In this deeply emotional episode, Heidi shares the story she’s never fully told—growing up in an ultra-strict宗 Lutheran community comparable to Amish rules, where makeup, music, and even friendships outside the church were forbidden.

After being married at 18 and becoming a mother of six, her life spiraled into emotional abuse, fear, and eventually alcoholism. But nothing prepared her for the darkest chapter: watching her teenage daughter fall into heroin addiction, spiraling into the streets, jail, and repeated overdoses.

At just 18 years old, Heidi’s daughter tragically passed away from fentanyl.

Heidi opens up about:

If you are a parent of a child struggling with addiction, or you’re battling addiction yourself, this episode is for you. Heidi’s story shows that even through the darkest pain, there is still hope.

🙏 If this episode impacts you, please subscribe and share to help someone who needs it.

#AddictionStory #FentanylCrisis #Motherhood #RecoveryJourney #RiseAbovePodcast #Sobriety #OverdoseAwareness #TraumaHealing #AddictionRecovery #SurvivorStory

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Russell’s story is one of the darkest descents ever shared on Rise Above — and one of the most inspiring comebacks.After years trapped in chronic pain, opiate prescriptions, crippling anxiety, and undiagnosed Bipolar II, Russell’s world fell apart:• his marriage crumbled• his career collapsed• his father was dying• he couldn’t sleep for months• he spiraled into heavy drinking + painkillers• and eventually… he planned his own suicideWhat followed is shocking:Russell was admitted twice to a psychiatric hospital, diagnosed bipolar, and eventually underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — the same “shock therapy” most people fear.But instead of ending his life…He rebuilt it from scratch.Today Russell is sober, mentally stable, and runs a successful pressure-washing business with his two sons — the very people he almost left behind.This interview is raw, emotional, and brutally honest. If you’re struggling with addiction, depression, anxiety, or feel like you’re at the end… Russell’s story will show you that there is ALWAYS a way out.🙏 If you need recovery support:Email me to join our weekly Rise Above Recovery Meeting📧 [email protected]👇 Drop a comment if Russell’s honesty helped you today.#RiseAbove#AddictionRecovery#MentalHealthMatters#BipolarDisorder

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In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Ryan shares one of the most shocking alcoholism survival stories we’ve ever heard on this show.

From growing up depressed and anxious in Seattle… to binge drinking through college frat life… to running a business while hiding a cocaine addiction… Ryan’s battle with alcoholism escalated until he was drinking 12–20 drinks a day, suffering seizures, and hitting a 0.40 BAC during a police wellness check.

But the moment that nearly killed him — and ultimately saved him — was when he collapsed down a flight of concrete stairs, woke up with his teeth knocked out, his face unrecognizable, and a corneal infection so severe doctors considered removing his eye.

On top of this, Ryan opens up about the devastating loss of his sister to a fentanyl overdose, the trauma he carried since childhood, and the lies he told himself for years.

Today, Ryan is over a year sober, rebuilding his life, helping others, and sharing the tools that finally kept him sober after countless attempts.

This is one of the most raw, honest, and emotionally powerful episodes yet.

If this story helps you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT below. Your support pushes this message of hope further.

#alcoholism #soberstory #addictionrecovery #riseabovepodcast #rockbottom #soberlife #fentanylepidemic #traumahealing #alcoholaddiction #sobrietyjourney

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Allen Lund’s story is one of the wildest and most heartbreaking transformation journeys ever shared on Rise Above.

Born into chaos in Broward County, Allen grew up around addiction, violence, poverty, and dysfunction. By middle school he was on Xanax, smoking weed just to face the day, and eventually spiraled into a full-blown opioid and crack addiction that led to living two years under a bridge, watching people die around him, and surviving multiple fentanyl overdoses — including one where he woke up 6 hours later and should’ve been dead.

After jail time, relapses, homelessness, and countless failed attempts to detox, Allen clawed his way into recovery. Today he’s coming up on one year sober, a devoted father, a partner, and a man with purpose.

This episode is raw, graphic, emotional, and brutally honest — but it proves one thing:

No matter how far you fall… you can rise again.

#AddictionRecovery #FentanylCrisis #RiseAbovePodcast #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryStory #DrugAddiction #HomelessToHope #OverdoseSurvivor #RehabStories #SoberLife

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Allen’s story is one of the most shocking transformations ever shared on Rise Above. Born into chaos, raised in violence, and surviving a childhood surrounded by abuse, Allen was forced to grow up fast. He joined the Gangster Disciples, earned his stripes through a drive-by shooting, and later became a U.S. Army interrogator deployed across Afghanistan and Africa.

After five combat deployments, PTSD, a failing marriage, and a life filled with secrets, everything spiraled. Cocaine. Fake Percs. Fentanyl. Losing jobs. Losing hope. Losing himself. And when CPS took his kids — everything changed.

Today, Allen is 15 months sober and rebuilding his life with purpose, faith, and service. His journey shows that no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can rise above.If you or someone you love is struggling… this episode could save a life.

Join our Rise Above Recovery Meeting (Mondays at 8 PM EST):Email [email protected] for the link.

Patreon members get early access + exclusive live interviews:Patreon.com/RiseAbovePod

#riseabovepodcast #fentanyl #addictionrecovery #gangsterdisciples #armyinterrogator #ptsd #sobrietyjourney #drugaddiction #traumasurvivor #kevinalanning

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Jessica Hoff’s story is one of the most powerful transformations ever shared on Rise Above.

Her life completely unraveled—addiction, a failing marriage, losing custody, and waking up in rehab with no memory of getting there.

But nothing compares to the day she flew home to make amends… and found her father dead on the floor.

What happened next changed her life forever.

In this raw, emotional, and deeply spiritual interview, Jessica reveals:

Her first blackout that launched a decade of chaos

How cancer, pain pills, Xanax, and coke took over her life

The brutal detox she barely survived

The divine intervention that got her into treatment

Finding her dad dead—and the God moment that kept her sober

Rebuilding her life, motherhood, spiritual connection & purpose

Her work as a healer helping others through sound, energy, and meditation

Jessica is now over 7 years sober, a mother, healer, and walking example of what recovery can look like when you surrender and do the work.

👉 If this episode moved you, please subscribe, comment, and share. Your support helps us change lives.

#RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #TraumaHealing #Alcoholism #RecoveryCommunity #AddictionStories #SoberLife #MentalHealthAwareness #CocaineAddiction #OpiateAddiction #XanaxAddiction #AAProgram #SpiritualAwakening #HealingJourney

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Alex’s story is the definition of Rise Above.

Raised just outside of D.C., Alex had a solid upbringing—until a life-shattering trauma at age 9 changed everything. Losing his father to addiction left a hole he didn’t know how to fill… and by 11 years old, he found the first thing that made him feel “connected”: getting high. What started as weed quickly turned into a full-blown lifestyle—dropping out of school, running the streets, dealing drugs, chasing status, and doing whatever it took to feel okay.

By his late teens, Alex was deep into cocaine, then crack. Florida became a new playground, but the addiction followed—fast. The party life turned into homelessness, violence, felony charges, and multiple prison stints. At one point he had five felonies, lost every opportunity in front of him, and spiraled into the darkest place imaginable.

But in the middle of prison—while getting high on rat poison and living in survival mode—one brutal moment of truth from a cellmate cracked the armor. That day became the turning point that led Alex to complete surrender, recovery, and a new life built on faith, service, and accountability.

Today, Alex is coming up on four years sober, living with peace he never thought was possible, and dedicating his life to helping others find a way out.

If you’re struggling, feel stuck, or think you’re too far gone… this one’s for you.

Rise Above Recovery Meetings: Every Monday night. Open meeting for anyone struggling with addiction, alcohol, gambling, food, etc.

If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share—your support helps us spread hope to the next person.

#RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #RecoveryStory #CrackAddiction #CocaineAddiction #PrisonToPurpose #FelonToFreedom #FaithAndRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #SecondChances #RecoveryIsPossible #FloridaRecovery #DelrayBeach #12StepRecovery #HopeDealer #LifeAfterAddiction #TraumaRecovery #SoberLife #Inspiration

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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, and why rituals and slowing down are essential to healing. She unpacks everything from self-medication, addictive behaviors, people-pleasing, anger, boundaries, relationships, and the myth of “reinventing yourself.”

If you’ve ever struggled with trauma, mood swings, anxiety, addiction, overwhelm, or feeling “not enough,” this conversation will change your life.

Dr. Vermani’s work has helped thousands—and today, she shares her tools with you.

📘 Her Book: A Deeper Wellness: Conquering Stress, Mood, Anxiety & Trauma

🧠 Follow Dr. Vermani:

🆘 Every Monday Night: Rise Above Recovery Meeting

💙 If this interview helped you, please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to support the mission.

#TraumaHealing #AnxietyRelief #MentalHealthMatters #StressManagement #PsychologyTalk #RiseAbovePodcast #AddictionRecovery #EmotionalHealing #TherapyTools #MindfulnessDaily #InnerPeaceJourney #DrMonicaVermani #ThoughtWork #HealingTrauma #CopingSkills #SobrietyTools #SelfImprovementDaily

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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 unraveled behind the scenes.

His addiction spiraled so far out of control that he overdosed in an airplane bathroom mid-flight, forcing an emergency medical response the moment the plane landed. Yet even that wasn’t enough to stop him—at least, not yet.

Michael opens up about:

Growing up as a star athlete in Georgia

Getting hooked on Xanax at 14

The first overdose that should’ve killed him

Running from warrants, debt, and guilt

Living in Nicaragua while importing fentanyl pills

The overdose on the airplane that changed everything

Detoxing from fentanyl and Xanax for 31 brutal days

The spiritual experience that finally broke the cycle

Finding real sobriety in Charleston

Making amends, rebuilding his life, and choosing God

His journey is a powerful reminder that it truly gets worse—until you decide it doesn’t have to.

If Michael’s story inspired you, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to help us spread hope.

#Fentanyl #AddictionRecovery #SoberLiving #RiseAbove #DrugAddiction #FentanylCrisis #RecoveryJourney #Sobriety #AddictToAthlete #OverdoseSurvivor #XanaxAddiction #DrugRehab #RecoveryCommunity #FaithAndRecovery #Inspiration #NeverGiveUp #YouAreNotAlone

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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 community and self-honesty brought her back from the brink. Her story is a beacon for anyone struggling with relapse, loneliness, or the pressure to be “okay.”

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