In this episode of The REAL Mentors Podcast, Belinda Ramos, now Executive Director of Community Connections for Youth in the South Bronx, reveals why the most effective way to prevent youth incarceration is hiring people who've lived through it. Her organization staffs 80% formerly incarcerated adults as mentors—"credible messengers" who understand the streets, the system, and the trauma—cutting recidivism rates by 60%.You'll discover:
→ Why her brother (dark-skinned, Black Puerto Rican) was scapegoated by their own family while she (lighter-skinned) got opportunities
→ The "arrested development" phenomenon: how incarceration freezes emotional growth at the age you entered
→ Why schools and families don't teach emotional regulation—and how this fuels the prison pipeline
→ How Newburgh, NY (violent crime 198% above national average) became her training ground for justice work
→ The gratitude practice Sean used in his prison cell that works anywhere
→ Her brother's redemption arc: from decades of cycling through incarceration to age 55, now working at Fortune Society
→ Why "the answer is in the community"—and why distant experts keep failing marginalized youth
The uncomfortable truth: Most youth don't need punishment—they need adults who've been where they are. CCFY meets families at crisis moments (first arrest, probation) before deep system involvement creates compounding barriers: homelessness, employment discrimination, fractured relationships, shame.
Host Sean Martin (formerly incarcerated) creates the rare space where both guests speak the same language—lived experience of trauma, systems, and redemption. As Sean shares: he didn't learn about processing FEELINGS until prison anger management workshops. That's how emotionally stunted poverty and chaos make us.
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Community Connections for Youth:📍 149th & 3rd Ave, Bronx, 7th floor (walk-ins welcome 9am-5pm)🌐 www.cc-fy.org | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cc4y/📧 Serving South Bronx families for 16 years💼 Programs: Youth diversion, parent support, court advocacy, transformative mentoring
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: www.instagram.com/theseanmartinBeyond The Bronx Book: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Grab Your Copy 👉 https://a.co/d/gKLMhg9/
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TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Opening: "The Bronx is crushed. But I see beauty in that."02:22 - Growing up in Newburgh, NY (one of America's most dangerous cities)04:44 - Church as sanctuary during 1980s racial marginalization09:14 - Faith as justice framework: Christianity without dogma10:09 - The day her mother died and her brother disappeared15:02 - "His experiences were a grown man's. Who he was was a child."17:18 - Why prison taught Sean about feelings (after earning six figures)20:30 - Rock bottom before finding purpose at CCFY22:05 - Brother's journey: 33 when they reconnected, 55 when he found stability25:25 - How credible messengers work: 80% staff are program alumni30:03 - Self-actualization: "You want to get this clean or get this filthy?"31:52 - Emotional literacy as violence prevention
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About The Real Mentors:REAL = Real Examples Altering Lives. Host Sean Martin interviews leaders and people whose lived experiences—incarceration, addiction, poverty, trauma—inform their work transforming systems. Authentic conversations about redemption that don't sugarcoat the struggle.
Subscribe for stories proving transformation is possible no matter where you're starting from.
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Tags

At 29, Sean Martin was making six figures... then he went to prison. Most people would call that career suicide. But he calls it the best thing that ever happened to him.In this raw, no-BS episode, Sean sits down to get interviewed about his journey from the Bronx projects to building a multi-million dollar ventures and the uncomfortable truths about mindset, sobriety, and identity that he's never fully shared before.If you think your background, your mistakes, or your circumstances are permanent roadblocks, this episode will change how you see everything.
📺 In this special episode, host of the REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin gets interviewed by Dan Sachkowsky ("Big D"), and it gets real:
✅ Why Sean turned himself in for attempted robbery—and how prison became his greatest teacher✅ The harsh truth about why 20+ years of high-functional alcoholism masked his potential✅ How getting sober completely changed his business trajectory✅ The 3 invisible ceilings that keep entrepreneurs stuck between $500K and $2M (and how to break through them)✅ Why Sean LEFT AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) after 6 months✅ How he went from Bronx poverty to a multi-million dollar life✅ The mindset shift nobody talks about that separates 7-figure from 8-figure entrepreneurs✅ His mission to impact 10 million inner-city youth—and why it matters
This isn't motivational sh*t. This is the real story, the uncomfortable truths, and the framework Sean uses to coach entrepreneurs who are ready to scale.
This episode is for:🚀 Entrepreneurs stuck on a revenue plateau – Making $500K to $2M but can't break through, working 60+ hours, feeling like something's missing
📈 People ready to scale from 1 to 10 million – Looking for the framework that actually works
🔄 Anyone in recovery or facing a major life change – Struggling with identity and wondering if there's another way
💪 People from disadvantaged backgrounds – Who've been told their circumstances determine their ceiling
🧠 Those interested in mindset work – Tired of tactics; ready for the psychology that actually shifts results
👥 Leaders and future leaders – Who want to understand how to mentor, inspire, and think bigger
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Follow Sean Martin:
📱 Instagram: www.instagram.com/theseanmartin📚 Book: "Beyond the Bronx: From Prison to Purpose" https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Grab Your Copy 👉 https://a.co/d/gKLMhg9/🎙️ Podcast: R.E.A.L Mentors Podcast (New episodes every week)💬 Money Mindset Movement
Follow Dan Sachkowsky:📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_big_dan_official/
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🎯 ABOUT R.E.A.L MENTORS PODCASTReal Examples Altering Lives
To share real stories from real people who've gone from zero to hero, failure to success, stuck to unstoppable.
Every episode breaks down the invisible ceilings that keep people stuck and gives you the framework to break through them.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creator, someone in recovery, or just someone ready for a change, this podcast is for you.
New episodes every week. No BS. No hype. Just REAL conversations.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
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📊 SEO TAGS#SeanMartin #RealMentorsPodcast #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #PrisonToSuccess #MindsetShift #Sobriety #RealEstate #BusinessCoaching #Motivation #SuccessStory #PodcastEpisode #MoneyMindset #ScalingBusiness #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #DanSachkowsky #BeyondTheBronx #InnerCityYouth #BreakthroughMindset #RecoveryJourney #Mentorship #FromZeroToHero #BusinessGrowth #IdentityShift #AlcoholRecovery...

Jason Lacayo drops raw truths on the Real Mentors Podcast—exposing the mental toll of policing from Bronx streets to badge.From NYPD's violent 46th Precinct ("the Alamo") to White Plains PD's Mental Health Outreach Team, Jason reveals how cops compartmentalize gunshot victims, cope with morbid humor on severed limbs, and fight loneliness after losing street friends. He slams "defund the police" as "dumbest sh*t," shares his Honduran roots policing "from the middle," and opens up on peer support, generational shifts in recruiting, and building men's mental fitness via Agora Social Club.
This episode uncovers policing's human side: soul-draining calls, split-second life-or-death choices, and staying compassionate amid stigma.
This Episode Explores:- Bronx project's heavy-handed cops vs. respected neighborhood officers- NYPD rookie shock: "Guys get stuck seeing holes in them"- Cop bars, alcohol, and dark jokes on accidents/dead bodies- "Uniform = tool of death": Why officers cry post-shootings- Policing "from the middle": Bridging streets and blue- Mental Health Outreach: Housing unhoused, aiding mentally ill- Losing friends as a cop: "Instantly you sell out?"- Generational cop shift: Remote jobs over pensions- Agora Social Club: Jujitsu, co-working for men's mental health- Real talk on cop trauma, reform realities, and reclaiming humanity under the badge.
🔗 Connect with Jason LacayoInstagram: https://instagram.com/therealjumpmanjayTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealjumpmanjay
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: instagram.com/theseanmartin
Tags & KeywordsJason Lacayo, White Plains PD, NYPD 46th Precinct, SWAT operator, mental health outreach, cop mental health, defund the police, policing from the middle, Bronx Alamo, morbid cop humor, police trauma, first responder wellness, peer support, generational policing, Agora Social Club, Reps for Responders, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, ex-NYPD, police reform, criminal justice, Honduran American, men's mental fitness, jujitsu community, bodycam realities, cop loneliness, uniform humanity, second chances law enforcement, Westchester PD

Amaurys "Bronx Native" Grullon drops Bronx truth bombs on the REAL Mentors Podcast; raw stories of hustle, heartbreak, and unbreakable pride from a kid raised in Section 8 who built a cultural empire without leaving home.Co-founder of Bronx Native, Amaurys Grullon shares how he and his sister turned "no Bronx merch" into a Mott Haven flagship store, Nike collabs, Yankees deals, and a movement blending creativity, entrepreneurship, and community giveback. He gets real about "crabs in a barrel" gatekeeping, scarcity mindset pulling down local success, and why staying rooted blocks from Cardinal Hayes beats escaping. From Pentecostal single-mom roots and dad’s pool hall hustle to NYT fame off pop-ups, Amaurys reveals his "more is more" blueprint for thriving in the BX.
This Episode Explores:- Bronx Native origins: Apartment shelf to global brand in 2015- "Crabs in a barrel": Community pushback and gatekeeper lows- "No pressure, no diamond": Embracing struggle for growth- Scarcity mindset vs. optimism—protecting "precious energy"- 2016 breakthrough: Events, networking, NYT feature, pop-up magic- "Most beautiful place on earth": Reframing Bronx pride amid stereotypes- Building creative ecosystem (GET Studios, Tag Up, Change the Narrative)- "Comfortable in your uncomfortability" staying local while scaling- Father hustler lessons, early art commissions, school-to-SVA journey- Future 2026 vision: Books, docs, festivals, drives for BX unity- Real talk on Bronx entrepreneurship, mindset shifts, cultural pride, and rising above—perfect for hustlers chasing legacy from the streets.

🔗 Connect with Amaurys GrullonInstagram: www.instagram.com/amaurysgrullonBronx Native: www.bronxnativeshop.com www.instagram.com/thebronxnative
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: @realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: @theseanmartin

Tags & KeywordsAmaurys Grullon, Bronx Native, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, Bronx entrepreneur, Boogie Down pride, section 8 success, crabs in a barrel, scarcity mindset, Bronx hustle, cultural brand, Mott Haven store, Nike Yankees collabs, entrepreneurship Bronx, gatekeepers old heads, no pressure no diamond, more is more, precious energy, Cardinal Hayes, Bronx Community College, SVA design, community giveback, Bronx merch movement, personal development NYC, resilience mindset, creative entrepreneur, Hunts Point roots, change the narrative, BX unity

Over 30 years in salsa and freestyle, Luis Damon, Warner-signed artist faced it all: Premio Lo Nuestro nominations, world tours, then post-9/11 rock bottom at Cablevision. Divorce hit hardest—"swallowing rusty screws" for his daughter—until therapy unlocked reinvention. Now indie, he owns his sound, videos, and 2026 "Rat Pack" revival with Frankie Negron and Papote Jimenez, bringing NY salsa fire back.Luis opens up on channeling grief into art, unlearning trauma, and why drive trumps talent.
This Episode Explores:- Bronx roots: Public assistance to LaGuardia High and first single at 19- Warner deal at 23: 3 albums, Olga Tañón duet #30 Billboard hit- Post-9/11 pivot: From global stages to survival jobs amid reggaeton rise- Divorce trauma, depression, and therapy's game-changing lessons- Turning friend’s cancer death into a 5-part film outlet- La India duet disaster—and opening for her next- Indie ownership: Songs, videos, YouTube, no label chains- 2026 NY salsa comeback with Negron & Jimenez Rat Pack vibe- Fatherhood first: Hiding pain to protect his kid- Drive over talent: "I wanted it so bad, nothing stopped me"- Real talk on pain, persistence, and rhythm as medicine when life tests your limits.
🔗 Connect with Luis DamonInstagram: https://instagram.com/luisdamonYouTube: https://youtube.com/@luisdamon1
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin
Tags & KeywordsLuis Damon, salsa singer, freestyle artist, Real Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, Bronx musician, Lo Nuestro nominee, Warner Brothers salsa, Son By 4, NY salsa revival, music comeback, therapy after divorce, fatherhood struggles, post-9/11 survival, indie artist ownership, Frankie Negron collab, Papote Jimenez, Rat Pack salsa, Billboard Latin hits, reggaeton era pivot, channeling pain into art, music therapy, drive vs talent, Puerto Rican American artist, LaGuardia performing arts, Olga Tañón duet, La India concert, personal growth, resilience, Latin music 2026

Stephen Scoggins returns raw vulnerability to the REAL Mentors Podcast, revealing how pride led to homelessness at 22—and humility built a 9-figure empire.Scoggins discusses the five constraints that hinder leadership and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of humility, presence, and faith. He reflects on his experiences with faith, personal challenges, and the transformative power of intentionality in relationships. The conversation highlights the significance of focusing on personal growth and the impact of mentorship in overcoming life's obstacles.This Episode Explores:- Emphasizes the importance of calling leaders higher.- Homelessness from pride: Rock bottom to resilience- The 5 Constraints costing millions, divorces, and legacy- Presence is crucial in personal and professional relationships.- Insecurity decoded: "Ego is inside you." Build compounded confidence.- Faith reset: Truth over wounds, breaking church hurt- Inner alignment: From chasing toys to "I am whole"- Fatherhood hacks: "Let me tell you about you" affirmations- Business flow: Scale without burnout or betrayal- The power of intentionality in relationships and personal growth.
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🔗 Connect with Stephen ScogginsWebsite: https://stephenscoggins.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/stephen_scoggins

Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin--Tags & KeywordsStephen Scoggins, REAL Mentors Podcast, Sean Martin, homelessness to millionaire, 9-figure exit, 5 constraints, arrogance humility, presence parenting, insecurity ego, faith journey, business scaling, fatherhood lessons, generational healing, inner wholeness, leadership alignment, podcast motivation, entrepreneur mindset, resilience story, personal development, family legacy, spiritual growth, business failure lessons, overcoming fear

Jessica Rivera joins the REAL Mentors Podcast sharing her raw journey from Brooklyn food stamps to leading a $4 billion organization as a young Latina single mom – and now transforming leaders through her coaching firm, JRCC.From welfare rejection and imposter syndrome in male-dominated corporate spaces to doubling her income at a Flatbush car lot, Jessica reveals how she broke free from toxic bosses to coach high-performers at Turner Construction, LVMH and Chase. She gets real about self-betrayal, identity work and stopping generational trauma before it hits your kids.This podcast episode explores:

1. When you first betrayed yourself (and how it’s still sabotaging you)
2. Leading $4B revenue teams as the only woman of color
3. From broke at 30 to homeowner and high-earner as a single mom
4. Why "polished" brands fail. Be bold, not copy and paste.
5. Ending generational trauma: Stop passing your pain to your kids
6. God’s poke-push-kick to your true purpose
7. Building authentic communication from identity, not scripts
8. A masterclass in grit, self-awareness and turning survival into soul-aligned success.

--🔗 Connect with Jessica RiveraInstagram: @jessicarivera.coWebsite: https://jessicarivera.co/
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/Book Beyond The Bronx: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook/Get your copy: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bronx-Purpose-Sean-Martin/dp/B0G549HF8Y/
--Tags & KeywordsJessica Rivera, JRCC, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, self-betrayal, generational trauma, imposter syndrome, Latina leader, corporate coaching, identity work, single mom success, food stamps to millionaire, toxic boss, Brooklyn grit, Queens Village, Long Island entrepreneur, communication coaching, leadership development, breaking cycles, purpose alignment, work ethic, Puerto Rican roots, corporate ladder, authenticity branding, people pleasing recovery, soul work​

Josh York, GymGuyz founder, gives raw energy to REAL Mentors Podcast, revealing how he scaled in-home fitness from a kitchen table to 3,000+ cities across 32 states and 7 countries, providing insights about true discipline, and why most people will never achieve success in life.From a tough Long Island upbringing with no direction, Josh built a rebellion against failing gyms by prioritizing accountability, street smarts over book smarts, and an unbreakable mindset. He shares firing 70 trainers before breakthroughs, no sick days ever, and raising "no softies" kids who stock vending machines. Faith, execution over busyness, and discomfort as fuel drive his unstoppable empire.
This Episode Explores:- Believing to achieve. Faith and mindset are foundational; without belief, success stays out of reach.- Mindset mastery: "If you're not first, you're last"- Street smarts vs. school: Why grades don't predict success- Hard beginnings fuel wins. Turn tough upbringings and bad cards into positive drive, never drugs or excuses.- Rebellion against gyms, apps, treadmills- Raising driven kids with no softness to create good leaders.- The power of not quitting to achieve success- Business systems and perfect processes before franchising; delegate weaknesses to smarter people.- Real grit, real scale, real results when you do what others won't.- How comfort kills growth.
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🔗 Connect with Josh YorkInstagram: https://instagram.com/joshyorkgg https://instagram.com/gymguyzGymGuyz: https://gymguyz.com
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin
---Tags & KeywordsJosh York, GymGuyz, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, in-home fitness, fitness franchise, mindset mastery, street smarts, never quit, 70 trainers failed, no sick days, GymGuyz scaling, fitness rebellion, accountability training, Long Island entrepreneur, faith in business, raising driven kids, AI workouts, discomfort growth, execution over busy, unstoppable discipline, personal training business, franchise success, anti-gym movement, early riser hustle, protein over donuts

Jake Hamilton, founder of Behind the Fight, sits down with the Real Mentors Podcast to drop raw truth about masculinity, marriage, and what actually changes a man.After nearly losing his marriage to church-approved workaholism, Jake was confronted with a brutal reality: you will never transform a marriage unless you have the man’s heart. In this episode, he unpacks why a man has to go first, why 50/50 relationships don’t work, and how one decision—not leaving—can course-correct a high percentage of marriages over time.
Alongside his wife Nicci, Jake opens up about father wounds, shame, work, faith, and rebuilding a marriage that had become “not a marriage.” They break down how childhood patterns show up in conflict, what women really want (security and stability), what men really want (desire and respect), and how to build a relationship and a life that are led, not controlled.
This Episode Explores:- “You will never transform a marriage unless you have the man’s heart”- The stat that most marriages eventually course-correct if the man simply decides not to leave- Why a man has to go first—even when he doesn’t feel like it- Why 50/50 relationships fail and pull women out of their feminine- What women really want vs. what men really want- Workaholism in church culture and how “serving” can quietly destroy your family- How Jake and Nicci rebuilt from “I’m not divorcing you, but this ain’t a marriage”- Calling men up vs. calling men out (and why shame doesn’t work)- “Whatever we don’t transform will be transferred” to our kids and relationships- Building a business and mission with your spouse without losing the marriage- Embracing tension: why there is no “arrival” and purpose is a spiral, not a finish line
This episode is about real manhood, real pressure, and the courage it takes to stay, lead, and transform when everything in you wants to run.
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🔗 Connect with Jake and Nicci HamiltonInstagram: https://instagram.com/thejakehamilton | https://instagram.com/niccihamiltonBehind the Fight: https://thisisthefight.com/
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartinBook: https://instagram.com/beyondthebronxbook
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Tags & Keywords (for YouTube / podcast backend)Jake Hamilton, Behind the Fight, Real Mentors Podcast, Beyond The Bronx Book, Sean Martin, masculinity, manhood, marriage advice, marriage transformation, relationships, husbands, wives, traditional relationships, 50/50 relationships don’t work, feminine and masculine energy, security and stability, desire and respect, workaholism, church culture, Christian marriage, faith and family, fatherhood, father wounds, generational trauma, emotional health, men’s mental health, men’s group, men’s work, calling men up, leadership, purpose, legacy, building a business with your spouse, rebuilding marriage, staying not leaving, how to be a man in marriage

What does it take to steer a child away from the justice system? For Demishia Owens, it took surviving her own childhood trauma to find the answer.As a 20-year veteran Program Director at EAC Network, Demishia has helped divert thousands of Long Island youth from incarceration. In this raw episode, she reveals the strategies behind her programs' 90% success rate and shares the personal story—from kidnapping survivor to community leader—that fuels her work.
We dive deep into the realities of the foster care system, the "forgotten" teenage demographic, and why mentorship is the single most powerful tool for changing a life. Demishia also challenges parents to do their own work, explaining why "change can't occur without change."
Key Takeaways:- Trauma to Triumph: Navigating life after kidnapping and assault.- Mentorship 101: Why a simple text message can save a foster kid's life.- Program Success: How AFY and Home Base keep kids out of jail.- Parental Responsibility: The hard conversations parents need to have.- Burnout Hacks: Strategies for staying healthy in high-stress careers.- Community Action: How you can join the NY Teenage Toy Drive.Whether you're a social worker, parent, or someone looking for purpose, this conversation offers a blueprint for making a real difference.---
🔗 Connect with Demishia Owens & EAC NetworkWebsite: https://eac-network.orgLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/demishia-owens-a7572034Volunteer: https://eac-network.org/volunteer
Follow REAL Mentors PodcastInstagram: https://instagram.com/realmentorspodcastHost Sean Martin: https://instagram.com/theseanmartin
---About the Guest – Demishia OwensDemishia Owens is a distinguished leader in youth advocacy and social services. As Program Director at EAC Network, she manages critical initiatives including Alternatives for Youth (AFY), Home Base, and Chance to Advance. With a Master’s in Human Services and decades of field experience, Demishia specializes in crisis intervention, foster care mentorship, and family support, earning recognition from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office for her community impact.---Tags & KeywordsDemishia Owens, EAC Network, mentorship, foster youth support, juvenile diversion programs, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, social work burnout, trauma recovery, parenting teens, community leadership, Long Island charities, volunteer opportunities, PINS program, youth empowerment, breaking generational cycles, nonprofit management, emotional intelligence, crisis intervention, family therapy, social justice, advocacy.