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 on Rise Above.👉 If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, know that recovery is possible. Please share this story with someone who needs to hear it. #RiseAbovePodcast #HeroinAddiction #DrugSmuggling #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #FromPrisonToPurpose #IVDrugUser #RedemptionStory #RecoveryJourney #AddictToAdvocate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Hirschfield was a high school football coach on top of the world—winning state championships, raising two kids, and leading one of Georgia’s most promising teams. But behind the success was a man silently battling addiction. After a devastating DUI, Chris lost everything—his job, his reputation, and his sense of self.In this raw and emotional interview, Chris opens up about childhood trauma, pressure to prove himself, spiraling into daily drinking, and the powerful moment of surrender that saved his life. Now sober and rebuilding, he’s using his pain to help others—including coaches, athletes, and anyone silently struggling. Chris's website: Www.movethechains.squarespace.com #AddictionRecovery #CoachingLife #SobrietyJourney #RockBottom #FootballCoach #DUIRecovery #StateChampion #MentalHealthAwareness #HighSchoolFootball #AlcoholAddiction #RedemptionStory #RiseAbovePodcast #MoveTheChain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 addiction.From overdoses and jail time to the shocking murder of her best friend’s parents, Jaclyn’s story is one of heartbreak, survival, and ultimately, redemption. Now nearly 5 years clean, she’s a Pokémon YouTuber, musician, and beacon of hope for others in recovery. This is one of the rawest, most emotional stories ever told on Rise Above. Watch until the end to hear Jaclyn’s powerful message for anyone struggling right now. #AddictionRecovery #HeroinSurvivor #OverdoseAwareness #AddictToAdvocate #SobrietyJourney #TrapHouseSurvivor #NarcanSavedMyLife #DrugAddictionHelp #RecoveryCommunity #MentalHealthMatters #RiseAbovePodcast #XanaxAddiction #IVHeroinRecovery #SurvivorStories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 #MentalHealthAwareness #DrugAddiction #FBIInvestigation #CocaineAddiction #WhiteCollarCrime #FromAddictionToRecovery #BipolarAwareness #ManicDepression #SurvivorStories #TraumaHealing #RedemptionStory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Today, Destiny is 8 years clean and sober. She works in treatment, is studying to become a nurse, and is proof that no matter how dark it gets, recovery is possible. In this episode of Rise Above, she opens up about trauma, addiction, identity loss, and the spiritual awakening that changed everything. If you’re struggling with addiction, this episode is for you. #AddictionRecovery #ChildhoodTrauma #OverdoseSurvivor #RiseAbovePodcast #8YearsSober #FromAddictionToRecovery #RecoveryStory #NarcoticsAnonymous #TraumaHealing #DrugAddiction #MentalHealthAwareness #SurvivorStory #SoberLife #AbuseSurvivor #ACARecovery #CleanAndSober Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 DoorDash hustles just to get high.🙏 Drop a comment if this story resonates, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to spread the message of hope. #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #CocaineAddict #XanaxWithdrawal #FromAddictionToRecovery #RiseAbovePodcast #DrugAddictionStory #ValedictorianGoneWrong #ColdTurkeyDetox #SpiritualAwakening #OverdoseSurvivor #MentalHealthAwareness #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryIsPossible #AA #YoungPeopleInRecovery #RiseAboveWithKevinLanning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 and finally surrendering to sobriety in NashvilleBreaking family cycles of trauma and building a new legacy for his daughtersWriting his book “Jesus Is Cool, But Christians Creep Me Out”This is a story about pain, faith, and the power of recovery. If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, generational trauma, or finding your way back to hope—this episode will resonate.👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to support more stories of resilience. #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #Alcoholism #TraumaHealing #RecoveryJourney #GenerationalCurses #SobrietyStories #RiseAbovePodcast #AlcoholRecovery #FaithAndSobriety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, courage, and breaking generational cycles. From surviving incest and abuse to reclaiming her identity and healing through EMDR therapy, Tin’s story will stay with you long after you finish watching. #RiseAbovePodcast #TraumaSurvivor #IncestSurvivor #ChildhoodAbuse #FamilySecrets #EMDRTherapy #MilitaryWomen #BreakingTheCycle #SurvivorStory #Resilience #MentalHealthAwareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 battle with addiction while teaching kids and coaching baseballThe death of his father and how unprocessed grief fueled his drinkingSleeping in restaurant booths and narrowly escaping DUI arrestsStarting over from zero and founding a protein snack company now in over 2,000 storesThe power of the 12-step program, journaling, and unwavering honestyThis is the story of how one man went from jail to Whole Foods—and built a purpose-driven life out of the wreckage of addiction.Check out Matt’s snack company:IG: @froprosnacks🎧 Like, subscribe, and leave a review to help spread stories of hope. #SobrietyJourney #AddictionRecovery #Entrepreneurship #ProgressSnacks #FromJailToSuccess #AA #Alcoholism #Inspiration #WellnessJourney #RiseAbovePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 relapsed and passed away Parenting twins alone while grieving Opening Guardian Recovery and dedicating her life to adolescent care Practical strategies for parents to prevent teen substance abuse The power of honesty, accountability, and community in recovery If you’re a parent, in recovery, or facing adversity, this story will inspire you to rise above and keep going — no matter what life throws your way. 📖 Keesha’s Book: On Perfect – Coming Soon! 📧 Join Kevin’s open recovery meetings: Kevin@RiseAbovePod.com #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #RiseAbovePodcast #TeenAddiction #ParentingTeens #Sobriety #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryCommunity #MentalHealthAwareness #SingleMomLife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 her raw, unfiltered story — from donating plasma to get high, to surviving brutal withdrawals, to finally getting clean and sober. Now, Brittany is one year sober and working in treatment, determined to break the cycle and inspire others to seek help.If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, there is hope. You can change your life.📌 Subscribe for more real stories of survival and redemption.📌 Share this video to help someone in need. #Fentanyl #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #HomelessToHope #OverdoseAwareness #AddictsInRecovery #AbuseSurvivor #FromAddictionToRecovery #RiseAbovePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 toll of addiction, his struggles with rehab, and how he turned pain into purpose through music. This episode is a must-watch for anyone struggling or supporting someone battling addiction. Don't miss Matt's powerful story of survival and transformation. #AddictionRecovery #FentanylAwareness #RockBottomToRedemption #OpioidCrisis #RecoveryJourney #SobrietyStory #FromAddictionToMusic #MentalHealthMatters #RecoveryWarrior #BreakingTheCycle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 adopting a child whose mother overdosed in a trailer surrounded by syringes. This is one of the most powerful redemption stories we’ve ever featured. #AddictionRecovery #SexualAbuseSurvivor #HeroinAddict #MethadoneWithdrawal #TraumaHealing #SoberDad #AdoptionStory #FentanylCrisis #RiseAbovePodcast #FaithInRecovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 helped his long-lost sister into recovery. This is a powerful story of redemption, family, and what it truly means to “Rise Above.” #addictionrecovery #sobrietyjourney #dui #alcoholism #realrecoverystory #recoverycommunity #mentalhealthawareness #riseabovepodcast #fromaddictiontorecovery #familyhealing #recoverywarrior #hopeandhealing #soberlife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dina grew up excelling in school and sports — but behind the scenes, she was spiraling. Expelled from multiple schools, battling attention-seeking behavior, and drawn to chaos, her life took a dark turn into opiate addiction. She lived a double life, fooling friends, family, and even herself — until her parents made the hardest decision of their lives: to cut her off and have her arrested.What followed was a brutal detox, a terrifying jail psychosis, and a spiritual awakening that changed everything. In this powerful conversation, Dina shares her full journey — from fentanyl addiction and manipulation to rebuilding trust, discovering God, and finding peace through fitness and family.If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, family betrayal, or finding purpose after rock bottom — this story is for you.#AddictionRecovery #SobrietyStory #FentanylCrisis #JailSavedMyLife #RiseAbovePodcast #MentalHealthMatters #FaithAndRecovery #OvercomingAddiction #WomensRecovery #OpioidAddiction #HealingJourney #FamilyRecovery #RehabToRedemption #RockBottomToRecovery #DrugAddictionHelp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach was addicted to porn for over a decade — a secret he hid while building a successful career and life overseas. His sex addiction escalated into dark, isolating patterns that he couldn’t escape — until he hit a breaking point. In this raw and revealing interview, Zach opens up about the childhood traumas, depression, and validation-seeking that fed his addiction.Now over 9 years sober, Zach is the founder of Open Recovery, an innovative app using AI to help people battling addiction get the support they need — anytime, anywhere. We dive deep into the psychology of sex addiction, the stigma that keeps people sick, and how Zach turned pain into purpose through recovery and tech.If you’ve struggled with any form of addiction — drugs, alcohol, porn, validation — this conversation will hit home.🧠 Open Recovery App: https://openrecovery.com📲 Download “Open Recovery: Addiction Help” on iOS & Android #PornAddiction #SexAddictionRecovery #ZachStory #OpenRecovery #AddictionHelp #RecoveryAI #RiseAbovePodcast #AddictionAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #RecoveryJourney #AIinRecovery #RelapsePrevention #PornRecovery #12StepRecovery #CBTtherapy #TraumaHealing #MenAndAddiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ricki Friedman was prescribed Adderall at just 7 years old. After losing her mom to cancer at 13, she battled decades of emotional pain, a secret marijuana addiction, and an identity built around medication. Despite creating a successful brand and coaching thousands through “Break the Weight,” Ricki was silently crumbling. In this raw and unfiltered interview, Ricki opens up about living a double life, her decision to quit weed and Adderall cold turkey, and how community, therapy, and purpose helped her rebuild everything. From founding the “Steps Forward” podcast to helping over 800 people walk away from weed, this is Ricki’s incredible journey of healing and truth. IG: iamrickifriedman Podcast: Steps Forward with Ricki 👉 Subscribe for more stories of recovery and transformation. #AddictionRecovery #AdderallAddiction #MentalHealthMatters #WeedAddiction #SobrietyJourney #WomensRecovery #TraumaHealing #StepsForward #RecoveryPodcast #BreakTheWeight #KevinLanning #RickiFriedman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sheila spent years as a top critical‑care nurse, running ICU floors and even traveling coast to coast as a contract RN. But after a brutal ankle injury and two surgeries, legitimate pain management morphed into a secret prescription racket. Sheila reveals how she ran a telehealth practice from her home, writing pain‑killer scripts for herself—and even family members—until the medical board caught her and stripped her license. In this raw, unfiltered interview, she walks us through the moment she crossed the line, the shame of hiding her addiction, and the faith that ultimately saved her. #AddictionRecovery #OpioidEpidemic #NurseConfession #RecoveryJourney #PrescriptionScandal #RiseAbovePodcast #OpenRecovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At just 9 years old, Eric watched a man strangle his mother with a phone cord—the same man who later became a convicted serial killer. That moment shaped his entire life. From martial arts champion to nightclub enforcer, to losing his wife to a terminal illness, and ending up homeless and suicidal—Eric’s story is raw, powerful, and ultimately redemptive.In this gripping episode, Eric opens up about addiction, grief, violence, and how faith and service helped him rebuild everything. Now 7 years sober, Eric works in recovery, speaks nationwide, and helps families heal.If you've ever felt hopeless, invisible, or like you couldn’t recover—watch this. You’re not alone. #addictionrecovery #childhoodtrauma #alcoholism #sobrietyjourney #recoveryispossible #mentalhealthawareness #homelessness #traumasurvivor #faithandrecovery #openrecovery #realrecoverytalk #aa #recoverywarrior #riseabovepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At just 19 years old, Andrew’s life imploded after selling weed to an undercover cop and spending 30 days in jail. What followed was a six-year spiral into OxyContin, heroin, and IV drug use that nearly killed him—literally. On Christmas Eve, after a near-fatal overdose, his life changed forever.In this raw and inspiring episode, Andrew opens up about:Growing up in Jersey and the trauma of divorceHow college freedom led to experimenting with every drug imaginableHis arrest, addiction, and overdoseGetting clean in a halfway house with nothing but two suitcasesWorking at a pizza shop with 3 feloniesRebuilding his life, starting a business, and becoming a fatherHow fitness, community, and spirituality keep him grounded 14 years laterThis is one of the most powerful transformation stories we've ever heard on Rise Above. #addictionrecovery #heroinaddict #sobrietyjourney #recoveryispossible #drugaddiction #mentalhealthawareness #cleanandsober #soberlife #fromaddictiontorecovery #faithoverfear #overdoseawareness #rebuildyourlife #oxycodone #halfwayhouse #recoverycommunity #spiritualgrowth #soberliving #addictionstories #riseabovepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices