Lane Kennedy's Nugget
Lane Kennedy's Nugget

Recovery Nuggets Podcast

Former fashion model Lane Kennedy talks with David Clemon about getting sober in Los Angeles, building a spiritual life, and later facing a serious nervous system collapse. She shares how mindfulness, breathwork, DNA-based health insights and varied healing methods now shape the way she helps others in recovery.

InspiringInformativeHonestSupportiveEncouraging

46:24•20 May 2026

RSS Feed

From Runways to Recovery: Lane Kennedy on Sobriety, Spirit and the Nervous System

Episode Overview

Sobriety can turn a narrow, party-centred life into the “wide open space” needed to pursue new dreams and meaningful service.
Early recovery support – frequent meetings, sober friends and structure – can make staying alcohol-free feel both possible and attractive.
Spiritual practices like Buddhism, prayer and meditation often evolve over time and can be refreshed through new approaches such as mindfulness and retreats.
Unaddressed trauma and chronic stress can lead to serious nervous system issues; getting professional or alternative support is key rather than trying to handle it alone.
Simple tools like nose breathing, lengthening the exhale and understanding personal DNA and stress responses can help calm the body and deepen recovery.

“"Since I stopped drinking, I've far exceeded any of those dreams and gone on to build a library of dreams that far exceed what I thought was possible."”

What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? Lane Kennedy’s chat with host David Clemon is a great example, moving from 90s fashion runways and all‑night parties to long-term sobriety, spiritual growth, and nervous system healing. You’ll hear how Lane went from open bars at fashion week to a Saturday morning 12‑step meeting in Laurel Canyon packed with rock stars and celebrities.

Realising, "this is how they're surviving and thriving," she stuck close to meetings, coffee, and sober friends for her first couple of years. She talks about being the woman whose designer told her not to come in because she "stunk so badly", to someone whose husband, child, and friends have never seen her drink. The conversation is relaxed and honest, aimed at people in recovery who like real talk about what happens after you put the drink down.

Lane describes moving to Bangkok after 9/11, helping translate the Big Book, diving into Buddhism, and gradually building a spiritual life where prayer and meditation became everyday tools rather than vague ideas. Things take a more clinical turn when she describes literally collapsing from dysautonomia – a total nervous system crash despite being a meditation and mindfulness teacher. That crisis pushed her into deeper study of the nervous system, trauma, and how stress shows up in the body.

She explains using DNA testing, breathwork, and simple questions like "are you breathing?" to help people calm their system, especially those who can’t just close their eyes and meditate. Lane keeps circling back to one big message: sobriety opens "wide open space" to try different practices, seek help for trauma, and build a life of service. Her book *Sobriety for Dummies* and her work with first responders show how many routes there can be to staying alcohol-free.

It might leave you wondering what new doors your own recovery could open next.

PreviousCindy Payne's Nugget -Healing from CPTSD