RIDEOUT: The Other Side of Hard

The Olympian Who Nearly Died Making Weight | Danny O'Connor Jul 3, 2026 6143 Danny O'Connor looked like he had everything. A state wrestling champion. An Olympian. One of the top professional boxers in America with a world title shot finally within reach. Behind the scenes, almost nobody knew he had been battling an eating disorder for years. What began as extreme weight cutting in high school wrestling evolved into a life-threatening cycle of starvation, binge eating,

Boston, Addiction, The Town, 12 Years Sober | George Carroll “Slaine” Jul 1, 2026 6838 He taught himself to rap at nine years old, co-founded the rap supergroup La Coka Nostra, got discovered by Ben Affleck for Gone Baby Gone, and went on to act in The Town, Killing Them Softly, and Joker. What almost nobody saw was what was happening behind the scenes. For 23 years Slaine battled alcohol and addiction, through cocaine, OxyContin, and heroin, while chasing two careers most people

He Fought for a World Title with Lyme Disease | Mike Lee Jun 26, 2026 5466 He graduated from Notre Dame, signed with Top Rank, fought at Madison Square Garden and Cowboys Stadium, starred in national Subway commercials, and earned a shot at a world title. What almost nobody saw was what was happening behind the scenes. For years Mike battled chronic pain, autoimmune disease, misdiagnoses, and Lyme disease while trying to keep his career alive. He fought through broken

The Crack Addict Who Became a Med Student | David Millar Jun 24, 2026 5119 David Millar grew up at the Jersey Shore surrounded by addiction, promising himself he would never become like the people he watched struggle around him. Instead, by age 20, he was deep into alcohol, cocaine, and crack addiction. He dropped out of college, cycled through psych wards, detox centers, and rehabs, slept in the woods, stole to survive, and believed drugs would define the rest of his l

From Tour Wins to Barely Holding a Club | Scott Stallings Jun 19, 2026 6307 Scott Stallings is one of the fittest players to ever walk the PGA Tour. He grew up between Worcester, Massachusetts and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, walked on at Tennessee Tech after the program he dreamed of passed on him, and turned himself into a three-time PGA Tour winner over a fourteen-year career. Then, at the 2024 Players Championship, one swing into the lip of a fairway bunker tore his should

He Played for the Celtics on OxyContin | Chris Herren Jun 17, 2026 6313 Chris Herren grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, a basketball city where making it meant everything. He earned a scholarship to Boston College, starred at Fresno State, and did what every kid in his hometown only dreamed of. He pulled on a Boston Celtics jersey. What almost no one knew was that he did it as an addict. Cocaine in college gave way to OxyContin and then heroin in the NBA. Chris pl

Hunting 80,000 Deer to Save Hawaii | Jake Muise Jun 12, 2026 5048 Jake Muise grew up in rural Canada hunting, fishing, and living off the land. A Division I volleyball scholarship brought him to Hawaii, but a dorm room mix-up changed the course of his life forever. After being welcomed into a local Molokai family, Jake developed a deep connection to Hawaiian culture and became fascinated by Hawaii's invasive axis deer problem. What began as an obsession eventua

Dyslexia. Racism. The NFL. | Chris Spencer Jun 10, 2026 6785 Chris Spencer grew up in rural Mississippi working cotton fields, facing racism firsthand, and struggling with dyslexia throughout school. Football became the one place where everything made sense. That path eventually took him from being one of the top recruits in the country to Ole Miss, where he played alongside Eli Manning, before becoming the 26th overall pick in the NFL Draft and spending a

The Walk-On Who Refused to Leave | Todd Anderson Jun 5, 2026 4593 Todd Anderson wasn't supposed to play at Michigan State. He came from a tiny town in Michigan. No Division I offers. No scholarship. No clear path forward. Then a chance opportunity earned him a walk-on spot at Michigan State. What followed was years of injuries, setbacks, position changes, and moments where quitting felt like the logical choice. Eventually, Todd became a key contributor on a

The Voice of the UFC | Jon Anik Jun 3, 2026 3901 Jon Anik is the voice of the UFC. Before calling the biggest fights in the world, he was a young broadcaster at ESPN trying to find his place in sports media. Then Dana White offered him a chance to help build the UFC during one of the most important growth periods in the company's history. In this conversation, Jon shares the journey from ESPN to the UFC, what it was like earning Dana White's t

Jump Around. Crash Hard. | Danny Boy O'Connor May 29, 2026 7214 Danny Boy O'Connor helped build one of the biggest songs of the 1990s. As a founding member of House of Pain, he watched "Jump Around" become a global anthem and experienced everything that came with it: money, fame, chaos, addiction, and eventually rock bottom. In this conversation, Danny shares stories from a childhood shaped by violence, crime, and survival. We talk about the rise of House of

Addicted at 15. NFL Star at 30. | Darren Waller May 27, 2026 5564 Darren Waller was one of the most talented players in football.Georgia Tech standout. NFL draft pick. Pro Bowl tight end. Massive contracts. Fame. Success. But behind the scenes, he was spiraling. Addiction started at 15. Pills. Alcohol. Failed drug tests. Suspensions. A fentanyl overdose that nearly killed him. Eventually, the NFL banned him for a year. This conversation goes way deeper than f

The World’s Strongest Man | Mitchell Hooper May 22, 2026 5948 Mitchell Hooper became the strongest man on Earth almost by accident. A former marathon runner, exercise physiologist, and coach… he found Strongman late, exploded onto the scene, and became World’s Strongest Man in just a few years. But this conversation goes way deeper than strength. We talk about steroids, the Enhanced Games, performance obsession, money, success, mental health, addiction, s

OxyContin, Graffiti, and a Second Chance | J-Mac May 20, 2026 5912 Jason “J-Mac” McDonald grew up moving between Malden, Medford, Chelsea, East Boston, and Revere. Bullied, angry, and constantly trying to fit in, he found identity in graffiti, hip-hop, stealing, and eventually drugs. What started as tagging trains and shoplifting turned into OxyContin, heroin, violence, overdoses, and years of addiction that nearly killed him. This conversation goes deep into B

From Siberian Orphanage to Paralympic Legend | Jessica Long May 15, 2026 5768 Jessica Long is one of the greatest Paralympic athletes of all time.18 gold medals. 31 total Paralympic medals. A career that changed sports forever. But this conversation has almost nothing to do with swimming. Jessica was born in Siberia, placed in an orphanage as a baby, and had both legs amputated before she was two years old. By 12, she was winning Paralympic gold medals for Team USA. The w

The Enforcer Who Had to Rebuild. | Chris “Knuckles” Nilan May 13, 2026 6904 Chris “Knuckles” Nilan was a Boston kid who became a Montreal Canadiens legend. 688 NHL games. A Stanley Cup. More than 3,000 penalty minutes. One of the toughest enforcers hockey has ever seen. But after the cheers stopped, the real fight started. Injuries. Painkillers. OxyContin. Heroin. Fentanyl. An overdose that nearly killed him. This conversation goes way deeper than hockey. We talk abo

From the Raiders to Reinventing Himself | Miles Burris May 8, 2026 4656 Former Raiders linebacker and actor Miles Burris joins Ken for a conversation about identity, reinvention, and what happens when the dream you chased your whole life suddenly ends. Miles grew up in Granite Bay, California obsessed with football from the moment he first put on pads. After becoming a standout linebacker at San Diego State, he was drafted by his childhood team — the Oakland Raiders

Built to Destroy. Forced to Rebuild. | Mark Kerr May 6, 2026 6939 Mark Kerr was one of the most dominant fighters on the planet. NCAA champion. Undefeated in early MMA. A force so powerful they called him The Smashing Machine. But behind the wins was a different story. Addiction. Shame. An overdose that nearly killed him. A life spinning out in real time. This conversation goes way deeper than fighting. We talk about identity… what happens when success isn’t

From Navy SEAL to Breaking Point to Building Lives | Johnny Wilson May 1, 2026 9033 Johnny Wilson’s life doesn’t follow a straight line—it crashes, burns, and rebuilds. From getting kicked out of the Naval Academy to fighting his way into the Navy SEALs…From combat deployments in Iraq to the trading floor at Goldman Sachs…From suicidal thoughts and a fractured life to finding healing in the darkest places… This is a story about what happens after the mission ends. Johnny open

War Took His Legs. Not His Life. | Jason Smith Apr 29, 2026 4404 Jason Smith is a retired U.S. Army infantry sergeant who lost both legs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2012. What followed wasn’t just survival—it was a complete rebuild. From months of rehab in Texas to refusing prosthetics, to eventually relearning how to walk, Jason had to let go of who he was to become someone new. Along the way, he faced PTSD, setbacks, and moments that nearly

From Olympic Pressure to Peace and Purpose | Katie Hoff Apr 24, 2026 5055 Katie Hoff was one of the best swimmers in the world before most kids could drive. She made the Olympic team at 15, won multiple medals, and carried the pressure of being called the next great American swimmer. But behind the results was a different story. The weight of expectations. The identity tied to performance. And the realization that even success at the highest level didn’t bring what sh

Broken, Beat and a World Title | “Irish” Micky Ward Apr 22, 2026 3929 I’ve known Micky Ward for a long time. Before the fights people saw. Before the movie. This is a guy who was working as a corrections officer while trying to make it in boxing. Getting written off. Used as an opponent. Walking away from the sport… and coming back anyway. We talk about the part people don’t understand — the fear. He’ll tell you straight up, everyone’s scared. Anyone who says the

Living on the Edge Without Losing Each Other | Laird Hamilton & Gabby Reece Apr 17, 2026 4543 I went out to Malibu to sit down with Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece. Everyone knows Laird for big-wave surfing and doing things most people wouldn’t even attempt. But what stood out to me wasn’t the waves—it was how he thinks about fear. He doesn’t avoid it. He uses it. And then there’s Gabby. She’s watching the person she loves go put himself in real danger, and instead of trying to control i

From NFL Star to Starting Over | Eric Decker Apr 15, 2026 5930 Former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker had everything most people chase—success, fame, a Super Bowl appearance, and a picture-perfect life on the outside. But when football ended, so did the structure, identity, and validation he had relied on his entire life. In this conversation, Eric opens up about what really happens after the dream is over—struggling with confidence, anxiety, and purpose, and

Hate, Heartbreak, and a Comeback Win | Kaitlyn Bristowe Apr 10, 2026 3875 Kaitlyn Bristowe went from a small town in Canada to the center of reality TV—and paid the price for it. She opens up about chasing a dance career, hitting rock bottom after a breakup, and rebuilding her life from nothing. Then came The Bachelor and The Bachelorette—and with it, fame, manipulation behind the scenes, and a level of public backlash that nearly broke her. She talks about being slut

From Dish Pit to 30 Restaurants | Phillip Frankland Lee Apr 8, 2026 6874 Phillip Frankland Lee went from washing dishes to building one of the most unique restaurant empires in the world. But it didn’t happen clean. He was betrayed by a business partner who disappeared, leaving him with debt and lawsuits. He got hit with a $15M legal battle from private equity. His restaurants were shut down overnight during COVID. And instead of folding, he doubled down. In this ep

Drunk and Directionless to Building an Empire | Sam Parr Apr 3, 2026 5372 Sam Parr built one of the most influential media companies of the last decade, but the path there was anything but clean. Before selling The Hustle to HubSpot, Sam was getting arrested, struggling with alcohol abuse, and bouncing between odd jobs- from running a hot dog stand in Nashville to chasing a job at Airbnb that fell apart after a lie caught up to him. This conversation traces the full a

Mind Games, Marathons, and Mastery | Oz Pearlman, Mentalist Apr 1, 2026 5216 Oz Pearlman is one of the most recognized mentalists in the world—but behind the “mind-reading” is something much deeper. In this episode, we go beyond the tricks. We talk about marathon psychology, the obsession it takes to shave minutes off your time, and the mindset required to win—whether it’s on the course, on stage, or in life. Oz opens up about his upbringing, hustling through college, an

He Won the Super Bowl… Then Lost Himself | Steve Weatherford Mar 27, 2026 8489 Steve Weatherford: From Super Bowl Champion to Rock Bottom, Addiction, and Redemption Ken sits down with Super Bowl–champion punter Steve Weatherford for a conversation about identity, rejection, addiction, and what happens when success doesn’t fix anything. Steve shares his journey from a driven, insecure kid chasing approval through sports to becoming one of the best in the world—earning a sch

Drugs, Destruction, and a Second Life Through Art | Tyler Ramsey Mar 25, 2026 6661 Tyler Ramsey is a mixed media artist whose work lives somewhere between chaos and clarity—but his story is even more extreme than his art. Before the galleries, collaborations, and global recognition, Tyler was deep in addiction—alcohol, pills, and a lifestyle that nearly destroyed everything. While producing reality TV shows like Survivor and Fear Factor, his life spiraled into a breaking point

Missing the Olympics to Training the Cultural Icons | Bobby Rich Mar 20, 2026 5354 Bobby Rich went from East London kid to Team GB judoka, winning national titles and chasing the Olympics—only to fall short at the final hurdle. What followed wasn’t a comeback story. It was a complete reinvention. In this episode, Bobby breaks down the brutal transition from dominating as a junior to getting humbled by grown men, the mental toll of missing Beijing 2008, and the decision to walk

Brick by Brick to the NFL and Back Again | Tyler Gaffney Mar 18, 2026 7282 Tyler Gaffney did everything right. Stanford. NFL. Two Super Bowl rings. The blueprint most people chase. But behind the surface was a different story — injuries, uncertainty, getting cut, starting over, and losing the identity he built his entire life around. We talk about growing up in a tough part of San Diego, the power of environment, and how one decision can change your trajectory. Tyler

AI, Politics, and a Shot at the White House | Andrew Yang Mar 13, 2026 4363 Andrew Yang joins me for a conversation about politics, AI, entrepreneurship, and why he believed he had to run for president. We talk about what pushed him from the private sector into national politics, what he learned from meeting former presidents, and why he came away convinced that the people leading the country are not superhuman. Andrew opens up about the reality of running a presidential

The Other Side of Hard | Ken Rideout Mar 11, 2026 8932 This week I sat down with my editor Mishka for a raw conversation about the release of my memoir, Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard. I open up about the childhood abuse and chaos that shaped me, the years I lost to addiction, and the long road back through sobriety, endurance sports, and rebuilding my life. We talk about opioid addiction, withdrawals, Subutex dependence, and the mo

Cocaine, Cancel Culture, and 300 Miles in the Desert | Eli Wehbe Mar 6, 2026 4779 In this bonus episode I sit down with Eli Wehbe for a raw conversation about status, addiction, reinvention, and the cost of living for validation. Eli talks about growing up inp Moreno Valley, breaking into Hollywood nightlife, going from door guy to partner at Warwick, and building relationships with celebrities at the height of LA club culture. He also opens up about the partying, the public f

From Prison Yard to Venture Fund | Daniel Dart Mar 4, 2026 6016 Daniel Dart is the founder of Time Again, but before music, before venture capital, before MIT, he was homeless, gang-affiliated, and sentenced to decades in prison on kidnapping and carjacking-related charges. After fighting his case on appeal and earning a reduced sentence, Daniel rebuilt from nothing — working housekeeping jobs, getting sober, and deliberately surrounding himself with “winners

From 35 Years to Freedom | Johnny Bartolomeo Feb 27, 2026 6648 John “Johnny Bart” Bartolomeo served nearly 27 years of a 35-year federal sentence after tracking down and killing a rival gang member — a decision that would define the next 10,000 days of his life. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Johnny walks through his upbringing in East Boston, joining the Hells Angels, the violence that led to his arrest, and the reality of serving decades inside s

Dirty Feet and a Battered Back | Nick Bare Feb 25, 2026 5728 Nick Bare has built his life in public. He announces the goal before he’s ready. He signs up for the race that might break him. He puts the business on the line and accepts the pressure that comes with it. This episode isn’t about highlight reels. It’s about what happens when discipline meets doubt. Nick talks about building BPN from a college apartment while serving as an Army infantry officer,

From 354 Pounds to Chasing 100 Miles | Dan LaMorte Feb 20, 2026 6999 Dan LaMorte is a New York City stand-up comedian and ultra runner who has lived more lives by 31 than most people do in a lifetime. He started comedy at 19 after a career-ending college baseball injury. By 23, he was one of the youngest comics ever passed at the Comedy Cellar — and weighed 354 pounds. In this conversation, Dan opens up about growing up on the spectrum, battling addiction, blowin

From Public Failure to World Record | Truett Hanes Feb 18, 2026 4178 Truett Hanes is the kind of athlete who makes people uncomfortable, not because he’s loud, but because he’s willing to commit in public. He says the goal out loud. He posts the work. He shows the misses. And he keeps moving anyway. This episode isn’t about a highlight reel. It’s about the part most people avoid: what happens when you swing big and come up short, in front of everyone. Truett talks

From Needle to Nonprofit | Zac Clark Feb 13, 2026 4894 Zac Clark’s childhood was stable. Good parents. Sports. School. No obvious “reason” for what came next — which is exactly why his story matters. In his mid-20s, Zac had brain surgery. The surgery worked. But he left the hospital with a raging opioid addiction — and it escalated fast. Pills turned into powder. Powder turned into a needle. And eventually, a missing person report, an arrest, and one

From Broke to “Fancy Like” | Walker Hayes Feb 11, 2026 6607 Walker Hayes wasn’t an “overnight success.” He was a songwriter for two decades. A dad of six. Clocking in at Costco at 4AM. Drinking. Burning out. Still writing anyway. In this episode, Walker talks about what it really looked like before “Fancy Like” — the years where bagels felt like a luxury, security felt like a trap, and quitting felt like the responsible move. Then we go to the hardest d

Trauma, Recovery, and Human Performance | Dr. Kristen Holmes Feb 4, 2026 6910 This week I sit down with Dr. Kristen Holmes — scientist, former elite athlete, coach, and the Global Head of Human Performance at WHOOP. Kristen built her life around performance early. Sports became structure. Discipline became safety. Achievement became identity. But long before the titles and credentials, she was learning how to survive instability, neglect, and trauma — and carrying that ner

From Alcohol to a Non-Alcoholic Empire | Bill Shufelt Jan 28, 2026 5724 Bill Shufelt, CEO and co-founder of Athletic Brewing Company, shares the remarkable journey from high-intensity finance to building the world’s leading non-alcoholic beer brand. In this conversation, Ken Rideout and Bill go deep on the real story behind Athletic: Bill’s personal struggle with alcohol, the moment sobriety changed everything, and the “missionary vs. mercenary” mindset that kept him

From Undrafted to the Front Office | Ran Carthon Jan 21, 2026 7451 Ran Carthon has lived football from every angle — from undrafted NFL running back fighting to stay on rosters, to working his way through scouting and personnel, to eventually becoming General Manager of the Tennessee Titans. In this conversation, Ken Rideout goes beyond wins and losses to explore the human side of the NFL: pressure, family sacrifice, leadership, and what it really takes to ear

From Chaos to Kona: A Transformational Journey | John Joseph Jan 14, 2026 8087 John Joseph grew up in extreme violence, neglect, and instability. Raised by a violent, alcoholic father, he spent years in abusive foster homes, experienced homelessness on the streets of New York City as a teenager, battled addiction, and cycled through incarceration and institutional lock-ups at a young age. By every conventional measure, his life was headed toward an early end. This episode

From Nightclubs to Federal Prison to Mr. Beast | Ian Bick Jan 7, 2026 4393 This week I sit down with Ian Bick — entrepreneur, storyteller, and podcast host, where he tells real stories of incarceration, redemption, and what change actually costs. Ian became a nightclub owner as a teenager. Fast money. Bigger pressure. Debt. Gambling. Then the bottom fell out — and at 21, he was convicted of federal wire fraud and sent into the federal system. He walks us through what p

Bank Robber to Business Owner: Mike Lee (BeanShooter) Dec 31, 2025 4159 Mike Lee lived the kind of life that doesn’t end clean. Heroin. Bank robberies. Prison. Overdoses. A revolving door that kept spinning until it didn’t. In this episode, Mike breaks down the real mechanics of addiction — the daily grind of staying high, staying ahead, and eventually getting cornered. He talks about methadone, getting followed, getting grabbed, and finally deciding to make a change

From Failing on the World Stage to Winning on It | Trey Hardee Dec 24, 2025 5830 This week’s episode is with Trey Hardee, a two-time World Champion in the decathlon and Olympic silver medalist. Trey opens up about one of the most defining moments of his career: failing publicly on the Olympic stage, the shame that followed, and the surgery and rehab that forced him to confront whether he was really finished. We talk about what it takes to sit with failure instead of running f

Surviving a Texas Prison as an Innocent Man | Greg Kelley Dec 17, 2025 11607 Greg Kelley was a Texas high school football standout whose life was wrecked at 18 when he was wrongfully convicted of super aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 25 years with no possibility of parole. After years in some of the hardest Texas state prisons, a flawed investigation was exposed, his case was reopened by the Texas Rangers, and in 2019 he was fully exonerated by the Te

Sobriety, Skate Culture & Second Chances | Mike Blabac Dec 10, 2025 6900 Mike Blabac is one of the most influential photographers in skateboarding and action sports. His work includes Danny Way’s iconic Great Wall of China jump, the rise of DC Shoes, and global campaigns with athletes like LeBron James and Usher. In this episode, Mike shares his journey from a chaotic childhood in rural Ohio to becoming a defining photographer of modern skate culture. He opens up abou

Pills, Pain & Fatherhood | Ken Rideout Dec 3, 2025 6500 This time I’m the guest. My friend, co-conspirator, and writer Mishka Shubaly turns the mic on me. We go deep into my past—from the years I spent hiding an opioid addiction and living a double life in pharmaceutical sales and later on Wall Street, to the moment I finally chose my family over my vices. Mishka traces the full arc of my story: the lies I told myself, the fear of getting comfortabl

Alcohol Addiction, 100-Mile Races & A Broken Back | Rich Roll Nov 26, 2025 5310 Rich Roll is a former Stanford swimmer and entertainment attorney whose life unraveled when alcoholism and unhealthy habits brought him to the brink of collapse. With two DUIs, a marriage that ended on the honeymoon, and lost friendships and family relationships, Rich finally faced enough pain to motivate change. This is the story of Rich's reinvention through sobriety, plant-based nutrition, and

Drugs, Robbery, A Life Sentence & Finding Redemption | Damon West Nov 19, 2025 8809 Damon West is a former Division I quarterback whose life spiraled out of control after he became addicted to drugs while working in finance. In May 2009, Damon was sentenced to 65 years in prison, which is considered a life sentence, for robberies he committed in the state of Texas. This is the story of Damon's transformation while in prison and after. It's an incredible story of resilience and r

RIDEOUT: The Other Side of Hard Nov 11, 2025 19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episodes

Recommended