper comeback story. In this episode of The Next Fix, Dan opens up about surviving catastrophic burns, losing 185 inches of skin, breaking his neck during a world-record attempt, being introduced to hydrocodone, battling anxiety, losing his identity, and rebuilding his life through faith, purpose, and reinvention. This conversation goes far beyond extreme sports. Dan shares what it felt like to crash, recover, return to the rocket belt, and eventually build National Set Medics after realizing his Rocketman career was no longer enough to carry his future. We talk about: • Flying a real Rocketbelt • The crash that caused devastating burns • Breaking his neck during a world-record attempt • Hydrocodone dependency after injury • Anxiety, PTSD, and mental scars • Losing your identity after life changes • Faith, prayer, and finding the way back • Building a new life after the crash • Why Dan says he has no regrets Dan’s book and documentary are both titled The Last Rocketman. Learn more about Dan here: https://rocketman.tv/ Subscribe for more comeback stories, recovery conversations, and real stories about what comes after rock bottom. #sober #sobriety #recovery #comebackstory #TheNextFix

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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
    121
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ryan Penley
  • Show Website
    The Next Fix