Rock Bottom With Ryan

Holly’s Rock Bottom: Alcohol Withdrawal Hallucinations, Ruining a Wedding, and One Year Sober | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan interviews Holly from a small town in Worcestershire, England, who is approaching one year sober with a sobriety date of July 30, 2025. Holly describes starting alcohol at 14, underage street drinking and clubbing, and quickly gravitating to hard liquor, later adding occasional party drugs. Her drinking escalated into daily “hair of the dog,” secrecy, and consuming up to three bottles of wine a night, including severe withdrawals with visual and auditory hallucinations after quitting cold turkey, leading to hospitalization. She shares how alcohol damaged relationships, included relapses, and culminated in getting drunk as maid of honor at her sister’s wedding. Holly explains what finally shifted, how sobriety improved her mental health and confidence, how her friendships changed, and why she started sharing her journey on Instagram as Holly’s Sober Diaries.
 
00:00 Street Drinking Chaos 01:05 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:09 Meet Holly One Year Sober 03:42 Childhood and First Drinks 06:29 Hard Liquor and Underage Clubs 10:17 Party Culture and Drugs Enter 12:42 Hair of the Dog Spiral 14:48 Box Wine and Withdrawal 17:26 Hallucinations and Hospitalization 19:43 Family Finds Out and Moderation Trap 21:54 Moderation Fails 22:15 Alcohol and Relationships 24:09 Wedding Rock Bottom 28:01 Last Relapse Switch 29:21 Fears of Sobriety 31:22 First 90 Days Glow 33:09 Friendships Rebuilt 35:23 Sober Nights Out 38:10 Confidence and Healing 39:40 Dark Thoughts to Hope 40:44 Sharing Sober Diaries 42:25 Fun Without Alcohol 43:29 Advice for Not Bad Enough 45:22 Who Holly Became 46:36 Recovery Tools and Farewell

From Cocaine to Crack Rock Bottom: Lorne’s Recovery Story (Rock Bottom with Ryan)
 
Ryan interviews Lorne, a Montreal DJ and longtime cocaine user who transitioned to crack for four years and got sober on December 8, 2022. Lorne describes a normal upbringing, early experimentation with hash and psychedelics, and a pivotal first line of cocaine at a party that led to decades of escalating use. As addiction progressed, he faced mounting financial ruin, constant job changes, evictions, arrests for fraud and theft, and dangerous situations, while continuing to use even during court appearances. A brief attempt at IOP in 2016 ended in relapse. Lorne credits a message and ultimatum from his son as the turning point, then found support through podcasts and online recovery communities, SMART Recovery, and AA, emphasizing meetings, service, boundaries, and rebuilding his relationship with his son.
 
00:00 Basement Party Flashback 00:49 Recovery Meetings Mindset 01:15 Show Intro and Guest Welcome 02:10 Sober Date and Background 02:58 Childhood and Family Life 04:37 Personality Before Addiction 05:32 First High and Teen Experimenting 08:27 First Coke Line Turning Point 12:06 From Partying to Daily Use 14:33 Dealing and Funding the Habit 18:28 Consequences Crime and Court 23:20 IOP Attempt and Quick Relapse 25:30 Parents Find Out Son Born 26:59 Addiction Escalates Fast 28:07 First Hit of Crack 30:00 Work Life Collapses 31:47 Evictions and Seizures 34:35 COVID Isolation and Despair 35:24 Son's Ultimatum 38:55 Finding Online Recovery 42:10 Community and Service 45:12 Rebuilding Relationships 48:54 Closing Reflections

Nicole’s Rock Bottom: Air Force Retirement, Isolation, and Finding Recovery Through Rehab, AA & The Dry Side
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Nicole—recently retired after 21 years in the Air Force and living in Texas—shares how alcohol gradually became a problem after years of high functioning and social drinking. She describes an introverted childhood in a military family, early drinking at 14, and a slow progression that escalated with unstructured time, isolation, and later COVID lockdowns in Belgium, where her drinking became round-the-clock with withdrawals and daily blackouts. Back in the U.S., her husband began noticing changes as she consumed up to a fifth and a half of whiskey a day. After months of daily blackout drinking, she sought detox on Nov. 13, 2025, completed five days of detox and a 60-day rehab, used therapy modalities including EMDR, joined AA, rebuilt family trust, and started The Dry Side podcast to share recovery insights and community.
 
00:00 When Drinking Turned Dark 01:01 Rehab Wins Back Trust 01:23 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:27 Meet Nicole and Sober Date 03:55 Childhood in a Military Family 06:04 Introversion and Self-Doubt 09:06 Sports, High School, First Drink 10:45 College ROTC and Early Drinking 13:18 Air Force Culture and First Blackout 16:41 Hiding It and Keeping Up Appearances 20:16 2018 Shift to Drinking Alone 22:41 Belgium Lockdown and All-Day Drinking 24:33 Withdrawals and the Daily Cycle 26:49 Fitness Decline and Family Suspicions 30:44 How Much Was I Drinking 31:26 Reconnecting with Future Husband 33:30 Back in the States It Shows 33:56 Husband Sees the Signs 34:58 Last Day Drinking Decision 36:01 Detox to Sixty Day Rehab 37:08 Clear Mind No Cravings 38:29 Finding the Root Trauma 40:48 Relational Wounds Unpacked 43:27 Shot Out of Rehab 44:41 Rebuilding Life at Home 49:04 Starting The Dry Side 51:09 Community Keeps Me Sober 54:45 Daily Routine and AA 59:47 Whats Next Service Goals 01:02:59 Advice One Day at Time 01:05:53 Nine Months and Farewell

Recovery Jon: Oxy, Heroin & Alcohol Addiction, Arrests, Rock Bottom, and Rebuilding a Life on Life’s Terms
 
Jon shares how a seemingly stable childhood in Connecticut shifted after multiple traumatic near-death experiences and mounting anxiety and anger, leading to heavy drinking, then rapid addiction to OxyContin, heroin (snorting), and later alcohol and cocaine, alongside seven arrests and years of functioning at a high-level job while using. He describes escalating health decline, friends dying amid suspected fentanyl, a retaliatory shooting near his home, and finally entering rehab after admitting he wouldn’t live much longer, followed by relapse and later recommitting to recovery through AA, therapy, and service. Jon explains early sobriety struggles, a “spiritual bank account” mindset, and how helping others during COVID and overdose losses led him to public recovery content, writing Life on Life’s Terms (a #1 new release), treatment-center work, and ongoing goals including sober houses, fitness-focused support, and building a family life.
 
00:00 Spiraling Into Chaos 00:58 Pandemic And Loss 01:19 Show Intro And Sponsor 02:24 Meet John And Sober Date 04:09 Growing Up Baseball Dreams 06:37 Teen Trauma And PTSD 08:52 Anger Takes Over 00:03 Oxy First Hook 12:11 Why Opiates Felt Perfect 14:46 Arrests And Consequences 16:54 Double Life At Work 19:17 Withdrawals And Money Drain 21:14 Fentanyl Era Wake Up 22:48 Shooting Sparks Rehab 23:34 Rehab Mind Games Relapse 24:32 Arrest and Collapse 24:53 Worst Day Using 25:58 Treatment and Surrender 28:34 Early Sobriety Boredom 29:28 Spiritual Bank Account 30:42 Rebuilding a Career 31:49 Posting to Save Lives 33:44 Brother Loss and Book 34:51 Yankee Stadium Amends 37:29 Content That Gives Hope 39:59 Staying Sober Through Grief 42:44 Life Skills and Goals 46:07 Advice and Closing

From Xanax Blackouts to 18 Years Sober: John Campbell’s Rock Bottom & Recovery Journey
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, John Campbell shares his story of getting sober at 21 after escalating drug and alcohol use, arrests, and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his family while working at a bank. Raised in Dallas with early behavior issues and ADHD, John gravitated to the wrong crowd, was sent to an all-boys boarding school where substance abuse intensified, then spiraled further in college with cocaine, heavy drinking, and Xanax blackouts. After a family confrontation, he entered rehab in Utah, began embracing AA and spirituality, and continued into a tough young-adult sober living program in Baton Rouge where he found purpose and committed to lifelong sobriety. John later built a career in counseling and founded Campbell Recovery Services, offering therapy, coaching, interventions, and support for addictions including gambling, sex, and technology.
 
00:00 Cocaine And Xanax Spiral 01:29 Show Intro And Sponsor 02:25 Meet Jon Campbell 04:33 Early Life In Dallas 07:16 High School And First Cigarettes 11:28 Boarding School Chaos 14:19 Back Home Senior Year Reset 15:40 Austin Freedom And Cocaine 18:11 Arrests And Moving Back 21:14 Pharmacy Pills And Bank Scheme 24:29 Easter Low Point Intervention 26:37 Rehab Wake Up Call 30:02 Sober Living New Life Skills 32:58 Recovery Breakthrough Moments 34:33 Amends And Full Circle 35:55 Finding Purpose In Counseling 37:37 Building Campbell Recovery 39:37 Overnight Shift Lessons 41:37 What Clients Teach Therapists 44:47 Treating Trauma Not Symptoms 48:01 Modern Addictions Beyond Substances 51:01 Wraparound Care Under One Roof 53:43 Mic Drop Recovery Questions 55:09 Future Plans Therapeutic Intensives 57:34 Hope Legacy And Rock Bottom 59:42 Advice Quotes And How To Reach John 01:02:16 Sneaker Finale And Sign Off

Paige Calentino: From Party Girl to Sober Coach | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan interviews Paige Calentino, who shares her sobriety date (December 26, 2022), her alcohol and drug use history (martinis, tequila, cocaine, MDMA), and how binge drinking began at 15 and escalated through college at SMU and into corporate consulting’s “work hard, play hard” culture. Paige recounts a major college incident where she fell from a second-story balcony while blacked out and later learned she’d been roofied, yet continued drinking due to social anxiety and shame. In her 20s, burnout and a toxic relationship culminated in a breakup and move to San Diego, where she drank through COVID before becoming sober curious, taking breaks, and ultimately quitting after a three-month trial. Paige explains her coaching approach—identity, somatic work, mindset, and manifestation—why “sober is boring” is a myth, and how she built her Becoming Her program to help high achievers change their relationship with alcohol.
 
00:00 Chasing College Party Life 01:01 Manifesting Coaching Mindset 01:32 Podcast Intro and Sponsor 02:36 Meet Paige and Sober Stats 04:07 Picture Perfect Childhood Pressure 05:13 Teen Binge Drinking Begins 08:17 College Greek Life Escalation 12:07 Bahamas Balcony Fall Wakeup 16:44 Denial and Redefining Problem Drinking 19:13 Corporate Burnout and Toxic Relationship 24:33 Cheating Discovery and Fresh Start 27:54 COVID Drinking and Sober Curious Steps 29:51 Three Month Turning Point 30:33 Work Culture and COVID 31:34 Deciding to Keep Going 33:05 Life Changes and Glow Up 36:35 Moderation Versus Sobriety 39:51 Building a Sober Brand 40:20 Becoming Her Origin Story 43:50 Why High Achievers Binge 46:32 Alcohol Marketing Everywhere 51:21 Coaching Framework Explained 57:08 Sober Curious Myths 58:47 Unexpected Gifts and Advice 01:02:40 Closing and Where to Find Her

From White-Collar Crime to Redemption: David Watson on Prison, Purpose & Going Forward Only | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest David Watson from Fort Worth, Texas shares how a stable childhood with his grandparents shifted after his grandfather’s cancer diagnosis, leading to running away and escalating theft and fraud. He describes early schemes, meeting his first wife and committing credit card fraud in the Bahamas, and how the thrill became addictive as his crimes grew over years. Federal investigators ultimately built a case, and David was sentenced in 2019 to 115 months, serving seven years and change, during which his grandmother died and he hit a turning point, taking classes and planning a new life. After release to a halfway house and home confinement, he wrote his book Forward Only in six months and is developing a film adaptation, focusing on change, family, and moving forward.
Author of Forward Only
00:00 Everyday Hustle Tricks 00:57 Rewrite the Ending 01:34 Rock Bottom Intro 02:38 Meet David and His Book 04:10 Childhood and Grandparents 06:51 First Runaway at 13 08:09 McDonalds Cash Grab 09:16 Walmart Returns Scheme 11:45 Hot Checks and Bonnie Clyde 14:01 Bahamas Credit Card Scam 16:06 Caught and Prison Conditions 19:22 Federal Case and 115 Months 20:32 Missing His Sons Childhood 21:50 Mindset Shift in Prison 22:06 Grief and Solitary 22:52 Turning Point and Self Work 23:27 Planning a New Life 24:00 Release and Halfway House 25:44 Writing the Book Fast 26:57 Redemption Message 28:52 Hardest Chapters to Write 31:37 Hope for Addicts 34:06 Hustle Mindset Rewired 36:12 Building the Movie 38:04 Staying Grounded 40:15 Redefining Success 40:59 Closing Advice and Quote 43:48 Book and Film Updates

From Polysubstance Addiction to Counselor: Adam’s Recovery Story | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest Adam shares how early feelings of isolation, learning issues, and clashing with his parents led to a long search for escape that escalated from alcohol to marijuana, benzos, opiates, and other substances. He describes struggles in high school and college, depression and suicidal thoughts, and a spiritual rock bottom that culminated in fleeing a pharmacy job when police arrived and entering treatment in 2007, followed by sober living and daily meetings. Adam reflects on amends with his mom, the importance of vigilance in sobriety, and how recovery reshaped his values, relationships, and career. Now married and sober since June 1, 2007, he works in detox and runs Linwood Counseling Services, including support for artists navigating substance-heavy music scenes, and discusses future goals like specializing in OCD and clinician burnout.
 
00:00 Amends and Vigilance 01:11 DJs Seeking Sobriety 01:35 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:41 Meet Adam and Sober Date 04:20 Childhood Feeling Alone 06:05 Family Clashes and Amends 10:33 First Drinks and Fitting In 13:22 Anything to Escape 15:11 School Life and Bullying 17:11 College Spiral and Isolation 20:11 Florida Pharmacy Bottom 21:28 Withdrawal and Detox Reality 23:12 Treatment and Early Recovery 25:21 Staying Sober Mindset 26:41 Post Treatment Years Ahead 27:07 Anger to Connection 27:52 Choosing a Fellowship 29:40 Finding a Career Path 32:30 Detox Work and Goals 34:53 Artists and Recovery 37:32 Staying Sober in Nightlife 39:28 Daily Recovery Habits 40:05 Marriage and Addictive Thinking 41:52 Future Goals and Success 43:21 Relapse Prevention Mindset 45:58 Closing Advice and Resources

Boundaries vs Ultimatums: Enabling, Rock Bottom, and Real Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan (ft. Amber)
 
Ryan and guest Amber discuss the difference between boundaries and ultimatums, emphasizing self-respect, accountability, and how recovery helped them stop people-pleasing and codependency. They explore enabling in addiction and relationships, including how rescuing someone can delay consequences and “steal their first step,” and why learning to say no can protect both parties. The conversation covers loving people from a distance, communicating needs instead of ghosting, and holding firm standards—even with family—while leaving the door open for healthy dialogue. They share personal rock bottom experiences involving alcohol-induced seizures and denial, and discuss how comparing trauma or addiction can lead to minimization. They also stress that time sober does not equal recovery, advocating ongoing work, community, and integrity.
 
00:00 Boundaries vs Ultimatums 01:13 Recovery Beyond Sobriety 01:36 Show Intro and Sponsor 03:11 Enabling and Saying No 06:36 Healthy Boundaries in Relationships 09:44 Loving From a Distance 13:13 Intuition and Mental Health Limits 17:33 Family Boundaries and Vulnerability 22:36 Rock Bottom and Rescue Cycles 27:13 Hospital Wake Up Call 28:53 Seizures And Still Drinking 30:11 Excuses And Denial Spiral 31:52 Comparing Rock Bottoms 33:26 Not That Kind Of Addict 36:41 Integrity Over Sobriety Time 39:58 Dry Drunk Warning Signs 44:48 Copy The Right People 46:07 Boundaries And Accountability 48:59 Community And Closing Thoughts

Vernon West: Two Sober Dates, Higher Power, Relapse, Cancer, and Finding Purpose in Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan
Ryan welcomes Vernon West from the Out of the Blue podcast to discuss recovery, spirituality, and service. Vernon shares two sober dates (Jan 30, 1990 and Aug 2, 11 years ago), growing up with an alcoholic father, and how Al‑Anon helped him reframe alcoholism as a disease. He recounts his own progression through music-industry drinking and drugs, a severe accident, detox in Hollywood, and a pivotal AA message about finding a personal higher power, leading him to sponsorship and working the 12 steps with rigor. After years sober, he stopped meetings, received a prostate cancer diagnosis, relapsed on marijuana, then later faced leukemia during COVID, staying sober while hospitalized. He describes how service, daily meetings, and creating his podcast supported healing and ongoing recovery.
 
00:00 Higher Power Spark 00:58 Recovery Garden Intro 01:24 Show Trailer Setup 01:52 Sponsor Message 02:40 Meet Vernon West 03:20 Two Sober Dates 03:50 Growing Up With Alcoholism 05:42 Dad Gets Sober Then Relapses 07:35 Music Career And Drugs 12:30 Engagement Jackpot Story 14:56 Detox To Hollywood 16:43 Finding Your Own Higher Power 18:56 Warmth Of LA AA 21:38 Working The Steps Daily 23:06 Fourth Step And Righteous Anger 23:56 Learning Forgiveness 25:18 Drifting From Meetings 27:11 Cancer Wake Up Call 28:12 Weed Relapse Spiral 29:21 Leukemia Diagnosis 30:25 Staying Sober Through Treatment 32:35 COVID Hospital Isolation 33:37 Starting Out of the Blue 36:09 Building the Podcast Team 37:58 Garden of the 12 Steps 41:01 Cake Mix and Sponsorship 43:44 Recovery Reflections and Closing