Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

At just 15, Alyx was shooting heroin. By 18, she had survived jail, r*pe, and being trafficked in a drug-fueled underworld. In this brutally honest interview, she opens up about the trauma, addiction, and darkness that nearly took her life — and the moment she finally broke free. Now a sober mom and recovery professional, Alyx shares how she found healing, purpose, and peace. This is one of the ra...

Celebrity addiction expert Dr. Cali Estes opens up about her late husband’s million-dollar heroin and fentanyl addiction, surviving five overdoses, and detoxing in first class at 33,000 feet. In this gripping episode, Dr. Cali reveals what it's like to detox a loved one in your own home, how she built the world’s largest addiction recovery school, and the truth behind Suboxone, SSRIs, and the brok...

Alexis was molested at 10, pregnant by 16, and selling crack and smoking PCP by 20. After surviving brutal domestic violence, jail time, and near-death drug experiences, she found herself homeless, hopeless — and then, a pastor stepped in. What happened next changed her life forever. Today, Alexis is 8 years sober, a mother of five, and married to a man she met in rehab. This is one of the most ra...

Jack seemed to have it all — a loving family, standout athletic talent, and a Division 1 baseball scholarship by the age of 16. But behind the scenes, he was battling deep emotional pain, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. In this raw and honest interview, Jack opens up about being expelled in 6th grade, spiraling into drug use by high school, and hitting rock bottom just weeks before leaving for c...

Austin went from living in a $3 million mansion in Florida and partying like a rock star… to spiraling into full-blown addiction. After years of binge drinking and daily marijuana use, he lost direction, purpose—and even the love of his life. But on April 24, 2022, everything changed. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Austin shares how he went from a promising athlete and successful car sal...

Dr. JayR McIntyre went from battling poverty, addiction, and jail time in Los Angeles to serving 14 years in the U.S. Army, earning the Bronze Star, and becoming one of LinkedIn’s Top 100 Speakers to Watch. In this raw and inspiring interview, he opens up about losing his mother to AIDS, surviving street life, and finding purpose through service, entrepreneurship, and transformation. This is the s...

Athena spent years silently battling an eating disorder that nearly took everything from her. In this raw and emotional interview, she opens up about the secret hell of anorexia, what it took to face her demons, and how hitting rock bottom became the start of her transformation. Her journey is a reminder that even your darkest days can lead to your greatest growth. If you or someone you know is st...

She just shocked the world at UFC 316—and now she holds the UFC bantamweight title. In this exclusive interview, Olympic gold medalist and two-time MMA champion Kayla Harrison shares the raw, unfiltered truth behind her rise to greatness. From surviving sexual abuse and family trauma to becoming a symbol of strength and resilience, Kayla opens up about the pain that forged her and the purpose that...

Nick Marshall had a normal childhood—Disney trips, family dinners, and supportive parents. But underneath it all, he was battling brutal bullying, shame, and identity struggles. What started as seeking acceptance led to drug deals, a robbery crew, and eventually prison time. In this jaw-dropping episode, Nick opens up about the moment it all changed—and how he's now rebuilding his life after incar...

Nicole Meo survived the unthinkable — a horrific car crash that took the lives of her boyfriend and his best friend. She was the only survivor. What followed was years of pain, guilt, and a descent into opioid addiction after being prescribed OxyContin. Her journey spiraled into psych wards, rock bottom moments, and the darkest corners of active addiction. But against all odds, Nicole clawed her w...

In this powerful episode, professional BKFC fighter Quentin "QG" Gaskins shares the raw truth behind his journey — living sober in a chaotic world. As he gears up for his next big fight, QG opens up about how yoga, breathwork, and daily movement have transformed his mind, body, and spirit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this heartbreaking episode of Rise Above, Salena shares the devastating journey of her son's battle with addiction — from early trouble with the law, to opioid dependence after an injury, and years of struggling to stay alive. After surviving a shooting that left her paralyzed, Salena faced the unimaginable: losing her son to a fentanyl overdose just six months ago. This raw and emotional conve...

Mason Stevens was shot five times in a violent altercation outside a nightclub — and lived to tell the story. Instead of letting it define him, he turned the trauma into fuel. Now an undefeated professional boxer, Mason shares the gritty, unbelievable journey from near-death to the top of the ring. In this episode of Rise Above, Mason opens up about the shooting, his recovery, the mindset it took...

This week, we sit down with Ana Isabel Hume, aka Anabel — lifestyle and sports host, fitness competitor, and mental health advocate — for one of our most raw and powerful conversations yet. Anabel opens up about losing her father to suicide, being diagnosed with a brain tumor at 11, living with a shunt, growing up around addiction, and surviving a marriage marked by PTSD and emotional trauma. Desp...

David was a corrections officer assigned to death row—what he witnessed during those two years broke him. From chilling confessions to disturbing inmate behavior, this interview uncovers the dark side of the prison system that most people never see. The trauma ultimately led David to walk away from the job for good. This is his story. #DeathRow #CorrectionsOfficer #PrisonStories #MentalHealthAware...

In this powerful episode of Rise Above, host Kevin Lanning sits down with John Ulsh, a motivational speaker and coach who has turned personal tragedy into a mission to inspire others.​ Seventeen years ago, John survived a devastating car accident that led to over 45 surgeries and numerous setbacks. Through unwavering determination, he transformed his pain into purpose, developing a roadmap for res...

Kelsey grew up fast in a home filled with alcoholism and chaos — with both parents struggling and her father disappearing from her life for 14 years. By age 10, she was caring for her younger sister and operating far beyond her years. On the outside, she was a high achiever: great college, rising corporate career — but on the inside, addiction and depression were taking over. In this raw and unfil...

Jessica nearly lost everything to addiction — including her life. While she struggled with various substances, it was nitrous oxide that almost killed her. Her true rock bottom came in an unexpected way: after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID shot, Jessica became paralyzed. But what could have ended her story became her awakening. Four years sober today, Jessica has completely transformed her...

Nick lost his father at just 7 years old and was homeless soon after. By his early teens, he was selling drugs to survive—and at 16, he stabbed someone and was sentenced to Rikers Island. After reoffending, he served another prison term. But after that second stint, everything changed. Nick got sober, walked away from the street life, and started over. He launched a moving company, bought real est...

In this explosive prison phone call interview, Kevin Lanning connects with Joe Exotic, the notorious “Tiger King,” for a raw and unfiltered conversation straight from behind bars. Joe shares a shocking update on his ongoing fight for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, opens up about the possibility of Tiger King Part 2, and doesn’t hold back on his current legal battles. He also delivers a h...

In this gripping episode of Rise Above, Kim shares the unfiltered truth about life as an IV heroin addict — from shooting up daily to selling heroin alongside her own mother. Caught in a generational cycle of addiction, Kim’s story is unlike anything we’ve shared before. She opens up about the codependent bond she shared with her mom, how they used and dealt drugs together, and the moment she knew...

Kyle Sandler was once hailed as the tech savior of a small Alabama town — a former Google executive launching a startup incubator with big promises. He raised millions, inspired dreams, and even claimed to have worked closely with cybersecurity pioneer John McAfee. But it was all a lie. In this exclusive interview, Kyle opens up about the truth behind the scam, the fantasy he created, and how he c...

Chris Norton’s life changed in an instant when a tackle during a college football game left him paralyzed. Doctors gave him just a 3% chance of regaining movement, but Chris refused to accept that fate. Through relentless determination and unwavering faith, he not only defied the odds but also made headlines when he walked across the stage at graduation and later down the aisle at his wedding. In...

On this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, I sit down with Elizabeth Chance, who is approaching 19 years of sobriety. She opens up about the chaos of alcoholism, the breaking point that changed everything, and how she was able to find lasting sobriety. Elizabeth shares the raw truth about addiction, the struggles of early recovery, and the tools she used to maintain a sober life. Whether yo...

What happens when the FBI believes you’re involved in one of the worst attacks in history? After 9/11, Khalid’s life took a shocking turn when he was interrogated and followed by federal agents—all because hijacker #20 was a member of his mosque and a childhood friend. Brutal interrogations, relentless surveillance, and a world flipped upside down—Khalid’s story didn’t end there. Instead, he made...