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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.