*Remastered* - This episode really meant a lot to me and to Art so I decided to have the podcast edited and re-mastered.
Andy sits down live from Los Angeles in this monumental episode with his new friend Art who he was introduced to by his good friend Mikey who is a criminal defense attorney currently finishing his law degree at the University of Southern California. Art had just been released from prison two weeks prior after being granted parole from a life sentence. Art had been incarcerated from the young age of 16 and spent his entire adulthood thus far in the California/United States prison system. Art shares his incredible story of a broken childhood, gang affiliation, life behind bars and ultimately salvation and redemption that led to him being a free man full of hope and gratitude for a new life and a second chance. This is a can't-miss episode and hopes to lift the conceptions and the stereotypes that most of us may have for parolees and for people in the prison system.
Personal Note: I was so blessed and happy to meet Art and to learn about his story. And for him to share his story with me on my podcast was absolutely unreal. We are now friends for life and he's now enjoying life and getting back into society as an honest hard working man.
One thing we did not talk about was Art's work and support with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)(http://www.antirecidivism.org/), an organization that exists to supports individuals to reduce the risk of recidivism by inreach in prisons and detention facilities; support and mentoring; providing housing, jobs and education; and political policy advocacy. It's a great organization and they should be applauded for their great work in getting these men and women back on their feet.