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:

Slums of Detroit to Leader of Youth for good- Phillip Sample Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

Phillip "Uccikhan" Sample is a story of a complete life transformation. You will be immediately captured by the rawness and honesty of how Phillip describes his journey. In 1975, he was born into the toughest neighborhood in Detroit. He was raised between the slums of Detroit to the gang ridden streets of the Southside of Chicago. As a result of dysfunctional and unstable housing, ill-education and violence, Phillip became his environment. He joined a gang at 11 and became a leader of a gang at 14. He was eventually convicted of 3 counts of assault with intent to murder at 18 years old in a gang related war. He served 15 years in prison. He used the time to educate himself, studying psychology and what made him think the way he was thinking...undergoing a complete self-evaluation. Phillip was released after 15 years with a passion to amend past actions and rebuild the community he had helped to destroy. He established RAHAM Detroit (Response Able Hands and Minds). This organization is inspiring youth that there is an alternative to crime and incarceration. His organization is clearing and beautifying lots, building new homes, establishing areas of recreation, entertainment, and culture. Phillip's non-profit is teaching youth enduring life skills, that may continue the process of strengthening family and community bonds. Phillip has always had leadership skills...now he is using his experience to effect real change for the good. These young people admire and listen to him. He is the author of the book "The Passion Of The Life (Part 1) the life, death, and resurrection of Phillip A Sample." This is an inspiring story of hope, and hope never goes out of style! I would love to wave a magic wand and clone Phillip Sample nationwide!

In and out of prison - finally believing in himself- riveting Harvey Galler Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

Getting out of prison is an incredible feeling, but going in and out of prison can become a depressing cycle. How do you reach down deep in your soul and change that cycle? Harvey Galler has an unbelievable story of what put him back in prison the last time. He finally made the break, and changed his life. Harvey gives the listener an honest, real, description of how he climbed out to the right side of his life. It wasn't easy, but he has put in the work to stay on the right track. He earned a degree from Washington University. Once Harvey was released, he took it on himself to create an organization to help others who were being released from prison with the basics they needed to get started back in their lives. Harvey wanted to help others break the cycle of not returning back to prison. He is currently working on a documentary. Harvey has lived to step over his nightmare to be the man he wants to be.

Faking Death- fugitive-25yrs prison- to Netflix Filmmaker - Seth Ferranti Sep 29, 2022

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Would you become a fugitive if you were looking at 25 years in Prison? Writer/Director Seth Ferranti did just that. He faked his suicide and landed on the US Marshals Top-15 Most Wanted list. He was finally captured and sentenced to 25 years in prison for selling marijuana and LSD. As a drug dealing teen, Ferranti sold drugs at 15 East Coast colleges, crisscrossing across five states. This story attracted media attention from The Washington Post, Rolling Stones, and others for this first time, non-violent offender. Seth did not waste his time in prison. He found a passion for writing. He also studied the trade earning a associates, bachelors, and masters degree while in prison. With unlimited access to criminals and their stories Ferranti began crafting raw portrayals of prison life and crack era gangsters. Seth wrote 22 books while in prison, while also penning columns in VICE, Don Diva, and others. He began building his brand from prison, Gorilla Convict. Ferranti became a true crime publisher documenting stories mainstream media refused to share. He became the most prolific writer of the War on Drugs era. In 2015, Seth was released from prison after 21 years behind bars. Seth hit the ground running, continuing his writing career penning pieces for VICE, The Daily Beast, and others. Ferranti teamed up in Hollywood with Shawn Rech and Transitions Studios to make "White Boy", a feature documentary on Richard Wershe Jr., that aired on STARZ, and became a Top 10 hit on NETFLIX. There was also a movie "White Boy, Rick." He has over 5 documentary projects in production. This man is relentless. Each time you think he is down, Seth gets back up and even makes a louder statement of what he is doing and where he is going. This man does not stand on the sidelines. He jumps in the game making a difference!

Murdered Father- yrs of sexual abuse- prison - now attorney-Stacey Lannert Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Could you or would you kill your father if he sexually abused you for 10 years? Stacey Lannert did kill her father at the age of 18 and received a life sentence without parole. This is a story that has been covered by national media...Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, American Justice, CNN Nancy Grace, Glamour Magazine to name a few. Her story is honest and painful, but inspiring by how she survived. You feel her triumph. She never lost hope. Stacey's prison sentence was eventually commuted and then pardoned after 18 years in prison. Stacey got out of prison and was accepted into law school, and is now a Missouri State Public Defender Parole Revocation Defense Team Attorney. A great quote from Stacey, "No matter what has happened in our past, we choose the life we want to live. Never allow your past to dictate your future." Tune in to hear her powerful story! Stacey is the author of the book, 'Redemption: A Story of Sisterhood, Survival, And Freedom Behind Bars' (Amazon).

A fascinating story of courage - Andrew Gibbs-Dabney Sep 15, 2022

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Would you have the courage to post something on social media about your past, fearing it could possibly destroy the company you have built? That is exactly what my guest Andrew Gibbs-Dabney (Founder and CEO of Livsn Designs) did on LinkedIn because he knew it was time and he wanted to take back control of his story of going to prison. An investor had just backed out of a big funding deal with Andrew because they did a background check. Andrew decided he no longer wanted to be bullied with his past. He was going to stand out in front of his story and let the chips fall where they may. Andrew admitted he robbed a liquor store in his college years while in a Xanax and Oxytocin haze, knowing he owed a lot of money to bad people. He turned himself in and began treatment. He eventually was given leniency from a potential sentence of 40 years to serving 6 months in a hardcore Texas Bootcamp. If you failed the camp you had to do the rest of the long sentence. Andrew did his time, went back to school, got his degree, married his high school sweetheart and had two kids. He followed his passion for the outdoors, and became the founder and CEO of Livsn Designs, a very cool outdoor company that makes clothing for outdoor activities. The company was growing, but there was always the fear of the lifetime background check. Andrew published his personal story to LinkedIn, and a tidal wave of support followed in the comments. He received a flood of new investors who wanted to be part of his company because of his courageous story. The Outside Business Journal interviewed Andrew about his post and story. The steps Andrew has taken to get where he is today were not easy, but the story he shares with how he got to where he is today is certainly inspiring! The old fashion feel good, underdog, winning story!

Girl Next Door Smuggles Drugs for Mexican Cartel - Megan Racer Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Coming from a good suburban family, being an "A" student at Arizona State, falling into drug addiction, depression, abusive relationships, smuggling drugs for a Mexican cartel and finally getting hit with a Federal Prison sentence, Megan Racer is my guest this week. Her story is honest, authentic, humbling, gripping, and truly inspiring of overcoming all her obstacles and using her experience for good to help others at River Source Treatment Center. You don't have to have lived through addiction to feel this story. The way Megan walks us through her journey you feel her desperation of trying to survive, floating above water to make due in life. Megan's story invokes all the emotions you can feel. This story could be made into a movie about living through a nightmare, hitting rock bottom, and finally setting herself free to be the person she is today. She is now the happy mother of 2 kids, in a good relationship, and thriving with her job and life. A true, inspiring Nightmare Success Story!

A Raw Authentic story of surviving life and prison - Randell McKoy Aug 25, 2022

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Are you a product of your environment or can you break the cycle? Randell McKoy grew up with mentors in his life - his stepdad, mom, uncle, and grandma, teaching him how to be a man and knowing right from wrong, but he was still drawn to the adrenaline rush of the hustle of the street life. He says he was living a double life. It costs him. Eventually, he was arrested on drug charges, and his cousin... who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time with him ended up getting even more time. Randell tells the story of his journey being at 5 different prisons from maximum lockup to the minimum security at Leavenworth.... years of adapting and surviving the prison life. Randell is back home now. He successfully obtained his CDL license and has secured a good job. He has reconnected with his family. I believe Randell is learning how to break the cycle to create positive change.

Middle Class to addiction homeless to prison to Life Coach - Jenn Henry Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

How does the girl next door, smart, private school end up homeless at the age of 16 addicted to meth and eventually doing prison time in her 20's? My guest this week is Jenn Henry and she has had one heck of a journey to get to where she is today. She grew up not understanding and trying to fit in with a bi-polar Mom, and a dad who could not help her with her struggle of trying to fit in or escape her situation. She wakes up one day in a jail cell and sees an emaciated ghost of herself, and decides at her rock bottom moment...she had to change. Jenn walks us through her hard struggles and strategies of finally breaking free to where she is today. She uses her life experience to help others get better as a lifestyle recovery coach. There are all kinds of nuggets of wisdom for our daily life packed inside this episode.

Wrongly Convicted - Freed - Leads Change - Ronald Simpson Bey Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

What if you get a call from work to get home right now…you arrive, and your mom is in the back of the police car because she has murdered your dad – 5 years to that day you are walking through the gates of prison for a crime you didn’t commit to serve a 50-year sentence. Well, meet my guest Ronald Simpson Bey on this week’s podcast Nightmare Success In and Out. Ronald went through a dark 5 years after entering prison being involved in all the ugliness of prison mischief, until he read a book that changed his life. He began reading and studying up on the law and helping other people with their cases. He speaks of the pain of finding out his son, who he was planning to see on a visit, had been murdered that day on Father’s Day. He forgave the 14-year-old boy who killed his son and advocated for him not to be charged as an adult. Ronald never gives up on the injustice of his case and finally gets a federal court to overturn his conviction after 24 years. He describes how it takes him another 3 years to be freed from prison because of our system. Ronald and his story are an inspiration of optimism…kicking unfairness in the face and succeeding regardless. Ronald is now the National Executive Vice President of Just Leadership USA that is doing important work for the incarcerated and those who have been released. Funny quote from Ronald getting released after 27 years in prison…“I felt like Fred Flintstone returning home to the Jetsons!”

Homeless to Hollywood Producer - Michael Henderson Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

What do you think when I say Homeless? Probably not former police officer, detective, global security expert, CEO of a Private Worldwide Security Agency, Media Commentator, CEO of Hollywood TV/Film Production Company, Best Selling Author of Interminable...Well, my guest this week on Nightmare Success In and Out is Michael "Hollywood" Henderson, and he is all of those things rolled up into one man! I attempt to pull back all the layers of Michael's story...from a complicated but loving Mom and Son relationship to all the different mentors that showed up in Michael's life in the moment of need... then not knowing his Dad and then literally bumping into him at a park...this new connection changed his life. His Grandma introduced him at an early age to entrepreneurship. Michael shares the story of his "Milk Shake" moment to fuel him to where he is today. Michael says, "I always run towards things that scare me." Man, has he lived his life this way! He states that is where he continues to find all the great things in his life. As Michael walks us through his roller coaster journey from St. Louis, around the world and then Hollywood, we start to piece together what fuels Michael's confidence to keep him stepping forward regardless if it scares him. This episode is chalked full of life lessons of breaking down prisons in your own mind. Book: Interminable: Stories and Steps to Overcoming Life's Obstacles After a Repetitive Cycle of Pain and Loss - How to Maintain Your Win! Facebook: Michael Henderson Hollywood Instagram: @therealmichaelhenderson

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