Travis Makes Money

659: Ed Kressy | Relationships Can Save Your Life


Listen Later

We all know relationships are important, but in some cases, 'who you know' can even save your life. Ed Kressy went from being arrested by the FBI, to being recognized with a community service award by the FBI Director.

Ed's 20-year drug addiction led to stints in jails, rehabs, and homeless shelters. Thanks to relationships astonishing in their spiritual depth, Ed became a volunteer entrepreneur coach inside maximum-security prisons, delivered a guest lecture at MIT, and wrote for the Washington Post. He now volunteers helping law enforcement better serve communities affected by addiction and incarceration, and fulfils his lifelong dream of writing.

Let’s dive deep into Ed’s incredible story, where he came from and how he got to where he is, and learn how relationships can save your life.


Things you will learn in this episode: 

[00:01 - 06:18] Opening Segment  

  • I introduce today’s guest, Ed Kressy
  • Ed gives us some background on his story
  • A love for reading and writing 
  • A struggle for self-worth and discipline 
  • The start of the addiction 

  • [06:19 - 22:47] Relationships Can Save Your Life

    •  Ed shares about his journey of escapism 
    • You choose what you focus on
    • Escaping from yourself 
    • From a good life to addiction 
    • Ed talks about the snowball effect into harder drugs 
    • The real problem is not the drug 
    • The effects of the drugs 
    • How intervention saved Ed’s life 
    • Friends and family stepping in 
    • Taking responsibility 
    • Instilling spiritual relationships 
    • The wake up call 
    • Ed’s story of a rude awakening 
    • Reaching out for a lifeline 
    • A word from our sponsor

    • [22:48 - 38:11] Ed Kressy on Building Your Network

      • The importance of community and spirituality
      • The need for a purpose 
      • Letting go of material satisfaction
      • The only choice left 
      • Maintaining a beginners mind
      • Who you know or what you know? 
      • Both and neither 
      • Guiding principles (3 S’s) vs. Connections 
      • Wisdom is better than knowledge
      • Who has instilled the most wisdom in you?
      • Ed’s thoughts on God
      • The two groups who impact Ed the most 
      • Behind bars and badges
      • Ed’s work with law enforcement
      • There needs to be more resources for mental health 
      • Relationships are the gateway to healing
      • Solving the incarceration crisis

      • [38:12 - 44:54] Closing Segment

        • Ed talks about becoming an author 
        • The journey 
        • How it connects to Ed’s work
        • Accomplishments 
        • The impact of a network
        • ThE RaNdOm RoUnD
        • How to engage with Ed
        • Links below 
        • Final words 



        • Tweetable Quotes: 

          “We can choose what to focus on. We don’t necessarily have control over our circumstances, yet we have a high degree of control of what we focus on.” - Ed Kressy 

          “People believed in me, I never believed in myself.” - Ed Kressy

          “Drugs and drinking are not the problem, they’re an attempt at a solution.” - Ed Kressy

          Resources Mentioned: 


          • Ed’s Book - My Addiction & Recovery



          Connect and engage with Ed on LinkedInFacebook, and Twitter. Check out http://authoredkressy.com/ to get Ed to speak in your area.

          Did you love the value that we are putting out in the show? LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out great content just for you! Share this episode and help someone who wants to connect with world-class people. 

          Jump on over to travischappell.com/makemypodcast and let my team make you your very own show!

          If you want to learn how to build YOUR network, check out my website travischappell.com. You can connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Be sure to join The Lounge to become part of the community that’s setting up REAL relationships that add value and create investments.



          Check out FranBridge Consulting for premier non-food franchise opportunities: travischappell.com/franbridge

          Our Sponsors:
          * Check out Kinsta: https://kinsta.com

          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

          ...more
          View all episodesView all episodes
          Download on the App Store

          Travis Makes MoneyBy Travis Chappell

          • 4.3
          • 4.3
          • 4.3
          • 4.3
          • 4.3

          4.3

          383 ratings


          More shows like Travis Makes Money

          View all
          The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

          The Joe Rogan Experience

          229,051 Listeners

          The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

          The School of Greatness

          21,207 Listeners

          THE ED MYLETT SHOW by Ed Mylett | Cumulus Podcast Network

          THE ED MYLETT SHOW

          14,032 Listeners

          This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von by Theo Von

          This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

          27,808 Listeners

          The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

          The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

          8,889 Listeners

          BiggerPockets Money Podcast by BiggerPockets

          BiggerPockets Money Podcast

          3,085 Listeners

          The Genius Life by Max Lugavere

          The Genius Life

          4,912 Listeners

          On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

          On Purpose with Jay Shetty

          27,674 Listeners

          The Shawn Ryan Show by Shawn Ryan

          The Shawn Ryan Show

          44,239 Listeners

          All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

          All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

          9,909 Listeners

          PBD Podcast by PBD Podcast

          PBD Podcast

          4,212 Listeners

          The Daily Motivation by Lewis Howes

          The Daily Motivation

          919 Listeners

          The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis by Nathaniel Whittemore

          The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

          591 Listeners

          The Tucker Carlson Show by Tucker Carlson Network

          The Tucker Carlson Show

          16,939 Listeners

          The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs by Chris Koerner

          The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs

          221 Listeners