A Conversation with Meghan Hanes

A Conversation with Meghan Hanes

From Social Anxiety to Two Bottles a Night: Meghan Haynes on Alcohol Recovery, Treatment, and Sober-Curious SupportOn Rock Bottom with Ryan, guest Meghan Haynes (sober date February 19, 2023; alcohol; raised in Washington, now in Central Oregon) shares how perfectionism, social anxiety, and not fitting in led her to love alcohol after her first drink in high school. In college at the University of Washington, loss of control contributed to severe anorexia and hospitalization; therapy helped, but later her drinking escalated through Greek-life culture, grad school isolation in Denver, and solo nightly wine—often up to two bottles—while working in mental health crisis roles. After pancreatitis, a DUI, repeated IOP failures, and probation, she entered 30-day treatment, where she found relief, began addressing codependency, self-worth, and coping, and met her future husband. Now an Oregon LCSW, she offers trauma-focused therapy (including EMDR) and sobriety coaching for sober-curious women to reduce stigma, build community, and support change without needing “rock bottom.” 00:00 Small Town Roots01:09 Podcast Intro01:38 Sponsor Message02:39 Meet Meghan Haynes03:50 Gymnast Identity05:14 Social Anxiety Emerges08:20 First Drink Relief11:38 College Expectations Crash13:20 Anorexia Takes Over16:04 Therapy and Alcohol Return17:11 Greek Life Drinking Culture24:49 Grad School Isolation28:23 Living Alone Spiral30:02 Functional Drinking Rewards31:16 Solo Drinking Spiral31:41 A Day in Addiction34:04 Isolation and Family Signs35:38 Health Scare and DUI40:25 Treatment Turning Point42:28 Recovery Insights and Self Worth45:27 Love and Life After Rehab47:01 Therapist in Recovery48:37 Sober Curious Explained51:09 Women and Recovery Challenges55:04 Advice and Closing Resources

Dry Culture: Jonny Chase

From After-Hours Chaos to 815 Days Sober: Jonny’s Recovery & Dry Culture Fitness Blueprint | Rock Bottom with RyanRyan interviews Jonny, founder of Dry Culture, about his recovery from alcohol (and cocaine in the mix) after years of escalating binge drinking that began in high school, intensified at Southern Illinois, and continued into his 30s with after-hours bars, blackouts, fights, jail, and dangerous close calls. Jonny says he struggled with moderation early, used alcohol to mask insecurity and social anxiety, and later maintained work while drinking heavily and chasing validation. A turning point came at 33 after a Thursday-to-Sunday bender when he saw older bar regulars and decided to stop, told his girlfriend and parents he needed help, and went to 30 days of rehab in California. He built structure through fitness, lost over 50 pounds, ran the LA Marathon, became a personal trainer, and created Dry Culture, a 30-day workbook centered on identity, movement, discipline, and environment, aiming to build a sober wellness community.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:30 Sober Date and Basics01:24 Early Drinking Signs03:05 First Drunk Feeling05:02 High School Consequences06:35 College Party Escalation08:56 Legal Trouble and Jail09:48 Dating and Hookups10:32 Post College Benders11:25 Cocaine Enters the Mix12:20 After Hours Lifestyle13:42 Withdrawal and Denial15:35 Arizona and Identity17:15 Dangerous Close Calls22:02 How Much Was Consumed23:29 Girlfriend and Trolling25:04 Drinking Alone and Validation26:05 Holding Down a Job26:58 Choosing to Quit27:59 Bar Mirror Moment30:25 Calling Family for Help32:53 Inside 30 Day Rehab35:39 Fitness as Lifeline37:07 Building Dry Culture39:45 Program Pillars Explained43:03 Fitness and Discipline45:43 Community and Vulnerability47:57 Staying Sober in Real Life50:42 Routine Over Chaos53:18 Advice Goals and Quote

The End of a Chapter: Devin Fish

On Rock Bottom with Ryan, author and Army soldier Devin Fish from Rockford, Illinois discusses growing up in poverty and instability, moving more than 16 times, bullying and extreme shyness, and witnessing addiction in his family, including his father’s cocaine-and-alcohol-fueled breakdown and his mother’s pain medication dependence. Devin shares how self-hatred and loneliness led him into a yearlong cycle of paid dating apps, catfishing, escalating blackmail scams—including an “age scam”—financial loss, and contracting chlamydia after paying for sex, culminating in suicidal ideation and later admitting himself to the hospital in 2022. He explains his book, “Answering the Hard Questions: Let It Be the End of the Chapter, Not the End of the Book,” its memoir/toolbox/journaling structure, his return to faith while writing, and his mission to spread honesty, truth, and hope to help others survive. 00:00 Early Chaos at Home00:41 Show Intro and Guest01:44 Growing Up in Rockford02:42 Unstable Childhood and Poverty04:24 Shy Kid and Bullying05:37 Dad Arrest and Apartment Scene09:48 Mom Opioids and Dysfunction11:53 Joining the Army to Escape13:43 Depression and Suicidal Thoughts16:03 Avoiding Substances and Facing Trauma18:02 Hard Truths and Blackmail19:48 Dating Sites Spiral and Scams22:17 STD Scare and Breaking Point24:13 Age Scam Explained and Second Attempt26:13 Hope for Real Connection27:23 Choosing Self Love27:44 Year of Online Scams28:27 Book Title Origins30:47 Writing and Publishing Sprint31:33 Healing Through Structure32:54 Hardest Chapters to Write34:20 Forgiveness and Family35:20 Meaning of the Subtitle36:35 Handling Setbacks Publicly37:46 Next Book and Faith39:24 Mental Health Misconceptions40:38 Message to Suicidal Viewers41:49 Mission After Publishing43:12 Dating Apps Are Predatory45:41 Breaking Silence in Recovery47:38 Support Without Enabling48:25 Avoiding Old Patterns50:46 Guilt Versus Accountability51:53 Leaving Readers With Hope54:57 Where to Find Devin56:30 Final Advice and Quotes57:23 Closing Reflections

Marked by Ink, Not by Luck: Jay Sapovits

In this insightful interview, Jay Sapovits shares his journey of overcoming gambling addiction, the importance of recovery, and how his experiences shaped his entrepreneurial success. Discover practical advice on taking action, facing ego, and building resilience from someone who has navigated the depths of addiction and emerged stronger.

Fit and Free: Patrick's Story of Addiction

Patrick, born and raised in Chicago, shares how childhood abuse and emotional neglect contributed to early marijuana use, dealing in high school, and multiple treatment stays that initially led to more connections to get high. At 18 he unknowingly tried heroin at a party, quickly progressed from snorting to injecting daily, cycled in and out of court-ordered treatment, and eventually became homeless with a $100-a-day habit, surviving through hustling and illegal activity. After a suicidal overdose attempt and a moment of clarity, he entered detox, received Suboxone, and transitioned to a suburban treatment center where he connected with a sponsor and began AA step work, including a transformative fourth and fifth step. Now sober since 5/3/18, he focuses on fatherhood, fitness, boundaries, and sharing recovery through speaking and social media. 00:00 From Pills to Heroin00:59 Recovery Mindset Shift01:19 Show Intro and Sponsor03:42 Meet Patrick Sober Story05:13 Childhood Trauma in Chicago09:10 Weed and Early Warning Signs10:36 Treatment and Escalation11:43 First Heroin High13:15 Needles and Losing Control15:52 Homeless Rock Bottom19:44 Suicidal Moment and Detox22:59 Detox to Treatment Breakthrough25:00 AA Meeting Full Circle26:49 Step Work and Healing Trauma29:18 Fast Track Steps One to Three31:10 Fourth Step Deep Dive32:12 Promises and Spiritual Shift35:04 Amends and Family Fallout40:21 Boundaries Protect Sobriety42:30 Quiet Life After Chaos44:27 Social Media Recovery Reach46:31 Any Path That Saves Lives48:03 Sober Strong Partnership52:17 Advice and Closing Thanks