“I Was Done Dying”: How Jail Became the Start of Laura Straniak’s Recovery (Ep10)
Sat Feb 07 2026
What happens when the addicted brain finally runs out of excuses—and the will to live kicks in?
In this powerful conversation on The Next Fix, Ryan Penley sits down with Laura Straniak, who shares her raw journey from early exposure to addiction, through heroin and fentanyl, to the moment jail became the wake-up call that saved her life. Laura doesn’t sugarcoat the chaos—but she also doesn’t stay there.
She opens up about medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone, the role of community in a small town, and why progress over perfection became the mindset that changed everything. At 20 months sober, Laura reflects on rebuilding trust, finding purpose, and using her story to help others believe they’re stronger than they think.
This is a grounded, honest look at recovery—focused on resilience, momentum, and what happens when someone finally decides: I’m done.
Key themes: recovery, addiction, sobriety, Suboxone, mental health, community support, resilience, transformation
Memorable moments: “I was tired. I was just done.” • “Progress, not perfection.” • “I feel like I’m doing it.”
🔗 Find Ryan & the podcast: https://www.ryanpenley.org
🔗 Connect with Laura on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lstraniak
If you’re navigating recovery—or walking alongside someone who is—this episode is proof that change is possible, even after rock bottom.
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What happens when the addicted brain finally runs out of excuses—and the will to live kicks in? In this powerful conversation on The Next Fix, Ryan Penley sits down with Laura Straniak, who shares her raw journey from early exposure to addiction, through heroin and fentanyl, to the moment jail became the wake-up call that saved her life. Laura doesn’t sugarcoat the chaos—but she also doesn’t stay there. She opens up about medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone, the role of community in a small town, and why progress over perfection became the mindset that changed everything. At 20 months sober, Laura reflects on rebuilding trust, finding purpose, and using her story to help others believe they’re stronger than they think. This is a grounded, honest look at recovery—focused on resilience, momentum, and what happens when someone finally decides: I’m done. Key themes: recovery, addiction, sobriety, Suboxone, mental health, community support, resilience, transformation Memorable moments: “I was tired. I was just done.” • “Progress, not perfection.” • “I feel like I’m doing it.” 🔗 Find Ryan & the podcast: https://www.ryanpenley.org 🔗 Connect with Laura on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lstraniak If you’re navigating recovery—or walking alongside someone who is—this episode is proof that change is possible, even after rock bottom.