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.”

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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Maddee was prescribed 300 oxycodone 30s a month after a minor injury. What followed was years of addiction, jail time for marijuana DUIs, a suicide attempt, and being told she had 8 years of prison hanging over her head. But when rock bottom came, she made a decision that would change her life forever.Now 10 years clean, Maddee shares how jail saved her life, how journaling and prayer helped her stay off opiates, and what it means to live in God’s will. She opens up about her childhood trauma, being prescribed drugs by a corrupt doctor, and the moment she chose to live — not just for herself, but for those who didn’t make it out.

#AddictionRecovery #OxyContinCrisis #FaithInSobriety #PrisonSavedMe #RedemptionStory #DrugCourt #OvercomingAddiction #WomenInRecovery #SuicideSurvivor #MentalHealthAwareness #JailToFreedom #RiseAbovePodcast #OpenRecovery #SoberLife #TraumaHealing #GodsPlan #MiracleStory

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At 25, Michael Barschi was crippled by anxiety, drowning in addiction, and secretly planning to end it all. Today, he's 22 years sober, a father of three, and one of the most respected therapists in the recovery space.In this powerful episode, I sit down with the man who helped me through my first year of sobriety—my former social worker, Michael Barschi. We talk about his darkest moments: the shame of dropping out of law school, suicidal depression, and the painful journey through early recovery.He opens up about the moment that changed everything, how therapy saved his life, and why relapse doesn’t always mean failure. Michael also shares the truth about maintaining sobriety, building a life after addiction, and why there's no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery.Whether you're newly sober, struggling with mental health, or just searching for hope—this episode will leave you inspired.🔗 Michael’s Website: https://michaelbarschi.com📲 Sponsored by OpenRecovery – Download the app for 24/7 support in your sobriety journey.

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Kat Sorensen (@socalkattt) drank for the first time at age 7, blacked out by 13, and was married and cheating by her early 20s — all while hiding her addiction behind a successful career. But when her double life nearly cost her everything, she surrendered to recovery and found purpose in helping others.Now, 9.5 years sober, Kat shares how she went from suicidal thoughts and secret drug use to launching a global sober community, building multiple businesses, and living a life rooted in faith and service.This is one of the most unfiltered and powerful stories we’ve ever told.🚨 Listen to the full episode and hear:Her first blackout at 13The secret she kept from her husbandHow she married a stranger in AA after 21 daysGetting clean without rehabStarting a FREE global sobriety platformAnd how cold plunges, structure, and service keep her grounded todayConnect with Kat:Instagram: @socalkatttHer free sobriety platform: https://changetochange.circle.soSponsored by OpenRecovery – the anonymous addiction help app with 24/7 support.

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