Some stories don’t fit neatly into a redemption arc. Melvin Cole’s is one of them.

On the latest episode of Drive By with Sam Coates, Cole, founder of PURE Academy in Memphis, shares a raw, unpolished account of growing up in extreme poverty, entering the drug trade at age 11, surviving gun violence and ultimately choosing a radically different path. Raised by a heroin-addicted grandmother in South Memphis, Cole lost his sister as a toddler due to a medical misdiagnosis, experienced childhood sexual abuse and became a father at just 14. Survival wasn’t a philosophy: it was daily reality.

Football once offered a way out. Cole earned a college scholarship and had NFL aspirations, until a drug deal gone wrong left him shot in the head and back. What followed was prison, where witnessing a brutal assault became a spiritual breaking point. In a moment of desperation, Cole made a promise: if he survived, he would dedicate his life to saving young men headed down the same road.

When he was released after serving time for cocaine trafficking, Cole dug up more than $500,000 he had buried during his time dealing drugs, money he once saw as a retirement plan. Instead of returning to the streets, he used it to build PURE Academy, a year-round boarding school for at-risk Black boys in Memphis that focuses on discipline, structure, emotional intelligence, agriculture, academics and faith.

Today, PURE Academy serves 61 students on full scholarship, operates on a $3.7 million budget and boasts an 83% college matriculation rate. Cole is candid about the challenges that remain — the temptation of his former life, frustrations with nonprofit systems and the emotional toll of leadership. But his mission is clear: remove boys from environments that trap them in cycles of poverty and give them the tools to build something better.

This episode isn’t polished inspiration. It’s an honest conversation about trauma, responsibility, faith and what it actually takes to change outcomes: not just for individuals, but for communities.

Episode Highlights

1. “I Started Selling Drugs at 11 — Not to Rebel, But to Survive”
   Cole explains how poverty and fatherhood at 14 pushed him into the drug trade as a calculated business decision, not teenage rebellion.
2. The Moment Prison Changed Everything
   Witnessing a violent assault behind bars led to a desperate prayer and a life-altering promise that would shape PURE Academy’s mission.
3. Burying $500K — Then Digging It Up for a School
   The drug money Cole once viewed as his future became the seed funding for a boarding school instead of a return to crime.
4. Inside PURE Academy’s Daily Discipline
   From 6 a.m. workouts and meditation to academics and agriculture, Cole breaks down how structure, not charity, changes lives.
5. “You Feed One of Two Wolves”
   Cole speaks openly about the ongoing internal battle between his past and present, including why success doesn’t erase temptation — but purpose keeps him grounded.

Our next Driven By episode features Gary Stavrum, a Memphis entrepreneur whose career reflects exceptional grit, discipline and vision. A Christian Brothers alumnus, Gary built three med-device contract manufacturing companies, two of which he has sold, beginning with a startup launched in a garage in Covington, Tennessee, funded with just $20,000.

His first company grew to 128 employees and $18 million in revenue in under seven years, without raising outside capital. This success came despite extraordinary challenges, including the sudden incarceration of his only machinist shortly after Gary took out a second mortgage to fund the business.

Gary and his team repeated this achievement twice more. He formally retired at 39 but has since remained deeply active, helping raise $38 million for Christian Brothers High School, chairing the Campbell Clinic Foundation, forging titanium orthopedic implants in New Hampshire and developing private duck hunting properties that host more than 100 guests each year.

Episode Highlights:

• How a Covington, TN garage startup grew from $20k to $18 million in revenue in under seven years.
• The story behind building and selling three med-device contract manufacturing companies, all without outside capital.
• Why the 1990s–2000s Memphis med-device boom created a once-in-a-generation window for blue-collar entrepreneurs.
• Gary’s role in helping Christian Brothers High School raise $38 million, far surpassing the original $7 million goal.
• Gary’s unexpected “retirement” running titanium forging operations and developing private duck hunting properties hosting 100+ guests a year.

In this episode of Driven By, I sit down with JW Gibson, a Memphian whose story runs from the Dixie Homes housing project to entrepreneur. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he built businesses from the ground up—including a medical supply company launched in his mother’s garage and a printing company that now produces Tennessee’s lottery tickets. This conversation is about how JW built from scratch, took risks, and kept moving forward.

Episode Highlights

• Housing Project: Growing up in a Memphis housing project, and how that experience shaped how he sees opportunity and challenge.
• Lessons from the Navy: What he learned about leadership, discipline, and staying steady under pressure.
• Entrepreneur at Work: From cash-flow struggles to building companies today.
• Politics and Government: His thoughts on education and workforce development.
• A City in Transition: His take on Beale Street, downtown’s future, and projects like the Rock & Soul Museum move.
• The Campaign: His thoughts on City Mayor election campaign and what he was planning before dropping out of County Mayor race.

In this episode, I sit down with Coach Mike Mosby from Oakhaven High, an inner-city Memphis school, to talk about what it means to lead beyond football. When a wealthy East Memphis school stepped in to buy his team 30 new helmets, the gap was on full display. Mosby shares hard truths about the community he serves—where father figures are scarce, crime is concentrated, and football becomes a lifeline for hope and belonging.

Episode Highlights:

• Breaking the Cycle: From growing up fatherless to becoming the father figure his players never had.
• Hard Truths on the Ground: 50% of African American boys in his zip code are raised in single-parent homes.
• More Than Football: Belonging, safety, and opportunity matter as much as the scoreboard.
• Disparity on Display: An East Memphis school raised money overnight for gear the system couldn’t provide.
• The Weight He Carries: Coaching while counseling kids in a violent zip code.
• Looking Ahead: What it will take to turn community generosity into lasting change.

In this episode, I sit down with Jared from The Hospitality Hub in Memphis to talk about redesigning how they serve people experiencing homelessness. He shares what it takes to build real solutions, from private studios to trauma-informed care, and why preserving dignity should be the starting point.

Episode Highlights:

• Why People Really Become Homeless: Jared breaks down the data and busts myths.
• Redesigning the Model: A shelter built on hospitality, not compliance.
• Stories That Stay With You: Transformation, celebration, and the power of being seen.
• Fighting Broken Systems: How The Hub builds new models when the old ones fail.
• The Emotional Cost of the Work: Burnout, grief, and why his team keeps going.
• What’s Next—and What Needs to Change: The blueprint for scaling real impact.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Reginald Coopwood, CEO of Regional One Health, to talk about how he and his team led one of the most significant healthcare turnarounds in Memphis history. He shares what it took to step into a hospital losing $20 million a year and rebuild it—without ever losing faith in the people who showed up every day to serve. From personal tragedy to civic vision, Dr. Coopwood offers a powerful look at leading with purpose.

Episode Highlights

• A Hospital in Crisis: What Dr. Coopwood walked into in 2010—and the staff resilience that surprised him.
• Culture Over Cuts: Why he refused to slash his way to survival and focused on mission-aligned leadership.
• Turning the Tide: How Regional One reduced its uninsured rate and redefined what public health could be.
• The Personal Side: Losing his first wife, raising three sons, and how his faith guided every decision.
• A Vision for Memphis: Why the city needs a new hospital—and what’s at stake if we don’t act.

In this episode, I sit down with Field Norris, co-founder of Chene Gear, to talk about how a frustration in the duck blind turned into a premium outdoor brand. He shares the story of what it takes to build something from the ground up, and how he and his team have scaled without losing sight of their values. From early challenges to staying customer-first, Field offers an honest look at building a brand with purpose.

Episode Highlights

• Origin Story: How a leaky pair of waders on a duck hunting trip sparked Chene Gear.
• From Problem to Brand: Solving a need for their community before realizing they had something bigger.
• People First: Building relationships through handwritten notes, in-house repairs, and grassroots loyalty.
• Growing Without Losing Purpose: Hiring smart, learning from mistakes, and staying mission-focused.
• Field’s Mindset: “We had plenty of reasons to quit, but we just kept asking, ‘Why not?’”

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Goodfellow — a man who’s lived life at full speed and with no filter. We cover from the trailer park in West Memphis to the car lots and the flash people in the city know him for today. Along the way, he talks about gambling, second chances, hard lessons, and big swings. This isn’t a polished story — It’s a conversation about the price of ambition, the impact of choices, and the search for meaning after the dust settles.

Episode Highlights

• Early Days: Growing up in a trailer, dreaming of a different life, and leaving home at 18.
• Confidence Since Youth: Calling himself "Mark Rockefeller."
• The Gamble: A life built on risk — Childhood bets, dog tracks.
• Starting Small: Launching a car business with four cars, two of which didn’t even run.
• Legacy and Regret: Honoring his mother, wrestling with selfishness, and figuring out what matters now.
• Memphis Moments: Viral commercials, front-row Grizzlies seats, and more.

In this episode, I sit down with Dana Evans—missionary, adoptive mother, and advocate—to discuss her journey of faith, calling, and resilience. She shares what led her to Russia, the challenges of adoption, and the lessons she’s learned about trust, fear, and perseverance.

Episode Highlights

• When a Calling Won’t Let Go: From childhood dreams to a leap of faith that changed her life.
• Life in Russia as a Missionary: Navigating culture shock, language barriers, and church planting. 
• An Adoption That Changed Everything: How caring for two orphans turned into a lifelong commitment.
• The Challenge of Fear and Isolation: Pushing through exhaustion and finding strength in faith.
• A New Path for Orphan Care: Helping shift Russia’s orphan care from institutions to family placements.
• Expanding the Mission Abroad: Bringing her work to Turkey, Ghana, and Kenya to help children find families.

In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Shannon—entrepreneur, investor, and family office operator—to discuss his journey across private equity, real estate, and capital management. We explore the principles behind his investment strategy, the challenges of building credibility, and the hard lessons he’s learned about leadership, trust, and execution.

Episode Highlights

• From Memphis to Texas: Navigating different markets, building networks, and embracing Texas’ economic advantages.
• A Career in Capital: Starting on Wall Street, managing family office investments, and launching his own company.
• Principles of Smart Investing: Prioritizing execution, avoiding over-engineered deals, and learning from failures.
• A Costly Business Lesson: Overcoming a failed business deal early on, a dishonest operator, and what it taught him about due diligence.
• The Secret to Strong Teams: Hiring based on strengths, trusting your team, and building a business culture from the ground up.
• How to Find Work-Life Balance: Staying grounded in faith, prioritizing family, and redefining long-term success.