Rebel With A Cause - Keri

From Airborne Ranger to Author: Jim’s Rock Bottom, Rehab, and Recovery | Rock Bottom with RyanOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, Jim shares how his identity was shaped by being the oldest of five, chasing productivity, titles, and his father’s approval, and serving five years in the Army. After a surprise divorce before 30, he began drinking alone to numb shame and resentment. Years later, after remarrying and enjoying “stable” drinking, becoming a stay-at-home dad on an eight-acre rescue-animal ranch triggered deeper vodka-fueled secrecy and daily drinking. A confrontation with his wife—realizing he couldn’t remember what he said the night before—led him to seek help and complete 35 days in rehab in North Georgia. Jim explains how surrender became letting go of what he can’t control, how spirituality grounds his recovery, and how sobriety enabled him to write and publish his historical thriller Endless Horizon, centered on connection, belonging, and resilience.00:00 Stable Drinking Years00:35 Rehab Reality Check01:34 Show Intro and Book Plug02:52 Meet Jim and Sobriety Dates04:28 Childhood and Identity05:47 Army Years and Approval10:00 Divorce Sparks Drinking14:01 Stay at Home Dad Spiral17:38 Caught and Choosing Rehab19:08 Learning Surrender23:59 Rehab Lessons and Commitment26:22 Defining Recovery Success27:46 New Purpose After Rehab30:05 Spirituality and Higher Power33:24 Origin of Endless Horizon36:59 Connection Themes and Family Impact40:36 Rejection Valleys and Staying Sober44:14 Why Historical Fiction Matters46:36 What Writing Replaced in Drinking50:23 Advice to Past Self and Others53:09 Rock Bottom and Closing Links

Why You Never Got to Be a Kid: Parentification, ACA, and Healing | Rock Bottom with Ryan ft. Lauren DennellyIn this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, therapist, professor, and author Lauren Dennelly discusses parentification and how growing up with alcoholism or other dysfunction can force children into adult roles. She shares her emotional recovery date of September 4, 2022, when she found ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) and explains emotional vs. logistical parentification, including how it differs from normal helping when responsibilities are expected, unacknowledged, and enforced with guilt. Lauren describes secrecy, high achievement, disordered eating, and later relationship patterns like over-functioning, people pleasing, control, and difficulty setting boundaries or identifying personal needs. She talks about grieving a lost childhood, learning to play, the “emotional sandwich generation,” coping through substances, tolerating distress, and integrating the past. Lauren also explains how her Psychology Today writing led to her book, Why You Never Got to Be a Kid, and what she hopes readers gain.00:00 Parentification Defined01:18 Show Intro And Sponsor02:12 Meet Lauren Donnelly02:55 ACA Recovery Journey04:08 From Parentified Kid To Therapist06:09 Masking And High Achievement07:24 Career Path And Burnout09:17 College Drinking And Eating Issues10:02 Therapy Seeds And ACA Breakthrough11:45 How Common Parentification Is13:15 What Parentification Looks Like14:14 Helping Vs Being Parentified15:25 Love Parents And Hold Anger16:15 Stop Minimizing Your Trauma17:00 Unintentional Emotional Caretaking17:52 Adult Relationships And Codependence19:38 Boundaries And Asking For Help21:03 Losing Touch With Your Needs21:38 Addicted To Being Needed22:06 Grieving The Childhood You Missed24:03 Kids Tell the Truth24:50 Emotional Sandwich Generation26:06 Caring Without Old Roles27:00 Parentification and Addiction28:28 Writing the Healing Book30:26 Reparenting and Boundaries33:03 Forgiveness and Progress35:53 Feeling Less Alone38:01 Learning to Play Again38:46 Grief and Integration41:03 Excerpt on Self Talk43:24 Where to Find Lauren44:36 Final Message of Hope

Luke’s Recovery Story: Benzo Addiction, Rehab, and Building Substance Awareness at the University of Miami | Rock Bottom with RyanIn this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan interviews Luke, who shares his journey from early substance experimentation in high school—including fake Xanax “school buses,” ketamine, and alcohol—through escalating addiction fueled by anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Luke recounts wilderness therapy at 13, struggles at private school, opioid misuse after a hernia surgery, and repeated detox attempts before college. At the University of Miami, he hit multiple rock bottoms, including passing out from polysubstance use and a major intervention that led him to enter Banyan rehab in Stuart, Florida on October 1, 2022, followed by a longer, structured program in Utah and sober living in Louisville, Colorado. He discusses addressing a childhood skull fracture, rebuilding relationships, returning to Miami with support and testing, founding the Substance Awareness club, hosting Darren Waller as a speaker, raising $5,000 for treatment access, and working for non-alcoholic beverage company Verse while maintaining sobriety one day at a time.00:00 Fake Xanax Spiral01:07 Finding Purpose After Rehab01:28 Show Intro Sponsor02:29 Meet Luke Basics04:24 Early Life Anxiety05:36 Wilderness And Boarding07:42 ADHD And Perfectionism10:58 Chasing Adrenaline12:56 Hydrocodone Hook16:45 College Rock Bottoms20:53 Intervention To Rehab24:09 Utah Recovery Work28:53 Childhood Head Injury31:39 Family Ring of Fire33:36 Aftercare and Sober Living37:28 Returning to Miami Sober39:44 Building Substance Awareness42:06 Big Events and Fundraising44:56 Career Shift to Verse51:09 Tools for Staying Sober55:26 Advice and Rock Bottom58:07 One Day at a Time59:46 Final Thanks and Wrap

From Rock Bottom to Healing Out Loud: Hayley on Sobriety, Self-Worth & The Hot Girl’s Healing GuideIn this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Hayley from England shares her sobriety date (December 8, 2019) and her history with alcohol, partying, and mixing drinking with opioids, describing escalating consequences including blackouts, public incidents, and a breaking point after driving hungover to an appointment. She discusses how relationship pain, low self-esteem, trauma, and a sex addiction fueled her coping behaviors, and how early sobriety during the COVID pandemic included a breakup, homelessness, therapy, relapses, suicidal feelings, and a turning-point prayer that led to improvement. Hayley explains “healing loudly,” changing her circle, building self-love, recognizing trauma bonding, and taking accountability. She also talks about writing her Amazon Top 30 self-help book The Hot Girl’s Healing Guide, its memoir/self-help structure, including a rape story, and her plans for a fiction thriller/horror follow-up.00:00 Feeling Seen and Heard00:35 Rock Bottom Moment01:56 Podcast Intro and Sponsor02:56 Meet Hayley and Sober Date04:08 Growing Up in the UK06:34 Party Culture Takes Over09:04 Depression and Anxiety Cycle10:37 Mixing Alcohol and Pills13:49 Birthday Hangover Wake Up Call15:12 Cold Turkey and Losing Friends16:56 Early Sobriety During COVID18:41 Therapy and Hidden Addictions21:33 Spiritual Turning Point22:44 Sober For Good23:40 Stop Seeking Validation25:07 Healing Out Loud25:57 Chemistry Vs Trauma Bonds27:37 Why We Return To Pain28:36 Writing The Healing Guide29:56 Most Vulnerable Pages31:42 What Readers Should Feel32:22 Memoir Manual Love Letter33:06 Amazon Top 30 Moment34:05 Next Book New Genre34:43 Writing As Recovery35:48 Grateful For The Real Me37:23 Healing Is Not Linear38:27 Accountability And Owning It40:10 Message To Broken Women41:18 Invest In Yourself42:06 Where To Find The Book42:57 Final Thanks And Sign Off

From Trauma and Oxy Addiction to Faith-Fueled Recovery | Keri’s Story (Rock Bottom with Ryan)In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest Keri from San Diego shares her sobriety date (February 24, 2024) and history with alcohol (especially tequila), marijuana, pills, cocaine, and OxyContin. She describes early trauma, including her father leaving, childhood sexual abuse, later sexual assaults, and how substance use began in middle school while she excelled as a dancer and scholarship soccer player. Despite academic and career success, her addiction escalated, including daily OxyContin use for eight months and severe withdrawals. Her rock bottom came amid divorce, her mother’s death, serious health issues, and a mental health crisis leading to hospitalization and dual-diagnosis treatment. Keri credits working a recovery program, sponsorship, meetings, and faith in God with saving her life, rebuilding stability, and reclaiming herself and her purpose to help others as a therapist.00:00 From Soccer to Pills01:08 Recovery Teaser and Show Intro02:01 Sponsor Message02:34 Meet Carrie and Sober Date03:44 Childhood Wounds and Family05:38 Trauma and Early Substance Use07:53 High School Parties and Scholarship11:49 Florida Friends and New Drugs16:08 Oxycontin Hook and Escalation19:18 Rock Bottom Mental Health Crisis22:32 Treatment And Program24:12 Faith Saves My Life27:31 Surrender And Miracles30:23 Truth Telling Identity32:57 Codependency And Peace36:57 Advice For Getting Sober43:00 Quotes And Future Plans46:22 Find Me And Final Words

From Prison to Purpose: Kelvin’s 17-Year Recovery Journey & the Power of Sound Healing | Rock Bottom with RyanIn this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan talks with Kelvin, who shares his sobriety date (March 6, 2009) and journey from early drinking in Connecticut to escalating use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs, leading to repeated arrests, DUIs, probation, and prison. Kelvin describes childhood insecurity, anxiety, and unaddressed trauma, and how alcohol temporarily relieved his distress. After detoxing in jail and serving a 26-month sentence tied to drug use and an assault, he committed to change for his daughter and engaged fully in prison treatment, peer mentoring, and 12-step support. He explains how yoga, meditation, journaling, poetry, and sound healing helped him process emotions, regulate his nervous system, and understand root causes of addiction. Kelvin discusses his work in peer support, co-founding Soul Care Love, and bringing sound healing into treatment centers and prisons.00:00 Treatment Ignored00:28 Meditation States Explained01:13 Show Intro And Sponsor02:18 Meet Kelvin And Sober Date03:49 Childhood And Early Drinking06:59 Trauma Anxiety And Alcohol Relief11:17 School Dropout And Hustle Life13:58 Normalization And Escalation18:08 Hard Drugs And Arrest Cycle22:03 Last Bid And Prison Recovery Tools26:51 Peer Mentorship Behind Bars29:11 Sentence Length And Charges30:43 Prison Turning Point31:58 Breaking Recidivism Cycle33:13 Sound Healing Origins34:37 Poem From Prison37:48 How Sound Changes Brain39:15 Singing Bowl Demo40:52 Bringing Sound to Prisons42:30 Emotions And Release45:52 Walking Beside Others48:50 Holistic Recovery Defined51:04 Founding Soul Care Love53:26 Pain Into Purpose56:37 Advice To Past Self57:42 Final Hope And Resources

Gillian’s Sobriety Revelation: From High-Functioning Drinking to an Expanded Life | Rock Bottom with RyanOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, Gillian shares how a lifelong, normalized relationship with alcohol—shaped by family divorce, early exposure, and chaotic environments—led her to become a high-functioning daily drinker and “professional partier” through college, hospitality work, and extensive travel to 30 countries before 30. After years of weekend binges, drinking-related close calls, and a knee injury that forced her to slow down, she reached a turning point on March 5, 2024, after hearing a podcast about alcohol-free living and recognizing how anxiety, mood swings, relationship tension, inflammation, and focus issues tied back to drinking. She initially committed to 100 days to prove she could moderate, but within weeks privately decided to quit for good. Gillian describes improved family dynamics, deeper relationships, and building a coaching practice for midlife women using five pillars—physical health, mindset/mindfulness, spiritual curiosity, supportive relationships, and self-study—alongside psychology and human design, emphasizing sobriety as expansion rather than deprivation and viewing her change as a revelation rather than a rock bottom.00:00 Adventure And Dopamine00:34 Hangover Wakeup Call02:05 Meet Jillian Sober Basics03:22 Childhood Alcohol Normalized07:02 First Drink At Thirteen09:34 High Functioning Party Girl10:53 College Sorority Hospitality Life12:07 Traveling Europe Booze Budget13:43 Daily Drinking Weekend Binges18:10 Close Calls And Consequences20:52 Knee Injury Sets Stage22:31 Podcast Click Moment25:39 Early Sobriety Fear And Pink Cloud29:00 Breaking Free in Mexico30:33 Facing the Five OClock Trigger30:47 Jungle Walks and Shadow Work32:37 Relationships Get Real34:53 From Sobriety to Coaching36:42 The Five Pillars Framework40:56 Fulfillment Beyond Not Drinking42:17 CBT Meets Human Design44:17 Rethinking Alcoholic Labels48:16 Sobriety as Expansion51:24 Goals Books and Speaking55:42 Revelation Not Rock Bottom56:35 Where to Find Gillian57:18 Final Takeaways and Sign Off

Gerald Lott on Crack Cocaine, Relapse After 14 Years, and Building Sauk Valley Voices | Rock Bottom with RyanGerald Lott joins Rock Bottom with Ryan to share his story of addiction and recovery, including early feelings of isolation as a Black student in a private school, escalating substance use through college in New Orleans, and repeated stints in treatment that culminated in jail. After 14 years sober, Gerald relapsed, losing his restaurant and stability, before reentering recovery through a sober living home in April 2008. He describes rebuilding through intensive AA involvement, later moving to a rural Illinois community and starting a structured meeting that grew over 11 years. Gerald founded Sauk Valley Voices to combat the opioid crisis by creating sober social connection, peer support, deflection, sober housing, and efforts toward a recovery high school, while also discussing his podcast, book, and his daughter’s addiction.00:00 High Class Problems01:27 Show Intro Sponsor02:32 Meet Gerald Lott04:05 Growing Up Affluent05:21 Dad Leaves Mom Depressed08:31 Outsider At Private School09:51 Drugs Take Over10:55 New Orleans Party Years11:29 Law School Music Detour12:18 Trauma And Perspective15:50 Crack Turns Serious17:37 Treatment To Jail Program19:15 Fourteen Years Sober21:40 Relapse And Last Night27:11 Sober Living Reset31:14 Gratitude And Perspective33:48 Immersed In AA Community37:19 Move To Rural Isolation38:41 Building a Better Meeting41:26 Daughter in Jail Update43:54 Wake Up Call Metaphor45:30 Founding Sauk Valley Voices48:34 Sober Fun and Peer Support52:40 Leadership Without Anonymity55:46 Felony Past and Credibility57:50 Staying Sober Boundaries01:02:29 Tribe Finding Connection01:08:10 Podcast and Family Lessons01:09:59 Hope for Those Struggling01:11:39 Quotes Growth and Farewell

Mel’s Rock Bottom: Alcohol, Cocaine, Anxiety, Forced Rehab, and 13 Months Sober | Rock Bottom with RyanOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, Mel (from Brazil, living in Portugal) shares her story of alcohol and occasional cocaine use, severe anxiety, and how her drinking escalated after her father’s death. She describes hiding alcohol, withdrawals, and becoming consumed by secrecy and shame, including a period of drinking and using alone in Brazil that led her family to commit her to rehab against her will. After relapsing, she returned to the same rehab voluntarily, got serious about recovery, and has 13 months sober. Mel discusses “relapse before relapse,” trauma, rebuilding through art school, ongoing therapy and online group support, and creating her podcast “Whoever You Art” to share stories, reduce shame, and help others seek detox or treatment before things get worse.00:00 Anxiety and Rock Bottom01:35 Show Intro and Sponsor02:42 Meet Mel and Her Story04:00 Childhood and First Drinking06:57 Loss and Escalation08:05 Brazil Binge and Rehab10:08 Anxiety as Fuel14:47 Hiding and Withdrawal20:42 Family Intervention Tactics22:34 Sharing Story to Stay Sober24:27 Forced Rehab Trauma27:37 Early Sobriety Setup27:46 Early Sobriety Fears29:06 Blackmail and Coming Clean30:10 Privilege and Rock Bottom32:21 Finding Purpose Through Art33:56 Podcast Mission and Recovery Tools35:15 Meaning Behind Whoever You Art36:45 Confidence and Community40:54 Connection as the Antidote41:30 Get Help and Detox Safely43:36 Protect Your Sobriety Daily46:36 Advice to Past Self47:40 Where to Find the Podcast49:54 Final Takeaways and Sign-Off

Magnat: The Alcohol Alternative Built for Social Confidence | Rock Bottom with Ryan (Andrew from PapaMag)On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Andrew from PapaMag shares how alcohol became his social-anxiety “cure” starting at 16, led to years of heavy beer drinking, and began hurting his workouts, work performance, and parenting. After a nine-month sober stretch during his wife’s pregnancy, he returned to drinking, then quit again around August 24 two years ago and now plans to stay sober. Wanting the social “sweet spot” he felt after one or two drinks—confidence, presence, energy, and connection—without hangovers or downsides, he created Magnat, a 13-ingredient supplement designed as a social lubricant alternative to alcohol. He explains the formulation process, intended effects, misconceptions, safety cautions (e.g., pregnancy/breastfeeding, SSRIs, heart meds), and future plans for stick packs and a canned drink.00:00 From Shy to Drinking01:30 Show Intro and Sponsor02:33 Meet Andrew from Magnet03:24 Alcohol as Social Crutch05:42 Nine Months Sober06:46 Back to Beer Culture07:26 Quitting for Good10:53 Inventing Magnet12:10 Research and Prototyping15:42 Social Anxiety Roots18:05 Alcohol Oldest Scam22:59 Designing the Uplift27:15 What Magnet Is Today28:51 How To Take It30:24 Real World Use Cases31:26 Ingredient Philosophy32:56 Formulation Challenges34:06 Key Ingredients Breakdown37:50 Safety And Medications39:18 Mixing With Substances40:38 Recovery Considerations43:26 Common Misconceptions46:56 Five Year Vision48:53 Changing Drinking Culture51:04 Advice For Going Sober55:47 Where To Find Magnet57:33 Final Thanks And Wrap