Ben Bergquam Shares the Personal Story Behind Step Into Fear: “God Broke the Chains and Set Me Free”
Americans know Ben Bergquam as the fearless Real America’s Voice correspondent reporting from the border and some of the world’s most dangerous places. But during Tuesday night’s Unclassified interview with host Greg Stephens, Bergquam shared the deeply personal story behind his new book, Step Into Fear, explaining how addiction, faith, and family shaped both his life and his reporting.
For years, viewers have watched Bergquam report from cartel territory, migrant camps, war zones, and international hotspots that many journalists avoid. His willingness to go where others will not has made him one of the most recognizable field correspondents in conservative media.
On Tuesday’s episode of Unclassified, however, Bergquam pulled back the curtain and shared the journey that led him there.
Appearing with host Greg Stephens, Bergquam discussed his upcoming book, Step Into Fear, revealing that it is far more than a memoir. Instead, he described it as an invitation for people facing fear, addiction, anxiety, or hopelessness to discover that their past does not have to define their future.
“The purpose is to show people that, no matter where you’re from, no matter what you’re going through… God has a plan for your life,” Bergquam said.
One of the most surprising moments came when Stephens called Bergquam “fearless.” Bergquam immediately pushed back.
“I’m not fearless. I’m afraid all the time.”
He explained that courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to move forward despite it. Looking back over his life, he said nearly every meaningful milestone involved confronting fear rather than avoiding it.
“The most meaningful parts of my life have had at their core a significant amount of fear,” he said, explaining that fear has become a catalyst rather than an obstacle.
Bergquam also spoke candidly about the darkest chapter of his life—his battle with crack addiction.
“I went from seeing myself either in prison or dead to being given a new life,” he said.
Now approaching ten years of sobriety, Bergquam credits God with breaking those chains and redirecting his life toward a purpose he never imagined. That transformation, he explained, gave him the courage to pursue dangerous assignments around the world, covering stories that many reporters simply choose not to cover.
His motivation extends beyond journalism.
Reflecting on violent encounters he has experienced while reporting, including being attacked during a free speech event at Berkeley, Bergquam said he often thinks about his wife, Villy, and their daughters.
“If I don’t do it, it’s going to be my daughters and my wife that have to do it,” he said, explaining why he believes confronting difficult issues today helps protect future generations.
Near the conclusion of the interview, Stephens invited Bergquam to speak directly to viewers struggling with addiction or fear.
Holding the blood-stained sign he carried during the Berkeley attack, Bergquam encouraged viewers not to believe they are beyond hope.
“God broke the chains and set me free,” he said before urging people to begin with a simple prayer: “God, use me.”
He reminded viewers that they do not need to understand God’s entire plan before taking the first step.
“God doesn’t give you the full picture. He opens the door, and you take the first step.”
Stephens closed the interview by pointing viewers to Scripture, reminding them that “all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” emphasizing that no one has to clean up their life before turning to God.
Step Into Fear officially releases on September 8, but pre-orders are available now.
Pre-order on Amazon
For readers who know Bergquam only through his reporting, Step Into Fear offers a different perspective: the story of a man who once believed his future ended in prison or death, but who now uses his second chance to encourage others that freedom, purpose, and hope are still possible.
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