Falling to Freedom

12/10/2025

I love the element of surprise in Matthew 25. When Jesus commends the sheep for feeding and clothing Him, they ask, 'Lord, when did we see you?' They didn't even know they were serving God; they were just loving people, and in doing so, they touched the heart of the Father.

​It teaches me that true Christianity isn't a performance; it’s a posture. It’s treating the vulnerable with dignity not to earn points, but because our hearts have been changed. I want to live with that kind of natural compassion, where serving the 'least of these' is just who I am.

12/09/2025

Matthew 24 gave me a serious 'Heart Check.' Jesus warned that in the last days, the love of many would grow cold. It is so easy to let cynicism creep in when we see how crazy the world is getting.

​I realized that staying warm-hearted in a cold world is one of the hardest things we are called to do. I don't want to become numb or bitter. I want to be one of the ones who endures to the end with a heart that is still alive and loving, no matter what the headlines say..

12/08/2025

Matthew 23 gave me a simple rule for life: Inside first, outside second. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for polishing the outside of the cup while the inside was filthy. They were experts at behavior modification, but failures at heart transformation.

​It’s a conviction for me to stop trying to 'act' right and ask God to make me right. I need to stop managing my image and start letting Him manage my heart. True change always works from the inside out.

12/03/2025

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.

Full episode here: https://youtu.be/9khKJsnhvkE?si=IDBgPoNJCEVc5hZG

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

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FaithBasedRecovery​ Sobriety​ Podcast​ UglyHonesty

12/01/2025

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

11/18/2025

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

11/01/2025

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.  

The full episode is available now wherever you get your favorite podcasts, or watch on YouTube.

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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

10/29/2025

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.
Jump into the conversation: hit like, subscribe, and follow
https://www.facebook.com/TheFallingToFreedomPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/TheFallingToFreedomPodcast
https://www.youtube.com/
https://x.com/FTFShow
https://www.tiktok.com/
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

10/24/2025

COMING SOON: Episode 21 of the Falling To Freedom Podcast! 🎙️

"You can't recover if you're dead."

We're tackling the controversial topic of harm reduction with Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal, Chair of the USC Department of Population and Public Health Science. Does this approach offer improved outcomes, or is it making the problem worse?

It’s a powerful conversation you don’t want to miss.
➡️ Like, share, and follow!
➡️ Subscribe to the Falling To Freedom Podcast YouTube channel!

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10/08/2025

09/05/2025

Designed to Influence and Addict: Social Media’s Impact on Our Children
Amy Neville lost her son Alexander at 14 to a fentanyl-laced pill he found through social media. In just 24 hours, her world was shattered.
In Episode 20 of Falling to Freedom, Amy shares her story and her mission to protect kids by holding platforms like Snapchat accountable for fueling addiction and drug access.

We cover:
- How Snapchat’s disappearing messages and algorithms hook teens.
- Amy’s lawsuit against Snapchat.
- Parenting tips: delay phones, use flip phones, monitor feeds, and use tools like the DEA
- Drug Emoji Guide and Wait Until 8th Campaign.
Her courage is saving lives. Every parent needs to hear this.

Watch/Listen: https://youtu.be/15nPAgDLPz0
Learn more: https://anfhelp.org |
https://fullyrestoredministries.org