Elliot Thorne’s recovery story isn’t about getting sober once and never looking back. It’s about falling, getting back up, and refusing to give up.

Elliot shares how childhood trauma, shame, addiction, multiple overdoses, relapse, and years of struggling eventually brought him to one of the darkest moments of his life. After surviving a gunshot wound that doctors called a miracle, he still continued using until he finally returned to Renaissance Ranch and began building a different life.

Today, Elliot works in admissions at Renaissance Ranch, helping other men find the same opportunity for recovery that helped save his life. He talks about why sobriety alone was never enough for him, the importance of honesty, faith, service, and learning to deal with the emotional and spiritual issues underneath addiction.

This episode is also dedicated to Christopher “Tof” Clonch, a beloved member of the Renaissance Ranch family whose impact on Elliot and the recovery community will not be forgotten.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or incarceration and needs help, visit RenaissanceRanch.net.

00:00 – Meet Elliot Thorne & honoring Christopher “Tof” Clonch
03:14 – Childhood, family instability & early trauma
08:10 – Abuse at eight years old and living with shame
14:04 – Anger, rebellion & the beginning of addiction
20:06 – Meeting Tyson Dixon and escalating drug use
21:14 – Elliot’s first overdose at 13 years old
25:02 – More overdoses, treatment & being sent away
31:53 – Finding success in Idaho and serving a mission
34:18 – Returning home and falling back into addiction
36:35 – Finding Renaissance Ranch for the first time
40:07 – Years of relapse and hitting rock bottom
41:05 – Surviving a self-inflicted gunshot wound
45:46 – Returning to the Ranch and rebuilding his life
48:53 – Why Elliot stopped making sobriety the goal
53:05 – Remembering Christopher “Tof” Clonch
55:44 – Fatherhood, faith & finally living the promises

Alex "Lecky" Bloomfield shares his journey from incarceration to becoming a leader in Utah's recovery and prison reform community. We talk about life after prison, breaking old mindsets, building ROPE, supporting people returning home, and why true growth comes from choosing a different path every single day.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, visit https://renaissanceranch.net to learn more about getting help.

00:00 – Intro & meeting Alex "Lecky" Bloomfield01:42 – Growing up in Utah's Polynesian community05:18 – Leaving the street life behind09:14 – How prison changed his perspective10:27 – What ROPE is and why it was created14:00 – Prison reform and meeting Paige Norton16:11 – Rebuilding his identity after incarceration27:13 – Why ROPE focuses on former gang members33:13 – Earning trust after prison and giving back36:05 – Preparing people to succeed after release43:40 – The risks of choosing growth over gang culture48:08 – The emotional reality of prison release day52:34 – Relapse, shame, and starting over57:22 – Uniting former rivals through recovery01:00:47 – Why Cage No More and ROPE matter

Sponsor: https://renaissanceranch.net/

Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

This week I'm joined by Sean Valewald, a Renaissance Ranch alumni whose story is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond redemption.

Sean shares his journey growing up in Alaska, surviving an abusive childhood, battling heroin addiction after a devastating construction accident, committing bank robberies to fuel his addiction, and serving time in both state and federal prison.

If you or someone you love feels trapped by addiction, incarceration, or hopelessness, this conversation is proof that a different life is possible.

00:00 Introducing Sean Valewald & Renaissance Ranch Brigham City04:20 Why connection is the opposite of addiction07:00 Growing up in Alaska with abuse and instability13:00 Breaking his neck and becoming addicted to opioids17:00 From heroin addiction to bank robberies24:00 Robbing banks and the consequences that followed34:30 Finding faith while serving time in prison47:30 Life after prison, relapse, and institutionalization58:00 Losing his mom and searching for a new beginning01:15:00 How recovery, brotherhood, and service changed everything

Sponsor: https://renaissanceranch.net/Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

This week I'm joined by Ryan Foster, owner of Moxie Ink, whose story is one of the most powerful examples of redemption you'll hear.

Ryan opens up about growing up in rural California, getting addicted to meth at a young age, serving multiple prison sentences, learning to tattoo behind bars, battling heroin addiction, and losing everything before finally finding lasting recovery. We also talk about the impact Renaissance Ranch had on his life, why community changed everything, and how he's now using his story to help others find hope.

If you've ever wondered whether someone can truly rebuild their life after addiction and incarceration, this conversation is proof that it's possible.

00:00 Intro + Ryan Foster joins the show
01:30 Growing up in California and early meth addiction
06:00 First arrests and California's prison system
16:30 Learning to tattoo while incarcerated
27:30 Life after prison and returning to addiction
35:00 Losing his mom and hitting rock bottom
45:00 Moving to Utah and another relapse
50:30 Finding Renaissance Ranch
56:00 Why community became the key to recovery
59:30 Working in recovery and giving back

Sponsor: https://renaissanceranch.net/

Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryno_ink/

This week I'm sitting down with Renaissance Ranch alum Fergie to talk about a recovery journey that's been anything but easy.

We get into childhood trauma, addiction, repeated relapses, overdoses, treatment, and the guilt and shame that kept pulling him back. But we also talk about the power of community, faith, accountability, and why he's now helping others find recovery as a case manager.

If you've ever felt like you've gone too far to come back, this conversation is proof that your comeback is still possible.

00:00 Intro + Renaissance Ranch sponsor00:01 Meet Fergie + growing up in Utah00:04 Childhood trauma and acting out00:09 Mission, motorcycle accident, and pain pills00:17 Family support through addiction00:20 First treatment experience00:25 Recovery, relapse, and COVID at the Ranch00:33 Overdose, guilt, and finding hope again00:43 MAT treatment explained00:52 Helping others recover + final message

Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:

Smaqs – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

Curtis Marsh shares his story of success, addiction, losing everything, and finding purpose again through recovery, service, and faith.

From Wall Street success to jail, addiction, and rebuilding his life, this conversation dives deep into personal accountability, alignment, inner peace, and helping others rise above their own chaos.

If you’re struggling, rebuilding, or trying to become a better version of yourself, this episode is for you.

00:00 Intro + Renaissance Ranch 00:02 Meeting through Defy Ventures + giving back00:05 Growing up with pressure to be perfect00:10 Wall Street success + drifting out of alignment00:17 Alcohol, cocaine, and losing inner peace00:24 Divorce court + 30 days in jail00:26 Getting sober + rebuilding life00:35 The CHAOS acronym explained00:41 Faith, service, and helping others recover00:55 Creating your “why” + final advice

Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠ https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:

Smaqs – ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠⁠⁠

Podcast – ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

Jose shares his story going from 20 years in gang life and federal prison to building a legit business and providing for his family.

We talk about growing up in poverty, getting involved in gangs at a young age, doing time, and what it really takes to walk away from that life. This episode is about discipline, responsibility, and making the decision to change for real.

If you’re trying to level up, stay out, or just need a reminder that it’s possible… this one’s for you.

00:00 Intro + Renaissance Ranch00:02 Pie’s story + getting out of federal prison 00:06 Growing up in poverty + gang life starts00:13 Fatherhood and responsibility00:18 Prison vs federal prison differences00:24 Getting out + starting his business00:30 Entrepreneurship mindset + discipline00:37 Message + helping the next generation00:45 What it really takes to level up00:50 Final advice + where to find Pie

Sponsor:⁠⁠https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠⁠

Instagram:

Smaqs – ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠⁠

Podcast – ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

Guest - https://www.instagram.com/pai21913/

In this episode, I sit down with Brian from UAPS, one of the pioneers of peer support in Utah. We dive into his story from juvenile prison, addiction, and mental health struggles to helping build the peer support system that’s now changing lives across the state.

We talk about what peer support really is, why lived experience matters more than just textbook knowledge, and how it’s transforming recovery, prisons, and treatment centers. This episode is all about purpose, service, and turning your past into something that helps others.

00:00 Intro & Renaissance Ranch00:01 Brian’s early life & juvenile prison00:02 Addiction, schizophrenia & prison cycle00:05 Breaking point & turning his life around00:06 Getting into treatment & recovery00:08 What peer support is00:11 Building peer support in Utah00:14 UAPS & creating a statewide impact00:18 Peer support in prisons & why it matters00:39 Why peer support + therapy works

Sponsor:⁠https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠

Instagram:

Smaqs – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠

Podcast – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

Brian Links:

http://www.uapss.org/[email protected]

I sit down with Mr. Regal the Barber and really unpack the journey. From being a young dad at 16, homeless, hustling, and eventually doing time… to building a real business, becoming a father with purpose, and leading by example.

This isn’t just about success. It’s about growth, accountability, and becoming the man your kids need you to be.

We talk about gang culture, prison, fatherhood, fitness, and what it really takes to level up your life. Not just financially, but mentally, physically, and spiritually.

00:01 Meet Mr. Regal + barber brand story00:04 Early hustle mindset + childhood00:08 Becoming a young father + homelessness00:12 Street life, arrests, and prison sentence00:17 Prison experience + mindset shift00:18 Life after prison + becoming a father00:24 Barber career + mentorship mindset00:33 Fatherhood lessons + raising kids right00:46 Fitness, discipline, and leveling up mindset

Sponsor:⁠https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠

Instagram:

Smaqs – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠

Podcast – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/⁠

Guest: Mr. Regal

In this episode of Caged No More, Smaqs sits down with Michael Ulibarri, Executive Director of Defy Ventures Utah.

Michael shares how growing up in Rose Park surrounded by crime and incarceration led him into prison at a young age. After multiple prison sentences and years inside the system, he eventually began changing his mindset and focusing on personal growth.

Today, Michael works with Defy Ventures, helping incarcerated individuals develop entrepreneurship skills, take radical responsibility for their past, and build a future outside of prison.

This conversation dives into prison culture, personal transformation, and how entrepreneurship is helping people break the cycle of incarceration.

00:00 Intro and sponsor shoutouts
01:00 Michael Ulibarri introduction
04:00 Growing up in Rose Park
09:00 First prison sentence at 18
16:00 Life and survival inside prison
26:00 Returning to prison after release
34:00 Discovering personal development and therapy
45:00 Working with incarcerated youth
58:00 The mission of Defy Ventures
1:10:00 Helping people succeed after prison

Sponsor:
https://renaissanceranch.net/

Instagram:
Smaqs – https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/
Podcast – https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/

Guest: Michael Ulibarri