Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Karina’s story is raw, unfiltered, and powerful. From growing up as a cheerleader with early signs of heavy drinking, to panic attacks and daily withdrawals, she spiraled into isolation, suicide attempts, and repeated hospital visits. Her first rehab didn’t stick—she left planning to “drink normally” again. But after seizures, ICU stays, and liver failure, Karina nearly lost her life. What changed...

Kaja’s story is one of resilience, heartbreak, and hope. At just 14 years old, she was thrust into the world of international modeling, traveling across Europe and facing impossible standards. By 16, she encountered Harvey Weinstein for the first time—an experience that left deep scars and would be repeated again at 19.In this raw and powerful interview, Kaja opens up about:Growing up with anxiety...

Jennifer grew up in a chaotic household with an alcoholic parent and perfectionist pressure driving her from a young age. Her journey took her from being a nationally ranked bowler on scholarship to the wild world of college sororities, drinking, and cocaine-fueled chaos. What began as casual partying quickly spiraled into blackouts, toxic relationships, and moments of incomprehensible demoralizat...

Richard's story is one of the most gripping tales of addiction, crime, and redemption ever told on this channel. By the age of 18, he had already served prison time for burglary. Over the next two decades, he racked up 33 felony convictions, became known as one half of the “Dynamic Duo” of cr@ck-addicted brothers in Palm Beach County, and lived in trap houses, behind shopping centers, and eventual...

Izzy opens up about her 15-year battle with Adderall and how quitting cold turkey changed her life forever. From being put on ADHD medication at just 12 years old to building a fast-paced career as a hairstylist powered by stimulants, she shares how the drug shaped her identity, destroyed relationships, and disconnected her from her true self. After a divorce, years of emotional chaos, and a natio...

Carl Stone spent over 30 years in law enforcement—respected, decorated, and seen as a protector. But behind closed doors, he was quietly unraveling. Haunted by childhood trauma, daily exposure to horrific crimes, and suppressed mental health struggles, Carl turned to alcohol to cope. Then one day, everything came crashing down. In this raw and unfiltered interview, Carl shares his story for the fi...

Hal Hughes had the perfect life: a loving wife, four kids, a successful career in law enforcement, and a reputation as a local hero. But everything changed the day he was violently attacked on the job—an incident that left him with a traumatic brain injury and a slow-burning descent into darkness. In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Hal opens up about the devastating impact of PTSD, chronic pa...

Leticia grew up in a tight-knit Brazilian-American community in Danbury, CT. One night out with friends—“just two drinks”—became a life-changing DUI at 0.08. In this raw conversation, she breaks down what actually happens after the arrest: getting pulled over twice in minutes, the breath test, court, fines and fees, a year-long program, and installing an interlock on her Tesla. She also shares the...

Carla grew up in a loving home in Boston with a supportive family and big dreams of becoming a teacher. But one party after high school changed everything. She took her first Percocet—and what followed was a devastating spiral into opiate addiction, heroin, and eventually shooting up. In this gripping episode, Carla opens up about stealing $100,000 from her hardworking father, losing custody of he...

Chevy Chase, the legendary star of Saturday Night Live and the National Lampoon’s Vacation films, sits down for a rare and unfiltered conversation about his life, career, and sobriety. From growing up in New York and Woodstock, to breaking into comedy with Lorne Michaels, to navigating sudden fame and unforgettable fan encounters, Chevy opens up like never before. He also reflects on his battle wi...

Jordan was a promising D1 football recruit with full-ride offers—until a torn ACL and a bottle of painkillers changed everything. What started as surgery recovery turned into full-blown addiction: Oxy, Perc 30s, heroin, Subutex, and eventually shooting drugs with horse syringes stolen from Tractor Supply. From robbing his grandma’s wedding ring… to almost holding up a Subway sandwich shop with a b...

Chris Lavin's life is almost too extreme to believe. Abused as a child. Locked in a box for days. Smoking crack and running a car scam at 17. He made millions, lost it all, then lost the only thing he truly loved—his son. He held a gun to someone’s head, and almost pulled the trigger. Twice. But something stopped him. This is not just a story of survival. It’s a story of redemption, purpose, and u...

He went from a small-town baseball player with a bright future… to shOOting heroin in New Jersey, smuggling bricks of dope through airports, and facing eight years in prison. In this raw and unfiltered interview, Flip shares how his life spiraled from painkillers and partying in the restaurant industry to becoming a full-blown IV drug user. This is one of the wildest redemption stories ever shared...

Jaclyn Buntic opens up about her harrowing journey through addiction, starting with pain pills and Xanax at 16, leading to heroin and meth by 18. She shares how growing up in a dysfunctional household, bouncing between homes, and dating someone in a trap house sent her spiraling into drug use. Her first IV heroin injection was administered by her girlfriend — a moment that led to full-blown addict...

David Funes’ life spiraled from a strict Christian upbringing into a world of manic highs, drug-fueled nights, white-collar crime, and a $3.7 million FBI investigation. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a suicide attempt and mental hospital stay, David’s story is one of chaos, shame, addiction, and ultimately — redemption. #RiseAbovePodcast #BipolarDisorder #AddictionRecovery #TrueCrimeStories...

Destiny's story is one of unimaginable pain and powerful transformation. Molested as a child, abandoned by her mother, and raised in dysfunction, she battled self-worth issues from an early age. After a blackout car accident nearly claimed her life, she spiraled deeper—eventually overdosing multiple times, spending 10 months in jail, and shooting up for the last time on her grandmother’s floor. To...

Chandler was a bright kid — valedictorian, pre-med student, academic scholarships. But beneath the surface, addiction was brewing. From his early battles with leukemia to his first drink at 11, the seeds were planted early. College became a war zone: psychedelics, alcohol, Xanax, and eventually cocaine took over his life. He overdosed multiple times, dropped out of school, and spiraled into daily...

He grew up in a small Mississippi town, hiding trauma, abuse, and addiction behind sports, work, and alcohol. By his 40s, he was drinking half a gallon of Fireball a day, facing divorce, and trapped in generational dysfunction. In this raw conversation, he opens up about:Surviving childhood abuse and fearHis first drink at 9 years oldThe downward spiral into alcoholism and opiate useHitting bottom...

Tina survived the unthinkable. Molested by the man she thought was her father. Raised in a home of violence, secrecy, and fear. Then, decades later, she uncovered a chilling family secret — her real father was her grandfather. In this raw, emotional episode of Rise Above, Tin shares her journey through childhood trauma, the military, motherhood, and recovery. Her story is one of resilience, courag...

Matt grew up in a loving home in Westchester, NY—but alcohol and cocaine nearly destroyed everything he built. From blackouts and bartending in Florida to getting strip-searched at Gun Club Jail, Matt reached his breaking point. What followed was a powerful journey through recovery, multiple relapses, deep therapy, and ultimately transformation. In this raw interview, Matt opens up about:His battl...

Keesha’s journey is one of resilience, heartbreak, and purpose. After battling alcoholism, losing her husband to a drug overdose, and raising twins alone, she turned her pain into a mission — helping teens and families struggling with addiction and mental health. In this powerful interview, Keesha shares: How she got sober after years of destructive drinking The devastating day her husband relapse...

Brittany’s life spiraled from anxiety-filled childhood to a devastating descent into addiction. After surviving sexual coercion in high school, she turned to stripping, entered an abusive relationship, and was introduced to fentanyl. Soon, she was homeless, living in a van with her dealer, surrounded by children watching their parents shoot up, and caught in the middle of a motel shootout. This is...

In this raw and unfiltered interview, Matt Stoddard opens up about his journey through addiction, from his traumatic childhood to a life spiraling out of control with pain pills, OxyContin, and Fentanyl. He shares his darkest moments, including playing "Russian roulette" with his life, hitting rock bottom, and finding his way to recovery. With brutal honesty, Matt reveals the mental and physical t...

Ben was s*xually abused at age 10 by a trusted camp counselor. That trauma led him to heroin by 16, methadone addiction, and eventually losing custody of his son. But through God's grace, relentless 12-step work, and a fierce desire to help others, Ben got clean—and stayed clean for 14 years. In this raw interview, he shares how he went from shooting up daily and nearly dying from withdrawal… to a...

Tom grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, raised by a single father after his mother abandoned him and his sister. By 13, he was drinking. By 25, he was blacking out, driving drunk, popping benzos, and working high. After a devastating DUI and a near-death experience, Tom got on a plane to Florida—and never looked back. Now over 14 years sober, he’s a father, a son, a podcast host, and the man who...