Rock Bottom With Ryan

From Military Brat to Building Arcana Recovery: PTSD, Substance Use, and a Tech Solution for Treatment Engagement | Rock Bottom with Ryan 
Sharina joins Rock Bottom with Ryan and co-host Rachel to share her background as a military brat who moved frequently, navigated learning disabilities, and later joined the military at 17, including deployment to Iraq. She describes early substance use beginning in childhood, heavy partying as a club promoter, and how PTSD, anxiety, and depression contributed to dependence and losing her house, car, and stability. After a DUI and dual-diagnosis inpatient treatment, she experienced a shift through journaling and reframing, but struggled with discharge planning and relapse risk without housing or job security. Sharina explains how these gaps inspired Arcana Recovery, a platform that tracks recovery engagement and alerts support teams, and discusses expanding into licensed outpatient services for professionals, veterans, and returning citizens while emphasizing safe spaces and avoiding isolation.
 
00:00 School Gaps and Catching Up 01:16 Podcast Intro and Sponsor 02:45 Meet Sharina and Recovery Views 05:06 Military Brat Childhood 07:14 Joining the Military at 17 08:13 Moving Around and Relationships 10:43 Learning Disability and Sports 14:37 Early Substance Use Begins 17:31 Post Iraq and Therapy Clash 19:06 Club Promoter Party Life 19:50 Purpose Crisis and Depression 23:23 Community Center Full Circle 26:43 DUI and Dual Diagnosis Program 28:05 CBT Breakthrough 29:20 Treatment Feels Safe 29:44 Discharged Without Stability 30:43 Relapse After Rehab 31:57 Bargaining for a Job 33:29 Building Business Ideas 34:41 AI Therapy Pivot 36:02 Arcana Recovery Explained 37:20 Serving High Achievers 39:44 Referrals and Screening 42:02 Success Still Feels Empty 44:49 Hosts Reflect on Sobriety 50:11 Anxiety and Exposure 53:10 Advice Find Safe Space 55:04 Quote and Closing

Michael’s Rock Bottom: Tequila, Rehab, AA, and Finding Sobriety Through Ibogaine & Iboga
 
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Michael shares how his tequila drinking progressively worsened—especially during COVID—despite being a high-functioning husband, father of three, and long-time tech sales professional. With a family history of alcoholism and mounting anxiety and physical discomfort, he struggled to stop despite repeated attempts, including AA, psilocybin, and “California sober,” and eventually completed a 30-day rehab stay. After relapsing, he pursued ibogaine treatment in Mexico, which eliminated his alcohol cravings but initially didn’t last; a second ibogaine treatment on August 30, 2025 became his sober date. He then completed a seven-day iboga retreat, reporting broader lifestyle changes like improved diet, hiking, weight loss, reduced sugar cravings, and a stronger spiritual connection, while continuing AA for community and emphasizing integration work.
 
00:00 Vacation Drinking Spiral 00:56 Rock Bottom Intro 01:25 Sponsor Sober Strong 02:36 Meet Michael Sober Date 04:09 Family History Early Signs 06:18 First Drinks High School 07:31 Work Travel COVID Escalation 09:39 Hiding Bottles Red Flags 10:48 Health Anxiety Rock Bottom 15:45 Rehab AA Relapse Cycle 18:35 Ibogaine Discovery Reset 22:19 Iboga Retreat Transformation 23:21 What Ibogaine Feels Like 26:11 Bwiti Tradition Spiritual Shift 27:30 Palapa Night Ceremony 28:10 Iboga Retreat Breakthroughs 28:34 Integration After The Reset 30:32 Costs Rehab Versus Iboga 31:42 AA Bridge And Pushback 39:53 Risks Misconceptions Safety 41:26 Clinics Demand And Big Pharma 44:16 Daily Routine Wellness Tools 48:59 Closing Quote And Advice

AJ’s Rock Bottom: Opioid Addiction, Intervention, Rehab, and Recovery Through Fitness | Rock Bottom with Ryan
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest AJ shares how a high-achieving, sports-focused upbringing and heavy partying in early adulthood eventually gave way to opioid addiction after multiple surgeries beginning in 2018. Prescribed Percocets, he quickly escalated to taking far beyond the recommended dose, buying pills illegally, hiding his use while functioning at work and home, and spending $500–$600 a day at his worst. After lying to his wife, attempting Suboxone and meetings, relapsing, and traveling with pills, AJ’s family staged an intervention that led him to rehab through his union. Following early stumbles after treatment, he committed to sobriety on October 12, 2024 and has not used opioids since, tapering Suboxone and rebuilding trust while coaching others using fitness, nutrition, mindset, and accountability.
 
00:00 Addiction Costs Spiral 00:45 Family Intervention Setup 01:13 Show Intro Sponsor 03:01 Meet AJ Sober Basics 04:42 Childhood Pressure Sports 06:38 First Drinks Weed 08:12 Chameleon Teen Years 09:13 College Party Crash 12:32 Surgeries Start Opioids 14:45 Tolerance Street Supply 16:28 Hidden Functional Addiction 19:27 Withdrawal Risks Smuggling 21:40 Confession Rock Bottom 24:02 Seeking Suboxone Help 24:09 Suboxone And Meetings 24:43 Lying And Relapse 25:07 Family Intervention 26:06 Choosing Rehab Anyway 27:34 Inside Treatment Life 29:16 Post Rehab Stumbles 31:02 October 12 Sobriety Date 32:27 Making Amends Rebuilding Trust 33:45 Starting Recovery Coaching 35:04 Fitness Food Mindset Blueprint 38:44 Tradesmen Opioid Culture 40:27 Life Then Versus Now 44:36 Program Details And Contact 46:23 Advice And Closing

Jaron Lyle on Rock Bottom, Prison, the Needle, and Finding Freedom Through Service & TikTok Live | Rock Bottom with Ryan On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan and co-host Rachel Sereni interview Jaron Lyle, who shares his addiction and recovery story. From a supportive childhood in Arlington, Texas, he began using weed at 15, escalated to pills, then heroin and injecting drugs, alongside periods of crime that led to about 21.5 months in Texas prison. He describes multiple treatment stints (2010, 2015, 2019), a strong NA period from 2015–2018, relapse after divorce, and chaotic late-stage use in 2023–2025. Jaron marks his last use as April 26, 2025, describing a pivotal spiritual “universe” experience that motivated change. He explains his current structure—work, gym, Walmart, TikTok Live as “meetings and church,” family meals, and frequent tattoos—plus his “Radical Movement” focus on service and sharing stories to help others.
 
00:00 Crime And Chaos Teaser 01:04 Rock Bottom Intro 01:32 Sponsor Message 02:44 Meet The Guests 03:54 Sober Date And Last Use 05:02 Drugs Of Choice Evolution 06:07 Treatment History Timeline 06:42 Childhood And Early Trauma 08:39 First Use In High School 12:48 Keeping It Together 14:28 Missionary Work To Oxy 16:07 Crime And Prison Years 17:55 Needle Life Explained 19:50 Prison Mindset And Release 22:44 Psychology Of Shooting Up 25:52 Relationships In Addiction 29:17 Final Stretch Day To Day 30:10 Relapse Spiral 31:39 Bar Trigger Return 32:29 Paranoia And Chaos 33:00 Night Before Quit 34:01 Universe Deal Moment 36:28 Building A Boring Life 37:49 TikTok As Meetings 41:39 Tattoos And Destiny 44:53 Service Over Labels 47:22 Radical Movement Mission 53:10 Advice For Sober Curious 56:56 Where To Find Him 59:26 Closing And Congrats

From Rock Bottom to Recovery: Baelie’s Story of Alcohol Addiction, Rehab, and Sober Life in Utah | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan and co-host Rachel Sereni interview Baelie, a respiratory therapist from Moab, Utah, who got sober from alcohol on 4/26/24. Baelie describes growing up LDS, first drinking at 13–14, and how college freedom led to daily drinking—even during her respiratory therapy program—followed by health issues including facial swelling, liver pain, and an ER visit where a CT revealed early fatty liver disease. After a breakup she attributes to drinking-related choices, she sank into depression and guilt and attempted suicide by crashing her car while intoxicated, survived, briefly stopped, then relapsed and escalated again, including trying to drive drunk. A therapist and family intervention led her to a 47-day rehab stay, after which she stayed sober using coping tools, therapy, outdoor activity, and early AA before finding her sober community on TikTok, where she shares recovery content, dating boundaries, and advice for those struggling or feeling suicidal (including calling 988).
 
00:00 Family Wake Up Call 00:26 Health Scare And ER Reality 01:17 Rock Bottom Intro 01:46 Sponsor Message 02:56 Meet Bailey And Sober Basics 04:04 Growing Up LDS And Secret Drinking 06:10 First Drink And Early Teens 06:49 High School Sports And Partying 07:34 College Freedom Turns Daily 08:04 Drinking Through Respiratory School 10:42 Fatty Liver Warning Signs 12:40 Suicide Attempt And Breaking Point 16:42 Relapse And Rehab Ultimatum 20:00 Rehab Experience And Withdrawal 21:51 Life After Rehab 22:50 AA And Early Pride 23:22 Sobriety On TikTok 25:30 Daily Routine Outdoors 26:48 Dating While Sober 28:11 Medical Field Triggers 29:22 Hiding Spots And Freedom 32:08 Advice For Getting Sober 35:19 Therapy And Community 38:08 Suicidal Thoughts Help 41:01 Handles And Wrap Up

In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Britt Gusmus shares his journey from chasing superficial gratification through years of alcohol and drug abuse to lasting recovery, faith, and service. Originally from Denver, Britt celebrates 20 years sober (9/19/2005) and recounts early warning signs, blackouts, violence, and escalating use that included cocaine, ecstasy, and meth, alongside deep shame, identity loss after athletics, and a “dying inside” internal war. He describes surrendering after losing everything, immersing in AA/CA/NA, men’s meetings, and rebuilding through community, sobriety softball, and a spiritual relationship with God. Today, Britt coaches football, works as a high school dean, and discusses his book and workbook, The Oak Tree Source, centered on digging deep, emotional resilience, integrity, service, and becoming strong and sturdy like an oak tree.

Ryan interviews Michael, founder of Sober Hats, about his long, relapse-filled recovery journey. Michael describes starting alcohol at 13 with a Southern Comfort blackout, growing up in a family marked by secrecy and his father’s alcoholism, and first entering AA at 20 with periods of sobriety that faded as he stopped engaging in recovery. After building and selling a pizza business, running early coffee shops, and then working at a bank, he relapsed into vodka, hiding and blackouts, leading to multiple 30-day treatment stays. Later, prescription medications (opiates, Adderall, Xanax) escalated into street use and delusion, culminating in 2017 when his wife and kids left, prompting his sobriety date of September 23, 2017. He explains launching soberhats.com to “recover out loud,” break stigma, and spark connection through hats like “Sober.,” “Clean.,” and “Sober Ally.”
 
00:00 First Drink Blackout 01:19 Podcast Intro and Sponsor 02:50 Meet Michael from Sober Hats 04:32 Early Drinking and AA Start 05:52 Southern Comfort at 13 08:35 Family Secrets and Dad’s Alcoholism 13:15 Falling in Love with AA 16:20 Business Success and Drifting 19:59 Relapse After Nine Years 23:29 Car Blackout and Rehab 24:54 Bathroom Vodka Confession 27:37 Second Slide and Opiates 29:28 Blackout Work Ultimatum 30:38 Treatment Shame Cycle 31:28 Marriage Complacency Warning 32:37 Adderall Xanax Spiral 34:15 Family Leaves Rock Bottom 35:29 Addiction Substitution Talk 38:09 Kids Confront Hidden Pills 40:35 Recovering Out Loud Idea 41:24 Sober Period Hat Launch 43:27 Influencers And Events 47:12 Mike The Situation Connection 50:23 Normalizing Addiction Stigma 51:37 Building Brand Challenges 54:52 Impact And Proud Smiles 56:56 Community Shoutouts Closing

Kenneth’s 476 Days Sober: Trauma, Rock Bottom, and Rebuilding a Life in Recovery | Rock Bottom with Ryan
 
In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan reunites with Kenneth, now 476 days sober, to revisit his long history of addiction beginning in early teens amid severe childhood trauma and sexual abuse, and major adult traumas including miscarriages, his wife’s HELLP syndrome and years of surgeries, raising a son with cerebral palsy and autism, divorcing after 24 years, and his father’s death from alcoholism. Kenneth describes decades of heavy alcohol and drug use, including cocaine, and reaching a suicidal low point after his partner ended their relationship, leaving him homeless and drinking every morning, even going to work intoxicated. After calling 988 and entering 90 days inpatient rehab plus nine months sober living/IOP, he embraced recovery work, therapy, meetings, and service, is preparing to sponsor, wrote a science-informed recovery handbook-style book, shares his sobriety publicly on Instagram, pursues speaking/TED goals, and plans to become an AOD counselor while focusing on presence, simplicity, and self-kindness.
 
00:00 Marriage Breaking Point 01:01 Love Without Liking 01:13 Show Intro And Sponsor 03:01 Kenneth Returns Update 04:21 Early Addiction And Aces 05:20 Abuse Masks And Survival 07:14 Pregnancy Loss And Hellp 09:09 Deck Tears Divorce Wait 10:01 Father Alcoholic Death 11:54 Trauma Intimacy Hypervigilance 15:13 Perfectionism And Work Validation 18:09 Functioning Alcoholic Routine 20:05 Doc And Drug Use 21:25 Seventh Time Rock Bottom 23:05 Crisis Call And Rehab Choice 24:40 Student Of Recovery Mantras 26:14 Sponsorship Fear And Service 28:01 Writing A Recovery Handbook 31:16 Instagram Sobriety Journey 33:40 Learning To Slow Down 34:30 God Pause Simplicity 35:39 Recovery Promises Realized 36:12 Money Credit Patience 38:14 New Job New Normal 38:52 Counseling Full Circle 40:11 Overthinking To Peace 41:27 Solitude And Anxiety 44:58 Neurodivergence Discovery 50:31 Family Healing Fatherhood 54:17 Book TED Gratitude 58:41 Be Present Daily Practice 01:00:34 Closing Thanks Signoff

In this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan and co-host Rachel Sereni interview Utah educator and alternative-school principal Steve Solon about his path into education, severe financial hardship caused by repeated paycheck cuts at a charter school, and how he eventually found purpose working with incarcerated and credit-deficient youth in a district-run alternative program. Steve explains how the school serves local credit-deficient students, adult education learners, and group-home youth, and how shifting away from traditional schooling—changing credits, classes, and competency measures—helped raise graduation rates from roughly 30–40% to 80–90%, including 46 graduates out of about 120 students. He discusses trauma’s impact on behavior and learning, building trust with students, balancing compassion with accountability alongside group-home staff, community supports to prevent justice-system involvement, and shares student success stories. He also mentions his Dad Bod Warrior podcast and supplements brand.
00:00 From Hunger to Hope 00:58 Podcast Intro and Sponsor 02:27 Meet Steve Solon 03:03 Checklist Life in Utah 04:40 Teaching Dreams Meet 2008 06:07 Pay Cuts and Survival Mode 08:24 Standing Up and Quitting 12:10 Alternative School Mission 13:47 Becoming Principal During COVID 18:16 Reinventing Credits and Graduation 19:11 New Students and Anxiety 22:04 Trauma and the Healing Brain 24:58 Recovery Stories and Guest Speakers 29:20 Redefining Success After Graduation 30:15 Defining Real Success 31:33 Grades Versus Growth 32:12 Leadership Load 34:28 Accountability With Compassion 35:50 Program Lengths Explained 37:04 Autism And Patience 38:44 Breaking Community Stigma 40:43 Strict Upbringing And Tattoos 45:00 Stories That Stick 50:13 Preventing Youth Justice Entry 53:26 Advice For Future Leaders 57:11 Hope For Every Kid 57:48 Podcast And Supplements 01:00:00 Final Thanks And Wrap

Ashley Amundson: From Bartending & Alcohol Withdrawal to 10 Years Sober, COO & Therapist | Rock Bottom with Ryan
On Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ashley Amundson shares growing up in San Diego in a complex military family with six siblings and a live-in nanny, feeling like she didn’t belong in school, and using alcohol as a tool for confidence that became a crutch. After entering the bar industry at 21, drinking escalated from after-work shots to on-the-job use, leading to physical dependence, repeated hospitalizations, DT hallucinations, and a doctor warning she might not live to 35 due to organ failure and alcoholic hepatitis. Ashley chose rehab, built early sobriety through structured sober living and testing, and transitioned from bartending to working in a women’s-only holistic rehab. She earned a master’s, became a therapist in 2020, completed a doctorate in behavioral health, rose to COO, and discusses trauma-informed modalities like somatic work, breathwork, Reiki, EMDR, and brain spotting.
 
00:00 High School Awkwardness 01:10 Rock Bottom Intro 01:34 Sponsor Message 02:58 Meet Ashley 03:16 Recovery Basics 04:54 Military Family Roots 08:16 Nanny and Attachment 10:50 Teen Identity Struggles 14:37 First Drinks and Confidence 18:37 Skipping School and College 22:35 Bar Industry Begins 25:14 Dating and Boundaries 28:41 Drinking Culture Escalates 31:55 Naivety and Masking 35:10 Alcohol Takes Over 39:02 Hallucinations and Fallout 39:36 ER Withdrawal Stigma 42:00 Doctor Wake Up Call 47:47 Underdog Motivation 49:14 Early Sobriety Blueprint 52:40 From Tech to COO 58:15 Holistic Trauma Modalities 01:02:35 Therapist Mindset and Burnout 01:08:37 Advice and Compassion 01:14:00 Closing Quote and Wrap