Tremaine Smith was 15 years old when one decision changed the rest of his life.

He had been a straight-A student. He played football and basketball. He had never been in trouble before. Then he went out one night with the wrong people, refused a plea deal and received two 40-year sentences.

He went into prison as a teenager.

He came home in 2023 after serving 31 years.

In this episode of The Redemption Project, Tremaine talks with Brandon Burley about growing up, juvenile sentencing, prison survival, violence behind the wall, becoming a certified law clerk, writing an 11-book series, building True Phoenix Media, starting over after incarceration and learning how to live free after spending nearly his whole life in prison.

This is a story about consequences.

It is also a story about resilience, redemption and what it means to rise from the ashes.

Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe