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:

Brutally Honest Wisdom of Surviving Michael Hughes Feb 24, 2022

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This episode is chalked full of incredible nuggets of good stuff for surviving, resilience, and determination...and this guy, Michael Hughes, is so damn smart. Mike is brutally honest about his life, his relationships, and his addictions. Mike never gave up on himself. He believed until he was breathing his last breath there was always hope to make it. Mike shares his incredible love story about he and his wife Shannon...they met in college, they married, they divorced but still loved each other and supported each other through the storms of life and remarried 14 years later. Shannon is a true warrior for Mike and his recovery. Mike and Shannon are now living their best life...empty nesters with 3 kids. This is a real story of Nightmare Success!

Horticulturalist Folk Singer goes to Prison - Sean McFarland Feb 17, 2022

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Sean McFarland grew up as an army brat that traveled the country. Sean is educated as a horticulturist, and he is also a talented known singer and songwriter that is currently performing with his band singing the 60 songs he wrote in prison. Running in his pajamas down a mountain in the rain away from the Feds who had ransacked his marijuana growing farm in California…this is a story to tune in for. I know what you are thinking…pot is legal in California. Well, it is until it isn’t. We discuss this. Sean is a great storyteller who has some deep thoughts about prison and life. It will make you think. He is a very optimistic man who gives us tips on how to get in that state of mind. After living through a nightmare, Sean is now living the life he envisioned when he was in prison. This stuff belongs in a business book about stepping into and acting on goals and plans you envision. He now is married with a 3-year-old son, living on his farm with his apple orchard making hard cider…just how he had envisioned. On top of all of that…he is a dinosaur bone hunter, and he has discovered hundreds of dinosaur bones. Yes, you read that one right! Great story…Tune in for this!

Politician Mr. Smith goes to Prison - Jeff Smith Feb 10, 2022

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They should have made a movie about Jeff Smith...wait they did...A documentary titled "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?" He has always been a man on the move. Playing basketball at 5'6" and 100 something bumping up against bigger stronger players, but none of them more tenacious or passionate...has been a metaphor for Jeff's life. He is not afraid to tackle the deemed impossible. He got his PHD. in Political Science from Washington University St. Louis. At 25 years old he co-founded Confluence Charter Schools in St. Louis City that now has over 4,000 students. He ran for Dick Gephardt's open congressional seat against Russ Carnahan in 2004...losing by less than 1%. He was elected Missouri State Senator. Jeff shares the incredible story how everything fell off the cliff with a crazy man car bombing that unbelievably led to the crazy man's connection to Jeff's 2004 campaign...which eventually leads to his best friend wearing a wire to frame him for Federal Election Fraud and Obstruction of Justice....movie stuff. I love how open Jeff is about his life experiences and the prison world. His perspective on life today really hits home. It is good stuff! Jeff wrote the critically acclaimed book "Mr. Smith Goes to Prison." He has even done a TED Talk titled, "Lessons in Business...From Prison." This episode is full of lessons and tips for life. Proud of what this man has accomplished!

The Rapper and Ex Heroine Addict - Jordan Markell and Wendy Watson Feb 03, 2022

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I have a couple of firsts for this weeks episode. I interview two people...Jordan Markell and Wendy Watson. This is my first interview with a female who has gone to prison. Just to warn you this episode is pretty graphic and has explicit language, but I think they are two stories that need to be heard. Jordan (AKA Lowkey$) came from the hard crime streets of North St. Louis City. A drive by shooting cost Jordan 10 years of his life in prison. He has done a 180 with his life becoming a successful singer/rapper/songwriter with over a million subscribers on YOUTUBE. He gives his Mom the credit of introducing him to the "laws of attraction" while he was in prison. This changed Jordan's life, and he explains how. Wendy had a very tough home life as a kid. With no good role models, she drifted into drugs and became a heroine addict. Wendy shares her story of how she was raped and became pregnant. She also shares the woman perspective of life inside prison. Wendy is interesting to listen to because she is just so open and honest about the stages she went through and how it changed her. Prison is where Wendy got her act together. She became clean and focused on being the real "Wendy." Wendy focused on getting educated when she returned home. She now has a degree from St. Louis University, and a masters degree from Washington University. Yes, this episode is more graphic than the previous episodes, but the message is strong. A second chance is possible if you believe, take action with the right mindset...both Wendy and Jordan changed their lives...Nightmare Success

Iowa Football Player falls to Prison - Mark Ross Jan 27, 2022

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Big Man Mark Ross is my guest this week. Mark grew up in a little town in Iowa with less than 1000 people. He also has an identical twin brother. Playing sports until dark in the park and dreaming of someday playing football for the Iowa Hawkeyes was his simple boyhood plan. Mark achieved his childhood dream of playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. He shares some behind the scenes stories of what it is like to be a D-1 athlete in a town where you are worshipped. Mark had always been good with numbers. When he got out of college he worked for a credit card company and a bank. His life took a turn when some friends said they would pay him to help them hide or launder there money. He slipped into the drug world with these friends, and things took a dark turn. Mark is widely known at Leavenworth for the Warden Tractor incident. It is an incredible story that no-one died that day. Returning home, Mark has spent some time talking to young people about the choices you have in life, telling them that you are the only one responsible for making the right choices. Mark is a gentle giant with a big heart that has some thoughtful reflections as his life moves forward.

Jeremy gets a life sentence for being an addict, unbelievable- Jeremy Gilmore Jan 20, 2022

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Jeremy Gilmore has a story that reads like a movie. Jeremy was a kid growing up in Southwest Missouri. Good parents…he loved hunting and fishing, but drifts into some friends that help get him addicted to meth. This appears to be Jeremy’s only crime…a meth addict. His story leads us through a crazy taxidermy story where he is arrested. His business competitor is the local law enforcement officer across town. This ends up costing him 1 ½ years of state prison time. Eventually, Jeremy takes us through a horrific look at our criminal justice system. He received embarrassingly awful legal representation that had him all wrapped up in a drug conspiracy with guys who just kept ratting out names to lessen their sentence. Again, Jeremy was just a meth addict. Maybe he could have used a good drug treatment program. Instead, Jeremy refused to give in and went to trial. The Judge gave Jeremy a LIFE SENTENCE to be served in a maximum-security prison. He and his family never gave up on appeals. They eventually were successful with a resentencing because of ineffective counsel. After serving 14 years, Jeremy is back at home today in Kansas City. He is a proud business owner of Jeremy Outdoor Services 816-715-1880. This is a story about resilience, adapting, and surviving…Nightmare Success! I could not be prouder of how Jeremy handled all his challenges to never lose himself and step forward. Good Stuff Jeremy!

One of the Biggest Cases in Texas History- Ron Slovacek Jan 13, 2022

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My guest this week is Ron Slovacek, a true Texan survivor of his life experiences. Ron is the first person that I have interviewed who went to trial. His story is fascinating, with an inside look of a big case and the workings of the Federal Government. Ron got swept up in one of the biggest cases in Texas history…The Dallas Morning News titled it the “Dallas City Hall Corruption Case." In all, 14 defendants were convicted. The mayor received an 18-year sentence. Ron was rolling along as a successful real estate developer, married man, and dad of 3 living the big Texas lifestyle…loving life, but he felt there was something missing. He had always been involved in the Catholic Church, and his Dad, who he idolized, was a very devout Christian man. Ron felt he should be giving something back, and he always wanted to make his Dad proud. He decided he would get involved in the business he knew to help low-income people in Dallas with new housing developments. Things did not turn out the way he envisioned, and it started the engine of a nightmare. After a five year investigation, Ron eventually lost his case and received a 7-year sentence. He was sent 13 hours away from his family. Slovacek gives us great nuggets of information and strategies he used as he navigated through this new unknown world. Ron is now back home in Denton, Texas. Back in the development business he loves, and even mentoring one of his sons in the business. I have always admired how Ron steps through life.

To “fit in”he went to prison - Eric Ross Jan 06, 2022

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Eric Ross grew up on the north side of St. Louis. He wanted to be liked and to be the "cool" kid in school, which sometimes got him in trouble and running with the wrong crowd. He found himself starting his own painting business, but running with a gang, living a criminal lifestyle for the adrenaline rush, and feeling of being accepted. Ross shares an incredible story of the day he was caught with 3 kilos of cocaine. He is also brutally honest about how he tried to escape everything around him in prison by taking more drugs. He had a brush with death, and the light switch went on knowing he wanted to live. Eric drastically turned things around in his life for the better. He got healthy and his faith in God gave him strength to stay on the right path. He shares those survival skills with us. He now owns a successful company renovating and flipping homes. Eric is married to a beautiful wife with 2 kids. I am proud of how he turned his life around, and is living the life he wants. Yes, Nightmare Success!

The Fried Honey Bun Man - Gerald Murphy Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

Gerald Murphy has many talents, but one he is famous for is being the creative inventor of the Leavenworth "fried honeybun." Murph describes the funny story of how this fried honeybun is prison made. Murph's story moves along from his early childhood growing up with "Southern Women"...with yes mam, no mam rules in the house. His Dad is his best friend and made certain moves to keep Murphy away from the trouble on the streets. Murphy was a top athlete that excelled in sports, particularly football. He shares the story of his Dad moving him to a Kansas county where they were the only black family, which made Murph the only black high school student. He says some of his best friends today are from his high school days. Murphy has the personality to always adapt and make friends regardless of the circumstances. His life took a turn in college when he ventured into the drug world. Murphy served a state prison stint and states this is where he learned how to be a better drug dealer. When Murph returned home his goal was to be at the top of the drug trade. Murph is an incredible, likeable storyteller who is so humble and honest about his journey. Murphy got out of Leavenworth and gritted it out doing jobs no one wanted while attending school. Now he has a good job, and is in a good relationship...just bought a new car! I am proud of Murphy with what he has done to get to where he is. You just gotta like Murph and his story. He has lived Nightmare Success for sure.

Proud Respected Homebuilder to Prison - Ed Levinson Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

My guest this week is Ed Levinson. Ed was a very successful homebuilder in the St. Louis area, and he is also an engaging, funny storyteller. Some of the most quality neighborhoods in the St. Louis region are a legacy of Levinson's creative vision. Ed even ventured into politics when he thought the city of Chesterfield needed a voice of reason from the business world. When the home market cratered in 2008, so did Ed's homebuilding business. A spiral of disasters happened that ended up with Ed being accused by the bank of misappropriating loan dollars with different projects. Ed fought and finally gave in to a plea. His story is about being at the top of his industry, losing it all, and adapting to the unfamiliar world of prison. Ed's marriage did not survive the turmoil, but he has a strong, close relationship with his daughter through it all. Ed handles it all with grace and humor. I think you are going to really like Ed and his story.

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