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

In this powerful episode, Smaqs sits down with his brother Sione "CeeOne" Kauvaka, a Tongan American who grew up in Salt Lake City and spent over 20 years incarcerated before completely transforming his life.

Sione opens up about growing up with immigrant parents, falling into crime and gang life at a young age, and how alcohol and poor choices eventually led to prison. He shares what it was like catching a murder charge just months after getting out, facing indeterminate sentencing, and mentally preparing himself to sit down for decades.

Inside prison, Sione talks about learning how to “do time,” finding unity with other Polynesian brothers, and the moment everything began to shift — a simple math class that sparked his love for learning, followed by adopting his son while still incarcerated. That responsibility changed everything.

From earning his associate degree behind the walls to becoming one of Utah’s first certified peer support specialists directly out of prison, Sione explains how the SOLID program gave him purpose and how lived experience is now helping him guide others through reentry.

Today, Sione works inside the Salt Lake County Jail helping men and women build exit plans, find housing, treatment, employment, and hope. This episode is about accountability, fatherhood, growth, and proving that no matter how far you fall, you can still rise.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your past or unsure about your future, this conversation is for you.

00:00 Intro and Renaissance Ranch sponsor
04:30 Growing up Tongan in Salt Lake and early trouble
09:15 Gang influence and searching for belonging
14:10 First prison sentence at 22 years old
19:40 Falling away from church and identity struggles
29:20 Catching a murder charge and facing life
37:10 Learning how to “do time” and finding unity
42:35 A math class that changed everything
44:50 Adopting his son and choosing growth
53:40 Becoming a peer support specialist and reentry work

Sponsor:
https://renaissanceranch.net/

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

In this powerful episode, Smacks sits down with Nicole Vowell to talk about trauma, incarceration, addiction, chaos, and what real healing looks like.

Nicole opens up about growing up around addiction and incarceration, losing her father at a young age, being separated from her mother, and navigating a childhood filled with violence and instability. She shares how those early experiences shaped her adult relationships, career choices, and even led to an addiction to chaos.

From working in TV news and politics to being diagnosed with PTSD, Nicole explains how constantly chasing urgency and high-stress environments finally caught up with her — and what it took to slow down, find peace, and reconnect with herself.

Now serving as Deputy Director of Internal Communications and Engagement for the Utah Department of Corrections, Nicole is reshaping how incarcerated individuals are supported through storytelling, connection, and hope. She explains why people need to feel seen, heard, valued, and understood — and how sharing real success stories inside prison can change lives.

This conversation dives deep into mental health, men’s emotional wellness, recovery, purpose, and how believing in someone — even once — can change their entire future.

If you’ve ever struggled with chaos, trauma, or finding your path, this episode is for you.

00:00 Intro + Renaissance Ranch sponsor
02:35 Nicole’s childhood and losing her father
07:30 Growing up around incarceration and addiction
10:40 Being removed from home at 13 and family trauma
17:20 Addiction to chaos and unhealthy relationship patterns
24:26 Slowing down, faith, and finding peace
27:40 Leaving TV news and PTSD from media work
33:48 Purpose, energy, and becoming your highest self
39:29 Working with incarcerated individuals through storytelling
46:13 Tablet programs, success stories, and changing prison culture

In Part 2 of this conversation, Branden Campbell continues his story by diving into what real recovery actually looks like after the decision to get help is made.

Branden opens up about recognizing addiction as a response to trauma, emotional dysregulation, and years of unresolved internal struggles. He shares how prescription medications slowly took control, how addiction hid behind responsibility and success, and why simply “not using” was never enough.

This episode goes deep into accountability, boundaries set by loved ones, and the difficult but necessary moments that forced Branden to confront himself. We talk about entering Renaissance Ranch, the power of a therapeutic community, learning emotional regulation, and rebuilding integrity one decision at a time.

Branden reflects on shame vs. guilt, why recovery requires showing up even when you don’t feel like it, and how sobriety has reignited creativity, purpose, and connection with his family, band, and himself.

This is an honest conversation about recovery as a process, not a finish line—and why doing the work daily is the only way forward.

00:00 Intro and recap from Part 1
04:45 Recognizing addiction as a response to trauma
10:20 Prescription medication and hidden addiction
17:30 Emotional dysregulation and avoiding feelings
25:10 Boundaries set by family and bandmates
32:40 Entering Renaissance Ranch and early resistance
41:15 Accountability, community, and being called out
50:30 Shame vs. guilt and rebuilding integrity
01:02:10 Aftercare, sober living, and outpatient recovery
01:18:30 Creativity, purpose, and staying sober long-term

Sponsor:
https://renaissanceranch.net/

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

Guest Instagram:
👉 @neonbmc

In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, we sit down with Branden Campbell, bassist for the multi-platinum band Neon Trees, to talk about the parts of the journey most people never see.

Branden opens up about growing up in Las Vegas, finding music at a young age, discovering faith, and eventually achieving massive success in the music industry. But even with family, spirituality, and a dream career, something inside still wasn’t right.

We dive deep into emotional abandonment, identity, anxiety, and how unresolved trauma can show up in unexpected ways—even decades after getting sober from drugs and alcohol. Branden shares how a major heart surgery led to prescription opioid dependence, how addiction slowly took control, and the moment boundaries from his wife and band forced him to face the truth.

This episode is about integrity, accountability, shame, recovery, and learning how to live honestly—without substances, without masks, and without running.

00:00 Intro and guest introduction
04:30 Growing up in Las Vegas and finding music
11:20 Emotional abandonment and identity struggles
18:40 Faith, mission, and returning to music
26:10 Joining Neon Trees and early success
33:45 Open-heart surgery and prescription addiction
41:50 Hiding addiction and setting boundaries
48:30 Entering Renaissance Ranch and accountability
55:40 Recovery, aftercare, and living amends
01:02:00 Part 1 closing reflections