Escape The Odds

Watch the full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com. John Collum is the CEO of Bar nunn trucking out of Chicago. He owns and operate 4 semi trucks. John was born in poverty on the west side of Chicago. He decided early on that he wanted the finer things in life and the only way to attain it was through drug dealing. This mindset led him to prison for 1st degree murder at 18 years old. While incarcerated he was introduced to the world of trucking. After his acquittal of the murder charges, he vowed to live a honest life. He took his last $2000 and attended trucking school to earn his CDL.

After 9 years and 4 trucks later, he is an example of perseverance and determination. Follow his extraordinary life of grit @johncollumreal on Instagram

“Tone Success” has always done things differently rather in the streets as major heroin dealer or in his new hustle, the apparel industry. He has created a clothing brand SVCCESS that’s worn by celebrities and every day people seeking success. After time in federal prison on drug charges he knew he had to switch hustles. Listen as he breaks down his story and how he has built a time tested clothing brand. @SVccessclothingnyc

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Im Aaron Smith & my fed prison number was 18798-424. started this podcast after serving 9 years 5 months for distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl. It was inside where I realized that if I can run a heroin operation in Chicago making 10k-$15k per day I can switch Hustles and go legit. I’m highlighting stories of the formerly incarcerated who are now successful entrepreneurs. Enjoy. Be inspired. Bounce back.Escapingtheodds.com

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Sammy Rangel is the CEO of Formers Anonymous & lifeafterHate.org. He is a TedX speaker ,Consultant and earned a MSW. Early on life for Sammy could only be described as torture and neglect. Abused by close family members and hitting the streets of Chicago 11 years old. Joining a gang was his only sense of family and structure. Eventually his life on the streets led to 16 years in various prisons and earning the status as a high ranking maniac Latin Disciple. Sammy was radicalized in prison and hate became his best friend.

His organization now helps the same kind of people filled with same kind of hate he once carried in his heart. This story epitomizes that a changed mind leads to a changed life and love conquers hate. Follow Sammy journey lifeafterhate.org Facebook SammyRangel

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com

Todd Dubose CEO of Returning Citizens Magazine. It’s the official magazine of the justice involved community. The magazine can be read electronically on inmates computer tablets throughout jails and prisons nationally. He is providing an outlet for the men and women in bondage. His magazine goes in depth on providing information on topics like expungement, second chance housing, second chance jobs, and other badly needed the entry programing. Stay tune for more services to enrich the former and current inmates throughout the world. Returningcitizensmag.com

Watch full video @ Escapingtheodds.com Lester Young is a New York native but spent a significant amount of his life in South Carolina. He is the Founder of Path2Redemption. At the age of 19, he was convicted of 1st degree murder in a drug deal gone wrong. He was sentenced to life in prison with a 3% chance of parole. This was an odd that most prisoners didn’t escape in the state of South Carolin. During his incarceration, he became a positive role model and leader from behind the wall. Redemption was his focus rather that meant freedom or death in prison. Journaling was his escape and this excercise paved the way for his book 5 stages of incarceration. This is a must read. In the interview he discusses facing the spirit of his victim in his jail cell. Lester is now a free man and Escaped the Odds by receiving a pardon by the Governor of South Carolina. Follow his life at path2redemption.org

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Erika king is the president of Chicago Neighborhood Intiative and Maleia Scufield-Ransom serves as the Program Manager of PERC. They’re both on a mission to empower the formerly incarcerated through entrepreneurship. Their organization trains and funds small businesses ran by the formerly incarcerated throughout the Chicagoland area. I personally graduated from this program (PERC) and the tools learned has helped me become a better entrepreneur. Listen as they discuss why they invest so much into this forgotten group of men and women. Follow their work Follow their work at www.Percempowers.org

Watch the full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com. John Collum is the CEO of Bar nunn trucking out of Chicago. He owns and operate 4 semi trucks. John was born in poverty on the west side of Chicago. He decided early on that he wanted the finer things in life and the only way to attain it was through drug dealing. This mindset led him to prison for 1st degree murder at 18 years old. While incarcerated he was introduced to the world of trucking. After his acquittal of the murder charges, he vowed to live a honest life. He took his last $2000 and attended trucking school to earn his CDL.

After 9 years and 4 trucks later, he is an example of perseverance and determination. Follow his extraordinary life of grit @johncollumreal on Instagram

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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aaronesmith/support

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com

Richard's story begins on Wall Street, where he worked at several large investment banks. He became a partner at the infamous Wolf of Wall Street firm, Stratton Oakmont, depicted in the Movie starring Leonardo Dicaprio, The Wolf Of Wallstreet. He eventually started his own financial services firm, which he grew to 500 employees, generating $100 million in annual revenue. Unfortunately, some of his business practices were outside the law, and despite having paid everyone back, he was convicted of securities fraud, and served two years in a federal prison. Upon release, he was destitute and homeless, but got back on his feet, and became Director of Defy Ventures, a prominent non-profit in the reentry space. In 2016, he left Defy to launch 70MillionJobs, where he serves as CEO. He currently is CEO of Commissary.club which is a social Network ( think Facebook) for people with criminal records.

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Andre Peart is the CEO Of tech Startup ConConnect.com , which is being described as the LinkedIn for the formerly incarcerated. Andre was raised in Yonkers, New York and pushed to the streets at the age of 15 and eventually perfected his craft distributing large quantities of marijuana. He attributes his business acumen to hustling on the streets. He was indicted for a shooting and drug distribution spending over 5 years in a New York State prison. While incarcerated he published a book in his 1st year of prison. After his released, he spent time building up his professional

network and experienced the challenges of trying to re enter society. Those challenges birthed Conconnect. Continue to follow Andre’s grind on Instagram @Andrepeart and Conconnect.com