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Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Written by: Kevin Lanning
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 Welcome to Rise Above with Kevin Lanning. Join Kevin, a former Google executive in sobriety, as he shares inspiring stories of resilience. Each episode features individuals who have faced life’s toughest challenges—addiction, trauma, anxiety, and more—and emerged stronger. These conversations aren’t just about survival; they’re about thriving and finding practical solutions to rise above adversity. Kevin’s own journey through addiction and childhood trauma fuels his passion for sharing stories that uplift, educate, and inspire. Tune in and discover the strength within you.Copyright 2024 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • I Fought in the UFC on LSD | Cartel Arrest, Ayahuasca in Peru & Getting Sober

    I Fought in the UFC on LSD | Cartel Arrest, Ayahuasca in Peru & Getting Sober
    Feb 20 2026
    Sponsored by Cozy Earth — elevate your everyday with premium bedding designed for deeper rest and calmer nights. Use code RISEABOVE for up to 20% off at cozyearth.com. Blake Bilder went from a small-town kid in Minnesota to signing with the UFC… but behind the fights was chaos no one saw. Blackout drinking. Adderall and cocaine. Microdosing mushrooms every day. Taking LSD before a UFC fight. Smuggling 81 pounds of weed. Arrested before his debut. Facing federal charges. His brother’s suicide. Ayahuasca ceremonies deep in the Amazon jungle. At the height of his career, Blake was spiraling. In this raw interview, Blake opens up about nearly ending his life, relapsing in sobriety, cartel involvement, fighting on psychedelics, prison time, and the moment he finally surrendered and asked for help. This is a story about ego, faith, shame, redemption, and what it really costs to chase greatness. If you’re struggling with addiction, depression, or suicidal thoughts — you are not alone. Watch until the end. #RiseAbove #UFC #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #BlakeBilder #RiseAbove #Psychedelics #AyahuascaExperience #MMAFighter #FromAddictionToRecovery #SuicideAwareness #RecoveryIsPossible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • A Heroin Addict’s Brutal Double Life | 18 Arrests, Federal Prison & a Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Ring

    A Heroin Addict’s Brutal Double Life | 18 Arrests, Federal Prison & a Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Ring
    Feb 17 2026
    Sponsored by Cozy Earth — elevate your everyday with premium bedding designed for deeper rest and calmer nights. Use code RISEABOVE for up to 20% off at cozyearth.com. Evan grew up in a good Italian family on Long Island. Loving parents. Sunday dinners. Sports. No trauma to blame. By 12, he was smoking weed. By high school, he was selling cocaine. By his early 20s, he was running mortgage fraud in Florida. After his father tragically took his own life, Evan spiraled deeper into addiction — first pills, then heroin, then meth. In California, he built a sophisticated mail theft and credit card fraud operation, stealing checks directly from post office boxes, washing them with chemicals, and cashing out thousands of dollars a day. He was arrested 18 times. When the feds finally caught him, he was facing serious prison time. Behind bars during COVID lockdown, locked in a cell for months, starving and isolated, Evan made a decision that would change his life forever. Today, he’s sober, rebuilding his relationship with his children, and running operations at one of the fastest-growing supplement companies in the country. This is a story about greed, addiction, federal prison, and what happens when you finally stop running. If you’re struggling — don’t give up. #FederalPrison #FraudStory #AddictionRecovery #HeroinAddict #RedemptionStory #TrueCrimeStory #RiseAbove #SoberLife #PrisonStory #FromPrisonToPurpose #RecoveryJourney #ExConSuccess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 10 mins
  • Addiction Sent Me to Federal Prison | Drug Trafficking, Sobriety & Managing Surf Legend Andy Irons

    Addiction Sent Me to Federal Prison | Drug Trafficking, Sobriety & Managing Surf Legend Andy Irons
    Feb 15 2026
    Steven Clark was living two lives. From delivering cocaine between California and Hawaii and serving over five years in federal prison… to managing some of the biggest names in professional surfing — including world champions during the height of the Andy Irons and Kelly Slater era. On paper, he had it all. Global travel. Elite athletes. Money. Status. Behind the scenes? Alcohol. Drugs. Ego. Emptiness. At 50 years old, sitting at a high-profile event surrounded by celebrities and legends, Steven realized he had never felt more alone. That night he asked God for help. The next day, a childhood friend showed up and took him to his first AA meeting. He hasn’t had a drink since. In this episode of Rise Above, we talk about: • Federal prison and mandatory minimums • Surf industry fame and managing world champions • High-functioning addiction in elite environments • Andy Irons’ impact on him personally • The moment of clarity that changed everything • 90 meetings in 90 days • Making amends • Life on life’s terms • Finding real fulfillment in sobriety This is a story about ego, consequences, humility, and spiritual transformation. If you're struggling, know this: You don’t have to feel that way again. #AddictionRecovery #FederalPrison #SurfCulture #AARecovery #RiseAbovePodcast #SobrietyJourney #KellySlater #AndyIrons #CocaineTrafficking #HighFunctioningAddict Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
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