Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

I Made Six Figures A Month On Wall Street...Then I Was Eating Out Of Garbage Cans

October 7, 2026·1h 17m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Ray Rapaglia had the life most people chase — a six-figure-a-month Wall Street career, a nightclub he owned with other brokers, celebrity parties, models, Ferraris. But none of it was ever enough. Over 34 years, his drinking and drug use progressed from beer and cocaine to a decade of smoking crack, and finally to a crushing OxyContin addiction that cost him everything: four marriages, his relationship with his father and kids, his money, and his will to live. By June 2010 he was homeless, eating out of garbage cans, and sleeping under a tree in a cemetery — convinced his life was over. Then a stranger named Michael offered him a cup of coffee and treated him like a human being for the first time in years. That one act of kindness changed everything. Sixteen years sober, Ray now runs a recovery nonprofit, picks men up from jail in the middle of the night, cooks them Italian meals, and dedicates his life to paying forward the mercy that saved him. This is one of the most powerful comeback stories we've ever had on the show — proof that no matter how far down you've gone, it's never too late to start over. If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://learn.nocd.com/Rise&source=gmail&ust=1790019126459000&sa=EUse code RISE when you book.#ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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