Episode 1: Early Roots – From Brooklyn Park to Glen Burnie (1968–Mid-Teens) | Born to Fail, Bred to Survive Podcast

Dive into the raw beginnings of my life story in this inaugural episode of the "Born to Fail, Bred to Survive" podcast. From my chaotic birth as Arlin Carter in 1968 Baltimore to the name change that left me resenting the world, I pull back the curtain on a childhood marked by secret family visits, a revolving door of siblings, and the pill-fueled storms that tore my home apart. Hear the heart-wrenching details of my sister Amy's tragic end, the night a bullet whizzed past my head, and how my adoptive dad Dan's tough love—mixed with BMX races, construction hustles, and life lessons—shaped the resilient survivor I became. Plus, wild adventures with my best friend Ray Ray, like that unforgettable "camping" trip that ended on a VFW porch.

This is more than a memoir; it's a no-holds-barred reflection on blending families, addiction's grip, and finding strength in the grind. If you've ever felt like life dealt you a bad hand, this episode hits home—proving survival isn't luck, it's bred in the bones.

🎧 Listen now and join the journey from backstreet alleys to Silicon Valley. New episodes drop weekly, unpacking each chapter of my autobiography.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Birth Story

05:12 Secret Visits with Bio Dad

10:45 Name Change Resentment

15:30 Family Chaos & Amy's Tragedy

22:10 Mom's Pill Struggles & The Gunshot Night

28:05 Dan's Tough Love & Life Lessons

35:40 BMX Racing Glory

42:15 Ray Ray's Camping Adventure

48:20 Life After the Split & Reflections

54:00 Song Lyrics: Danny's Working Shoes & Outro

Subscribe for more real-talk episodes, hit that like button if this resonates, and drop a comment: What's your "born to fail" moment that bred your survival?

Follow on X: @ChefArlin

Book available: Search "Born to Fail, Bred to Survive" by Arlin Bleclic

#Autobiography #LifeStory #Survival #BMXRacing #FamilyDrama #Podcast #BornToFailBredToSurvive

From the same kid who grew up calling ambulances for overdoses, dodging bullets through bunk-bed walls, and learning to weld and wrench on B&O Railroad engines with Dan… comes the kind of raw, no-shop, driveway A/C Compressor and Alternator swap most people would pay a garage $3,000+ to do.

Watch me rip out and replace the A/C Compressor and Alternator in a Kia Sedona 2019 minivan with nothing but basic tools and grit.

No lift.

No fancy diagnostics.

No excuses.


If I can do this after the childhood you’re about to read about in the book… you can fix damn near anything.

Born to Fail, Bred to Survive – Episode Bonus: Survival Hacks from the Driveway

Watch for the autobiography drop chapter by chapter that started it all.

X @ChefArlin

Full podcast episodes dropping weekly – some in the studio, some raw like this.

#alternator #kiasedona #DIYAutoRepair #MinivanRebuild #BornToFailBredToSurvive #ArlinBleclic #SurvivalHack #ArlinCarter

From the same kid who grew up calling ambulances for overdoses, dodging bullets through bunk-bed walls, and learning to weld and wrench on B&O Railroad engines with Dan… comes the kind of raw, no-shop, driveway engine swap most people would pay a garage $8,000+ to do.

This is old footage straight from the vault—back when the compound was just a dream and every repair was pure survival mode. Watch me rip out and replace the 3.8L V6 in a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with nothing but basic tools, a cherry picker, and that Glen Burnie grit.

No lift.

No fancy diagnostics.

No excuses.

If I can do this after the childhood you’re about to read about in the book… you can fix damn near anything.

Born to Fail, Bred to Survive – Episode Bonus: Survival Hacks from the Driveway

Watch for the autobiography drop chapter by chapter that started it all

Instagram / X / TikTok: @ChefArlin

Full podcast episodes dropping weekly – some in the studio, some raw like this.

#EngineSwap #TownAndCountry #DIYAutoRepair #MinivanRebuild #BornToFailBredToSurvive #ArlinBleclic #SurvivalHack

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Why this matters to the story

01:20 – Pulling the old engine

04:45 – The nightmare rust bolts

08:10 – New engine in & first start

09:40 – Final words from the driveway