For Andre Norman, it just seemed like the odds were stacked against him.

When he was just a little boy, he got a big dose of reality when the school bus he was riding in was bombarded by people flinging rocks and racial slurs.

From that moment on, he learned to live in survival mode, whether by selling drugs or getting caught up in gang violence. Yet all the while, there were angels... people and moments along his journey that gave him little bits of confidence and hope... and would end up being his catalyst for change.

After being sentenced to over 100 years in a maximum security prison and trudging a dangerous path in and out of solitary confinement, Andre made a life-altering decision to transform himself. 

And transform he did...

Today, Andre is a global force for good. Serving as a Global Violence Interrupter for the United Nations, a 3x TEDx speaker, and an Innovation Learning Instructor at the London Business School, Andre didn't stop there... in 2015, Andre got a fellowship at Harvard Law School.

A shining example of gratitude in action, Andre delivers us a dose of hope, inspiration -- and a gentle (much needed) kick-in-the-pants! -- on today's very special episode.

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[3:14] Andre begins to talk about where he is from and life growing up with an abusive father and how accustomed he became to it 

[7:20] Andre is taken out of the ‘dummy’ class and finally given the opportunity to learn when a teacher gives him a chance 

[10:55] Andre told he has a gift and is sent to a different high school to practice music, but pressured to choose between his ‘cool’ friends and his trumpet. He gives up the trumpet because he wants friends 

[18:10] Andre finally feels like he belongs when he went abroad because he was identified as ‘the American’ rather than all the other hurtful things people called him at home

[24:20] Andre talking about how he was arrested for the first time, seeing all of the kids he was in ‘dummy class’ with in prison, and how he joined a gang 

[38:48] Andre telling the story of how he was given the opportunity to attend Harvard 

[43:00] Andre tells the story of how he accidentally started practicing Judaism in jail and the life changing lessons he learned 

[54:40] Andre tells the story of his experience in Ferguson, how he went to help his friends and made a difference by creating relationships and giving people the opportunity to listen to each other 

Key Takeaways

[5:00] Andre reflects on encountering racism for the first time at 8 years old when kids started calling him names and throwing rocks on his way to school

[30:40] Andre reflected on when he finally came to the realization that he was justifying his situation by telling himself he was winning and he had hit rock bottom. 

[01:01:15] Andre gives advice on what he would tell to someone who doubts the power of being grateful despite wherever one came from 

Show Notes:

(Full episode release October 21, 2024) 

Thank you to Andre Norman for sharing your incredible story of the power of second chances. Follow Andre on Instagram: @andrenorman

Check out more about Andre: https://andrenorman.com/

Purchase Andre's Book, “Ambassador of Hope: Turning Poverty and Prison into a Purpose-Driven Life” 

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Make sure to follow Jamie @jamiehess on Instagram for news & updates, and visit our companion Instagram account @gratitudeology for a sneak peek into the personal moments discussed on the show.

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The Gratitudeology Podcast theme music is by HYLLS, performed by Nadia Ali @thenadiaali

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