Escaping Rock Bottom

Gabriel started shooting heroin when he was just 13! He started messing with pills and that led to heroin. His mom is a licensed social worker, and even she didn't know how to save him. This proves that addiction does not discriminate. Gabriel got clean at 16 and has 7 years sober! He and his mom created Purpose Healing Center in Arizona to help save addicts from death. It's a beautiful and powerful story.

Jennifer was a registered nurse in Arizona. She tells me how she ended up running drugs for the cartel. She was a heavy meth user with 3 kids. She was facing 25 years in prison. Her story of survival is gripping & compelling. She now has an incredible career and she's healthy! She shares how she got sober. If she can do it, so can any of us!

*WARNING* Bring your sense of humor as you listen to this podcast of Brandon as the guest on shock jock radio show 98KUPD in Arizona. We talk about my battle with addiction, sex and drugs. We laugh a lot, and that's the point. Recovery is actually really fun when we can look back at the dark stuff and just laugh! Enjoy! 

I invited my therapist on the podcast to share with all of you the impact childhood trauma impacts our decision making later on in life when that trauma is left untreated. As much as I owe AA for helping me quit drinking and drugging, it was intense therapy where I did the most healing and growth. She also talks about the negative impacts of labeling ourselves as "addicts" even a decade after getting sober. This is a powerful podcast with an expert to help us all better understand the "why" we choose to escape with drugs. Her contact information is available on my website www.EscapingRockBottom.com - look in the tab that says "recovery resources". 

Otis was sent to Vietnam. His responsibility was to fly home our brave servicemen who died in the war. Seeing the dead bodies broke him. He never got a hero's welcome. Instead, Otis was spit on & cursed at by fellow Americans when he returned. He found comfort in drugs and alcohol. He's 40 years sober! And, he's one of the funniest men I've ever met. He's simply amazing. 

Jari drank vodka at age 7. She did ecstasy at age 13. Then, she started shooting heroin. She even got high while pregnant with her daughter. Jari tells me it's the most shameful experience of her life. She's been in and out of 52 treatment centers. Jari is now 22. She's nearly 3 years sober. She's back in college getting her degree to be a drug counselor so she can help other young women stuck in the cycle of addiction. It's a powerful story and I am so proud of her. 

Matt is an incredible man with a heartbreaking, yet inspiring story. At age 12 he was repeatedly sexually abused by older kids at camp. He became angry, anxious, shameful, and eventually he escaped the pain by hitting the meth pipe. He eventually went to prison. Matt is now 42. He's got 17 months sober and he is not only changing his life, but he's inspiring so many people along his journey. 

Michelle was dominating the fashion design world. One day she meets a man in the elevator. The man turned out to be a drug king pin in Colombia. Out of nowhere, Michelle is running hard-core drugs for the cartel! Her kidney and liver were failing. She was facing death. How did she "Escape Rock Bottom" and what's her life like today? Listen/Watch this powerful podcast. It's highly spiritual! 

Ashley grew up in Orange County, California. It's one of the wealthiest counties in the US. Drugs don't discriminate. Ashley got high on meth at age 14! She eventually shot heroin. She's 23 years old now. She has a 4 year old son (thankfully gave birth to him sober). She's been to 16 treatment facilities because she keeps relapsing. Great news: She just celebrated 100 days sober! Her story is powerful. 

We all face times in our lives where we battle shame and fear. Untreated, those thoughts can lead us down a dark path like they did for Andrew. Andrew works in the high pressure atmosphere of a Los Angeles newsroom. He still battles fear and it nearly led him to a relapse. He shares what keeps him sober to inspire others who are still battling to make it through the day without taking a drink. 

Laura and her husband were millionaires. They lived a luxurious lifestyle. They flew private jets to party around the world. That all came crashing down because of drugs. Sadly, it got so bad her husband jumped to his death leaving behind 2 sons. This is a gripping account that proves addiction does not discriminate. (I apologize for the audio on this podcast. We had a microphone issue)

You will never hear a story like this one. Lynne started with marijuana as a child. Eventually it led to her shooting meth. Living homeless on the streets. She contracted Hep C while still in her 20's. A treatment center told her parents to give up on her. Lynne eventually proved them all wrong. Lynne is now Dr. Lynne Friedman-Gell. She's a psychologist who helps get addicts sober! Her story is shocking and inspiring and she has some great advice for those suffering and their families. 

Jason Kennedy is one of the most special people in my life. At my very first AA meeting I wanted to bolt. I was so scared. But, I stuck around. Jason was the guest speaker that night. As he shared his story, I was immediately comforted. I truly credit Jason for saving my life that day. I'm so honored to have him on the podcast. 

Jeremy Jackson was a childhood Hollywood star with a major role on Baywatch. His life crumbled when fame and money got involved. It spiraled out of control into a meth addiction that eventually led Jeremy to the slammer. He's got more than 2 years clean and he's sharing his story with us to help inspire those suffering in addiction. He shares what keeps him sober now. 

KTLA news anchor Courtney Friel spent 15 years partying like a rock star. Then, it all came crashing down. She was a correspondent for Fox News Channel when she went to rehab. Her story is powerful, funny, and inspiring. She's built an incredible life for herself after "Escaping Rock Bottom". 

In Episode #6 of "Escaping Rock Bottom" lead guitarist Wes Geer from the rock band KORN opens up about his battle with addiction. He's sober now, and he's dedicating his life to helping others get clean. In fact, he's the founder of Rock to Recovery - a program that uses music to help addicts heal.

You know the name Nicole Brown Simpson. In 1994, she was brutally murdered by O.J. Simpson. One of the untold stories from that time, centers around Nicole's youngest sister, Tanya Brown. When OJ killed Nicole, it sent Tanya spiraling into a dark depression, food addiction, even a suicide attempt. But that wasn't the only trauma in Tanya's life. Her incredible story and her inspiring words for others who are struggling. 

Episode #4 of "Escaping Rock Bottom" is a powerful podcast featuring two incredible guests who share their experience with drug addiction. Aisha is in her 20's. She did ecstacy 4 times. That's it! That's all it took. Her 4th time doing ecstasy sent her to the ER. She was in a coma for 2 months! And, she suffered 4 strokes in the coma. Doctors wanted to pull the plug. Her parents refused to give up. Taylor is 30. He talks about what led him to a life of shooting up heroin in beautiful Orange County, Ca. I hope you enjoy their inspirational stories as much as I do!PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES!

Opioids are killing too many people. In this episode of "Escaping Rock Bottom", Jodi Barber talks about losing her son to prescription pain meds. Reckless doctors gave her son deadly pills and now she is on a mission to save as many young adults as possible. It's a powerful story of a mom who lost something so precious, but refuses to have her son's death be dismissed as another statistic. She confronts the doctor who wrote the deadly prescription. 

Being a parent of a child who is addicted to drugs is one of the most painful experiences a parent will ever go through. What about a brother, sister, cousin, friend? Trying to get a loved one into treatment is not easy. In this episode, I talk with one of the nations leading treatment placement specialists, Hannah Brett. Hannah helped get me sober and I want to share this information with all of you. We also talk about KTLA news anchor Chris Burrous who died from a meth overdose living a double life.