Can you get  sentenced to over 10 years in Federal Prison for selling bath salts? Yes, Justin Smith was one of the largest suppliers out of Florida. These bath salts mimicked the effects of cannabis and ecstasy. HIs attorney warned him that he was walking down a dangerous path even though it was not a scheduled drug. Justin had become intoxicated by the ocean of money that allowed him all the material things with this lifestyle. Justin had success in business early on. At 13 years old he created an internet dial up service. He took his creative smarts to the real estate world to much success until a very strange thing happened. Always looking for opportunities his friend had a chain of smoke shops. Their best selling products were spices and bath salts. Justin saw an opportunity figured out a supply chain and took off. He shares with us how a program in prison changed his life. Justin returned home and did not let the ex-felon tag slow him down, He owns a very successful national company that is called Contractor Plus that is teamed with companies like Home Depot. Justin's story is about learning from mistakes but never giving up your tenacity to accomplish what some would deem impossible.

What would it be like to survive 4 years in a Mexican prison? JC Almanza did a lot of time at several different prisons. He grew up on the hard streets of the southside of Chicago. The way JC tells his stories it feels like you have stepped into a movie of his mind in a place you probably have never been. Since JC got out of prison 6 years ago, he has created a movement "Wrong to Strong." He has over 85,000 subscribers on YouTube and 55,000 followers on Instagram. Why? It is his message. It is his humbleness, vulnerability, and gratitude for where he is today. This is an interesting story because there was not a magic wand transformation. JC's journey happened in small steps...improving himself with each event even though he may take a temporary step back. The hardness and then the vulnerability keeps you hooked to JC's story. He is now fueled by the difference he is making in people's lives by sharing his experience helping others get to the other side. Wrong to Strong is a real movement. You feel it when you listen to JC.

Could a guy go from an inmate at Leavenworth to the Mayor of Leavenworth? Yes, Jermaine Wilson is that man! This incredible story has been on Good Morning America, The Sunday CBS Morning Show, and others. Jermaine grew up in Leavenworth. He lived in a tough neighborhood and ran with a tough gang of people dealing in drugs and mischief. Jermaine became a leader in that world. He eventually was sentenced to 3 years at a Leavenworth prison. He began believing he should use all his talents and leadership qualities for a force for good. When he got out of prison he began a non-profit that creates positive events for law enforcement and the community to unite and communicate. One day a friend said you should be Mayor. He didn’t really take it seriously until his wife said he should run. The rest of the story is simply incredible. Jermaine is so positive when he talks he just puts a smile on your face. I love what Jermaine has done, and I love his story. Look for his book coming out soon…”From Lawbreaker to Lawmaker.”

Could you have survived being put in a psych ward at 9 years old? Zach Babcock not only survived that but has become a big success with Empowerment Underdog Podcast and Speaking. Zach's dad died when he was 7 years old. He had a hard time with that and was constantly told he was not good enough and couldn't focus on tasks. This low self esteem led him in out of trouble with the law. When he was taken to prison he missed his twin boys being born. While he was in the "hole" he received a 30 second phone call you would never want to receive in prison. That he survived all of this makes his second chance story all that more powerful. Plus, Zach is so likeable, vulnerable, and authentic with how he shares his story. He went all in on becoming an entrepreneur. His story of being totally in makes you a believer with what it means to be committed. Eventually, it has all worked for Zach. He has a great wife, new home, coaches his twin boys, and has a booming successful business. This episode has all kinds of nuggets of wisdom spread throughout. Grit, overcoming, tenacious, Zach Babcock.

How did the Country Boy from Thayer Missouri eventually sell a bank for half billion dollars and eventually go to prison? Shaun Hayes had a persistent goal in his mind growing up...he wanted to be a millionaire. He bought his first bank at 29. He was the CEO of a big bank at 32, and running a public company by 35. At 44, he sold Allegiant Bank to National City for half a billion dollars. Eventually, after the sale, Shaun lost his way buying up smaller rural banks, along with, real estate investments that went sour that led him to a bank fraud conviction sentencing him to 5 years in Federal prison. Along the way, Shaun's story is captivating about the rise and fall of a very smart man.  He is now building his second chance with his new book "The Gray Choice." He is also telling his story as a public speaker about the things to do and avoid when building a company. Shaun has several nuggets of wisdom he sprinkles throughout this episode. Shaun says, "if you never give up, you will eventually win." Shaun would love for you to go to his website www.shaunhayes.com or click this link Home and pre-order his book "The Gray Choice." Shaun is a masterful storyteller that makes the book a great read!

How many times can you get knocked down and get back up? Shane Spurgeon has had a life of falling down and finding the grit to stand back up and take another step to the right path. So much of Shane's life was locked into the wrong mindset believing he was not good enough. He believed he didn't deserve  something good if it happened to him. Shane's story is raw, authentic, and vulnerable. Just when you think he has finally made it he falls again. He had a couple of people who finally showed up in his life that believed him, and did not give up on him when he was wanting to give up on himself. After all his struggles, he finally found his peace. Shane has been on quite a journey. He now is helping people who struggled with the same demons he escaped from to get them help.

Have you heard about the Lamar Johnson case in St. Louis? Lamar has served 28 years in prison with a nightmare case where so many things went wrong. I have an all star panel of Marvin Cotton Jr. (20 years), Ken Nixon (16 years) and Eric Anderson (9 years) all innocent men wrongly convicted of murder on my show talking about the Lamar Johnson case, and how the justice system can be fixed. Marvin says if all goes right Lamar Johnson could be home for Christmas after 28 years behind bars. This is a very insightful, powerful, conversation from the men who have lived it and now are out making a difference for change across the country. Marvin Cotton's Book "Better Not Broken" just released #1 on Amazon!

What would you do if you were picked out of a line up for murder that you didn't commit? Darryl Burton lived that nightmare and finally was exonerated 24 years later. Some hurdles really had to be cleared to make this unbelievable story happen. There were bad jail house snitches who later recanted their story, and eyewitness accounts that did not fit the description of Darryl, and on top of that, Darryl was out of the state when this murder happened. Darryl was sentenced by a jury after 30 minutes of "deliberation" receiving life in prison without parole to a prison what TIME magazine coined "The bloodiest 47 acres in America."...The maximum security Missouri State Penitentiary that has now been shuttered.  The sign read as you entered, "Welcome to the Missouri State Pen. Leave all your hopes, family, and dreams behind.” Darryl was rightly enraged, and angered at the injustice that happened to him, but he used that rage to fuel his passion to be heard and eventually be exonerated. He studied the law and wrote to Presidents, congressman, senators, and organizations that helped free the innocent. He finally was freed after 24 years. He never gave up even when he joked his name should have been Darryl "denied" Burton. His story between those years is gripping and stays with you. Darryl is now a pastor at the The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist Church in the US. He runs an organization that helps people who are released from prison to reenter to society. You can donate to his organization The Miracle of Innocence. Darryl Burton is known as the Miracle Man, and his story is truly disturbing and incredibly inspiring. Look for Darryl's book coming soon Innocent; A Second Look.

How do you go from having it all as a kid, popular athlete, modeling, starring in a movie to sentenced to 12 years in prison at 18 and becoming the shot caller of the prison yard. Buckle up with Peter Meyerhoff because he has an incredible story to share. Peter walks us through the darkness of the prison yard...to hitting rock bottom once he is released. This is when he finds his passion to be the man he is today. He speaks to hundreds of people in prison to motivate them to find the right mindset and quit with excuses. He launched a nationally ranked podcast "Roll Call with Chappy." Peter's goals are to motivate people through his memtal strength tools he learned while in solitary confinement, helping others get sober, and to change the recidivism rate by showing people what's really possible. Peter is using all of his life experiences to make a difference helping others to the next step!

The crash of the 2008 real estate market went from bad to worse to prison for Aaron Duncan. Aaron grew up with a strong knit family. The oldest of 3 sons. He bolted out of high school to be make it big in business. He had impressive early successes. He first started his own  travel company much like Expedia using his previous contacts working for TWA. He has a wickedly smart marketing mind that led him into creating his own real estate investment company, The Duncan Group. The real estate crash happened and Aaron went scrambling for solutions to get short term investors their money back. It didn't work and his in-house attorney turned him into the authorities. Aaron does an excellent job of walking us through his nightmare. His first day in a medium security prison will take your breath away. The worst possible way to to start prison. He took advantage of his library job and became an expert in criminal law. Aaron got out and hit the ground running. He now runs an international company Elevate Media. He represents athletes, CEO's, celebrities, and businesses with their crisis at hand. He is particularly helpful to the indicted/convicted individuals to help them through sentencing and tips for life in prison. Aaron has found a way to use his life experience to help others who have found themselves in the same position that he successfully survived.