Rock Bottom With Ryan

Dora’s Rock Bottom: Juvenile Hall, Meth Addiction, Losing Her Kids & Finding Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Dora shares her story of trauma and addiction: losing a sister before birth, being taken by CPS as a baby, growing up in foster care and group homes, early diagnoses and medication, sexual abuse triggers, and entering juvenile hall from ages 12–17 after a violent incident. She describes starting drugs and alcohol young, falling hard into meth at 14, toxic and abusive relationships, escalating theft and burglary charges, repeated incarceration, and the pain of CPS taking her four children, whom she hasn’t spoken to in 15 years. A major turning point was her brother’s heroin overdose at 16, and later a suspended prison sentence that pushed her into a Christian-based program, meetings, sponsorship, and step work. Sober since March 27, 2017 after a brief relapse, Dora now works in addiction services, is pursuing CADAC, and discusses triggers, helping overdose patients, and advice for newcomers.
 
00:00 Juvie and Family Struggles 01:01 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:08 Meet Dora and Sobriety 03:10 Trauma and Foster Care 06:00 Abandonment and Rebellion 07:13 Mental Health Diagnosis 10:54 Juvie Cycle Begins 14:51 First Drugs and Meth Hook 16:11 Sexual Trauma Triggers 18:01 Adult Jail and Street Life 23:14 Wake Up Call Brother Dies 25:39 Trying School and Work 26:07 Dropping Out and Setbacks 26:39 Years In and Out of Jail 27:06 CPS Took My Kids 27:57 Domestic Violence and Addiction 28:52 Facing Prison Changed Everything 31:43 Program Work and Relapse 35:46 Fourth Step and Trauma 37:32 Daily Sobriety Routine 38:25 Kids and Making Amends 40:05 New Relationships and Marriage 42:21 Career Turnaround in Recovery 44:13 Clinic Work and Overdose Scare 47:43 24 Hours Then vs Now 49:25 Triggers and Staying Accountable 50:07 Advice and Closing Quotes 52:12 Final Thanks and Sign Off

Allyssa’s Rock Bottom: Foster Care Trauma, Relapse, and Finding Purpose at 21 | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Allyssa, 21, from Texarkana, Texas, shares her path into addiction and recovery after growing up around widespread meth use, family bullying, poverty, and her mother blaming her for a suicide attempt. She describes early exposure to alcohol, heavy drinking and daily marijuana use during depression in the COVID era, and trauma including sexual assault in foster care and time in a mental hospital. Allyssa entered rehab initially for housing, stayed 45 days, relapsed in sober living, and later completed a second 40-day program. After getting her own apartment, she attempted suicide by overdosing on pills and self-harming, then chose to live, sought medical help, and recommitted to sobriety through faith, medication, and rebuilding her life. She discusses goals to start a podcast, pursue LVN/LPN nursing, and stay sober for her growing family.
 
00:00 Depression and Drinking 01:40 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:45 Meet Alyssa and Sobriety Date 05:16 Family Addiction and Childhood 08:00 Early Drinking and Escapes 10:41 School Struggles and ADHD 14:16 Weed and Patterns Repeat 17:25 Treatment Decision and Rehab 22:40 Sober Living and Relapse 25:57 Temptation and Secrets 26:33 Republic Square Relapse 27:59 Drug Test Fallout 28:42 Second Chance from Bob 29:26 Gummies and Paranoia 32:42 Holiday Loneliness Breaks 34:30 Back to Rehab Reset 35:35 Apartment and Overdose 39:59 God Says Live 42:52 Six Months Sober Now 46:22 New Goals and Nursing 49:32 Advice and Farewell

High-Functioning Alcoholism to Alcohol-Free Success: Lindsay’s Sobriety Journey | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
Lindsay shares how she began drinking young amid her parents’ divorce and a family culture that glamorized alcohol, then carried heavy partying into college and adulthood. Though outwardly successful, she became a high-functioning daily drinker in her 30s during a divorce and a workplace with a strong drinking culture, secretly drinking at home, constantly negotiating rules, and feeling depleted, irritable, and disconnected. After a failed AA attempt, a sobriety book in 2018 sparked a “sober curious” path of practicing not drinking in key situations (like football Sundays) and reshaping her identity. Her last drink was August 9, 2020; she quit ahead of a hysterectomy and a demanding new job, excelled professionally, improved her marriage and family relationships, and now coaches high-achieving women on self-trust, discomfort tolerance, and breaking drinking negotiations.
 
00:00 Early Drinking Roots 01:39 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:48 Meet Lindsay and Sober Stats 05:29 Childhood and Family Drinking 08:40 College Partying to Career 12:01 Divorce and Daily Coping 14:29 Trying to Drink Normally 17:27 Secret Drinking and Shame 20:47 Sober Curious Breakthrough 27:15 Lifestyle Changes and Marriage 31:24 Family Holidays Without Alcohol 33:38 Dropping the Stigma 35:05 Repulsed by Drinking 35:31 Showing Up for Family 38:07 Practicing Not Drinking 41:23 Career Wake Up Call 47:37 From Sobriety to Coaching 48:27 Rebuilding Self Trust 49:53 Negotiating and Rewards 54:10 Pressure and Perfectionism 01:02:05 Advice and Closing

Leslie Patricia: Drunk Driving Crash, Childhood Trauma, and 9 Years Sober | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
Ryan interviews author Leslie Patricia Lohr, who shares her sobriety date (Oct 31, 2017), alcohol as her main addiction, and a childhood marked by generational abuse, alcoholism, and instability. She describes becoming a high-functioning alcoholic who drank heavily, experienced withdrawals, shame cycles, and strained relationships, while her father later got sober but died of liver cancer and her mother died young while still drinking. Leslie’s turning point was a severe drunk-driving crash after drinking at lunch and a hockey game, leaving her with major injuries and legal consequences, plus the haunting realization she could have killed someone. Early sobriety involved SMART Recovery, therapy, and intense grief and suicidal thoughts, but she never relapsed and rebuilt her life through endurance training, fitness and nutrition credentials, and writing her book, Showing Up Anyways, about forgiveness and embracing her inner child.
 
00:00 Losing Mom Young 01:26 Sponsor Break 02:39 Meet Leslie Patricia 04:20 Sober Date Basics 05:45 Family Trauma Roots 09:33 Teen Drinking Escape 10:53 Functioning Alcoholic Life 14:01 Parents Deaths Impact 16:49 When Drinking Got Noticed 18:49 Worst Days and Withdrawals 22:53 Wake Up Calls and Shame 24:37 Crash That Changed Everything 27:59 Aftermath and No Harm Reduction 29:57 Host DUI Reflection 31:08 Crash Aftermath 31:50 SMART Recovery Lifeline 34:10 First Year Sober 36:40 Healing Self Loathing 37:48 Fitness As Recovery 40:56 Turning Journal Into Book 43:29 Hardest Chapters 46:39 Second Chance Mindset 48:50 Leaving Meetings Behind 52:56 Advice Just Do It 54:37 Meaning Keep Showing Up 56:49 Book Quote And Farewell

Near-Death Moments, Survivor’s Guilt & Finding Purpose in Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan (Real Talk Sessions Pt. 2)
 
In part two of “Real Talk Sessions” on Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan and returning guest Amber discuss the dangerous, near-death situations they experienced during addiction and how normal chaos felt at the time. Amber shares stories of driving while using crack and cocaine, living in a San Francisco crack house, using counterfeit money, having a gun held on her in a drug den, and being thrown off a balcony where a doctor said she would have died or been paralyzed if not intoxicated. Ryan describes reckless drug use, drunk driving, hallucinations from alcohol, and a crash that nearly sent his car off a cliff. They talk about survivor’s guilt, isolating from family, spiritual experiences, learning to process feelings in recovery, and believing their darkest moments now fuel a purpose of helping others.
 
00:00 Blizzard Crack Run 00:28 Isolation Cycle 01:04 Show Intro Sponsor 02:14 Welcome Back Amber 03:14 Mortality And Clean Time 04:35 Chaos As Normal 06:54 Tenderloin Crackhouse Week 08:10 Counterfeit Cash Trouble 09:10 Gunpoint In The Den 11:36 Gangbangers Close Call 14:44 Balcony Fall Survival 16:42 Self Destruction Accidents 18:56 Forever 21 Mindset 19:56 Ancestors And Spirits 20:55 Paranormal Basement Night 24:09 Grandma Walks Through Wall 26:58 Blessed to Be Here 28:00 Alcohol Hallucinations 29:19 Survivors Guilt Hits 29:56 Near Miss Road Stories 33:43 Reckless Driving Confession 35:17 Amends and Letting Go 36:30 Boring Life Gratitude 38:45 Story Not Over 42:23 Inside Job Recovery 46:17 Purpose from Darkness 47:25 Resources and Reach Out 50:41 Closing Thanks

From Rock Bottom to Sober Strong: Jazmin’s Recovery, Motherhood, and Return to Elite Throwing
 
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest Jazmin shares how alcohol and benzos escalated after her 21st birthday into drinking alone, dangerous decisions, and worsening consequences while trying to balance life as a D1 athlete. Her drinking contributed to the end of her throwing career after an ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery before conference championships, and she later endured an abusive relationship, a suicide attempt leading to a 72-hour hospital hold, a three-day bender, job losses, a DUI, and severe withdrawals from pills and alcohol. Jazmin got sober on January 9, 2020 after a positive pregnancy test, relapsed for about five months in 2023 amid stress, a miscarriage, and parenting her autistic/ADHD son, then recommitted after a devastating hangover. She returned to training through the Highland Games and discus with disciplined routines, support, and a sports psychologist, discusses an adult autism diagnosis, and explains her involvement with Sober Strong while setting a goal of LA 2028.
 
00:00 Athletic Career Collapse 00:59 Aha Moment Tease 01:26 Podcast Intro and Sponsor 02:30 Meet Jasmine and Sober Basics 03:45 Childhood Red Flags 05:59 Turning 21 and Bar Life 10:05 Isolation and Drinking Alone 11:26 D1 Athlete Double Life 12:56 Miscarriage and Abuse 17:00 Work Drinking and Withdrawal 19:16 Suicide Attempt and Hold 20:51 Trap House Bender 22:06 Jobs Lost and Relapse Triggers 25:24 Pills and Rehab Attempts 29:19 Pregnancy Sparks Sobriety 30:59 Relapse and Parenting Stress 31:44 Relapse Rationalization 32:37 Miscarriage and Overwhelm 32:58 Five Month Spiral 33:44 Hangover Wake Up Call 35:13 Finding Purpose Again 36:24 Highland Games Gateway 37:32 Discus Training Commitment 37:56 Tools and Giving Back 40:07 Training Without Meetings 42:37 Handling Failure and Patience 45:48 Late Autism Diagnosis 47:30 Advice to Past Self 51:29 Goals LA 28 and Yips 54:38 Sober Strong Ambassador 57:23 Closing Advice and Shout Outs 01:00:08 Final Quote and Wrap

Lauren Brown: From Alcohol & Heroin to Recovery, Motherhood, and Becoming a Counselor | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Lauren Brown from Long Island shares her story of growing up around alcoholism, family dysfunction, and early trauma, first drinking at 8–9 and quickly chasing “more.” She describes bullying and self-harm in adolescence, escalating teen drug use (cocaine and opiates), functional success in school, and later severe alcoholism intensified after gastric sleeve surgery, leading to blackouts, violence, a 2017 accident, and a 2019 DWI. After her marriage ended, she became involved with a partner, relapsed into heroin, progressed to IV heroin/fentanyl, crack, and meth, became homeless, accumulated multiple charges during COVID, and survived a near-intentional fentanyl overdose. Facing prison time, she entered detox and long-term treatment, relapsed in early rehab, then self-reported drinking on Nov 3, 2020—her sobriety date—committing to recovery, AA, therapy, and steps. She later became a drug and alcohol counselor, built a family, and created an art business focused on finding beauty in the life cycle, emphasizing openness, teachability, boundaries, and balance.
 
00:00 Early Friendship Hook 01:03 Detox Decision 01:31 Show Intro Sponsor 02:46 Meet Lauren Brown 04:25 Childhood Alcohol Normalized 06:17 Dad Mental Health Secrets 08:10 Siblings Divorce Codependency 12:13 New Town Teen Turmoil 14:00 Finding Misfit Crowd 17:41 Older Friends Shoplifting Rush 19:57 High School Drugs Escalate 24:17 Functional Drinking Adult Life 24:31 Surgery Blackouts Spiral 27:59 Marriage Collapse After DWI 30:18 Violence New Relationship DWI 34:04 Dating App Recovery Guy 36:04 Heroin Kit Discovery 36:26 Back to Opiates 37:06 First Time Shooting 38:17 Homeless and Spiraling 40:02 COVID and New Charges 42:26 Fentanyl Overdose 45:36 Detox Setbacks 48:02 Treatment and Breakup 51:12 Rehab Drama to Womens Program 54:58 Rebuilding a Life 01:00:14 Art as Healing 01:04:05 Service and Harm Reduction 01:06:01 Advice and Closing

From Chaos to Clarity: Mary’s Rock Bottom, Detox & Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
Mary from Salem, Oregon shares her recovery story with host Ryan, including her sober date (August 7, 2024) and drug of choice (alcohol and cocaine, mostly alcohol). She describes a chaotic childhood marked by her father’s schizophrenia, her mother’s gambling addiction, a painful divorce, raising her younger brother, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, which led her to seek stability through weed, pills, and later heavy drinking. After a car accident ended her soccer scholarship, she became involved with painkillers and later abused prescribed Xanax with alcohol while trying to be a “perfect” mother. Her drinking escalated during marital breakdown, her husband’s affair, and her daughter leaving for college, culminating in a blackout and a near-fatal drunk-driving incident. She entered detox and residential treatment, worked Step One, relied on meetings and a sponsor, and discusses humility, accountability, boundaries, and running as part of her recovery.
 
00:00 Chaotic Home Life 01:24 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:53 Meet Mary and Sober Stats 05:04 Growing Up in Chaos 09:40 Self Harm and Suicidal Thoughts 14:44 First Highs and Escalation 18:59 Soccer Dream Then Pills 21:34 Motherhood and Drinking 23:56 Xanax and Functioning Addiction 29:24 Marriage Collapse and Last Blackout 30:51 Boxed Wine Spiral 31:27 Winery Culture Triggers 32:03 Paddleboard Blackout Drive 34:25 Rehab Ultimatum 35:02 Detox Identity Crisis 38:13 Treatment Breakthroughs 40:49 Divorce After Rehab 43:44 Meetings And Tools 45:09 Character Defects Work 48:27 Best Vs Worst Days 50:52 Running As Recovery 52:32 Advice And Closing

Bjorn’s Rock Bottom: Meth, Vodka, Needles, and the Road to Sobriety (Oct 30, 2013) | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
Bjorn joins Rock Bottom with Ryan to share his addiction and recovery story, including early drinking and drug use, frequent shoplifting arrests, and escalating use of weed, mushrooms, acid, coke, and eventually meth during culinary school and restaurant work. He describes treatment, relapse, the culture of heavy substance use in kitchens and Vegas nightclubs, opioid access through “pill mills,” severe daily vodka dependence, and a terrifying episode after injecting cocaine, plus multiple DUIs and dangerous blackouts. After a birthday binge in 2013, he called his sponsor, returned to AA, and marks October 30, 2013 as his sobriety date. He later rebuilt his life, left kitchen work to be a present father, and now runs Hold My NA Beer, sharing recovery content and offering sponsorship and coaching focused on patterns, triggers, and accountability.
 
00:00 Petty Theft Rush 00:49 Fatherhood After Recovery 01:11 Show Intro and Sponsor 02:27 Meet Bjorn and Basics 04:35 Childhood Moves and Divorce 06:23 Skateboarding as Escape 08:08 Early Weed and Parties 09:00 Shoplifting Spree Era 10:31 Booze Hooks In 11:46 Back to Minnesota and Treatment 12:27 Acid House and Dealing 13:23 Culinary School and First Meth 14:42 Stimulants and ADHD History 16:27 Kitchen Chaos and Meth Cycle 17:36 Ultimatum and Rehab Entry 19:42 New Orleans Externship Relapse 20:55 Halfway House and Restaurant Partying 24:20 Vegas Move and Pill Mills 28:11 Handle a Day Drinking 28:42 Needles and Near Overdose 31:34 DUI Story and Consequences 34:11 Army Plan Falls Apart 35:20 Blacked Out Driving 38:03 Court Ordered AA 39:53 Relapse Into Secrets 42:38 Birthday Breaking Point 45:05 Rebuilding In Sobriety 47:47 Divorce And Dark Night 48:47 Reinventing Identity 50:07 Meeting Future Wife 51:44 Fatherhood Career Shift 55:17 Hold My NA Beer Mission 56:44 Coaching Vs Sponsorship 01:03:14 Advice And Closing Quotes

Heather’s Journey: Alcohol, Food Addiction, and Building a Balanced Life in Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Heather shares her sobriety date (April 30, 2014) and discusses alcohol and food as her addictions. She describes a turbulent childhood with teen parents, frequent moves, feeling “less than,” depression, suicidal thoughts, and early compulsive overeating after losing a close friend. Heather explains how drinking began socially in college, escalated with career stability and money, and was reinforced by enabling and lack of consequences, including dangerous behavior. After quitting alcohol for four years as a “dry drunk,” she resumed drinking and later spiraled in Florida after an injury ended martial arts training, contributing to the collapse of their business. She found AA through women at church, embraced long-term recovery support, and later addressed food compulsions, emotional regulation, and balance through therapy, coaching, and wellness work, now helping high-achieving women pursue whole-person wellness.
 
00:00 Drinking Escalates Fast 00:34 Rewiring After Success 01:02 Podcast Intro Sponsor 02:17 Meet Heather Basics 03:57 Chaotic Childhood Moves 05:11 Facade And Survival Mode 08:07 Food As First Escape 12:19 College Independence First Drink 14:45 Career Money Enabling 16:32 Dry Drunk And Relapse 21:44 Florida Injury Final Spiral 24:08 Therapy Church AA Path 27:07 Last Drink Surrender 28:33 Early Recovery Rewiring 29:13 Wisdom and Tough Love 29:57 Humble Recovery Work 30:54 Trading Wine for Sugar 31:25 Rebuilding Fitness Safely 31:53 Food as Escape 33:53 Therapy and Guardrails 34:23 Breaking Competition Cycles 37:36 Sober Minded Wellness 38:24 Anger as Dopamine 40:08 Boundaries and Insurance 41:49 Addiction Defense Attorney 43:16 Next Gen Sober Curious 45:07 Coaching High Achievers 48:54 Public Figure in Recovery 49:50 Emotional Regulation Lessons 51:06 Advice for Hidden Struggles 51:59 Stigma and Rock Bottom 54:43 Replay the Tape 55:14 What Sobriety Gives You 57:36 Where to Find Heather 58:09 Final Hope and Farewell