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:

Mentors and Hope Saved Him -Jim Brock Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

What would you do if you were just sentenced to 25 years in prison, and the same week you are informed your 4 year old son has cancer? Jim Brock is my guest this week, and that is exactly what Jim was faced with. His son survived and Jim refers to him as his hero. Brock was a 1st Team All State Soccer Player at Lindbergh High School. Grades kept him off his senior year team, and the dark slide started. Jim shares how he mentally tackled a life in prison without losing himself in prison. Stray Rescue has a program with the prison for dogs who are not adoptable. Prisoners work and train these dogs. Jim became a champion of this program, eventually training 16 dogs that ended up being adopted with their forever home families. Jim found a lot of commonality with these dogs being neglected, caged, disappointments, and forgotten. Brock describes how incredible mentors showed up unexpectedly at different times in his life and created hope and a focused lifeline. Jim took the reins and became a leader and inspiration for other inmates with Washington University's Associate Program and eventually Bachelor Degree Program. He earned both while incarcerated. Jim is now home. A lot has changed in 20 years, but he has hit the ground running. He shares what he is doing now, and his dream of what he wants to do with his dog training. Jim says it is never TOO LATE! Man has he lived those words!

Even if I die in here - I will I will make myself a better man - Dion Soubasis Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

How do you not lose hope when you are sentenced to 30 years with no possibility for parole? Dion Soubasis never gave up. At the time of Dion’s nightmare, he had been in and out of prison selling drugs and was also charged with some burglaries. Life had not been easy up to this point in his life. His dad had died of a heart attack the night he was bailing his youngest son out of jail. That son blamed himself for his dad’s death. The younger son committed suicide, and Dion’s mom also goes to prison. Dion drops out of school in the 10th grade, and he starts hanging with the wrong crowd. One day in his prison cell Dion hits rock bottom and realizes he could die in prison as a man he doesn’t like. He told himself, “This place offers every opportunity to change myself, and even if I die in here, at least I have done something to better myself.” He made good on his resolutions. He reconnected with his daughter. Graduated college with a degree in theology, spent years as a prison barber, and amassed hours of rehabilitation and leadership programs. Dion unexpectedly was given clemency by Governor Parsons because of some helpful people who met with the governor accompanied with the good work Dion had done with his time in prison. He is now enjoying his life after 17 years in prison. He has great friends and family that have been there to help. He has a job where he is top of the board in sales month in month out. He is a connected grandfather, and even does some speaking to help others get to the next step by telling his inspiring story. Dion came to the interview with his notes loaded with nuggets of wisdom from his life experiences. Optimism, hope, and action are what this story is about.

Breaking the family cycle of prison - doing good - Robert Riley II Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Wow! What an emotional inspiring story of a man using his struggles, and life experiences to create good and help others. Robert Riley's dad went to prison when he was 2 years old. He only knew him from visiting prison. Robert's dad was an addict, and Robert fell into that life at an early age. He was in and out of trouble with juvenile courts and state prisons. He finally found himself serving time in a Medium Security Federal Prison, and received an emotional letter from his 10 year old son. This hit him deep and changed his mindset and life direction. When he was released, he followed the 12 step recovery plan, and just kept stepping making a difference in peoples' lives for the better. In the last 14 years since Robert has been released...he changed the laws, breaking down barriers for the use of Narcan that can save the life of an opioid user, he created transitional housing for people in recovery, he co-founded a 30 day recovery center with outpatient follow up, and he now employs and trains people in recovery as bakers and baristas with the companies he owns...The Coffee Culture Food Truck and The Cookie Hustle. This is a true man of action. He has a passion for helping others through his own life experiences, and stepping into the unknown opportunity each time has only made him more confident to keep stepping forward following his passions. Robert is so open and honest about his own struggles in life that it makes him a natural leader in an arena that needs leaders for real change.

From NFL Prospect to Prison - Randy Terrell Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Randy Terrell grew up living a normal life until it wasn't. Hardworking supportive married mom and Dad, and Randy was the youngest of 6 kids. Randy played running back and outside linebacker all the way through college. He was going to the NFL. There was no plan B. He didn't make it and some of his friends did. He became depressed, embarrassed, and felt like he had let his family down. HIs life approached a fork in the road making some bad decisions by trying to keep up with some of his friends who were living the "life." He began hanging with the wrong crowd. He started with gambling, selling some drugs, and getting into a stolen car conspiracy ring. Just when his life was getting right with a real job, the knock came on the door that began his nightmare. Randy is very open about his feelings and some of his emotions are still very raw as he describes the story he, his kids, and family experienced. HIs prison cellphone story will make you question yourself "What would I have done if I was caught in the same situation of desperation?" Randy is a good guy and a very present Dad to his kids, and he makes a point of saying he will never be in a situation like that again...leaving them for prison. Randy has a good job and has so much gratitude for where he is now in his life. I think you will appreciate the open raw honesty Randy gives us about his life story.

Better Together - 28yrs Wrongly Convicted of Murder - Darryl Woods Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

You know how you watch a movie or listen to a story, and you walk away and think wow that just makes me feel good! That is the Darryl Woods Sr. story. Wrongly convicted of murder at 18 years old...already a father to a son and daughter. Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He dropped out of school in 8th grade, and became a child of the streets with all the bad things that had to offer. Darryl's story is one of complete transformation after hitting rock bottom. His underlying theme is never lose HOPE! In prison he became a model citizen being of service helping others with their cases and teaching GED classes. He became a very involved father in his son and daughter's lives. His kids love and admire him for the man he is. In prison, Darryl earned his GED, and Chaired the NAACP Detroit Branch Prison Program, and led 1,000's of youth and prisoners to transformation as the founder of RESTART Youth Deterrent Program. His case was overturned by the original trial judge who said, "Darryl was wrongfully convicted." It took him another 16 years of appeals to finally be released from prison. Darryl was locked up for 29 years. He was released in 2019. Since then he has launched SAY Detroit's "Better Together" initiative. This extraordinary program allows the community police officers and gang members to "break bread" together and find common ground. He has been appointed to the State Appellate Defenders Commission by Governor Whitmor. Darryl could have stayed bitter, but he turned the bitter to better. His life story is inspiring for so many things it teaches us about life and the way we should think. This is a Nightmare Success story you won't forget!

Prison Education saved his life - Stanley Prince Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

The Stanley Prince story is one where you just say..."wow!" 26 years in prison and what a story he has... He grew up in St. Louis City. He dropped out of school because he was embarrassed of his stutter. That decision led him down a bad path. He loved his mom, idolized his mom...you feel his emotion and sadness when he describes the hurt he caused her. Stanley's descriptions of state and federal prison are gripping and disturbing. His son died and he felt like ending it all. An inmate gave him a helping hand and it transformed his life, teaching him how to read and write. He received his GED and that was just the beginning. He took every programming class available. The Prison officials and teachers for the inmates took notice. A letter was written to the Warden stating that Prince is a model person doing so many good things, pleading that he should be released early. That request was granted and Prince was released 3 years early, but now what? No family connections, nowhere to live, no money after 26 years. Stanley got deeply depressed, but sought help. He finds himself and his purpose. He grabs hold of his inner confidence to start his own landscaping lawn care business. He gets chosen for the Harris Stowe College Entrepreneur Program, and then doubles his business. Stanley's story has a lot of bumps and detours, but it is so meaningful how we see him find his way to happiness, and truly feeling free. Stanley is brutally honest and raw with his story of surviving, and is just such a likeable personality.

American Dream Soccer Coach Dad to Prison - Anthony Pierre Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

Anthony Pierre had made all the right moves. He chose the right path in school, but he ran with a group who had chosen the wrong path. Anthony hit the books and graduated with A's. He dedicated himself to become a D-1 Athlete, and followed a mentor into Real Estate and built a regional company. A wife, kids in great schools, Dad soccer coach, and a beautiful home. One day a life long friend that he wanted to help who had chosen the wrong path came to Anthony for help...just this one time...a simple drop of drugs to someone Anthony did know. Anthony also knew this cash infusion could help his real estate company after the crash of 2008. Little did he know he was walking straight into a drug ring that had been under investigation for months. One bad decision...Anthony is pulled over and surrounded by agents. This Nightmare cost him 6 years in prison. At first Anthony was bitter, but he flipped the switch and began helping others. Anthony used his time to educate the inmates how to invest in the real estate business. The warden took notice and made his teaching an official programming class. His real estate school educated 100's of men while they were in prison...changing their lives as they re-entered the free world. This Pierre class is legendary in the state of Ohio Prison world. Anthony has written a book "Boundless Success" and has a real estate academy, along with being a successful real estate investor and motivational speaker. Pierre is a true gritty Nightmare Success Story! Anthony Pierre | Linktree, www.estatemaster.cc

I kept asking myself how did Mikie Bobzin survive? Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

The question I kept asking myself throughout this interview is, "how did Mikie Bobzin survive?" She recounts being a 5 year-old girl having to grow up quickly with a bi-polar mom who was a severe alcoholic. As a 7 year-old, Mikie knew she wanted her mom to drink beer not gin. That is a lot for a 7 year-old. They were in and out of public housing and Mikie was always trying to figure out how to fit in. She went down a dark path with her own addictions, hanging with a tough crowd. You really feel her rock bottom moment. Mikie is so honest and real in telling her story...she really puts you on the edge of your seat, and you can't possibly imagine this having a happy ending. Well, unbelievably it does. Mikie and her 5 kids are doing well together as a family. Mikie has a meaningful job, and just graduated with her Masters degree in Social Work. This is truly a Nightmare Success story, and Mikie is giving back to those who helped save her along the way.

Wealth Management Advisor experiences the primitive world of Prison - Bill Glaser - May 26, 2022

Show notes

Bill Glaser, tan, white hair, looks like the picture of a successful country club rich man, and he was. He had worked his way to the top of the class with sought after clients with his wealth management company and real estate. Then the nightmare...A bad homebuilder turned into a terrible fraud for Bill's clients. The FBI came knocking on the door, and Bill found himself in a spin cycle of bad to worse. Finally, he pleads guilty and finds himself designated to Federal Medical Prison, Lexington KY. Not a good place to be. This place has all classifications of prisoners. How does a guy like Bill handle being choked out and put in the hole for 8 months? This honest, heartfelt story has it all packed into one episode.

Helping children of incarcerated parents Shawntelle Fisher May 19, 2022

Show notes

Shawntelle Fisher walked out of prison for the last time on her birthday...November 3, 2011. She had been in and out of prison with multiple felonies mostly pertaining to forgery or bad checks. Fisher had become a mother at 15, a convicted felon at 17...by the time she was 19 she was in prison. Her birthday release was going to be different. This time was the last visit to prison, and she set out on a mission to change her life and other peoples lives by founding Soulfisher Ministries, a nonprofit that helps educate children whose parents are, or have been, incarcerated. Fisher is one smart woman. She sought out her education along the way after prison...she holds degrees with full ride scholarships from University of Missouri-St.Louis, graduate degrees from Washington University and Eden Theological Seminary. She became a licensed clinical social worker and drug and alcohol abuse counselor. She now helps hundreds of kids with education and life through her organization. With all of these accomplishments, she was recently denied and then appealed and then denied again by a judge to be a foster parent. Why? Because of her felony record. Shawntelle says she will become a foster mom, and we have a deep discussion about what are the best solutions for people who return home from prison trying to make their way back in society. The recent setback is a gut punch to Shawntelle, but it is inspiring how she handles a challenge. Everyone can learn something from how Shawntelle handles life. I am a fan!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Nightmare Success In and Out

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected