When she was 26, Emily O’Brien, a promising young woman (as they say) from Hamilton, Ontario made a really bad judgment call, and was sentenced to 4 years in prison for drug smuggling. That could have been the end of her story, as it is for so many, but Emily, given lemons, decided to turn them into lemon (and pepper and dill) flavoured popcorn.

While still incarcerated, Emily started Comeback Snacks, a gourmet popcorn business that allowed her to not only reinvent her own life, but those of some of her fellow inmates.Not only does Comeback Snacks offer truly delicious popcorn, but, through its partnerships with organizations like the John Howard and Elizabeth Fry Societies, it provides opportunities to people with criminal backgrounds to reintegrate and start anew. We talk with Emily about the arrest that changed her life, her time in prison, and her newfound mission.

Comeback Snacks - popcorn so good it’s criminal - is carried in over 200 stores, and can be ordered at https://comebacksnacks.com/shop.

A video version of this episode here.

A Transcription can be found on the episode page here.

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