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Free Like-Me

Clark Fredericks

The "Free Like Me" podcast, hosted on YouTube by Clark Fredericks, is a platform for sharing powerful stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. Each episode delves into the personal narratives of individuals who have faced significant adversities, focusing on their journey towards overcoming these challenges and the lessons learned along the way. The podcast aims to inspire and support others by highlighting the importance of speaking up about trauma, advocating for mental health, and the pivotal role of friendship and community in the healing process.
Visit: Clark Fredericks website:
https://konect.to/freelike-me08808

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20 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 1 hr 7 min
English

Episodes 20

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August 25 · 45 min
Escaping the Cycle of Abuse
Sexual abuse. Family betrayal. Meth, heroin, and fentanyl. Borderline personality disorder. Jail. Stevie survived all of it — and has been clean since August 2025. | Free Like Me Podcast with Clark Fredericks Stevie grew up in small-town Maryland in a home full of heavy drinking and conflict. She was first abused around age 6 by an uncle by marriage. Then groomed and assaulted by her great-uncle. At 11 years old — terrified for her little sister's safety — she reported him. He served 18 months and landed on the sex offender registry. Her extended family blamed her anyway. Her school made it worse. What followed was years of compounding pain — diagnoses of borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, addiction that escalated from alcohol at 15 to meth, heroin, and fentanyl, repeated suicidal crises, and a revolving door of psychiatric facilities. Then jail. That became her turning point. Stevie opens up about how DBT and CBT therapy, music, movement, sleep, and mindset work pulled her out — and why she went back for maintenance help when cravings returned instead of staying silent. This is one of the most honest conversations about what early recovery actually looks like day to day.
June 9 · 1 hr 13 min
I Had Zero Worth
Religious trauma. Coercive control. Addiction. Depression. Deanna survived all of it — and rebuilt her life on her own terms. Deanna grew up inside a strict Fundamental Baptist home where shame replaced support and obedience replaced safety. When she finally left, she had no tools to recognize manipulation — which made her the perfect target. A man named Steve used love-bombing, ecstasy, and calculated coercive control to pull her into repeated sexual exploitation she identifies as rape. When she told her family, they stayed silent. What followed was a spiral into heavy drinking, multiple DUIs, and a depression she drowned in alcohol. Rock bottom came in a jail cell. From there — through Alcoholics Anonymous, treatment, and community — she built something no one handed her: long-term sobriety, a storytelling platform called Intrepid Storytelling, and a family of three kids she created by choice through IVF, foster care, and adoption. This is what recovering from religion and trauma actually looks like.
April 21 · 1 hr 19 min
From Teen Raves to Federal Inmate
Ian Bick joins Clark Fredericks on the Free Like Me Podcast. It started with hustle. As a bullied teenager desperate for acceptance, Ian channeled his energy into school dances, house parties, and eventually some of the most profitable teen nightclub events in his region. But when he tried to scale into full-size concerts, the losses came fast — and instead of stepping back, he doubled down. He guaranteed investors their principal. Then he offered 50% returns through an electronics deal built on counterfeit products. When that fell apart, he started cycling new investor money to cover old promises. The spiral deepened with every failed show, every new pitch, every lie told to buy more time. Federal investigators took notice. What followed was an FBI raid, a wire fraud indictment, a gambling spiral that ran through his own trial, bond revocation, and ultimately a three-year federal sentence with $495,000 in restitution — most of which he has now paid back. Ian opens up about what prison actually taught him, how he rebuilt from the ground up through restaurant work and Whole Foods, and how a single viral TikTok post launched a criminal-justice podcast that now commands serious audiences and notable guests. This is a story about what happens when ambition outpaces integrity — and what it takes to earn your way back.
April 7 · 1 hr
Abused at 10, Addicted by 16
Survivor. Addict. Redeemed. Clark Fredericks interviews Armand — NJ native, heroin recovery survivor, childhood abuse survivor & author of He Calls Me Redeemed | Free Like Me Podcast Armand grew up in New Jersey with Armenian and Italian roots in a close-knit family. At 10 years old, a family friend's husband began abusing him — and the silence that followed set the course for the next decade of his life. By his teens he was dealing drugs, dropping out of high school, and spiraling from marijuana and alcohol to prescription pills and ultimately heroin. The night he found himself on train tracks with nothing left, he opened a Bible to Psalm 88 and prayed. What happened next he calls a miracle — a call back to Kezik Colony of Mercy, a counselor who walked him through forgiveness, and a faith that held when everything else had failed. Today Armand is a husband, a father, and the author of He Calls Me Redeemed — and he's urging every survivor to break their silence before it breaks them.
March 24 · 1 hr 1 min
An Abuser on the Ballot
Clark Fredericks sits down with Anne-Marie — a survivor of non-stranger assault who spent decades in silence, then discovered her abuser was running for city council in Melrose, Massachusetts. What she did next took courage. What happened after tested everything. Anne-Marie lost her mother at seven and grew up near Boston in a home ruled by an abusive stepmother. As a high school senior on an unsupervised spring break trip to Bermuda, she was sexually assaulted by a male classmate after a night of drinking — an experience she buried for years under shame, silence, and self-doubt. It wasn't until the Brock Turner case resurfaced her trauma that she reached out to her abuser directly. Then in 2023, a Facebook message from a former roommate revealed he was campaigning for public office. Anne-Marie consulted legal counsel, posted a public statement — and faced denials, smear tactics, and retaliation. Now she's fighting to strengthen Massachusetts anti-SLAPP and defamation protections so survivors who speak out aren't punished for telling their truth.
March 10 · 1 hr 5 min
Her Mom Was 13 Years Old
Clark Fredericks sits down with Vanna — a survivor of childhood instability, severe abuse, and a terrifying knife incident — who found her way through faith, poetry, and the decision to break the cycle. | Free Like Me Podcast with Clark Fredericks Vanna grew up in constant chaos. Her mother had her at 13, later battled bipolar disorder and substance abuse, and made stability feel impossible. Her father was incarcerated until she was 13. By high school, Vanna was isolated, depressed, and facing suicidal thoughts with no support system. Then came the night her mother ran at her with a knife — the moment that changed everything. In this episode, Vanna opens up about CPS involvement, being parentified too young, moving out at 18, and the long road through therapy and numbness before real healing could begin. She talks about how faith, reading, and writing poetry became her lifeline — and why she's choosing stability over the cycles she was raised in.
February 17 · 1 hr 5 min
Recovery Built This App
What happens when a life marked by addiction, crime, and chaos turns into a mission to help others heal? In this episode of The Free Like Me Podcast, Brian McAlister shares how recovery became the foundation for a new purpose: building MyMentalHealth.org and VRS Freedom 365, a self-guided mental health and recovery program designed with privacy in mind. Brian breaks down the real turning points, what the 12-step process taught him, how he rebuilt his life from the ground up, and why personal accountability and daily habits can completely change your future. You’ll hear how Brian went from surviving day-to-day to creating tools meant to support people battling addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges. This conversation covers recovery, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the mindset shift that turns setbacks into fuel.
February 3 · 1 hr 19 min
Betrayed by the Military
Kelly didn’t just serve, she survived a system that wasn’t built to protect her. In this episode of Free Like Me, Clark Fredericks sits down with Kelly, a veteran who shares what happened behind the uniform: the night that changed everything, the disorienting aftermath where time didn’t feel real, and the terrifying moment she realized she couldn’t simply “walk away.” Kelly describes the chilling calm of someone who never showed obvious warning signs, and how that silence became its own kind of threat. Kelly also pulls back the curtain on the culture that many women quietly endure, where young newcomers are treated like targets and speaking up can cost you everything. From testifying about military sexual assault to navigating retaliation, bureaucracy, and trauma recovery, Kelly’s story is a raw look at what it takes to fight for yourself when the system fights back. This conversation is about more than trauma, it’s about reclaiming power, telling the truth out loud, and rebuilding a life on your terms. ⚠️ Viewer discretion advised: this episode discusses sexual assault, trauma, and PTSD
January 20 · 1 hr 29 min
My Abuse Become Normal
In this powerful episode of Free Like Me, Clark Fredericks sits down with Julia, who shares her story of surviving childhood sexual abuse and later escaping a dangerous domestic violence relationship. Julia opens up about the warning signs, the fear and control, the moment she realized she had to leave, and the difficult legal fight to protect her child. Today, she uses her voice to support other survivors and prove that healing and safety are possible after trauma.
January 6 · 1 hr 14 min
Surviving Incest and Finding Strength
In this powerful episode of Free Like Me, host Clark Fredericks welcomes Aziza Kibibi, author of “Unashamed: A Life Tainted”, to share her story of survival, healing, and advocacy. Aziza recounts her traumatic upbringing—isolated, homeschooled, and subjected to years of sexual and physical abuse by her father, a once-renowned music video director. Despite enduring unimaginable pain, Aziza found her strength through faith, education, and the power of her voice. Today, she’s a leading advocate for survivors, fighting to reform New Jersey’s incest laws and break generational cycles of silence and shame. This is more than a story—it’s a movement for truth and unashamed healing.
Dec 23, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
When Power Fails The Innocent
In this powerful episode of Free Like Me, Clark Fredericks sits down with Attorney Jeff Russo, a Warren County, NJ lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting for victims of child sexual abuse. Russo shares how he entered this line of work, the shocking details behind the Edward Bullock case, and the systemic challenges survivors face within the legal system. From courtroom battles to emotional endurance, Jeff exposes how power, politics, and insurance loopholes can delay justice—and how survivors and advocates are fighting back to change the law.
Dec 16, 2025 · 1 hr 17 min
Predators Disguised in Recovery
In this week's episode of Free Like Me, host Clark Fredericks sits down with Mandy P, creator of Mandy P Talks Predators, to expose a disturbing story of abuse and manipulation inside a 12-step recovery program. Mandy, adopted at birth and a survivor of childhood abuse, shares how she was drawn into a cult-like AA group led by a charismatic but predatory figure named Mike. Her story reveals how even trusted recovery environments can become dangerous when power, vulnerability, and exploitation collide.
Dec 9, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Abuse, Betrayal, and the Mob
In this week's episode of The Free Like Me Podcast, host Clark Fredericks speaks with Remington, a survivor whose story unfolds like a movie — filled with abuse, betrayal, and unexpected connections to organized crime. From enduring a traumatic childhood and complex family dynamics in Sussex County, New Jersey, to facing SWAT raids and uncovering mob ties, Remington’s life has been marked by extraordinary challenges. But her story doesn’t end in tragedy — it’s one of resilience, recovery, and redemption. Remington opens up about the power of truth, the process of healing from deep trauma, and how faith and self-belief can turn pain into purpose.
Nov 25, 2025 · 56 min
Addicted, Broken, and Still Breathing
Forrest Lang — a Navy veteran, tattoo artist, and author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption. Forrest opens up about his painful childhood filled with abuse, neglect, and foster care trauma, and the years of alcoholism and self-destruction that followed. Forrest reveals how a tragic turning point forced him to face his demons and rebuild his life. From the depths of addiction to finding faith, purpose, and peace, his story is one of extraordinary resilience, redemption, and the courage to heal. If you’ve ever struggled with your past, this episode reminds you that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Nov 18, 2025 · 49 min
Turning Pain Into Power
In this new episode of Free Like Me, Honey shares her powerful story of surviving childhood sexual abuse, family instability, and emotional neglect—and how she found the strength to confront her abuser and reclaim her voice. Honey opens up about the long-term effects of trauma on her relationships, mental health, and body image, including her struggle with anorexia and the journey toward healing and self-acceptance. Through therapy, faith, and motherhood, she discovered what it truly means to love herself after years of pain. Her story is one of resilience, empowerment, and hope—reminding survivors everywhere that while trauma shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us.
Nov 11, 2025 · 44 min
Addiction, Abuse & Recovery
Abuse, Addiction & Recovery In this week's episode of Free Like Me, host Clark Fredericks sits down with author and speaker Paul Steele, who shares his inspiring path from surviving childhood sexual abuse to battling addiction, chronic pain, and near-death experiences—and ultimately finding healing through faith, therapy, and service. Paul opens up about the car crash that nearly took his life, his introduction to opioids, and the long road of physical and emotional recovery that followed. Breaking down how AA, honest conversations with family, and his spiritual practices helped him reclaim his life and purpose. Whether you're struggling with trauma, addiction, or searching for meaning—recovery is possible and your past doesn’t define your future.
Nov 4, 2025 · 51 min
No Safety, No Affection
In this week's episode of The Free Like Me Podcast, host Clark Fredericks speaks with Michele, who opens up about her painful childhood shaped by narcissistic parents and years of sexual abuse by a trusted family friend. From early neglect and trauma to addiction, toxic relationships, and time in a psych ward, Michele shares her story of recovery and self‑discovery. Through therapy and faith, she finds self‑love, forgiveness, and healing after years of silence. This episode sheds light on the hidden scars of childhood abuse, the psychological effects of narcissistic parenting, and the power of therapy in reclaiming your life. Michele’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing is possible — even after the darkest beginnings.
Oct 28, 2025 · 2 hr 7 min
Scarred Live Event in Stillwater, NJ
Live book signing event in Stillwater, NJ, Clark Fredericks shares his personal journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Dennis Pegg, a once-trusted community figure. Joined by fellow survivors and supporters, Clark opens up about his years of trauma, addiction, and the breaking point that led to a life-altering act of justice. Through honest conversation and vulnerability, this event highlights the urgent need to break the silence around abuse, confront the past, and embrace the path toward healing and transformation. This video stands as a beacon of strength and hope for others who may still be suffering in silence.
Oct 21, 2025 · 54 min
Burying Trauma
In this week's episode, Clark sits down with his high school friend Jim opens up about the early traumas he kept hidden, the pain of silence, and the dangerous road it led him down — including substance abuse, emotional breakdowns, and eventually, a murder conviction. Jim reflects on his time in prison, the brutal realities of the Texas prison system, and the slow climb toward healing through therapy, faith, and facing his past head-on. This episode is a reminder of how unspoken pain can shape a life — and how telling your truth can set you free. 🔔 If this conversation resonates with you or someone you know, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a comment. You're not alone.
Oct 14, 2025 · 50 min
My Childhood was Stolen
In this unforgettable episode of Free Like Me, Michael Gonzalez shares his deeply personal story of surviving childhood sexual abuse by a trusted teacher in Leonia, New Jersey. As he revisits the dark memories of grooming, manipulation, and betrayal that began in the 1960s, Michael reveals how the trauma shaped his youth, his time in the military, and ultimately led him to confront his abuser decades later.

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