Translated Transcript:
Kriké Kraké FreeDom?
Radio FreeDom host: And today on Kriké Kraké, we’re joined by a longtime listener, a loyal friend of the station, Frédéric from Sainte-Clotilde.
Frédéric: I’m, Frédéric, 46 years old, visually impaired, and I have been listening to FreeDom since 1986-1987, back when he was a kid, as we say. And to this day, I still listen to FreeDom.
Radio FreeDom host: Visually impaired? Oté! We talk to you every day, and we never knew you were visually impaired.
Frédéric: That’s right, I’m visually impaired. But I still see a bit. I can use my phone, watch TV, just like anyone else, you know? But there are some things—well, personally, I don’t like to talk about it. I just call, we chat, and that’s it, you know? I don’t go around saying I’m disabled. That doesn’t stop me from living. Quite the opposite—it helps me show that I live beyond it, just like a regular person.
Radio FreeDom host: And you’re not just calling every day—you’re calling across all timeslots too?
Frédéric: Sometimes, I’ll call, like this morning when I called you. I might call Francky at 5 a.m., or I’ll call you at 10 a.m. Maybe just to say, “Hi, Boby,” you see? My wife always tells me, “You’re sick if you haven’t called FreeDom today!” You see? She says I’m not well if I don’t call Francky, Julie, or someone at FreeDom at least once a day.
Radio FreeDom host: So you have to call, even just to chat for 5–10 minutes?
Frédéric: Exactly, even just to chat a bit, you know, in a good way. Honestly, I have to call FreeDom.
Radio FreeDom host: It’s a pleasure for you?
Frédéric: Absolutely. For me, it feels like the family I’m missing, you know? I catch up over the phone, you know? When you’re alone at home, having people to listen to, to talk to—it’s comforting. One day, I thought, “Why not call FreeDom and chat a little?” And then it just became a habit. I have to call at least once a day.
Radio FreeDom host: So there’s no set time for listening to FreeDom?
Frédéric: Exactly. From 5 a.m. when Francky starts, to when the evening host says, “It’s midnight on FreeDom, goodnight,” I’m there.
Radio FreeDom host: Monday to Sunday, 24/7—it’s always the warmest, the best on FreeDom.
Frédéric: Kriké? Kraké FreeDom! FreeDom is everywhere, all the time.
Radio FreeDom host: And it’s everywhere you go too?
Frédéric: I listen to it even when I’m on the road. I’ve got the app, so I tune into FreeDom. People ask me, “Sir, are you listening to FreeDom?” I say, “Yes, of course.” They say, “Don’t you get tired of it?” And I reply, “No, I prefer listening to FreeDom than listening to people talk to me.” At least it gives me some noise at home, you know? Sometimes, when I leave the house, people ask, “Weren’t you home?” I say, “No, I made it seem like I was, just to give that impression.”
Even when I work, or take public transportation, I tell the driver, “If there’s an accident, put FreeDom on so we can find out about the traffic!” And then the driver puts on FreeDom too.
Radio FreeDom host: So how did your FreeDom story begin?
Frédéric: At first, I was just looking for a station to listen to music. Then I came across FreeDom. I thought, “Why not listen to this station?” Over time, I grew up—by 18 years old, I was calling FreeDom regularly. People who know me hear me on the radio and say, “I heard you talking to Francky or Julie this morning!” And I say, “Yeah, that was me.”
Radio FreeDom host: Has FreeDom ever helped you personally?
Frédéric: Honestly, FreeDom has helped me a lot. Back when I was on the streets, I used to call FreeDom often. And through that, I always found someone to help me, you know? It’s left a mark on me because if something happens to you, there’s always a listener or an association ready to help. They’ll call, talk to you, and support you.