Melissa Dabar welcomes Tony and Denise Santucci to American Fight Stories for a deep conversation about faith, community, and perseverance through grief. They share how church and prayer shaped their marriage, how they are raising their granddaughter after their daughter’s death, and how she found healing from anger at God through an FCA camp. Tony recounts losing his three-and-a-half-year-old son to a drunk driver, the depression and PTSD that followed, and how prayer and releasing reminders of the tragedy brought peace. Denise reflects on losing three children and the importance of remembering their lives, offering hugs, and showing love to those who hurt. They discuss serving others through schools, Youth Villages mentoring, and music ministry, emphasizing small victories, gratitude, and Christians supporting one another.

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On American Fight Stories with Melissa Dabar, Jason shares how, after serving a seven-year sentence for armed robbery, he returned to meth, cycled through probation violations, and struggled with gang life, violence, and the trauma of Mississippi prisons like Parchman. He describes losing his children to adoption while incarcerated, spiraling into addiction and suicidal thoughts, and the toll his actions took on his family. Jason credits drug court, rehab, anonymous recovery programs, and developing a real relationship with God—shifting from self-focused prayers to praying for others—for his sobriety (about two years off hard drugs, 19 months off everything), rebuilding trust, making amends, and reconnecting with his children, including daily contact with his daughters. He discusses accountability, avoiding hypocrisy, and using his story to help others.

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Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

In this episode of American Fight Stories with Dabar, Melissa interviews Chastity Pope, who shares her journey from addiction and denial to 11 years of sobriety. Chastity recounts early struggles with codependency, shame, and coping through prescribed pain pills and Adderall, which escalated into meth use, arrests, losing her home and stability, and years of isolation from her family. Facing felony drug sales charges, she entered drug court and began serious recovery through AA, faith in Jesus Christ, and later Celebrate Recovery, where step studies helped her address deeper issues and strengthen her marriage and parenting. She describes regaining a relationship with her daughters, navigating difficult seasons, and serving today as North Mississippi Celebrate Recovery state rep, sponsoring others, and balancing recovery, ministry, family, and her cleaning business.

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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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Host Melissa Dabar interviews community member and musician Greg Wilson about his long involvement in prison ministry and the Kairos Ministry in Mississippi. Wilson shares how he felt called to serve inmates, beginning with visits to Parchman and then 12 years leading non-denominational services at the private Tutwiler prison, ministering to inmates from Hawaii and California and seeing many respond to faith, prayer, and love. He explains how Kairos differs through structured, small-group discipleship weekends in Holly Springs and ongoing “Prayer and Share” inmate-led services that have grown to about 90 attendees. The conversation also covers the importance of music in connecting with inmates, including a “Peanut Butter Jamboree” concert at Parchman featuring Bobby Rush and inmate Wolfe, as well as Wilson’s band Free Now, his upcoming CD, local songwriting events, and volunteer work with Heartland food pantry.

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You can find the American Fight Stories Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, and Facebook

This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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On American Fight Stories with Dabar, Dabar interviews prosecutor Steven Jubera, who previously handled her aggravated domestic assault case and helped her obtain donated bar review materials while she stayed in a shelter, contributing to her becoming a Mississippi lawyer. Jubera discusses empathizing with victims, defendants, and law enforcement; the “collateral damage” of addiction and crime; and advice he gave a fentanyl-addicted defendant (listen to his mother, return to church, and attend AA/NA). He explains what assistant district attorneys do, grand jury and felony processes, plea decisions, probation revocation, and the importance of accountability while avoiding re-victimization. He describes prosecuting child sexual abuse cases, the role of DeSoto County’s Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center, sex offender accountability, and his views on rare “evil.” Jubera also advocates for expanded intervention courts, including mental health and domestic violence courts, and shares that he is running for 3rd Circuit Court judge, highlighting his Marine service and community focus.

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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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Host Melissa Dabar welcomes Cindy Steed to American Fight Stories to share her journey through abuse, devastating loss, addiction, and recovery. Cindy describes leaving an abusive relationship after her son Chad was injured, then losing Chad, her daughter-in-law Elizabeth, and their unborn baby in a fatal interstate accident, which led to depression, cut-off grief counseling, and 14 years of addiction. Through drug court, a 12-step program, sponsorship, and finding a personal relationship with God, she rebuilt her life and now has 15 years clean from drugs and nearly three years sober from alcohol. After later losing her daughter Jessica, Cindy became guardian to four grandchildren, credits service, honesty, gratitude lists, and support in AA, and discusses caring for her Air Force veteran father, Jerry Gaines, now on hospice.

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You can find the American Fight Stories Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, and Facebook

This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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On American Fight Stories with Dabar, host Dabar interviews Sybil Canon, a longtime admirer from Facebook, about her work and her “fight story.” Cannon shares that she recently became the Veteran Services Officer for Tate County, Mississippi, helping veterans access benefits and explaining the 2022 PACT Act, which presumes certain diagnosed conditions are service-connected for veterans of conflicts, including Vietnam and the Middle East, and can also aid surviving spouses. She honors her brother David Lee Reynolds, a Marine Vietnam veteran exposed to Agent Orange who later died of cancer, and recounts assisting a widow in properly displaying her Korean War veteran husband’s medals. Cannon also discusses her faith journey, family hardships in Iuka, Mississippi, her fundraising and scholarship work, her heart attack and recovery, and the importance of voting and supporting America and its veterans.

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You can find the American Fight Stories Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, and Facebook

This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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Melissa Dabar interviews assistant district attorney Gordon Shaw, a husband and father, about his path into prosecution in Horn Lake around 2012 and the influence of chief prosecutor Byron Mobley and mentor Judge Gerald Chatham on being tough but fair. Shaw shares his rural Georgia upbringing, love of the outdoors, coaching DeSoto County 4-H archery, and pride in his twin daughters nearing college graduation and his 13-year-old son. The conversation centers on faith, service, and accountability in criminal justice, including addiction cases, the impact of absent fathers, and balancing justice with mercy. Shaw recounts a fentanyl-laced “Xanax” overdose case in Olive Branch and discusses fentanyl trafficking, crime lab delays, and DeSoto County’s drug court success. He explains how prayer led him to declare for an open circuit court judge seat and closes with a prayer for justice and public servants.

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You can find the American Fight Stories Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, and Facebook

This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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In this episode of American Fight Stories with Debar, Melissa interviews Robert Long, a longtime Mississippi journalist who is now the curator for the DeSoto County Museum and pastors New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Horn Lake while finishing seminary school. Robert shares how storytelling, advocacy, and encouragement shaped his life, including his mother’s influence and his commitment to being fair in journalism. He explains the museum’s mission, free admission, outreach to schools, artifact preservation, upcoming plans, and a public meeting, and new digital access via desotomuseum.org. Robert also recounts local and regional history, including Hernando de Soto’s 1541 conflict with the Chickasaw, voting history in DeSoto County, and a story about his grandfather confronting the Klan. The episode closes with a prayer for America.

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You can find the American Fight Stories Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, and Facebook

This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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Dernetta Newton: Growing Up in Domestic Violence Shelters, Breaking the Cycle & Finding Home

On American Fight Stories with Dabar, Melissa interviews Dernetta Newton, a realtor and House of Grace board member, about her childhood experience witnessing her mother’s domestic violence and living in multiple shelters. Dernetta shares moving from Colorado to Arkansas and Oklahoma, learning to survive shelter life, keeping her location secret, and feeling responsible to protect her mother during years of abuse that included threats with a gun and injuries that later caused her mother’s seizures. She describes how these experiences shaped her conflict response, her determination to stop generational violence, and how she left an abusive relationship as a young mother to keep her own daughter safe. The episode also highlights Dernetta’s work helping people in transition find stable housing and closes with a prayer for her nephews’ return and for others affected by domestic violence.

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Please email us your questions at [email protected]

You can find the American Fight Stories Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, and Facebook

This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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