Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Dr. Monica Vermani — clinical psychologist, trauma expert, TED speaker, and author — breaks down the true roots of stress, anxiety, trauma, maladaptive coping, and why so many of us feel overwhelmed in today’s world. From the role of childhood wounds to the patterns we repeat in adulthood, Dr. Vermani explains why we get stuck, how to break cycles of pain, a...

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Rise Above, Michael Chosewood shares one of the wildest fentanyl addiction stories ever told on this channel. From smoking weed as a freshman athlete… to crushing Xanax bars before school… to flipping houses, running a CBD company, and secretly trafficking fentanyl pills between the U.S. and Nicaragua—Michael was a high-functioning addict whose entire life unr...

Gia seemed to have it all together—13 years clean, a child, a spiritual awakening. But one drink changed everything. In this powerful and vulnerable episode of Rise Above, Gia shares her journey from childhood in New Jersey to addiction in Florida, her battle with mental health, and the crushing weight of postpartum depression. She opens up about her two marriages, spiritual growth, and how commun...

Olympic figure skater Nicole Bobek was once America’s golden girl — a national champion with worldwide fame, endorsement deals, red-carpet tours, and the spotlight of the 1998 Winter Olympics. But behind the sequins and standing ovations, Nicole was spiraling into addiction, identity struggles, trauma, and eventually a meth addiction that led to a high-profile arrest splashed across national headl...

He swore he’d never touch a needle. But inside a California prison, surrounded by chaos, violence, and addiction—he did. This raw, unfiltered story follows one man’s journey from trying meth at 9 years old to shooting heroin behind bars, losing everything, and ultimately finding redemption. He survived prison riots, overdoses, and years of chaos before rebuilding his life through sobriety, faith,...

Amber grew up in a world surrounded by addiction. Her mom used meth. Her grandparents were addicts. Her father dated women who battled addiction. Chaos was normal. But somehow… she never fell into it. Instead, Amber became the one who breaks the cycle. Today she’s a counselor who has spent over 20 years helping families navigate addiction, denial, enabling, and communication breakdowns. She teache...

Brooke Goff started her law firm from a kitchen table with $25,000 — and turned it into a legal empire in Connecticut. In this episode, Brooke shares how she beat the odds, bet on herself, built a dominant personal injury brand, navigated massive adversity, and became a force in a male-dominated industry. Her journey is proof: with accountability, courage and relentless belief… you can build the l...

Meghan’s story is one of the most emotional, raw, and impactful episodes we’ve ever filmed on Rise Above. After years of opioid addiction, relapse cycles, losing her teeth, stealing to survive, and eventually living in a tent community—Meghan was ready to end her life. Instead, she made one call that saved everything. Inside this episode we talk about: Her descent from partying → pills → sniffing...

Boxing legend Vinny Paz sits down in the flesh on RISE ABOVE. The Tasmanian Devil himself. One of the wildest true comeback stories in all of sports. Vinny broke his neck in a horrific car accident — doctors told him he’d never walk again… and he came back and won 5 world titles. In this raw, unfiltered interview… Vinny opens up about chasing Muhammad Ali, fame, insane nightlife stories, partying...

At 17, Jerry thought he’d found a party drug that made him feel unstoppable. OxyContin. The blue 160s. The Florida pill mill days. He had no idea what was coming next. Within years, addiction took over his life — and just when he thought he’d escaped it, a motorcycle crash left him literally cut in half. Doctors said he wouldn’t survive. He flatlined three times. Sixty-eight surgeries later, Jerry...

Chris Rosburg spent his 20s chasing ego, fame, and the next high — from starring in a Budweiser commercial to being cast in a reality TV show. But beneath the spotlight was an addiction that nearly killed him. In this episode, Chris opens up about the fear of losing his identity when getting sober, his journey through rehab, finding fellowship and faith, and how his 15-year sobriety led him to cre...

Arayelle’s story is one of the most raw and inspiring transformations ever shared on Rise Above. A Boston native, she opens up about growing up in chaos, battling addiction, stripping to survive, and finding herself trapped in toxic relationships. After years of substance abuse, self-harm, and pain, she found healing through faith, therapy, and fitness — and is now nearly five years sober. In this...

In this powerful episode of Rise Above, attorney Mark Astor joins host Kevin Lanning to discuss how families can legally intervene to save loved ones battling addiction and mental health struggles. Mark founded The Mental Health & Addiction Law Firm of Florida, a groundbreaking practice that combines legal authority, clinical support, and investigative resources to help families take action when e...

Jeff Baird’s story is one of survival, truth, and transformation. Put on Adderall at age 5, Jeff spent his entire youth medicated — never learning who he truly was. By 19, he was deep in the South Florida party scene: weed, coke, Xanax, lean, and eventually fentanyl. He was robbed at gunpoint, arrested multiple times, and even flatlined from an overdose. But in October 2021, Jeff finally made the...

Brian grew up in a strict Brooklyn home, surrounded by addiction, secrets, and death — living next door to a funeral home and watching grief daily. What started as a college experiment with ecstasy in Florence spiraled into a decade of cocaine dealing across New York City, gambling thousands he didn’t have, and a public arrest at the World Trade Center construction site. After narrowly avoiding pr...

Jay Mac up in chaos — born to two addicted parents, moving from town to town, finding identity through graffiti, and battling fear and dysfunction from an early age. By high school, he was using cocaine and opiates, and soon after, heroin became his escape. After years lost to addiction, theft, and survival on the streets, Jay rebuilt his life from the ground up. He found sobriety, purpose, and a...

In this raw and honest interview, Riley Whelan opens up about her battle with addiction, multiple relapses, and how she’s found a new life in sobriety. Riley shares about her upbringing, her early exposure to prescription drugs, the spiraling path through college and substance abuse, hitting rock bottom, and the pivotal moments that pushed her toward recovery. She also discusses how she handles eg...

Brandi Mac is a nurse practitioner, a mother, and a survivor of trauma. Her daughter battled addiction for years—cycling in and out of treatment, relapsing nine times, and nearly losing her life. But what finally saved her wasn’t another rehab. In this powerful interview, Brandi shares the truth about parenting through addiction, breaking toxic family cycles, and finding healing through love, boun...

Ryan Soave joins me on Rise Above to share his powerful story of 17 years in sobriety and the lessons he’s learned as a therapist helping others heal from addiction, trauma, and the human condition. We dive into: The fear and courage of sharing your story publicly Why mental health and addiction exist on a spectrum The importance of learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings How childhood experie...

Michael Zallie’s story is one of unimaginable pain, loss, and redemption. Growing up in Philadelphia, Michael faced tragedy when his sister took her own life—an event that haunted him for decades. That trauma, combined with addiction to alcohol, pills, heroin, and meth, spiraled him into years of chaos: 13 rehabs, jail time, robbing his own family, and suicidal thoughts while climbing skyscrapers...

Josh Wilson’s story is one of extreme highs and devastating lows. A Cocoa Beach surfing prodigy competing alongside legends like Kelly Slater, Josh’s life spiraled into addiction, arrests, and prison sentences. Despite more than 80 failed attempts at sobriety, today he celebrates one full year clean and sober. In this raw conversation, Josh opens up about: Growing up surfing at a national level an...

Nick’s story is one of the most raw and inspiring transformations you’ll ever hear. Once homeless on the streets of Detroit, sleeping in dumpsters and abandoned boats, Nick’s addiction to cocaine, pills, and heroin led him to DUIs, high-speed police chases, jail time, and near-death experiences. But after hitting rock bottom, he found recovery, rebuilt his life, and is now 10 years sober. In this...

Joey Gandee’s story is one of the rawest journeys you’ll ever hear. Growing up in small-town Ohio, Joey had what looked like a “normal” childhood—but addiction does not discriminate. He went from playing varsity sports to selling weed in 9th grade, living in his car while raising his younger brother, and eventually using heroin with his own mother while homeless in a tent by the river. This episod...

Bubba Sparxxx (Warren Mathis) opens up like never before about his rise to fame, the dark years of addiction, and his path to recovery. From topping the charts with Ugly and Ms. New Booty to battling alcoholism, opiates, meth, and even suffering a mini-stroke, Bubba’s story is raw, real, and inspiring. In this interview, he shares: How addiction nearly destroyed his career, health, and relationshi...

Jennifer Kazilionis sits down with me to share her raw and unfiltered story of addiction, chaos, and ultimately, recovery. From growing up in Portland, Maine, to an abusive relationship, cocaine use, and two DUIs that landed her in jail, Jennifer’s path was filled with self-destruction and pain. With the help of treatment, sober living in Florida, and the guidance of a sponsor, she rebuilt her lif...