Motivational speaker Uncle Damien went through a lot to get here.

In this podcast, Damien Posey, who was born and raised in San Francisco, talks about the journey that got him to where he is today. It's a story of a young man who had no positive male role models, who got shot at a young age, and who ended up in federal prison. But without those bad circumstances and decisions, he might never have become Uncle Damien, an inspiration for youth in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Check back Thursday for Part 2, when Damien will tell us all about his work and what it is he loves about San Francisco.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather