The Road to 50 starts here.

For Episode #41, I'm joined by Adam Grant, Executive Director & CEO of A Brighter Way, for an honest conversation about leadership, sacrifice, and building a new vision for reentry in Michigan.

Adam shares why he made the difficult decision to take a pay cut at the beginning of the year, what it means to lead a mission-driven organization, and why A Brighter Way made the commitment to transition its Lansing office from part-time to full-time service for the community.

We also take a deeper look at A Brighter Way's philosophy of Reentry. Reintegration. PEERS. and discuss how the organization is working to create long-term support for people returning home from incarceration—not just surviving the first few months after release, but building lives rooted in stability, purpose, and community.

This conversation goes beyond programs and services. It's about what it takes to build organizations that truly believe in second chances and are willing to invest in people long after they come home.

This is the first stop on the Road to 50—a special series highlighting the people, organizations, and ideas shaping the future of reentry, justice reform, and formerly incarcerated leadership.

FREE THE REAL.

Episode #40 of the 17 Winters Podcast dives into the painful and often overlooked reality of generational incarceration. In this powerful conversation, we sit down with author Alexis Devon Smith to discuss his impactful book, Momma Does My Daddy Still Love Me, and the emotional toll incarceration takes on our women, children and families across generations.

Together, we explore the trauma, abandonment, confusion, and resilience experienced by children with incarcerated parents, while shedding light on the importance of healing, accountability, and breaking destructive cycles. Alexis shares his inspiration behind the book, his personal passion for advocacy, and why these conversations are necessary for both families and communities impacted by the justice system.

This episode is a must-listen for returning citizens, parents, advocates, educators, and anyone committed to changing the narrative surrounding incarceration and family restoration.

🎙️ 17 Winters — Reducing recidivism through community support, accountability, and real conversations that inspire change. #FreeTheReal

In this episode of the 17 Winters Podcast, the roles are reversed as Sidney Black steps in as the interviewer to walk me through the story behind the name.We go back to the days, weeks, and months leading up to the moment that changed everything—the decisions, the environment, the mindset, and the reality of what I didn’t yet understand. This is a raw conversation about how I caught my case, what led to that path, and the sentence that ultimately gave me the name “17 Winters.”This isn’t just about the past—it’s about perspective. It’s about how quickly life can shift, how systems respond, and how a young man becomes a statistic…or something different.If you’ve ever wondered what really leads someone to that moment—and what it feels like when it all comes down—this is that story.From prison to purpose. This is where it started.

Episode 38 was completely unplanned—and that’s what made it special. Local artists Tugg and Reaff pulled up to the studio just to kick it, and the conversation turned into something worth sharing.

Fresh home after serving 7 years in the MDOC, Reaff opens up about his bid, the realities of incarceration, and what he’s focused on now that he’s back in the free world. Tugg, while never incarcerated himself, adds a powerful layer to the discussion as we talk about generational incarceration—his father, uncles, and close friends having served time in both state and federal prisons.

We also get into one of my favorite topics: music—how it shapes identity, survival, and storytelling, especially for those coming from communities most impacted by the system.

This episode is honest, reflective, and entertaining—three different paths, two generations, one conversation. And trust me, this won’t be the last time we do this.

Tap in. 🎙️

This episode is a milestone for 17 Winters.

For the first time, I sit down with a TV star from BET+’s American Gangster: Trap Queens (Season 4, Episode 7), and for the first time ever, we feature a formerly incarcerated woman with the camera rolling—telling her story on her own terms.

Episode 37 is a real, unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship, reentry, and survival. We talk honestly about what support actually looks like for women while incarcerated, and how those experiences shape the path home. We dive into the FELONY Girls movement, what it represents for women returning from prison, and why it matters for reentry efforts across Michigan.

This wasn’t just an interview—it was a moment of connection, truth-telling, and relationship-building in the ongoing work to end mass incarceration. Another bond formed. Another story amplified. Another step forward.

 Tap in for a conversation about resilience, accountability, and rebuilding—told by someone who lived it.

#FreeTheReal #EndMassIncarceration #FELONYGirls #TrapQueen

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur and Tony Gant for a necessary, honest conversation about the past, present, and future of criminal legal reform.

We reflect on the changes in Michigan over the 25 years since Dr. Shakur’s release, the 10 years since Tony and I have been home, and what those timelines reveal about progress, power, and persistent gaps in the movement. From policy shifts to culture changes, we examine what’s moved the needle—and what hasn’t.

This episode goes deep into:

• Building real power with formerly incarcerated people

• The evolving (and essential) role of directly impacted leadership

• Hard truths and missteps within the movement that must be addressed to move forward

• What success must look like as we head toward 2026 and beyond

This is real talk, grounded in lived experience, strategy, and love for the people. Hands down, one of the best conversations I’ve had yet.

 Tap in, reflect, and be part of shaping what comes next.

#freethereal #endmassincarceration

The conversation continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the role of formerly incarcerated people in Community Violence Intervention (CVI), I sit down with my co-defendant, my best friend, and one of the sharpest minds in this work—Sidney Black, Lead Neighborhood Change Agent for Advance Peace, a national leader in CVI.We get into the CVI discussion immediately. Sidney breaks down what the Advance Peace model actually looks like on the ground and what their team is doing right now in Lansing, Michigan to intervene in cycles of harm and build real pathways for transformation.We also revisit my stance from Part 1—where I said that “credible messenger” specifically means an ex-contributor—and Sidney brings his own perspective to the table. Together, we unpack why lived experience is not just valuable but fundamental to authentic CVI work.Lastly, we get into the nuances of language, especially when navigating relationships with police inside a CVI framework—what helps, what harms, and what communities need to be aware of as this field continues to grow.Another raw, honest, necessary chapter in this ongoing conversation.

#freethereal #endmassincarceration #cvi

In this solo episode of 17 Winters, I step into the studio alone for the very first time—no guest, just me, the mic, and a lot to unpack. Fresh off the “Michigan School Based Community Violence Intervention” webinar hosted by FORCE Detroit, The Michigan Transformation Collective, and End Gun Violence Michigan, I break down some of my biggest takeaways and why I think they’ve finally carved out a functional working definition of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) that centers real experience and real impact.

I also dig into the CVI work I’ve been doing myself—what I’ve built with #NewLansing, how the Hood 2 Hood movement has shaped my approach, and why these grassroots efforts matter for real community safety. I share where this work is heading, including my vision and plans for 2026, and how formerly incarcerated leadership continues to push CVI forward in ways institutions are only beginning to understand.

And yes… since it’s just me this time, I definitely went on a bit of a rant.

This is Part 1 of a larger, ongoing conversation, but it’s an important start.

In this second special FAMM Conference episode, we sit down with Alisha Kohn, a transgender activist and leader with the Prisoners Brain Trust of New York—an organization whose staff is mostly still incarcerated, including its executive director. Alisha opens up about her time inside an all-male facility as a trans woman, the daily realities and dangers of that experience, and how it shaped her commitment to justice work.

We also highlight the essential role of Nathaly, the organization’s social media and communications director, whose work ensures that the stories, advocacy, and inside-led strategies of the Prisoners Brain Trust reach communities and allies across the state. Together, Alisha and Nathaly help demonstrate how a statewide advocacy organization can operate powerfully and effectively even with more than half its workforce behind the walls.

Our conversation touches on reentry, identity, safety, and the ingenuity of inside-led activism—showing the deep humanity, expertise, and resilience that system-impacted people bring to the movement for change.

“When you’re uncomfortable, that’s when change is happening…” —Paris

Recorded on the ground at the FAMM Conference’s Second Chances Working Group, this special episode features a candid conversation with Kyle Hedquist of the Oregon Justice Resource Center. After spending 28 years inside and receiving a rare Governor’s commutation, Kyle has turned his second chance into a mission for systemic change. We discuss his journey from youth incarceration to release, how he navigated the transition home, and the powerful advocacy work he’s now leading in Oregon. Kyle reflects on what it means to rebuild a life after nearly three decades and how he’s leveraging his experience to push for policy reform and community-centered justice. This is a story of resilience, responsibility, and the long arc of transformation.