Breaking Free: Drake Bell Talks Trauma and His Truth | The Man Enough Podcast
#ManEnoughPodcast #ManEnough #masculinity #undefined
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse of a minor.
Renowned actor and musician Drake Bell opens up about his struggles with past abuse, the complex road to accountability, and the ongoing journey towards healing. The conversation is a powerful reflection of the strength found in vulnerability and the transformative power of speaking one’s truth.
Co-host Jamey Heath shares his own story of abuse as a child, opening the door for Drake to share more about the scars left by his abuse as a young actor on Nickelodeon, which he revealed on the MAX docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. As he battles with the shadows of his past, co-hosts Justin Baldoni, Liz Plank and Jamey discuss the need for Drake to take accountability for his own actions, delving into his truths and the personal resolve to mend the broken pieces.
In this episode:
How the abuse affected Drake’s relationship with his parents and his ex-wife
Confronting betrayal by those Drake admired and who were in positions of power
Taking accountability for his actions
The struggle to trust and love again
Finding hope on the other side of healing
Drake’s vulnerability provides a roadmap for navigating through trauma with honesty and accountability, illuminating a path for others in search of healing and forgiveness.
This episode was recorded on March 30, 2024.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, help is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or go to the NO MORE Global Directory at to find support.
QUOTES:
“What happened to me doesn’t have to define who I am.” - Drake Bell
“One of the byproducts of trauma that you’ve experienced (not an excuse) is boundary issues. 30% of all men who have been abused become abusers.” - Justin Baldoni
“Even in moments of weakness, you need to be able to discern and and recognize…you can’t just blame a moment of weakness for why you got in your car when you were drunk and you crashed into somebody and hurt them.” - Drake Bell
“As a woman I feel safe when men are acknowledging their mistakes, not when they are minimizing.” - Liz Plank
“It’s important for people who have been through experiences like us to see... there’s moments of happiness ahead.” - Drake Bell
ABOUT DRAKE BELL:
Drake Bell is a 37-year-old American actor and musician from Newport Beach, CA. He got his rise to fame as a child actor in the 1990s on the popular Nickelodeon shows “The Amanda Show,” which aired for three seasons starting in 1999, and “Drake & Josh,” which aired for four seasons starting in 2004. He has starred in films such as, “Yours, Mine & Ours,”(2005), “Drake & Josh Go Hollywood” (2006), “Superhero Movie” (2008), and more. Bell has over five albums released, and is best known for his songs “Found a Way,“ “I Know”, and his recently released single called “I Kinda Relate.“ Bell currently resides in Mexico City where he has a large fan base supporting his music.
FOLLOW DRAKE:
Instagram:
TikTok: @drakebell
Facebook:
Twitter:
Spotify:
IMDb:
HOSTS: Justin Baldoni, Liz Plank, and Jamey Heath
JOIN THE MAN ENOUGH COMMUNITY:
Follow:
Instagram:
TikTok:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Subscribe to the Man Enough newsletter for behind the scenes, updates, and sneak peeks of new episodes, as well as positive masculinity content:
Read the book:
FOLLOW THE HOSTS:
Justin Baldoni Instagram:
Justin Baldoni TikTok: @justinbaldoni
Justin Baldoni Facebook:
Justin Baldoni Twitter:
Text Justin: 1 (310) 845-6909
Liz Plank:
Liz Plank TikTok: @lizplank
Liz Plank Facebook:
Liz Plank Twitter:
Site:
Jamey Heath Instagram:
Jamey Heath TikTok: @jameyheath
Jamey Heath Twitter:
Jamey Heath Facebook:
Site:
PRODUCED BY:
Wayfarer Studios:
Wayfarer Studios YouTube:
Executive Producers: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Tarah Malhotra-Feinberg