Adversity to Strength with Lee Freeman

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 e...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , Katie Hadiaris shares her deeply personal journey through workplace trauma, burnout and recovery, revealing how toxic work environments can have a profound impact on our mental health, relationships and sense of self. Katie explores how early life experiences shape the way we respond to stress, why many high performers become trapped in cycles of emotiona...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , Nancy Deyo shares her extraordinary journey from high-achieving entrepreneur to surviving a life-changing medical crisis that altered the course of her life forever. Driven by ambition from an early age, Nancy built a successful career in Silicon Valley before embarking on a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro that would trigger years of chronic pain, misdiagnosis...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , Todd Malloy shares his journey from growing up in a low-income housing project to building a successful corporate career, before making the life-changing decision to leave it all behind and pursue work that felt more authentic and meaningful. Todd opens up about growing up fast, carrying responsibility from an early age, and how survival mode can shape th...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Jon Edlin shares the extraordinary story of surviving a devastating tornado that destroyed his family home in the early hours of March 3rd, 2020.Waking to chaos, destruction and uncertainty, Jon and his family found themselves standing amongst broken glass, collapsed walls and debris, grateful to be alive but facing the reality that their lives had changed...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , Amy McKiernan shares her deeply personal and courageous journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse, trauma and the long road toward healing and self-acceptance. Amy opens up about the emotional impact of abuse, the shame and self-blame that often follows trauma, and the difficult process of rebuilding your life after devastating experiences. Together, we...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , Raquel G. shares her deeply personal journey of growing up with emotional neglect, navigating the painful realities of maternal narcissism, and learning how to break generational cycles that shaped her life for years. Through honest reflection and vulnerability, Raquel opens up about emotional withholding, difficult family dynamics, trauma, boundaries, he...

Leah Renee shares her inspiring journey from growing up Mormon in Idaho to leaving the church, reinventing her life as a stand-up comedian, and exploring themes of identity, faith, and freedom. This candid conversation delves into her personal stories, challenges, and insights on religion, reinvention, weight loss, and using humour to process life. https://www.leahrenee.co/

Vietnam veteran and former Marine door gunner Keith Cole joins Adversity to Strength for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about war, trauma, survival and life after combat. Keith shares his experiences serving during the Vietnam War, the realities of combat, and the psychological impact war can leave behind long after soldiers return home. We discuss trauma, fear, survival, brotherhood, m...

In this deeply personal episode of Adversity to Strength, Monae Evans talks about trauma, grief, resilience, identity, and the life-changing impact of hidden family secrets. Monae opens up about childhood adversity, losing her mother, navigating complex family dynamics, and the emotional shock of a DNA discovery that changed her understanding of herself and her identity forever. Together, they exp...

In this inspiring episode of Adversity to Strength , Amanda Gordon shares her powerful journey of surviving severe childhood burns, overcoming emotional struggles connected to visible scars, and learning to embrace herself fully despite years of adversity. We explore resilience, self-acceptance, confidence, trauma recovery, and the importance of community and peer support in the healing process. A...

Jessie Tylre Williams shares a life most people wouldn’t survive — and the truth about what it really takes to come back from it. In this episode of Adversity to Strength, Jessie opens up about over 25 years of addiction, surviving childhood sexual abuse, violent relationships, and hitting rock bottoms so deep she describes them as “a basement beyond rock bottom.” This is not a polished recovery s...

On this episode of Adversity to Strength, Amanda J. Scott shares her experience of living through 17 years of emotional, financial, and physical abuse, and what it actually took to leave. This is a grounded, honest conversation about how abuse becomes normalised over time, why people stay even when they know something isn’t right, and what it feels like to lose your sense of self within a relation...

Ronald “Zion” Roseboro shares his journey from trauma, silence, and incarceration to rebuilding his life and becoming a trauma-informed coach. This is a conversation about what happens when men are taught to suppress everything, o stay silent, to appear strong, and to carry pain alone. Ronald opens up about his early life, the choices that led him into prison, and what it was really like on the in...

This inspiring interview with Deanna Steinle explores living with generalised Myasthenia Gravis, navigating diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy. Discover her journey from misdiagnosis to becoming a passionate advocate for rare disease awareness and the role of service dogs in managing chronic illness.

In this insightful interview, Dr. Candice O'Neill, a counselling psychologist specialising in trauma and relational experiences, shares her journey from childhood trauma to becoming a dedicated advocate and therapist for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She discusses the impact of trauma, healing processes, the importance of safe therapeutic relationships, and her vision for future advocac...

This inspiring interview with Jackie Collier explores her journey through adversity, resilience, and success in property investment. She shares personal stories of overcoming challenges, losing both parents within a short space of each other, the importance of mindset, and her vision for helping others through property development and social housing.

Sean Martin shares his extraordinary journey from Iraq war veteran to musician and mental health advocate. Discover how his experiences with trauma, PTSD, and resilience shaped his music and life philosophy, emphasising critical thinking, authenticity, and community building.   https://www.thequarantined.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@TheQuarantined https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mBHj43S2kBEJxxfwH...

Scott Martin shares his inspiring journey of resilience, overcoming the loss of his hands and parts of his feet after a rare infection, and how he transformed adversity into a platform for leadership, coaching, and advocacy. This conversation explores psychological resilience, innovative coaching strategies, and the power of never giving up.

In this compelling interview, retired FBI special agent Eric Robinson shares his extraordinary journey from Christian ministry to law enforcement, revealing behind-the-scenes stories from his 24-year career. Discover insights into handling high-stakes operations, the psychological toll of police work, and lessons learned about resilience, teamwork, and mental health.

This conversation Gabor Kadas explores the rising issue of social disconnection and loneliness, especially in the digital age, and introduces Friendling, a new social platform designed to foster genuine, in-person friendships through verified, proximity-based interactions. The discussion covers societal impacts, technological solutions, safety measures, and future trends in human connection. https...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength , I sit down with Milica Vogt, author of Under a Whistling Sky , to explore resilience shaped by war, displacement, and profound loss. Born in war-torn Croatia, Milica spent three years living in refugee camps before immigrating to the United States. Arriving in a new country while carrying trauma and grief, she had to reconstruct her identity from the grou...

In this episode of Adversity to Strength, I’m joined by Misty Nesbitt, author of The Girl Who Kept Breathing. Married as a teenager and shaped by childhood trauma and systemic failure, Misty’s story begins in adversity. But what makes it powerful is not what happened to her — it’s what she chose to build afterward. We discuss generational trauma, reclaiming identity after survival, personal respon...

In this inspiring interview, Dr. Amrita Sen Mukherjee shares her journey through health challenges, the importance of vulnerability, and how adversity can be a catalyst for growth. She discusses her experience with post-partum health issues, the power of self-compassion, and her mission to support others facing similar struggles.

Betty Guadagno shares her inspiring journey from childhood sexual abuse trauma and years of addiction as well as losing both parents to suicide, to rehab and recovery starting with a spiritual awakening. This conversation explores themes of overcoming extreme adversity, resilience, self-worth, and transforming a life of addiction and trauma into an inspiring life of helping others. https://buddhab...