In Episode 24, Chad sits down with Brooke Torres to share her powerful testimony of redemption. Brooke’s story begins with a childhood marked by divorce and a search for love that led her down a dark path. What started as "fitting in" with marijuana in the 8th grade quickly spiraled into a 15-year battle with meth, heroin, abusive relationships, and incarceration. Brooke opens up about the pain of losing custody of her firstborn son, the cycle of addiction that kept her bound, and the dangerous lifestyle that nearly took her life.

But God had a different plan.

From meeting her husband Tim in a flop house to living in a car in San Diego, Brooke shares the turning point that changed everything. Now 10 years clean and sober, Brooke is a testament to the fact that it is never too late to start over. She has been restored as a mother, a wife, and a servant of God. Today Brooke and her husband run an HVAC company and enjoy the important things in life...faith, family and friends.

Join us as we discuss the impact of fatherless youth, the reality of gateway drugs, and the incredible freedom found in surrender. Brooke’s message is clear: Don’t wait. The more time you lose, the harder it is to get back. Make the choice to get help today.

Need HVAC service in the Southwest Riverside area? Checkout Brooke and Tim's business. www.UpgradeHVAC.com.

Subscribe to our channel for more stories of redemption. www.fullyrestored.org/podcast

#FallingToFreedom #AddictionRecovery #RedemptionStory #FaithAndRecovery #Sobriety #Testimony #BrookeTorres #Hope

Is there a "missing link" in the recovery process?

Most people view rehab as the finish line, but Cameron Birk argues it’s

actually just the starting line. On this episode of Falling to Freedom,

host Chad LaComb sits down with Cameron Birk, CEO of Absolute

Ministries, to uncover why so many people stumble after treatment, and

how to fix it.

Cameron shares his personal journey from a life he calls a "dumpster

fire" to leading a ministry that boasts an incredible 85% success rate

for its graduates.

In this conversation, we cover: The "Ugly Honesty" Concept: Why

admitting the ugly stuff is the only way to heal. The 15/85 Rule: The

specific ratio of correction vs. encouragement needed for mentorship.

The Gap: Why "one size fits all" fails and how to bridge the gap between

rehab and real life.

Full Continuum of Care: We break down Absolute’s comprehensive model,

which creates a complete path to freedom, starting with physician-led

medical detox, moving to a 60-day residential inpatient program, and

finishing with their signature transitional life housing to ensure

long-term success.

If you or a loved one are navigating the complexities of recovery, this

episode offers a practical blueprint for what comes next.

DROP A COMMENT: Have you ever heard of the concept of "Ugly Honesty"?

Let us know what you think about it below!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

● Absolute Ministries: www.absoluteministries.org

CONNECT WITH US:

● Website: www.fullyrestored.org

#Recovery #AddictionRecovery #FallingToFreedom #AbsoluteMinistries #MentalHealth

#FaithBasedRecovery #Sobriety #Podcast #UglyHonesty

What kind of leader is willing to lose his own legs for the people he

serves?

In Episode 22 Courage, Compassion, and Sacrifice: The Andy Bales Story,

host Chad LaComb sits down with a man who embodies all three. Andy Bales

spent two decades on the front lines as CEO of the Union Rescue Mission

on LA’s Skid Row, and his life tells the story of costly love.

Andy doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He names homelessness for what it is,

“the biggest crisis in America”, and walks us straight into the

intersection of addiction, trauma, recovery, and hope.

He breaks down what actually makes a difference: long-term residential

care, real job training, and the “secret sauce” of peer-to-peer

accountability and support.

This conversation cuts through the noise and gives us a clear,

compassionate look at solutions that work, and the courage it takes to

live them out.

Learn More:

Union Rescue Mission (URM): www.urm.org

Children and Family Urban Movement: www.cfum.org

Fully Restored Ministries: www.fullyrestored.org

#AndyBales #UnionRescueMission #Homelessness #Addiction #Recovery #SkidRow#LosAngeles #HomelessCrisis #FaithBasedSolutions #FallingToFreedomPodcast #Compassion#MentalHealth #InsideSafeProgram #LAHSA

Buckle up for a compelling 50-minute discussion on Falling to Freedom,

where host Chad LaComb, recounting his own gritty road to restoration,

talks with Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal.

This USC powerhouse, with a UC Berkeley PhD and 200+ papers in top

journals like The Lancet, knows addiction inside out: from HIV fights in

the '80s in Oakland (even getting busted running a needle exchange

program as a grad student) to unpacking booze's uneven toll on

communities.

Chad asks: Why pump tax dollars into needle exchange programs, Narcan

kits, and Housing First if they just keep folks hooked? I’d rather see

that cash fuel abstinence programs, ones that teach real skills for a

substance-free life.

Dr. Bluthenthal counters with: "You can't recover if you're dead." He

suggests that data on how harm reduction, fentanyl strips and safe use

sites—cuts deaths, HIV rates, and even nudges people toward quitting,

all while tapping our brain's soft spot for positive reinforcement.

Topics such as California's vetoed AB 255 for sober housing, LA's

Measure J and CalAIM's low-barrier care push are among the topics; raw,

real talk that challenges the narratives surrounding addiction's real

fight.

Watch on YouTube or stream it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you listen to podcasts. #HarmReduction #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #OpioidCrisis#MentalHealthAwareness #OpioidCrisis #MentalHealthMatters#SoberOctober

Jump into the conversation: hit like, subscribe, and follow

https://www.facebook.com/TheFallingToFreedomPodcast

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Got ideas for future episodes or know an amazing guest? Shoot us a message, we are all about

sparking these real talks in recovery. Let's keep building

Designed to Influence and Addict: Social Media’s Impact on Our Children

Amy Neville’s life changed forever when her son, Alexander, died at 14

from a fentanyl-laced pill he accessed through social media. Just 24

hours passed from his admission of experimenting with oxycodone to his

tragic death.

In this gripping episode of Falling to Freedom, Amy shares her

heartbreaking story and her fight to hold social media platforms

accountable for their role in addicting and endangering kids.

We explore:

- How Snapchat and similar apps enable teen drug access and addiction.

- Amy’s role as lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Snapchat.

- Practical parenting tips: delaying smartphones, using flip phones,

safe settings, monitoring feeds, and teaching kids about online risks.

- Key resources like the DEA Drug Emoji Guide, Wait Until 8th Campaign,

and healthy screen Habits.

Resources and Links

Alexander Neville Foundation: https://anfhelp.org

DEA Drug Emoji Guide: https://dea.gov/emoji

Fully Restored Ministries: https://fullyrestoredministries.org

Recommended: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Careless People,

& Can’t Look Away

Follow Falling to Freedom:

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Subscribe for stories of hope, awareness, and solutions to addiction and recovery.

#OnePillCanKill #FentanylAwareness #ProtectOurKids #SocialMediaAddiction #ParentingTips

California is in crisis: addiction, homelessness, and crime are spiraling. Can one leader fix it?

In this powerful interview, Sheriff Chad Bianco, candidate for Governor of California, joins host Chad LaComb on The Falling to Freedom Podcast to talk solutions rooted in law enforcement experience, faith, and problem-solving leadership.

With more than 32 years in law enforcement, Bianco explains why the vast majority of crime is tied to drugs, how untreated mental illness fuels homelessness, and why he believes current harm-reduction policies only make things worse. Instead, he lays out his vision for treatment-first, abstinence-centered recovery and why placing offenders in rehab instead of jail could break the cycle of addiction and crime.

Bianco also shares his personal convictions, shaped by family, faith, and integrity, that led him to move from policing into politics. He reflects on the turning point that inspired him to run for governor, the values that guide his leadership, and his commitment to surrounding himself not just with allies but with diverse voices who challenge him.

His message is simple but bold: California’s problems can be solved with truth, accountability, and the courage to lead differently.

This conversation isn’t just about politics, it’s about what it takes to restore a state that so many once came to for opportunity and freedom. Whether you agree or disagree with Bianco, this episode challenges us all to face reality, break destructive cycles, and fight for a better California.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to The Falling to Freedom Podcast for more conversations on addiction, recovery, and leadership.

Share this episode to keep the conversation going!

Watch more episodes here: https://www.fullyrestored.org/podcast

Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefallingtofreedompodcast

Question for you: What’s the ONE change California needs most right now?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

#FallingToFreedomPodcast #ChadBianco #CaliforniaPolitics

What if everything we think we know about crime prevention is backwards? In this compelling episode of Falling to Freedom, host Chad LaComb sits down with retired police sergeant and decorated Air Force veteran Michael Sugrue to uncover a hard truth from the front lines: most crime has a root; it’s fueled by addiction.

From covert narcotics operations in California to the deadly realities of today’s fentanyl crisis, Sgt. Sugrue shares the rare perspective of someone who’s lived deep inside both law enforcement and the world of substance use disorder. He reveals how trauma, broken relationships, and untreated mental health struggles drive people into cycles of addiction, and how the justice system too often chases symptoms instead of causes.

But this is more than a conversation about crime statistics. Sugrue opens up about his own breaking point after a fatal shooting, the silence that nearly destroyed his family and the healing that came when he finally spoke out. Today, as an author, speaker, and mental health advocate, he’s using his voice to reach first responders, veterans, and anyone who’s been told to “suck it up” and suffer in silence.

If you want to go deeper into Michael’s story and learn practical strategies for surviving and overcoming front line trauma, check out his powerful book Relentless Courage: Winning the Battle Against Front line Trauma, co-authored with psychologist Dr. Shauna Springer.

Like, follow, and share this episode to keep the conversation going.

What do you think: if we focused more on addiction treatment, would crime rates drop? Let us know in the comments.

#AddictionRecovery #CriminalJusticeReform #FirstResponderWellness

Join host Chad LaComb for an inspiring conversation with Mary Beth O’Connor, retired federal judge and author of 'From Junkie to Judge: One woman's triumph over trauma and addiction' as they explore her incredible journey from childhood trauma and methamphetamine addiction to lasting recovery. Mary Beth shares how she crafted a personalized recovery plan, rejecting one-size-fits-all models, and emphasizes the power of addressing trauma and mental health for true freedom. With 31 years sober, she offers hope and practical advice for anyone battling addiction or supporting a loved one.

Listen now to discover how tailoring recovery to your unique needs can transform your life.

Join the conversation: How has addiction touched your life, and what

steps are you taking toward freedom? Share below!

Subscribe to Falling to Freedom Podcast for more stories of resilience,

recovery, and hope.

#AddictionRecovery #FromJunkieToJudge #HarmReduction #MentalHealthAwareness #ChristianPodcast