Ripped from todays headlines... my guest is Brandon Reid. Brandon, Intake Coordinator of Criminal Justice Ministry, has dedicated his life to helping ex-felons find housing when being released...ironically he was recently denied housing himself because of a blanket ban of not allowing felons to live in the Hampton Garden Apartments. This prompted a headline article over the weekend in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Brandon is a non-violent drug offender. He sits on boards and is the President of Pride STL. Brandon has a fascinating life story of growing up in Italy until he was 10 years old, and seeing abuse to his mom in the household. His first arrest was for drug possession when he was 18. Brandon was addicted to meth and heroin. He finally got himself on the right path, and his story is one of determination, survival, and success. He discovered an incredible mentor and a group of friends conquering their struggles. Brandon is using his unique experience to help others to affect  real change. He is now bringing awareness with the most recent issue of legal discrimination for housing with ex-felons.

Billy Vasquez is my guest this week...  A very likeable Texan, along with, being a hardworking soft spoken gentle giant family man. Billy tells the story of how it was easy to fall into an addicted lifestyle with friends and family who were already living that life. He stepped into helping a group transport marijuana because of the benefits of being with the "in" lifestyle crowd. The group got greedy and did a back to back deal that Billy advised against. The Feds seized over 700 lbs. of marijuana on the second shipment. You can really feel his emotions of loss, love, and family with his nightmare and how he was able to eventually survive the storm. He is now back in Texas with his family. He is driving a big rig tow truck doing what he likes doing. He discusses how his perspective on life after prison makes him a very happy man living the life he had hoped for. Billy offers up nuggets of strategies with how he got through it all.

Paul Hartfield is my guest this week on Nightmare Success In an Out. Paul is an author of the book: For Such A Time As This – When a Singer Forgets why he sings. Paul had a 25-year career being a professional international opera singer…singing for presidents, world class opera houses, and major symphonies. His twist in his life story occurred when he retired from singing, and hit it big in the real estate world in the early 2000’s. When the real estate market crashed so did Paul’s business and his life. He walks us through his gripping story of losing it all and eventually having to come to terms with going to prison. He first struggled to find his way in the unfamiliar prison world, but eventually he found his voice using his musical talents to unite and inspire inmates. Paul is a natural storyteller who takes us on an incredible journey of overcoming the worst and living for the better. His charity Hartfield Missions works to help inmates with money in and out of prison.

My Guest this week on Nightmare Success In and Out is Paul Gutierrez. Have you seen the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise flipping those bottles? Well, Paul can do all of that cool stuff. Paul shares a relatable story about how choices can lead you somewhere you didn’t even plan on going. Paul is a smart guy who had a great job in the healthcare industry in his 20’s, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He started living a double life with a normal job and becoming a successful drug dealer. Paul describes in his story that he woke up one day and said how did I get here? He ended up receiving a 10-year sentence, but he never gave up on himself even when there were setbacks in and out of prison. There are a lot of nuggets of strategies that Paul shares with us.

Ben Robinson is my guest this week on Nightmare Success In and Out. What a journey, from the drug streets of St. Louis…to staying committed to his education… to his life taking a fork in the road with an interview with Boeing…that eventually landed him in prison with a 10-year sentence. His story of the final days of getting out of prison are unbelievable and everyone’s worst nightmare, but something you can’t stop listening to. His daughter and Mom were his beacon through the darkness. I am so proud of Ben. He now works for Habitat for Humanity and has his own clothing line branded Billionaire Royalties. Ben’s clothing line has a very cool vibe. He is living his Nightmare Success!

This episode is chalked full of incredible nuggets of good stuff for surviving, resilience, and determination...and this guy, Michael Hughes, is so damn smart. Mike is brutally honest about his life, his relationships, and his addictions. Mike never gave up on himself. He believed until he was breathing his last breath there was always hope to make it. Mike shares his incredible love story about he and his wife Shannon...they met in college, they married, they divorced but still loved each other and supported each other through the storms of life and remarried 14 years later. Shannon is a true warrior for Mike and his recovery. Mike and Shannon are now living their best life...empty nesters with 3 kids. This is a real story of Nightmare Success!

Sean McFarland grew up as an army brat that traveled the country.  Sean is educated as a horticulturist, and he is also a talented known singer and songwriter that is currently performing with his band singing the 60 songs he wrote in prison. Running in his pajamas down a mountain in the rain away from the Feds who had ransacked his marijuana growing farm in California…this is a story to tune in for. I know what you are thinking…pot is legal in California. Well, it is until it isn’t. We discuss this. 

Sean is a great storyteller who has some deep thoughts about prison and life. It will make you think. He is a very optimistic man who gives us tips on how to get in that state of mind. After living through a nightmare, Sean is now living the life he envisioned when he was in prison. This stuff belongs in a business book about stepping into and acting on goals and plans you envision.

He now is married with a 3-year-old son, living on his farm with his apple orchard making hard cider…just how he had envisioned. On top of all of that…he is a dinosaur bone hunter, and he has discovered hundreds of dinosaur bones. Yes, you read that one right! Great story…Tune in for this!

They should have made a movie about Jeff Smith...wait they did...A documentary titled "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?" He has always been a man on the move. Playing basketball at 5'6" and 100 something bumping up against bigger stronger players, but none of them  more tenacious or passionate...has been a metaphor for Jeff's life. He is not afraid to tackle the deemed impossible. He got his PHD. in Political Science from Washington University St. Louis. At 25 years old he co-founded Confluence Charter Schools in St. Louis City that now has over 4,000 students. He ran for Dick Gephardt's open congressional seat against Russ Carnahan in 2004...losing by less than 1%. He was elected Missouri State Senator. Jeff shares the incredible story how everything fell off the cliff with a crazy man car bombing that unbelievably led to the crazy man's connection to Jeff's 2004 campaign...which eventually leads to his best friend wearing a wire to frame him for Federal Election Fraud and Obstruction of Justice....movie stuff. I love how open Jeff is about his life experiences and the prison world. His perspective on life today really hits home. It is good stuff! Jeff wrote the critically acclaimed book "Mr. Smith Goes to Prison." He has even done a TED Talk titled, "Lessons in Business...From Prison." This episode is full of lessons and tips for life. Proud of what this man has accomplished!

I have a couple of firsts for this weeks episode. I interview two people...Jordan Markell and Wendy Watson. This is my first interview with a female who has gone to prison. Just to warn you this episode is pretty graphic and has explicit language, but I think they are two stories that need to be heard. 

Jordan (AKA Lowkey$) came from the hard crime streets of North St. Louis City. A drive by shooting cost Jordan 10 years of his life in prison. He has done a 180 with his life becoming a successful singer/rapper/songwriter with over a million subscribers on YOUTUBE. He gives his Mom the credit of introducing him to the "laws of attraction" while he was in prison. This changed Jordan's life, and he explains how. 

Wendy had a very tough home life as a kid. With no good role models, she drifted into drugs and became a heroine addict. Wendy shares her story of how she was raped and became pregnant. She also shares the woman perspective of life inside prison. Wendy is interesting to listen to because she is just so open and honest about the stages she went through and how it changed her.  Prison is where Wendy got her act together. She became clean and focused on being the real "Wendy." Wendy focused on getting educated when she returned home. She now has a degree from St. Louis University, and a masters degree from Washington University. 

Yes, this episode is more graphic than the previous episodes, but the message is strong. A second chance is possible if you believe, take action with the right mindset...both Wendy and Jordan changed their lives...Nightmare Success

Big Man Mark Ross is my guest this week. Mark grew up in a little town in Iowa with less than 1000 people. He also has an identical twin brother. Playing sports until dark in the park and dreaming of someday playing football for the Iowa Hawkeyes was his simple boyhood plan. Mark achieved his childhood dream of playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. He shares some behind the scenes stories of what it is like to be a D-1 athlete in a town where you are worshipped. Mark had always been good with numbers. When he got out of college he worked for a credit card company and a bank. His life took a turn when some friends said they would pay him to help them hide or launder there money. He slipped into the drug world with these friends, and things took a dark turn. Mark is widely known at Leavenworth for the Warden Tractor incident. It is an incredible story that no-one died that day. Returning home, Mark has spent some time talking to young people about the choices you have in life, telling them that you are the only one responsible for making the right choices. Mark is a gentle giant with a big heart that has some thoughtful reflections as his life moves forward.