Adversity to Strength with Lee Freeman

From a promising baseball star to heroin and crack cocaine addiction, a heart attack at just 21, multiple attempts at rehabilitation and living alongside members of a Mexican drug cartel, Austin Rampt's life became consumed by addiction, crime and self-destruction.In this episode of Adversity to Strength, psychotherapist Lee Freeman is joined by Austin Rampt, author of One Last Hit, who shares his extraordinary journey from addiction and chaos to sobriety, fatherhood and rebuilding his life.Austin reflects on his childhood, his struggles with neurological tics and how the need for achievement, acceptance and validation influenced his sense of self-worth. He discusses his early experiences with drugs and how his substance use developed into a devastating addiction that led to repeated relapses, serious health consequences, homelessness and eventually living in Mexico with connections to the Sinaloa Cartel.Throughout the conversation, Austin speaks openly about the psychological realities of addiction, the challenges of rehabilitation and the experiences that ultimately led him towards lasting recovery. He explores the importance of honesty, vulnerability and genuine human connection in overcoming addiction, alongside the difficult process of confronting his past and learning to accept himself.Now sober, a successful entrepreneur, husband and father of five, Austin shares how he has rebuilt his life, developed a deeper understanding of himself and strengthened his relationships with those closest to him. He also discusses writing his memoir, One Last Hit, and launching his podcast to share meaningful conversations about addiction, recovery and second chances.https://x.com/austinrampthttps://www.instagram.com/onelasthitbookhttps://www.facebook.com/onelasthitbookhttps://www.tiktok.com/@onelasthitbookand subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OneLastHit Podcast: https://onelasthitbook.com/podcast Ebook: https://shop.onelasthitbook.com/product/ebook/ Audiobook: https://shop.onelasthitbook.com/product/audiobook/Paperback: https://shop.onelasthitbook.com/product/one-last-hit-paperback/SobrietyTalk Podcast Directory: https://sobrietytalk.com

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , Ken, author of Lost Valley – Lost Innocence, reveals his experiences of grooming and abuse connected to the Boy Scouts of America, the tragic loss of his childhood friend, and his decades-long struggle with guilt, shame and trauma.

The conversation exposes the disturbing realities of grooming, explores allegations of institutional cover-ups, and examines why survivors often remain silent for decades. Ken also shares his fight for justice, his determination to uncover the truth, and his efforts to prevent other children from experiencing similar abuse. An important conversation about the hidden consequences of childhood sexual abuse, the failure of trusted institutions and the lifelong impact of trauma.

https://lostvalleybook.com

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, psychotherapist Lee Freeman is joined by Carrie Davidson, a registered nurse, author, trauma survivor and trauma-informed coach, who shares her extraordinary journey through childhood adversity, addiction, kidnapping and recovery.

Carrie speaks openly about the traumatic experiences that shaped her early life, the impact of abuse and loss, and how unresolved trauma contributed to years of emotional struggles and addiction.

In one of the most remarkable parts of her story, Carrie recounts being kidnapped in Mexico, her terrifying ordeal, how she escaped and the aftermath of an experience that would become a significant turning point in her life.

Together, Lee and Carrie explore the lasting effects of trauma, living in survival mode, and the importance of therapy, EMDR and self-compassion in the healing process.

Carrie also reflects on the mindset shifts that helped her move forward, her journey into nursing and writing, and how she now uses her experiences to support others facing their own challenges.

An honest and powerful conversation about survival, overcoming adversity, finding purpose and discovering that even after life's darkest moments, recovery and personal transformation are possible.

https://carriepdavidson.com/

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In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Caron Grossman shares a deeply personal journey shaped by grief, addiction, recovery and survival.

Caron lost her mother suddenly to a heart attack when she was just 13. Decades later, at the age of 58, she experienced a heart attack of her own, forcing her to confront the reality of women’s heart health and the importance of recognising that symptoms can present very differently from those typically associated with men.

What began as an article about women’s heart health eventually became her memoir, Listen to Your Heart Song: Navigating the Unexpected. But Caron’s story reaches far beyond the heart attack itself.

We explore the lasting impact of losing her mother at a young age, food and alcohol addiction, recovery, resilience, self-advocacy and the importance of learning to trust the signals we often ignore — from the body, the gut and our own inner sense that something is wrong.

Caron also reflects on how adversity reshaped her life, why listening to yourself can be lifesaving, and what it means to rebuild with greater awareness, honesty and purpose.

This is an open and powerful conversation about grief, recovery, women’s health, self-trust and finding strength after life changes unexpectedly.

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Colleen Clifford shares her deeply personal journey through grief, alcohol misuse, loss and recovery after losing her husband to alcohol-related suicide.

Colleen reflects on her own relationship with binge drinking, the ways grief and trauma affected her behaviour, and the moment she realised that one reckless decision could have changed her life forever. That wake-up call became the beginning of a much deeper process of self-awareness, responsibility and change.

We discuss the difference between alcohol dependence and binge drinking, the hidden risks of unhealthy drinking patterns, the impact of suicide on those left behind, and how loss can force us to re-examine the way we are living.

Colleen also speaks about healing, personal responsibility, resilience, hope and why sharing painful experiences honestly can help others recognise patterns in their own lives before it is too late.

This is an open and reflective conversation about grief, recovery, transformation and finding a way forward after profound loss.

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Hollyanna Fisher shares her extraordinary journey of leaving the high-control religious cult she was born into and rebuilding her life after losing almost everything that had once defined her.

Hollyanna opens up about the psychological impact of growing up within a tightly controlled belief system, the process of questioning authority, and the enormous personal cost of leaving. We explore identity, trauma, gaslighting, parental alienation, self-trust and what happens when the world you were raised to believe in suddenly falls away.

We also discuss Hollyanna’s experiences with chronic pain and complex trauma, and how those experiences led her to explore the relationship between the body, movement, memory and recovery. She explains why she believes the body can communicate what the conscious mind has not yet understood, and how small, patient changes can help rebuild resilience over time.

This is a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about freedom, identity, trauma recovery, self-discovery and learning to trust yourself again after years of being told who you were supposed to be.

n this episode of Adversity to Strength, Dale Atkinson shares his extraordinary journey after being diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer and told his condition was inoperable and incurable.

Rather than accepting a single pathway, Dale immersed himself in research, explored personalised and integrative treatment options, questioned the limitations of standard approaches, and became a determined advocate for his own care.

We discuss the emotional impact of a terminal diagnosis, the importance of patient advocacy, trust in healthcare, personalised medicine, immunotherapy, environmental factors, and the role of research in uncovering additional treatment possibilities.

Dale also reflects on what he learned about the healthcare system from the perspective of both patient and experienced governance professional, including the challenges of navigating consent, communication, off-label treatments and fragmented care.

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, research, uncertainty, advocacy and taking an active role in your own healthcare when the stakes could not be higher.

In this deeply moving episode of Adversity to Strength, Katie Rizzo shares the devastating experience of losing her son, Nicholas, to addiction and the journey of grief that followed.

Katie speaks openly about the early warning signs, the impact addiction had on her family, the challenges of treatment and rehabilitation, and the guilt, shame and helplessness many families experience when someone they love is struggling with substance use.

She also explains her powerful way of understanding grief by comparing it to pregnancy: the shock and physical symptoms at the beginning, the numbness that follows, the need for others to recognise the loss, and eventually learning how to carry grief rather than expecting it to disappear.

We discuss addiction as a disease, the importance of support groups, the value of journaling and poetry, and how creative expression helped Katie maintain a connection with her son while beginning to rebuild her life.

This is an honest and compassionate conversation about addiction, child loss, grief, resilience and finding ways to keep living while carrying the memory of someone you love.

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Scott Lackey shares his remarkable journey through military service, entrepreneurial failure, personal adversity and the pursuit of a life filled with purpose rather than simply achievement.

Scott reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his life, from joining the Army and developing discipline and resilience to experiencing business setbacks, financial loss and the difficult lessons that failure can teach. He explains how these experiences forced him to confront his own identity, rebuild his confidence and discover that success without fulfilment ultimately leaves people feeling empty.

Together, we explore accountability, self-belief, faith, consistency, leadership and why embracing adversity can become the foundation for lasting personal growth. Scott also shares practical insights on overcoming self-doubt, learning from failure and finding the courage to live authentically, even when life doesn't go to plan.

This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, discipline, transformation and discovering purpose through life's greatest challenges.

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Anu Verma shares her remarkable journey of overcoming childhood trauma, toxic relationships, self-destructive behaviours and the long road to healing.

Anu speaks openly about the lasting impact of childhood abuse, the emotional patterns that followed into adulthood, and how trauma can shape our relationships, identity and coping mechanisms. Together, we explore the importance of self-awareness, emotional regulation and recognising the survival strategies that often keep people trapped in cycles of shame, guilt and self-blame.

We also discuss a range of healing approaches, including emotional regulation, journaling, hypnotherapy, Reiki, emotional freedom techniques and the role that travel, environment and supportive relationships can play in recovery. Anu explains why healing is rarely a straight line, how vulnerability can become a source of strength, and why sharing our stories helps others realise they are not alone.

This is a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, recovery and the possibility of transforming pain into purpose.

https://victim2victor.net/