AJ: Built To Last - A Tradesman's Journey to Sobriety

AJ: Built To Last - A Tradesman's Journey to Sobriety

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 Spiral00:45 Family Intervention Setup01:13 Show Intro Sponsor03:01 Meet AJ Sober Basics04:42 Childhood Pressure Sports06:38 First Drinks Weed08:12 Chameleon Teen Years09:13 College Party Crash12:32 Surgeries Start Opioids14:45 Tolerance Street Supply16:28 Hidden Functional Addiction19:27 Withdrawal Risks Smuggling21:40 Confession Rock Bottom24:02 Seeking Suboxone Help24:09 Suboxone And Meetings24:43 Lying And Relapse25:07 Family Intervention26:06 Choosing Rehab Anyway27:34 Inside Treatment Life29:16 Post Rehab Stumbles31:02 October 12 Sobriety Date32:27 Making Amends Rebuilding Trust33:45 Starting Recovery Coaching35:04 Fitness Food Mindset Blueprint38:44 Tradesmen Opioid Culture40:27 Life Then Versus Now44:36 Program Details And Contact46:23 Advice And Closing

Beyond The Needle: Jaron Lyle's Path to Redemption

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 Teaser01:04 Rock Bottom Intro01:32 Sponsor Message02:44 Meet The Guests03:54 Sober Date And Last Use05:02 Drugs Of Choice Evolution06:07 Treatment History Timeline06:42 Childhood And Early Trauma08:39 First Use In High School12:48 Keeping It Together14:28 Missionary Work To Oxy16:07 Crime And Prison Years17:55 Needle Life Explained19:50 Prison Mindset And Release22:44 Psychology Of Shooting Up25:52 Relationships In Addiction29:17 Final Stretch Day To Day30:10 Relapse Spiral31:39 Bar Trigger Return32:29 Paranoia And Chaos33:00 Night Before Quit34:01 Universe Deal Moment36:28 Building A Boring Life37:49 TikTok As Meetings41:39 Tattoos And Destiny44:53 Service Over Labels47:22 Radical Movement Mission53:10 Advice For Sober Curious56:56 Where To Find Him59:26 Closing And Congrats

Baelie: Recovery is my Reality

From Rock Bottom to Recovery: Baelie’s Story of Alcohol Addiction, Rehab, and Sober Life in Utah | Rock Bottom with RyanOn 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 Call00:26 Health Scare And ER Reality01:17 Rock Bottom Intro01:46 Sponsor Message02:56 Meet Bailey And Sober Basics04:04 Growing Up LDS And Secret Drinking06:10 First Drink And Early Teens06:49 High School Sports And Partying07:34 College Freedom Turns Daily08:04 Drinking Through Respiratory School10:42 Fatty Liver Warning Signs12:40 Suicide Attempt And Breaking Point16:42 Relapse And Rehab Ultimatum20:00 Rehab Experience And Withdrawal21:51 Life After Rehab22:50 AA And Early Pride23:22 Sobriety On TikTok25:30 Daily Routine Outdoors26:48 Dating While Sober28:11 Medical Field Triggers29:22 Hiding Spots And Freedom32:08 Advice For Getting Sober35:19 Therapy And Community38:08 Suicidal Thoughts Help41:01 Handles And Wrap Up

Strong and Sturdy: Recovery and Redemption with Britt

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.

Sober By Design: Michael's Sobriety Story

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 [http://soberhats.com/] to “recover out loud,” break stigma, and spark connection through hats like “Sober.,” “Clean.,” and “Sober Ally.”00:00 First Drink Blackout01:19 Podcast Intro and Sponsor02:50 Meet Michael from Sober Hats04:32 Early Drinking and AA Start05:52 Southern Comfort at 1308:35 Family Secrets and Dad’s Alcoholism13:15 Falling in Love with AA16:20 Business Success and Drifting19:59 Relapse After Nine Years23:29 Car Blackout and Rehab24:54 Bathroom Vodka Confession27:37 Second Slide and Opiates29:28 Blackout Work Ultimatum30:38 Treatment Shame Cycle31:28 Marriage Complacency Warning32:37 Adderall Xanax Spiral34:15 Family Leaves Rock Bottom35:29 Addiction Substitution Talk38:09 Kids Confront Hidden Pills40:35 Recovering Out Loud Idea41:24 Sober Period Hat Launch43:27 Influencers And Events47:12 Mike The Situation Connection50:23 Normalizing Addiction Stigma51:37 Building Brand Challenges54:52 Impact And Proud Smiles56:56 Community Shoutouts Closing