What was your worst nightmare as a child?  
Waking up to find your family gone?  
How would you have coped?  
Who would you have become?  
How would you have thrived? 
Ask Lemn Sissay.

As told to Sam Walker

Oprah Winfrey has called Mastin Kipp  a “thought leader for the next generation” 

He’s also a man who has stolen, gambled, used drugs, failed in business and been homeless.  

He regrets none of it.

As told to Sam Walker

Abigail Eaton Masters would tell her teachers that her black eyes were caused by her little brother throwing his toys around.  
She told nurses her suicide attempt were because her boyfriend had cheated. What happens when you finally find the courage to tell a truth that makes you feel ashamed?

As told to Sam Walker

Why couldn't Arno Michaelis watch his favourite film?  
Why didn't he want to go to his local burger joint anymore? 
And how did Chicago house music change everything?
From Hatred to Hope, this is Arno Michaelis' Journey of Transformation and Redemption.

As told to Sam Walker

Craig Stone was working in a job he hated, living in a squalid studio flat which he couldn't even afford and was lonely and single.  
He had big dreams of a life where he had a loving family,  a fulfilling creer and his own home  But he didn't know how to acheive any of it.
So he took a huge risk.  
This is his story.

As told to Sam Walker

Paul Lake was lucky enough to be born with an exceptional talent.  

His hard work and dedication over more than a decade turned his talent into a fantastically successful career as Captain of Manchester City football club.

Then, a split second changed everything and left him, in his eyes, without any future at all.

As told to Sam Walker

Dan-el Padilla Peralta has the sort of intellectual clout most of us can only dream of.

He's assistant Professor of Classics at Princeton and has taught at more of the greatest universities in the world.

He was educated in New York's private school system, whilst also being homeless and living in condemned buildings in the midst of gang violence.

And what's more he carried a secret, which he feared could tear his world apart.

As told to Sam Walker

Colin Parry is a husband and father.

He's also a mentor and motivational speaker and founded a charity that works tirelessly towards resolving conflict.

Colin also, along with his family, endured the horror of the death of his twelve year old son at the hands of terrorists.

This is the story of a man who fought to see beyond his grief to create something incredible.

As told to Sam Walker

Jaco Van Gass loves his bike.

He's represented his country at cycling.

He also loves to explore and has reached the North Pole and scaled Everest.

But on his 23rd birthday something happened that left Jaco unable to even feed himself and convinced that he could never be happy again.

As told to Sam Walker

Kevin Shird is a writer. He also works with young people, especially those who other people have given up on.

He's a good guy.

He's also a man who has served more than a decade in prison for dealing drugs on the streets of Baltimore, a lifestyle made famous by the TV show The Wire.

What happens inside someone's head to switch them on to the potential of a different future?

And how do they shake off the reputation of violence that's defined their life?

As told to Sam Walker