Today’s guest is someone whose story and message deeply touched me. As a volunteer clergy member at our local jail, I have the privilege of working one-on-one with inmates to help them discover hope, healing, and the belief that no matter what mistakes they’ve made, their past does not have to define their future.
Recently, I attended a district conference with other volunteers and several former inmates who have completely turned their lives around. It was there that I had the privilege of hearing Tony Taylor speak and sing. His story was powerful, honest, heartbreaking, and inspiring—and I immediately thought, “More people need to hear Tony’s story.”
Tony shares his journey of growing up feeling like he didn’t belong. Born to a Black father and Native American mother, he struggled deeply with identity, racism, bullying, and trauma from a very young age. His childhood was filled with instability, abuse, addiction, violence, abandonment, and unimaginable pain. He experienced sexual abuse as a child, exposure to drugs and domestic violence, and by his teenage years he was already battling alcoholism, drug addiction, and destructive coping mechanisms.
In this episode, we talk openly about trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), generational pain, and how unresolved wounds can shape behavior. Tony explains that while trauma does not excuse harmful actions, understanding the roots of pain can help us better understand ourselves and begin the healing process.
Despite the chaos surrounding him, Tony graduated from high school, attended college, played football, and started a family. But the trauma he carried inside eventually caught up with him. In a tragic situation, Tony took another person’s life and was sentenced to prison.
What happened next is what makes Tony’s story so remarkable.
While in court, the victim’s family challenged Tony to do something good with his life. Those words changed him. Instead of surrendering to hopelessness, Tony committed himself to growth, accountability, education, and personal transformation. During his 29 years in prison, he immersed himself in self-improvement programs, life skills classes, and college education. He eventually went from student to teacher, helping mentor and teach fellow inmates. He earned his bachelor’s degree and is close to completing his master’s degree.
We also discuss the important distinction between guilt and shame, inspired by the work of Brené Brown. Guilt says, “I did something bad,” while shame says, “I am bad.” Shame leads to hopelessness, but healthy guilt can motivate change, growth, and accountability.
Tony shares how difficult it is to pursue healing and self-improvement in prison, where negativity often dominates the environment. Yet he also shares how faith transformed his life. He credits God and the healing power of Jesus Christ with changing his heart, giving him hope, and teaching him humility, accountability, forgiveness, resilience, and love.
Tony openly acknowledges the pain he caused and the years he spent in prison. But instead of wasting that time, he chose to become a better man. Today, he and his son are building a new future together through a fantasy sports business venture with the goal of creating positive impact and giving back to charitable causes like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
One of Tony’s favorite scriptures is Ephesians 3:20:
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine according to His power at work within us.”
In closing, I shared a story from former prison warden Clinton Duffy. When one critic told him, “Leopards don’t change their spots,” Duffy replied:
“I don’t work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day.”
This episode is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond hope, healing, redemption, or transformation.
In This Episode
- How childhood trauma and ACEs impact behavior
- The connection between pain, addiction, and destructive choices
- Generational trauma and breaking unhealthy cycles
- The difference between guilt and shame
- Faith, accountability, and personal transformation
- Finding purpose and healing after devastating mistakes
- Education, mentorship, and growth in prison
- Why people are capable of real change and redemption
- Building a meaningful future after prison
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