Nightmare Success In and Out

What happens if your worst fear becomes your reality? Brent Cassity was a successful CEO working in a family business that grew to a national company that was recognized by the media of being the pioneers in their industry. Brent had it all and lost it all. He found himself standing at the gates of Leavenworth Prison to serve a 5 year sentence. Brent’s podcast explores the stories of inmates who were in and now out of prison. What was life like before they went in, life inside prison, and life now that they are back home. These conversations are deep, sad. often funny, but always interesting.

Latest Episodes:

Home Self Defense to Murder Charge- Chip Williamson May 18, 2023

Show notes

What would you do if person put you in a choke hold inside your home and said they were going to kill you? This is after two or three drinks and it is the guy your wife has just broken up with to come back to you? Wow! Chip Williamson pulled his gun from his hip and shot the man in defense. He was charged with murder. Chip is an incredible storyteller that leads us through this maze of the system of what it is like to have your world change in a matter of minutes. What does it feel like to wake up every morning for 5 years thinking you may have to spend the rest of your life in prison? How does a person navigate this great unknown while still trying to live a life and have a job. The background of the story is a married couple who broke up, dated some other people and decided to get back together. When the wife breaks up with her boyfriend the day unravels with the husband and the boyfriend meeting up at the husbands house and a person dies. Chip Williamson has taken his experience and grown an impressive following on his YouTube Channel/Podcast with his show Crime and Entertainment. This episode feels like an episode of Dateline.

Childhood trauma, addiction, prison to Rapper Success - Danny Mitchell May 11, 2023

Show notes

Would you give up on yourself if you were sent back to prison a second time after you had committed to never going back? My guest, Danny Mitchell, shares a messy inspiring story of childhood heartbreak, to crime and addiction, to juvenile detention then adult prison, to finally breaking free to live his best life. Danny now has his own successful business, along with being a successful singer/rapper with a song currently on the radio. He has gotten married with a new baby, along with, reconnecting with his older kids. Danny always had his mom's support, but his dad was an addict and never was able to keep promises in Danny's young life. He began acting out and hanging with his older cousin's he looked up to that were into drugs and crime. There were several times that Danny told himself that he was going to get cleaned up. The violation of his final probation he caught a break from a diligent public defender. She got the judge to agree to a tough love year long prison rehab program. If he got through it, and was successful he didn't have to serve a 15 year sentence. If he failed the program it was off to do 15. He gives a lot of credit to people who helped him through. Ronnie Langford was there with a helping hand for somewhere to stay when he was released. Danny has gone back to his music... songwriting and performing with Linkboyz. He also has his own album released under his performer name 3D. His album is titled Transparent. His hit song is Rescue Me. Check out his YouTube Channel videos with Linkboyz. Danny says, "Just never give up." He is now experiencing the good stuff in life!

16yr Old gets 241 year prison sentence - Bobby Bostic May 04, 2023

Show notes

Would you give up on a 16 year old kid for life? The Judge gave Bobby Bostic a sentence of 241 years in prison without the possibility for parole until he was 112 years old. Bobby was an accomplice in two armed robberies. Judge Evelyn Baker sentenced him to die in prison without giving him an official life sentence. If he had been given a life sentence he would have been eligible for parole after 25 years. Judge Baker said, "your mandatory date to go in front of the parole board will be 2201. Nobody in this room will be alive in the year 2201." A very dark statement, that Judge Baker later regretted. She began to do research about the brain of a teenager and when it is fully developed. The Judge became an advocate for Bostic's release. She was the first person he hugged 27 years later when he was released. A lot had to happen before that release. Laws had to change. In 2010, The Supreme Court mandated parole hearings for juveniles that were sentenced to life without parole. The problem was that ruling did not apply to Bobby because the way he was sentenced was multiple offenses that added up to life. He fell into a legal loophole. The failed appeal before the Supreme Court was argued by Ken Starr, Sally Yates, with the support of 100 plus law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and former judges. The Missouri law was changed in 2021 that gave Bostic an opportunity of a parole hearing. In those 27 years of prison, Bobby reformed into a model prisoner. He wrote seven books on his typewriter. He wrote letters to people and sought funding for his college education. And like in the movie "Shawshank Redemption," he built a fully stocked library with the help of St. Louis Public Libraries. Again, after several letters seeking help. Bobby was released November of 2022. Bobby says, "I want to be a mentor and teach young people to take a different path than I did when I was a young child myself." Bobby Bostic books (Amazon), Dear Mama, A Generation Misunderstood, Life Goes On In Prison, Mental Jewelry, Mind Diamonds, When Life Gives You Lemons make Lemonade, and Endless Moments In Prison.

Sports Packages for the rich, addiction and prison- Darrin Landes Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever felt the imposter syndrome? I am not good enough, or I don't deserve to be here. Darrin Landes struggled with that thought. He grew up a middle class kid going to a private high school playing sports. He had the big shadow of his dad who had played professional baseball. Darrin felt whatever he did wasn't good enough. Surprisingly, he was having this insecurity while he was having business success. He was a regional manager for Adidas, then he expanded to creating a national amateur golf league sponsored by Tommy Bahama and Anheuser Busch. That spawned a business to create Sports packages to the must see events like The Masters, Superbowl, Kentucky Derby, and The Final Four. Business life was good, but his personal life was a lot of drinking and gambling, and both turned into an addiction. Darrin was sabotaging his success because he still believed in his insecurity he wasn't good enough. His story is gripping because of the honesty of how he doesn't shy away from his issues. Gambling debts piled up and he began selling fake packages that caught him up in prison, and also a second round with a violation of his probation selling a real package with tickets. You won't believe how the probation officer found out...I mean really a first. Darrin survived and he is hear to tell his story of his real success now...standing on his own two feet knowing he belongs with his own success.

Prison Lifer gives advice -changes inmate’s life for success- Kyle Chiaponne Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Do you like real life redemption stories? Well, Kyle Chiaponne has lived to tell one. A fight happens in the parking lot, and then there is a car chase. Chiaponne steps out of the car, and fires shots in the air and a few more in the direction of the man he is fighting with. Kyle is charged with aggravated assault and attempted second degree murder. He is sentenced to 10 years in a high level security prison in Florida. How did this happen with the youngest of three kids with parents who are school teachers? Kyle was a middle class kid who was drawn to the gang street life. Why? It started in school when he was lacking confidence falling behind in school and being put in special classes. He began to act out and started hanging with the dangerous kids. He was in and out of trouble and being arrested as a teenager. He had no fear even though he was getting into more dangerous transactions with older kids. He was actually mentored with good principles for business that he would later use once he returned home from prison. Three years into his sentence, Kyle decided he was sick and tired of the life he had lived to that point while he was doing 90 days in solitary confinement. Kyle hit rock bottom. He had an old lifer, Arthur Hughes, that told him he was wasting his life. He taught him how to get prepared and mentored him. He dropped his victim mentality. The book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" became his foundation. He got licensed for waste water treatment while in prison. He fought through 3 interviews when he returned home to get hired by the waste management company by the state of Florida. He gained more confidence and got his car dealership license. He is now the owner of the car dealership, Redemption Auto. Kyle gives so many thoughtful nuggets of wisdom of how to take action and break free to who you want to be in your life. Are you looking for inspiration? Check out Kyle's story! Check out Kyle's PODCAST "The Value Race."

Home Builder changing lives employing and mentoring the justice impacted - Rick Gray Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

Could you go from drug addiction, in and out of prison, to a leader within the re-entry community... employing and training ex felons with construction work? Meet Rick Gray - this is an inspiring story of using your life journey for the good and giving back. Rick's vision is to renovate all the blighted homes in the St. Louis City. His non-profit is employing and teaching men looking who are desparate for a real opportunity for reentry back into society after serving time in prison. Before Rick became this pioneering leader for reentry change, he had to work through his own issues of drug use that lead him in and out of jails and prisons. His habit of cocaine became so bad that he began stealing from the family furniture business. He paid back the money but was out of the family business. He eventually was convicted of writing bad checks to support his drug habit. He fled after being charged, and was on the run as most wanted for 14 months before he finally turned himself over to the authorities. He was sick and tired of his repeat issues and finally went all in on his recovery and it changed his life. Rick says that prison saved his life. Rick, along with, retired baseball great Andy Van Slyke became friends, and have a common vision for Constructing Futures construction company a non profit company that helps ex-felons have a real shot at learning a trade with construction. Rick has a plan that his people have to commit to for this opportunity. You will love the story he shares about the guy with the tape measure. Rick is building confidence with these guys and he goes to bat for them as their opportunities grow beyond Constructing Futures. This is an inspiring story about overcoming, and taking action in an arena that needs action takers to make real change happen. We need more Rick Gray's in the reentry world helping to mentor and support people who are trying to get it right when they return home from prison.

Killing your friend in a nightmare car accident- surviving the aftermath- Ronnie Langford Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

How would you handle the nightmare of killing your best friend in a car accident where you were the driver? This is the night that changed Ronnie Langford's life forever. He was angry and wished it was him who died in the accident. Ronnie went from a raging drug addict, alcoholic, high school drop out, homeless, rehab and prison, and then righted himself - getting a college degree, starting his own business, lead singer in a band Linkboyz, and a recovery director? What a journey Ronnie tells with his raw honesty of how he overcame his nightmare. He even contemplated fleeing the country. He says he hit a 100 rock bottoms before he found his way. It is crazy that Ronnie survived. Ronnie owes all that he has overcome to his faith with God. You get done listening to this one and you just lean back in your chair and say "wow"!

Brutal Street Life to Power Broker - Anthony Bucci Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

What if the people you looked up to as a 10 year old were older and teaching and showing you the ways of street life and crime? As a kid this life looked glamorous to my guest Anthony Bucci. Anthony's homelife was brutal. He had a dad who was a violent alcoholic, who would beat his mother, and the kids if they interfered to try and save her. This left a lot of mental scars on a kid looking for an escape. Anthony grew up quickly in the street life of selling drugs, and he became a big player with a lot of power and money. It eventually cost him with a 21 year prison sentence. He was doing hard time in and out of solitary confinement. In the hole, Anthony was contemplating ending it all, and an old prison guard he had known from another prison stopped by the check on him. He had a pen and paper. That day Anthony's life did a 180 degree turn. He took his pen and paper and started writing his novel "Infinity Crew." He began volunteering to help take care of the terminally ill inmates. He took over 50 educational courses which eventually helped him write his motion to win parental compassionate release that was the first of its kind at the time. It has now broadened the horizon for other inmates to be released to go home and take care of their parents. Anthony also became a dog handler in prison, training dogs for the handicapped. He has since published his novel, Infinity Crew. He is a certified life coach, and he has launched his own clothing line, the Convicted Vegan. He is also caring for his mother, and rebuilding his relationships with his children. You will feel Anthony's story. It will stay with you.

15yr Old sent to Adult Prison for 45yrs- Carlos Rebollo Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

Can a 15 year old be sentenced to 45 years to prison? Carlos Rebollo entered prison at 15 and served 24 years in adult prisons. Carlos takes us on his journey from an angry young man to the man he always knew he could be. During his incarceration, he earned an associate’s degree in psychology, became a student of Yale University and of the University of New Haven. HBO is now doing a documentary on the life of Carlos. Carlos is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in multi-platform journalism. Incredible, when you learn that Carlos dropped out of school in the 5th grade, and became a father at 14 years old. Two long serving inmates became life changing mentors to Carlos. Carlos goes deep on how he took responsibility for committing a heinous crime, and how he dug deep on why he did what he did, so he could change his criminal thinking and finding the best version of himself. With the help of the girlfriend that Carlos had the baby with, he has been able to have a strong, father - son relationship with his son during the 24 years of his incarceration. Carlos said he was well prepared to hit the ground running since he was released. His passion is being a member of the Fair Sentencing of Youth and of the incarcerated children's advocacy network. His mission is to stop the injustice of sentencing children to excessive and life sentences.

Innocent - charged with murder- finally freed- Kenneth Nixon Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

What would you do if police broke down your door and charged you with a murder you didn't commit? You receive 2 life sentences without parole. My guest Ken Nixon lived through this nightmare, and he shares his journey of finally being exonerated and freed. He grew up as a middle class guy. He had just started a new business, bought a new house, and had a 1year old son. What happened next in his life changed his life forever. Ken had to live through everyone's worst nightmare. To be wrongly accused of a murder, and sent to a hardcore maximum security prison, all while trying to prove your innocence. It only took 6 months to wrongly convict Ken. A highly questionable jailhouse snitch and a 13 year old who changed his story three times. The lead detective put in his memo that we have the wrong guy and they proceeded anyway. In this type of situation, you need an advocate and Ken found them. Fourteen Years in prison, a Western Michigan law school class begins researching Ken's case. The Detroit Press picks up on the story, and this catches the eye of the Innocence Project and the Wayne County Integrity Unit. Sixteen years after that nightmarish night of the police break-in, Ken Nixon was exonerated, and set free. Ken also shares some interesting insights of living with Covid in prison right before he was released. Ken Nixon is now the President of the Organization for Exonerees, and Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships. Ken is giving a strong voice to knockdown the barriers for the previously incarcerated entering back into society. Ken's story is everyone's worst nightmare, but he has taken his experience and voice to look for solutions to improve our system to stop this type of injustice for others moving forward. Ken is a true inspiration!

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