In this powerful episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, host Brent Cassity sits down with Eddie B. Ellis Jr., returning citizen, author, and advocate to unpack his personal journey from teenage conviction to lifelong activism. Arrested at age 16 and sentenced to decades in the criminal legal system, Eddie reflects on the transformative path of reentry, the perseverance it took to reclaim his voice, and the ways language and labeling shape not only identity, but opportunity. He shares firsthand what it means to rebuild, the gaps in the system he’s worked to repair—especially around solitary confinement, sentencing of youth, and supports for people coming home—and the hope he holds for social change. Listeners will walk away not just inspired by Eddie’s survival, but challenged to rethink how we see “success,” justice, and redemption.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

In this episode of the Nightmare Success podcast, host Brent Cassity interviews Scott Rosenblum, a renowned criminal defense attorney with over 42 years of experience with over 450 jury trials. Scott is the President and principal founding member of the Rosenblum, Schwartz, Fry, and Johnson. He is has been compared to the Michael Jordon of the courtroom by Marshall Faulk, on the best running backs in NFL history. They discuss Scott's journey into law, the intricacies of the criminal justice system, and the emotional toll of representing clients. Scott shares insights on the importance of understanding the client-lawyer relationship, the challenges of the federal system, and the need for reform in prosecutorial discretion, and other fixes that are needed in our criminal justice system. The conversation highlights the profound impact that legal outcomes have on individuals' lives and the responsibility lawyers have in navigating these complex situations.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

In this episode of Nightmare Success, host Brent Cassity speaks with Kristen Johnson, who shares her powerful journey from addiction and incarceration to recovery and community service. Kristen discusses her supportive family, the challenges she faced, and how she turned her life around by helping others. Kristen discusses her initiative, The Light Newsletter, aimed at providing hope to those incarcerated, and she emphasizes the significance of reentry programs and community connections. Kristen shines a light on overcoming shame and finding purpose through being of service to others.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

One night everything in Walter Dunn's life changed. In this episode of Nightmare Success, host Brent Cassity interviews Walter Dunn, a man who was wrongfully convicted and spent 13 years in prison. He went to work on his case in the prison law library, and one doctors testimony to the evidence finally set him free. Walter shares his harrowing journey from being a devoted father and community member to facing the nightmare of incarceration. He discusses the challenges of navigating the criminal justice system, the importance of resilience, and how he transformed his experience into a mission to help others. Walter is now an author of the book, Through Innocent Eyes, and a criminal justice speaker to inspire positive change. Walter's story is one of hope, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of justice, emphasizing the need for reform in the legal system and the power of personal growth.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

In this raw and powerful episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, host Brent Cassity interviews Saffron Gustafson, who shares her harrowing journey from a successful business owner of medical clinics to facing federal charges after an FBI raid on her medical business. Eventually she is sentenced to 22 months in prison at the Dublin prison that was eventually shutdown for sexual abuse of women. Saffron Gustafson’s story is one of resilience, survival, and reclaiming her voice after years of silence. As the author of My Name Is Saffron: Voices Silenced, Stifled, and Taken Away, she opens up about the struggles that shaped her journey, the systems and circumstances that tried to erase her identity, and the strength it took to fight back. We explore how trauma, injustice, and isolation can strip someone of their voice—and how reclaiming it becomes the ultimate act of freedom. Together, they dive into themes of survival, courage, and the universal search for dignity when the world seems determined to keep you down. This conversation will challenge, inspire, and remind us that it is shocking what someone can adapt to at rock bottom. Saffron reminds us that you have a choice with how you handle your nightmare.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

In this episode of Nightmare Success, Brent Cassity interviews Dr. Muhamad Ali Rifai, who shares his incredible journey from surviving a war-torn childhood in Syria to facing a federal investigation in the United States. Dr. Rafi survived machine gun fire as a child. He escaped thyroid cancer and a car crash that should have killed him, but nothing prepared him for going to trial with the United States Government. The Doctor discusses his experiences with raw authenticity, the challenges of navigating the legal system, and the importance of telemedicine. Dr. Rifai, who is both an internist and psychiatrist, was a pioneer of telemedicine. He emphasizes the need for professionals to understand the complexities of the law and shares insights from his own trial, where he was ultimately acquitted of all charges. His big "tip" is do not talk to the investigators, they are professionals. Let your attorney handle all communications. The conversation highlights the power of staying true to your beliefs and the importance of supporting others in similar situations. Dr. Rifai is the author of the book Doctor Not Guilty, and he is the founder of SHIELD that helps professionals through the complicated process of being indicted.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

What makes someone go from "I can't" to "I can" mindset. Pamela Winn's mindset change came from having a conversation with a friend after returning home from a 78 month Federal Prison Sentence. Pamela Winn earned a scholarship to college and later became a registered nurse before her world came crashing down with a charge of mortgage fraud. She had a miscarriage in custody being shackled with a hard fall. Her journey is one of courage, advocacy, and unshakable resolve. After experiencing firsthand the devastating gaps in our criminal justice system, Pamela turned her pain into purpose, founding RestoreHER, a policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ending the mass incarceration of women and addressing the unique challenges justice-impacted women face. Honored with numerous awards for her leadership, including The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact List, and PBS Short Film Festival Winner "Winn Movie" to name a few. Pamela has become a powerful national voice for dignity, health, and human rights. She added language for women incarcerated in the the First Step Act.

In this episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, Brent Cassity sits down with Pamela to explore her personal story, the systemic barriers she’s fighting to dismantle, and the hope she’s building for women across the country.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

Brandon James walked out of prison over 6 years ago, and has created one of the biggest roofing companies in the state of Missouri. Brandon was stuck at rock bottom who attempted to take his life a few weeks out of prison. This is an incredible redemption comeback story. He says you cannot be a victim and victor at the same time. Brandon became intentional about what he wanted in life. He wrote it down and asked for help. He is now the founder of Brandon J Roofing of one of the fastest growing roofing companies doing over $60 million a year annually. In this episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, Brent Cassity interviews Brandon James, who shares his incredible journey from a troubled childhood and a 10 year incarceration to becoming a successful entrepreneur, podcast host of WIT "Whatever It Takes", and a motivational speaker. The discussion delves into themes of overcoming fears, the impact of early life experiences, the challenges of re-entering society after prison, and the importance of sharing one's story. Brandon is constantly seeking advice from mentors, coaches, and studying the people who have been a success. This episode is full of life lessons of how to get unstuck and act on your purpose.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

In this powerful and revealing episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, Brent Cassity sits down with former Illinois Judge Jessica O’Brien—the first Filipino-American elected to the bench in Cook County—who went from a respected courtroom authority to a federal inmate. Jessica opens up about her stunning journey through the justice system:the decision to go to trial that led to a conviction for mortgage fraud, the surreal experience of trading her judge robe for a prison uniform, and how she rebuilt her identity from the inside out. With raw honesty, she reflects on the shame, isolation, and loss of purpose she faced, and how she found resilience and redemption in the most unlikely place. Now an advocate for second chances and systemic reform, Jessica shares how her experience has reshaped her understanding of justice—and her mission moving forward. She is still diligently fighting to overturn her conviction. This is a conversation about resilience , surviving, and the courage to rewrite your story. A must-listen for anyone who believes that rock bottom can be the beginning of something new.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

From homelessness to cooking for Team USA at the Olympics, to Food Network fame—Darnell "SuperChef" Ferguson has lived a life of extremes. But behind the fame and fire in the kitchen, his journey has been anything but smooth. In this powerful episode of Nightmare Success: In and Out, Darnell opens up about his early battles with the law, rebuilding his life through food, and the recent legal storm that nearly unraveled everything he worked for. We go deep into his rise from rock bottom, the pressures of success, the realities of public scrutiny, and what redemption means when your past keeps knocking on your door. This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about second chances, staying accountable, and finding purpose through the pain.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"