How To Rebuild Your Life After Addiction | Ken Rideout
Fri Feb 06 2026
💬 What does it actually take to rebuild your life after addiction?
Ken Rideout has lived multiple lives: Former prison guard, Wall Street trader, opioid addict… and now the fastest marathoner in the world over 50.
⚡In this episode, Ken opens up about the darkest moment that forced him to change, what opioid withdrawal REALLY feels like, and the identity shift that helped him go from rock bottom to elite endurance athlete.
🎧 Stay tuned to find out:
➡ The “rock bottom” moment that finally flipped the switch
➡ What opioid withdrawal is actually like
➡ How Ken used discipline, discomfort and running to rebuild his identity
➡ The truth about hiding addiction inside a “normal” life
➡ Why ambition can quietly steal your presence (especially as a parent)
➡ The uncomfortable reality of CPR, end-of-life decisions and quality of life
#DrKaran #HealthPodcast #MedicalScience #HealthEducation #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Fitness #Running #Longevity
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCREKb1GS1jwZIpH4qn9tyuA
📕 Chapters
(0:00) Coming up (episode trailer)
(1:22) Introduction (in-person pod with Ken Rideout)
(3:37) Growing up around addiction, violence and instability
(4:07) “My mind always needed to be busy”
(5:56) Moving to New York and quitting drinking (finance culture)
(7:47) The injury that started it: ankle surgery + Percocet
(8:01) Wall Street insecurity and imposter syndrome
(10:00) Marriage, adoption and battling addiction in secret
(10:34) The withdrawal trap: Subutex vs Percocet
(11:00) The shame loop: “What are you doing?”
(11:12) Detox in secret and hiding it from his wife
(14:37) Running through withdrawal (10 miles a day)
(14:56) The balcony moment
(14:59) “I’d rather be dead than live like this”
(15:05) The final straw: telling his wife the truth
(15:27) Vivitrol and the first real relief
(23:43) Covid, routines collapsing and old habits creeping back
(32:07) Parenting, ambition and being present
(40:32) Facing death as a doctor (why planning matters)
(45:59) CPR myths: what TV gets wrong
(49:15) Sponsor: Throne
(50:16) Ambition vs presence (what matters long-term)
(1:01:31) Purpose outside work and parenting
(1:03:08) “Get out past the break” (closing)
🚽 Discover Throne’s incredible new smart toilet device at http://thronescience.com
🔥 Try LOAM and get an additional 10% with code POD10: https://loamscience.com/
🔥 Get my free weekly newsletter filled with easy-to-action health tips and science: https://drkaran.beehiiv.com/subscribe
🔥 For more useful science for your everyday life, grab my best selling book “This Book May Save Your Life”: https://geni.us/DrKaranBook
📕 Pre-order my new book, This Is Vital Information: https://linktr.ee/ThisisVitalInformation
🎙️ An OG Podcasts production.
About Dr Karan:
Dr. Karan Rajan is a doctor, author, and educator dedicated to making health and medical science accessible to all. Through evidence-based analysis, he addresses topics such as gut health, brain health, and healthy lifestyle choices, while dispelling common medical myths with a touch of dark humor.
📱Connect with me:
Instagram: / drkaranrajan
Facebook: / drkaranr
TikTok: / dr.karanr
X: / drkaranrajan
Website: https://linktr.ee/ThisisVitalInformation
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💬 What does it actually take to rebuild your life after addiction? Ken Rideout has lived multiple lives: Former prison guard, Wall Street trader, opioid addict… and now the fastest marathoner in the world over 50. ⚡In this episode, Ken opens up about the darkest moment that forced him to change, what opioid withdrawal REALLY feels like, and the identity shift that helped him go from rock bottom to elite endurance athlete. 🎧 Stay tuned to find out: ➡ The “rock bottom” moment that finally flipped the switch ➡ What opioid withdrawal is actually like ➡ How Ken used discipline, discomfort and running to rebuild his identity ➡ The truth about hiding addiction inside a “normal” life ➡ Why ambition can quietly steal your presence (especially as a parent) ➡ The uncomfortable reality of CPR, end-of-life decisions and quality of life #DrKaran #HealthPodcast #MedicalScience #HealthEducation #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Fitness #Running #Longevity Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCREKb1GS1jwZIpH4qn9tyuA 📕 Chapters (0:00) Coming up (episode trailer) (1:22) Introduction (in-person pod with Ken Rideout) (3:37) Growing up around addiction, violence and instability (4:07) “My mind always needed to be busy” (5:56) Moving to New York and quitting drinking (finance culture) (7:47) The injury that started it: ankle surgery + Percocet (8:01) Wall Street insecurity and imposter syndrome (10:00) Marriage, adoption and battling addiction in secret (10:34) The withdrawal trap: Subutex vs Percocet (11:00) The shame loop: “What are you doing?” (11:12) Detox in secret and hiding it from his wife (14:37) Running through withdrawal (10 miles a day) (14:56) The balcony moment (14:59) “I’d rather be dead than live like this” (15:05) The final straw: telling his wife the truth (15:27) Vivitrol and the first real relief (23:43) Covid, routines collapsing and old habits creeping back (32:07) Parenting, ambition and being present (40:32) Facing death as a doctor (why planning matters) (45:59) CPR myths: what TV gets wrong (49:15) Sponsor: Throne (50:16) Ambition vs presence (what matters long-term) (1:01:31) Purpose outside work and parenting (1:03:08) “Get out past the break” (closing) 🚽 Discover Throne’s incredible new smart toilet device at http://thronescience.com 🔥 Try LOAM and get an additional 10% with code POD10: https://loamscience.com/ 🔥 Get my free weekly newsletter filled with easy-to-action health tips and science: https://drkaran.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🔥 For more useful science for your everyday life, grab my best selling book “This Book May Save Your Life”: https://geni.us/DrKaranBook 📕 Pre-order my new book, This Is Vital Information: https://linktr.ee/ThisisVitalInformation 🎙️ An OG Podcasts production. About Dr Karan: Dr. Karan Rajan is a doctor, author, and educator dedicated to making health and medical science accessible to all. Through evidence-based analysis, he addresses topics such as gut health, brain health, and healthy lifestyle choices, while dispelling common medical myths with a touch of dark humor. 📱Connect with me: Instagram: / drkaranrajan Facebook: / drkaranr TikTok: / dr.karanr X: / drkaranrajan Website: https://linktr.ee/ThisisVitalInformation