What resources are you utilizing to support you on your entrepreneurship journey?

In this episode, we explore how organizations can play a transformative role in supporting entrepreneurship for individuals reentering society after incarceration. Our guest is the St. Louis County Library, home to the innovative Small Business Launchpad program—an initiative specifically designed to empower formerly incarcerated individuals with the tools, knowledge, and resources to start and grow their own businesses.

We discuss the unique challenges justice-impacted entrepreneurs face, the importance of equitable access to information and mentorship, and how libraries can serve as unexpected but powerful hubs for economic opportunity and social reintegration. Tune in to hear real insights into how communities can invest in second chances and support sustainable pathways to success.

Interested in learning more about St Louis County Library:

St. Louis County Library to launch business program for formerly incarcerated people

St. Louis County Library program to offer formerly incarcerated people business skills

Former incarcerated have a chance at entrepreneurship – Small Business Launchpad

Interested in applying for the Small Business Launch Pad Program?

Small Business Launchpad Program Application

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Tre

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

How could entrepreneurship be your pathway to empowerment and financial freedom?

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, VanKevia Garner sits down with CJ Johnson, founder of Samsonite Painting & More, LLC. CJ Johnson shares his journey of mindset transformation, discipline, and resilience. Against all odds, CJ highlights the power of self-employment and how challenges can be turned into purpose-driven fuel to not only build a better life but also uplift others in the process.

Tune in to learn more about how CJ beat the odds and created a successful business for his family.

Want to learn more about Samsonite Painting & More, LLC?

Samsonite Painting Webpage

Youtube Page

Instagram

Facebook

Want to learn more about reform movements?

Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition

Empowering Justice-Impacted Entrepreneurs

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Tre

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

What if the key to reducing recidivism isn’t found in a courtroom — but in a kitchen? And what if entrepreneurship is the most powerful form of rehabilitation?

In this powerful episode, we meet the visionary— Muhammad Abduli-Hadi — behind Down North Pizza, a Philly-based pizzeria that’s not just slanging pies — it’s changing lives. Built on a mission to combat recidivism, Down North exclusively hires formerly incarcerated individuals, offering them a shot at meaningful employment, mentorship, and economic stability.

Muhammad shares his deeply personal journey: from surviving the system to building a business rooted in justice, dignity, and second chances. With every pizza served, Down North is proving that redemption isn't just possible — it’s delicious.

Tune in to learn more about a mission-driven business that's aiming to reduce recidivism, one slice at a time.

Want to learn more about Down North Pizza?

Down North Pizza

Instagram

'We the Pizza' is part cookbook, part memoir from formerly incarcerated Philadelphians

Check out Muhammad Abdul-Hadi Book!

Amazon Link for We the Pizza: Slangin' Pies and Savin' Lives

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Tre

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

How do you rebuild your sense of self after incarceration? What does it really take to believe you’re worthy of success again—after the system tried to break you? Can you start a business with nothing but grit, a vision, and a second chance?

In this inspiring episode, VanKe’via and Wayne discuss more than just building a business. VanKe’via and Wayne discuss building a sense of worth—one decision, one risk, one day at a time. He shares what it really feels like to enter the world of entrepreneurship after incarceration. Not just with a record—but with resilience. Not with endless resources—but with a drive to make the most of every opportunity.

Wayne didn’t just want to make money—he wanted to make meaning. But first, he had to believe that he deserved to be here. Tune in to learn more about the value of confidence as an entrepreneur.

Learn more about Wayne’s business: Switchinglaneswithwayne.com

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Tre

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

Do you have a business idea but aren’t sure where to start or if it’s realistic? Have you assessed readiness to start a business and feasibility of the business?

In this episode, VanKevia and Joe Lamberti talk about the real first step most people miss: assessing readiness and feasibility. Before writing a business plan, you need to know if the idea makes sense, if the timing is right, and if you have the tools and support to make it work. Tune in with VanKevia and Joe to explore how the UCEDC is hep[ing formerly incarcerated not just write a plan, but build something sustainable—step by step, with real support.

Remember starting a business is about more than paperwork. It’s about building a future you can own.

Want to learn more about UCEDC Initiatives?

Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance Initiative

UCEDC Free Resources

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Tre

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

How committed are you to achieving your goals? Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset?

In this episode, VanKevia and Bobby Bostic share insights on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, highlighting key traits of successful entrepreneurs. This discussion focuses on the importance of persistence, vision, and creativity, drawing from Mr. Bostic’s personal experience. He explores the necessity to shifting one’s entrepreneurial spirit from illegal activities to legitimate, legal ventures. Tune in to learn more on how harness the entrepreneurial drive to build a successful, legal, and fulfilling future.

Want to learn more about Mr. Bostic?

Learn About His Publishing Business

Purchase His Books

Want to learn more about the entrepreneurial mindset?

Ignite Your Entrepreneurial Mindset

Want to dive deeper into this research? Check out the full article in the show notes.

The Prevalence of Criminal Records Among Small Business Owners

Entrepreneurship as a Bridge to Employment?

Entrepreneurship Offers the Formerly Incarcerated a Path Forward

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Tre

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

What challenges will I run into as an entrepreneur? How do I address or overcome these challenges?

In this episode, VanKevia, Dr. Robinson, and Dr. Fernhaber discussed the unique barriers faced by individuals who are formerly incarcerated or have a criminal record when attempting to enter the world of business, highlighting challenges such as stigma and limited access to funding. Dr. Robinson and Dr. Fernhaber emphasize the the need to cultivate hope and reduce stigma, and the importance of policy in reducing stigma and improving reentry processes.

Tune into this episode to learn about the journey to entrepreneurship and the importance of considering the broader context of people's lives.

Take action to remove one barrier at a time.

Want to dive deeper into this research? Check out the full article in the show notes.

Entrepreneurship after prison: It’s complicated

Entrepreneurship as a Bridge to Employment?

Entrepreneurship as a Response to Labor Market

Respect the Hustle: Necessity Entrepreneurship, Returning Citizens, and Social Enterprise Strategies.

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Trey Lokey

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

Can I start a business after incarceration? What will entrepreneurship offer me?

In this episode, VanKe'via and Dr. Damon J. Phillips discuss entrepreneurship as an alternative option for success and employment for formerly incarcerated people. Throughout this conversation, we highlight the importance of providing support and resources for entrepreneurs, particularly those with criminal records, and emphasized the potential for entrepreneurship to transform lives and provide ownership.

Tune in with VanKe'via and Dr. Damon J. Phillips to learn how other formerly incarcerated people are transforming their lives through entrepreneurship and determine whether entrepreneurship is the next step for you.

Want to dive deeper into this research? Check out the full article in the show notes.

Entrepreneurship as a Response to Labor Market

Life After Prison: Why Returning Citizens Become Entrepreneurs

The Prevalence of Criminal Records Among Small Business Owners

Entrepreneurship as a Bridge to Employment?

Entrepreneurship Offers the Formerly Incarcerated a Path Forward

Want to take the next step towards business ownership?

GEO Reentry Connect Start a Business

10 Tips for Starting a Business After Prison

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Trey Lokey

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF

Securing stable employment after incarceration can seem like an almost impossible challenge. But what if entrepreneurship could be the key to a fresh start?

In this season, From Incarceration to Entrepreneurship, we will explore the potential of entrepreneurship as a means for formerly incarcerated individuals to rebuild their lives and create opportunities for success. By sharing real-world stories alongside research-based insights, we aim to inspire hope, challenge societal perceptions, and provide actionable guidance for those seeking to build their own businesses.

What to Expect in Upcoming Episodes:

• Explore the importance of second chances and redefining what's possible after incarceration
• Discussion on the opportunity of entrepreneurship among formerly incarcerated
• Highlight the challenges and barriers encountered by formerly incarcerated business owners
• Provide practical advice and tips for formerly incarcerated interested in starting a business or need help maintaining a business
• Hear stories of individuals who turned their lives around through business ownership

Tune in every Tuesday, starting March 25, 2025, to listen to new episodes about ways in which formerly incarcerated are rebuilding their lives and creating meaning.

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Follow Us On Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Share Your Ideas

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your entrepreneurial journey? Share Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Want to join our team? Become A Team Member

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Trey Lokey

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/good-feelings

License code: P0AF6F4WMWFXTKBJ

In our final episode of the season, our host, VanKevia, reflected on the major takeaways from the season and conveyed the importance of civic power. VanKevia explored thought-provoking questions and presented pathways for system-impacted individuals to engage with the movement. Tune in to learn more about how you can harness civic power in your communities.

Complete our listener survey to tell us how we can continue to work towards seasons in the future.

Find Ways to Get Involved in Criminal Justice Reform

Sources Used:

Out-of-Step Policy

[input additional resources]

Recommended media, books, etc.

Amazon Link- New Jim Crow Book

Netflix- 13TH

Connect with More Life: The Reentry Podcast:

Instagram: @morelifethereentrypodcast

Want to send us topic ideas or reach out to us? Complete the form: Topic Ideas Form

Are you formerly incarcerated and want to share your story? Complete this form: Resilient Reentrants Interest Form

Please listen, rate, and review. Thank you, More Life!

Host: VanKe’via Garner, M. S.

Produced by Trey Lokey

https://uppbeat.io/track/hartzmann/good-feelings

License Code:WWUKNN1ALHEZYUNF