Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Neva Coleman shares her raw and deeply honest journey through high-functioning alcoholism, trauma, perfectionism, and getting sober at a young age — long before her life “looked” like it was falling apart. In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Neva opens up about growing up in New Jersey, losing her father in the 9/11 attacks, excelling academically and socially, and how alcohol slowly became her coping mechanism. What started as “normal college drinking” at Tulane University escalated into blackouts, extreme anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and a terrifying 3-day Mardi Gras bender that led her to call the suicide hotline. Despite near-death moments, being roofied, severe withdrawals, and repeated attempts to moderate, Neva continued drinking — a reality many people in active addiction know all too well. This conversation dives into the truth about alcohol use disorder, why “high-functioning” doesn’t mean healthy, and how denial can keep someone stuck for years. Neva also talks candidly about: Getting sober in her early 20s Why she didn’t identify as an alcoholic at first Trying moderation and why it failed Anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing The loneliness of early sobriety Finding community through AA and therapy Healing her relationship with her mother Using social media to break stigma and help others This episode is for anyone who: Thinks their drinking isn’t “bad enough” Is successful on the outside but struggling inside Is afraid sobriety means life will be boring Is sober-curious, newly sober, or struggling in silence If this conversation resonates with you, you are not alone — and help is available. Neva's Tiktok & IG: soberpartygirlll 🎧 New episodes of Rise Above every week. 📩 If this episode helped you, consider sharing it with someone who needs it. #RiseAbovePodcast #SobrietyJourney #HighFunctioningAlcoholic #AlcoholismRecovery #YoungSobriety #MentalHealthAwareness #AddictionRecovery #AARecovery #WomenInRecovery #SoberLife #SoberCommunity #RecoveryIsPossible #AlcoholUseDisorder #TraumaHealing #AnxietyRecovery #LifeAfterAlcohol #SoberCurious #BreakingTheStigma #HealingJourney #OneDayAtATime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this raw and deeply emotional episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Caylene shares the full truth of her battle with alcoholism — a battle that nearly cost her life. What began as “normal” wine drinking slowly escalated into daily dependence, hiding alcohol around her home, drinking before work, and waking up shaking until her first sip. During COVID, her addiction spiraled until her family staged an intervention that saved her life. Soon after, doctors diagnosed Caylene with end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis. She experienced severe alcohol withdrawal, hallucinations, massive fluid buildup that made her look pregnant for over a year, repeated hospitalizations, invasive medical procedures, and was placed on the liver transplant list. Over the course of two years sober, Caylene endured: Liver failure and cirrhosis Weekly and twice-weekly fluid drainage procedures Withdrawal without rehab Life-threatening hospitalizations Emergency surgery removing part of her intestines A TIPS procedure that ultimately saved her life Today, Caylene is over two years sober, medically stable, and using her story to help others who feel trapped in addiction. This episode is a reminder that alcoholism doesn’t always look chaotic — until it suddenly is. And that it’s never too late to ask for help. If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode may save a life. #RiseAbove #AlcoholismRecovery #LiverFailure #CirrhosisRecovery #SobrietyJourney #AddictionRecovery #AlcoholAwareness #RecoveryIsPossible #EndStageLiverDisease #SoberLife #HealingStories #MentalHealthMatters #WomensRecovery #OneDayAtATime #HopeAfterAddiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony had everything on the outside — money, sales success, status, and opportunity — but inside he was spiraling fast. In this episode of Rise Above, Tony opens up about his descent into gambling addiction, Adderall abuse, cocaine use, and a terrifying 5-day stimulant binge that nearly cost him his life. What began as discipline and ambition turned into obsession, hallucinations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. Tony shares: How gambling became his first addiction at just 16 Making over $100,000 playing poker and losing it all How Adderall fueled sales success — then completely rewired his brain Snorting prescription stimulants just to feel normal A 5-day binge that led to hallucinations, psychosis, and thoughts of jumping Losing trust, money, relationships, and self-identity Why quitting Adderall was harder than quitting drugs How faith, discipline, and small daily wins rebuilt his life Finding peace, purpose, and sobriety after surrendering everything Today, Tony is over a year and a half sober, a present husband and father, financially stable, debt-free, grounded in faith, and finally at peace. This is a raw conversation about addiction that doesn’t get talked about enough — prescription drugs, performance addiction, and the dangerous lie of “success at any cost.” If you’re struggling, questioning your choices, or feeling trapped in a cycle you can’t escape — this episode is for you. #RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #AdderallAddiction #GamblingAddiction #PrescriptionDrugAbuse #RecoveryJourney #FaithAndRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #FromAddictionToRecovery #SoberLife #SpiritualAwakening #RedemptionStory #RecoveryIsPossible #ChristianTestimony #LifeAfterAddiction #BreakingAddiction #SalesBurnout #HighFunctioningAddict Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millicent Huser is a conscious leadership practitioner, trauma-informed mentor, and recovery professional with over 22 years of sobriety and more than two decades working in mental health, addiction treatment, and organizational leadership. In this episode of Rise Above, Millicent explains why putting down alcohol was only the beginning of her journey. Years into sobriety, unresolved trauma, insecurity, and emotional patterns resurfaced — forcing her to confront the deeper inner work required to stay sober, grounded, and fulfilled long-term. Millicent shares how her work today focuses on emotional sobriety, trauma healing, habit transformation, and conscious leadership, helping individuals and organizations create environments where people can grow without burnout, shame, or control. Drawing from her experience working with treatment centers, executive teams, and leaders, she breaks down how workplace culture, identity, and unhealed wounds can quietly undermine recovery — even decades later. This conversation goes beyond addiction and speaks to anyone who has done “the right things” but still feels lost, disconnected, or unfulfilled. Millicent’s upcoming book, Answering the Call, offers a blueprint for conscious leadership and living with purpose — in recovery, work, and life. #RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #22YearsSober #RecoveryJourney #SecondAwakening #EmotionalSobriety #ConsciousLeadership #HealingTrauma #PurposeDrivenLife #MentalHealth #SpiritualGrowth #PersonalTransformation #RecoveryIsPossible #BreakingCycles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning is one of the most intense, raw, and powerful stories we’ve ever shared. Jana began using painkillers at 14 years old, progressed to shooting heroin daily, and by 18 was homeless, blacklisted by drug dealers, and clinically dead after an overdose so severe she left her body. In this interview, Jana shares: Growing up in chaos and trauma Dating dangerous drug dealers as a teenager Shooting heroin, meth, and crack A near-death experience where she watched herself turn blue Being told she had to return to her body Surviving homelessness, addiction, and overwhelming survivor’s guilt Getting sober at 19 years old Using methadone and Suboxone when few believed in medication-assisted recovery Rebuilding her nervous system, faith, and identity Losing her younger brother to suicide And building a life today filled with purpose, discipline, love, and freedom Jana now has 14 years sober and lives a life rooted in honesty, movement, faith, and service. This is not just a story about addiction— It’s a story about why people use, how trauma lives in the body, and what it really takes to stay sober. If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode could save a life. #RiseAbove #HeroinAddiction #RecoveryStory #AddictionRecovery #NearDeathExperience #SobrietyJourney #OpiateEpidemic #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #MethadoneRecovery #SuboxoneRecovery #HomelessToHope #SoberLife #HealingJourney #SecondChances Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices