Falling to Freedom

Chad LaComb

Welcome to Falling to Freedom; the weekly podcast that brings thoughtful, informed and challenging discussions about addiction to the forefront of everyone's minds. Join us as we discuss the root causes, effects, collateral damage, and of course solutions to this growing problem. Topics include addiction and homelessness, addiction and crime, the tragedy of overdose, prescription drugs, the impact on communities and more... Addiction is the dirty little secret that every family deals with but no one wants to talk about.

  1. (ACEs) Adverse Childhood Experiences and Addiction

    Mar 8

    (ACEs) Adverse Childhood Experiences and Addiction

    In Episode 26, host Chad LaComb speaks with Bridgette J. Peteet, PhD, MA.; professor of psychology at Loma Linda University. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and the author of (Dis)Honor Thy Mother: Daughterhood, Dysfunction and Deliverance. Together, they explore childhood trauma and the hidden roots of addiction. This episode addresses a subject that is often left unspoken. It looks at the harm that can grow when the mother-child relationship is shaped by neglect. It also considers emotional distance and dysfunction. Dr. Peteet draws from professional insight and personal experience. She explains how adverse childhood experiences can affect identity, showing how those experiences can shape mental health and relationships and increase the risk of addiction. Chad and Dr. Peteet discuss how destructive family patterns can pass from one generation to the next. They examine what it takes to break those cycles. Healing requires truth and courage. It also requires steady and intentional work. Their conversation points to the healing power of faith and highlights therapy and mentoring. Supportive communities can help people face the past; it can also help them build a healthier future. If you have ever wondered how childhood wounds continue to shape adult life, this is a conversation worth hearing. Don’t forget to Like, Follow, and Share. Let’s bring truth and healing into the conversation. #ChildhoodTrauma #AddictionRecovery #BreakingTheCycle

    48 min
  2. Epigenetics, Addiction And The Power Of Healthy Habits

    Feb 6

    Epigenetics, Addiction And The Power Of Healthy Habits

    In Episode 25, host Chad LaComb sits down with Dr. Lu Wing, a molecular biologist and pastor, to explore the groundbreaking science of epigenetics and its profound intersection with addiction and faith. Dr. Wing, author of The Genes of Eden, explains that while we may inherit predispositions for addiction, our genes are not our destiny. We dive into the concept of Somatic Theology, the belief that our bodies are the "temple" where spiritual disciplines like prayer and meditation manifest as physical resilience. From the "Original Sin" of DNA methylation to the neuroplasticity of "progressive sanctification," this episode offers a roadmap for anyone looking to understand how a life in Christ literally rewires the brain and body for recovery. Don't forget to Like, Follow, and Share. Addiction is the secret many families keep. Let's bring the light of faith and science to the conversation. #Epigenetics #BiologyOfRecovery #SomaticTheology

    48 min
  3. Brooke Torres: A Woman Set Free

    12/23/2025

    Brooke Torres: A Woman Set Free

    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

    37 min
  4. The Missing Link: What Successful Recovery Looks Like

    12/01/2025

    The Missing Link: What Successful Recovery Looks Like

    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

    47 min
  5. Courage, Compassion and Sacrifice: The Andy Bales Story

    11/18/2025

    Courage, Compassion and Sacrifice: The Andy Bales Story

    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

    52 min
  6. Harm Reduction Policies: Are they helping or hurting?

    10/29/2025

    Harm Reduction Policies: Are they helping or hurting?

    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 https://www.instagram.com/TheFallingToFreedomPodcast https://www.youtube.com/@FallingtoFreedomPodcast https://x.com/FTFShow https://www.tiktok.com/@fallingtofreedom https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefallingtofreedompodcast 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

    57 min
  7. Designed to influence and addict: Social media's impact on our children

    09/05/2025

    Designed to influence and addict: Social media's impact on our children

    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: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFallingToFreedomPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFallingToFreedomPodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FallingtoFreedomPodcast X: https://x.com/FTFShow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fallingtofreedom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefallingtofreedompodcast Subscribe for stories of hope, awareness, and solutions to addiction and recovery. #OnePillCanKill #FentanylAwareness #ProtectOurKids #SocialMediaAddiction #ParentingTips

    42 min
  8. Chad Bianco: California's Problem Solver

    08/18/2025

    Chad Bianco: California's Problem Solver

    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

    29 min
See All (26)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Falling to Freedom; the weekly podcast that brings thoughtful, informed and challenging discussions about addiction to the forefront of everyone's minds. Join us as we discuss the root causes, effects, collateral damage, and of course solutions to this growing problem. Topics include addiction and homelessness, addiction and crime, the tragedy of overdose, prescription drugs, the impact on communities and more... Addiction is the dirty little secret that every family deals with but no one wants to talk about.

Information

  • Creator
    Chad LaComb
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Chad LaComb
  • Show Website
    Falling to Freedom