Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

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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

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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

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Landon Finn had everything going for him.
Good grades. Fraternity president. Bright future.

But behind closed doors he was drinking at 7AM, tripping on LSD four times a week, blacking out in a Bugs Bunny costume, and hearing voices that weren’t there.

He lied to his parents.
He lied to his sponsor.
He lied to himself.

After passing out behind the wheel and landing in acute kidney failure at 21 years old, doctors told him if he showed up a few hours later… he wouldn’t be here.

This is the raw story of alcoholism, psychosis, relapse, overdose loss, humility, and rebuilding a life from rock bottom.

Three years sober.
University of Colorado recovery center leader.
Working to open treatment centers and change the system.

This is what choosing life looks like.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, this episode could save a life.

#AddictionRecovery #Alcoholism #SobrietyJourney #RockBottom #MentalHealth #LSDTrip #Psychosis #YoungAndSober #RecoveryIsPossible #RiseAbove

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From Hollywood stardom to rock bottom—and everything in between.

In this raw and emotional conversation, Lillo Brancato opens up like never before about his rise to fame in A Bronx Tale, early success alongside legends like Robert De Niro, and how addiction quietly took over his life.

Lillo shares the brutal reality of heroin addiction, overdosing while incarcerated at Rikers Island, surviving prison, and taking full accountability for his past. With nearly 20 years sober, he reflects on guilt, responsibility, faith, prison life, and what it truly means to make living amends.

This is not a story of excuses—this is a story of ownership, consequences, and redemption.

If you or someone you love struggles with addiction, this episode offers hope, honesty, and a reminder that change is possible—even after the darkest chapters.

#LilloBrancato #ABronxTale #AddictionRecovery #HeroinAddiction #PrisonToPurpose #SobrietyJourney #LivingAmends #RikersIsland #RedemptionStory #RiseAbove

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Dr. Cali Estes returns for a raw continuation of her first appearance on Rise Above — this time diving even deeper into the realities of addiction, trauma, detox, and what’s broken in the recovery system.

In this episode, we unpack why addiction is often mislabeled as the problem, how trauma and body chemistry drive destructive behavior, and why many traditional treatment models fail to address the root causes of addiction.

Dr. Estes draws from decades on the front lines — working with addicts, families, executives, and high-profile clients — to expose the uncomfortable truths about detox, misdiagnosis, narcissism, medication, relapse, and healing from the inside out.

This is not a motivational talk.
It’s an honest conversation about addiction, recovery, and the systems meant to help — but often don’t.

📺 Watch her first interview here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFxArXAs0aM

#AddictionRecovery #DrCaliEstes #MentalHealth #RecoveryJourney #AddictionTruth #SobrietyTalk #HealingTrauma #TherapyThatWorks #RehabTruth #MindBodyHealing #AddictionPodcast #RecoveryPodcast
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