Background Check Podcast

EP 112 ”2nd Chance Mentors” with Shawn Serfass, CEO 2nd Chance Fitness, Founder of 2nd Chance Mentors

Show Summary 2nd Chance Mentors I sat down for round two with Shawn because he’s done some great things since our first episode. He started 2nd Chance Mentors and he’s about to open up his second gym location. We talk about the struggles of growing a non profit, the challenges that come with mentoring, adopting the highway, and Tres Dias. If you haven’t heard his first interview, go listen, it’s an incredible story. Then come back to this one. His podcast link is below too. Check out his links below to find more about Shawn, the gym, and his mentoring program Resources Mentioned in the Show: 2nd Chance Mentors website: https://www.2ndchancementors.com/ 2nd Chance Fitness: https://www.2ndchancefitcamp.com/ Shawn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2ndchancefitcamp/ Shawn’s Podcast: Forgiven AF Clarity Roofing and Solar: Call Today 972-922-6434 Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 111 ”Life Lessons from the Prison Basketball Court” Inside the Kyle unit with Chas Roberts

Show Summary Sober October Ok, so we are out of National Recovery Month and now into Sober October. There’s a bunch of internet challenges going on regarding staying sober during this month. I say carry it on over to November, December, you might like it. And yes, that even means you in prison too. Stay away from hooch during October. Ok, to the show. This is round two with Chas from inside the Kyle unit. We didn’t have time to cover everything last time so the next graduation I went to, we hit it again. This time we talked about life lessons from the game of basketball. Team, Self Talk, Referee, Love of the Game, and the Free Throw. After our interview we do some short interviews with the class members, asking them what they’ve learned from the class. Some great guys who have all gotten out by now or this month for sure. Thanks again to Warden Luna, Sara Duncan, and the whole program staff. The Kyle unit is ran by some really great people who actually care about seeing these men succeed. Check out the video link below to see the game winning shot that Chas was talking about and the Warden coaching up the team. Resources Mentioned in the Show: Clarity Roofing and Solar: Call Today 972-922-6434 or visit them at https://www.clarityroofingandsolar.com/ Visit DVTD: https://dvtd.com/forgivenfelons/ Write us at Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283 Cedar Hill, TX 75106 Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 110 Recovery Report Card with Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary Recovery Report Card On this last day of National Recovery Month we review the month’s guests and I talk about our Recovery Report Card. I was listening to my daughter compare her current report card with her last progress report. She mentioned she up in some classes, down in another and the same in one. But then she did something that blessed my heart so much. She celebrated her sister for doing better in reading. Jemma struggles in reading and Jessa knows it. So instead of talking about or focusing on what Jemma went down in, she celebrated her victory!!! And that’s what recovery should look like. Acknowledge we have work to do, but dang it, celebrate those wins. Resources Mentioned in the Show: Alcoholics Anonymous: AA.org Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ Narcotics Anonymous: NA.org Regeneration Recovery: https://www.regenerationrecovery.org/ Clarity Roofing and Solar: Call Today 972-922-6434 Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 109 ”We Met In Recovery” with Boomer and Jeni Martinez

Show Summary Boomer and Jeni met in recovery. I’ve met a lot of people who met their significant other in recovery, and it did not work out. This is very different. In this interview we dive into their past and see how they got to where they are. Boomer and Jeni lead the Celebrate Recovery at One Church in Beaumont, TX. They’ve also done an interview, “Not In My City” which is linked below. Boomer was the oldest of his six brothers and sisters but had a different dad so he didn’t always feel accepted by his stepdad. Boomer had dabble in drinking and drugs, but after the death of his father in May of 1999, he spiraled out of control. He the next 18 years of life were spent in rehabs, jails, and prison. In 2013 at the Coffield unit, Jesus radically changed his life. Jeni and Boomer have the normal struggles of life and marriage but through it all they grow together in the Lord and help others to do the same through CR. Resources Mentioned in the Show: Boomer’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boomerhenry.martinez Boomer’s Celebrate Recovery Group: https://onecity.church/celebrate-recovery/ Not In My City Interview: https://youtu.be/PLjtUL81w8g Clarity Roofing and Solar: Call Today 972-922-6434 Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283 Cedar Hill, TX 75106

EP 108 ”Daddy, Daddy, Please Stop Drinking” with Dr Robb Kelly, Addiction Doctor

Show Summary This was the most interesting and informative interview I’ve ever done. I made a new friend with Dr. Robb Kelly. He was so great in answering myth-busting questions for me. Alcohol DOESN’T kill brain cells. I’ve always heard it did. We talk about the hypothalamus, how oxygen heals, and so much more. Read more about him in the next couple of paragraphs, check out his links, then listen to this amazing interview. “We are born with million dollar minds, stop hanging around .10 minds. So if you’re sitting there with suicide on your mind, just so depressed you can’t get up for your kids, I want you to call me and I will give you a five minute pep talk that will change your life. And if it doesn’t, I will send you $100 for the courtesy of calling me.” -Dr Robb Kelly (214-600-0210 Texting is quicker and best) Dr. Robb Kelly, PhD is a sought-after recovery expert who believes in treating the causes of addiction and not the symptoms. Dr. Kelly has appeared on such shows as The Doctors, Eye Opener, Good Morning Texas, and Kens5 morning news. A frequent contributor to radio and print interviews including The Jim Bohannon show, Miracles in Recovery, USA Today, and participated in McLean Hospital’s (Harvard Medical School) study on the stigma associated with mental illness. Dr. Kelly hosted Sober Celebs show on KLIF radio in Dallas, and currently hosts the Breaking Through Addiction podcast featuring special guest discussing a variety of mental health issues. Dr. Kelly created Let’s Get Back to 98% Recovery DVDs used in prisons and recovery treatment centers throughout the US. He has lectured on addiction and trauma at high-profile universities, national conferences, treatment facilities, public schools, churches, business organizations and hospitals. Dr Kelly is currently the CEO of the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, an addiction and mental illness recovery coaching company he created based on extensive research and behaviour studies that he conducted over the past 20 years. Dr. Kelly shares his personal highs and lows as he struggled and overcame crippling alcoholism in the November 2019 release of the book “Daddy, Daddy Please Stop Drinking”. Resources Mentioned in the Show: Dr Robb’s Website: www.robbkelly.com Dr Robb’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbkellyrecoverygroup/ Dr Robb’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/drrobbkelly Dr Robb’s Twitter: twitter.com/RobbKellyGroup Dr Robb’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-robb-kelly-07718133 Buy Dr Robb Kelly’s Book: Daddy, Daddy, Please Stop Drinking Dr Robb’s email address: robb@robbkelly.com Breaking Through Addiction Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-through-addiction/id1527640123 Breaking Through Addiction Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3100882193511576 Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 Clarity Roofing and Solar: Call today 972-922-6434 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 107 ”Doughp for Hope” with Kelsey Moreira, Founder and Fearless Leader of Doughp

Show Summary Kelsey started a career in tech at 16 years old and hustled for a decade in product marketing. Confronted her issues with alcohol and got sober in September 2015. (SWEET!) Found her "happy place" in the kitchen and began baking, stumbling on a great egg-sub that made her cookie dough safe to eat! Took the leap, quit her career and started Doughp in 2017; continuing to share her story in hopes of inspiring others. Made a splash on Shark Tank and was named Forbes 30 Under 30 & Vegas 40 Under 40. This was one of the funnest interviews I’ve done. Kelsey’s story about her addiction to alcohol is very similar to mine. When she was telling stories about her drunken days, I noticed I had similar instances, behaviors, and thought patterns. She Recovers is the international women’s recovery group that Doughp supports. You should check it out at the link below. Also, during the month of September, National Recovery Month, if you visit Costco’s in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and purchase the 2lb bag of Doughp, take a picture of the receipt, send it to me at jaydangumm@forgivenfelons.org, Doughp will donate $5 to Forgiven Felons. Also, if you buy online, any time, and use BACKGROUNDCHECK coupon code at checkout, you’ll get $5 off your order. So go to Costco, or buy online and get your discounts and give to Forgiven Felons when you eat cookie dough. Resources Mentioned in the Show: Doughp’s Website: https://www.doughp.com/ Doughp’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doughp/ Doughp’s Facebook: hhttps://www.facebook.com/doughp Doughp’s TikTok: eatdoughp Kelsey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseymoreira/ Kelsey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kels.moreira/ SheRecovers: https://sherecovers.org/ Soberpreneur Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soberpreneur-with-kelsey-moreira/id1483090588 Doughp on Shark Tank: https://youtu.be/L8rc24HPTKo May 2022 Update on Shark Tank: https://youtu.be/NyZfr_8KNto Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 106 ”Leave me alone with your Jesus!” with Richard Lisa and Sophia

Summary of Show: Today’s episode is the story of Richard Smith, who has lived almost three decades inside some of the worst prisons in the state of Texas. At age five, his family moved to the big city of Houston. There, his life spun completely out of control, resulting in drug abuse, violence, and multiple incarcerations as a juvenile. At sixteen, he was arrested for murder, merely fifteen hours after being released from a juvenile facility. After being tried as an adult, he entered prison at age seventeen with a ninety-nine-year sentence. After experiencing violence in some of Texas's worst prisons, he joined the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang. He worked his way up to the rank of captain and got lost in its world of violence and racism. He was placed in long-term solitary confinement in 1993 and spent the next thirteen years locked in a cage within the cage. He was moved around to some of Texas's most violent prisons until one day, he woke up to the insanity of his life and decided to change. In 2006, he was released from solitary confinement and began the long road of rehabilitation in a place not designed to rehabilitate. He achieved two associate's degrees, as well as completed vocational trades in diesel mechanics and welding. At thirty-nine years of age, he turned his life to God and began living as a godly man inside the ungodly walls of prison. The title of this book, God Don’t Lie, rests on a statement made by his grandmother during a frantic call from his mom when he was arrested for murder. His mom thought he would be given the death penalty. His grandmother assured her that he would not because God had great things planned for his life, and "God don't lie." We also talk with his wife Lisa and her granddaughter Sophia, who she is raising. Sophia’s mother is in prison and her grandmother, Lisa, is raising all five kids. Now she has help from her husband Richard. They met through facebook dating over a year ago and tied the knot on July 30, 2022. We’ve never interviewed a minor about their parent being incarcerated, but they all felt compelled to have Sophia share her per To buy Richard’s book, check out the link below. To see more pics of Richard and the family, check out the show page.  Resources Mentioned in the Show: Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary on Roku: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 Buy Richard’s Book: https://smile.amazon.com/God-Dont-Lie-All-Around-Miscreant-ebook/dp/B094YSVK4S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 105 ”Laughter, Dog, Blessings, and Torque” with Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary On today’s episode, I start out with laughter. Sometimes we just need a good laugh. I know the jokes I do today might only resonate with people who are or have been behind bars but if you haven’t, you can ask someone who has for some context. I talk about my dog Snowman and how sometimes he’ll learn a trick and perform it, even before I give the command, knowing that after he performs the trick, he’ll get the trick. How much more will God bless us when we do what He has already commanded us to do, without Him even asking us! Then we talk about torque. Physical and spiritual torque. I hope this episode encourages you today. If this show has impacted your life in some way, will you let us know? Send me a text, email or find us on social media. My information is on the contact page of this website. Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 104 ”First Things First” with Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary   First Things First   Do you remember your first of anything? My girls first day of school was this week and they were super excited, and expectant.   It go me thinking of all my firsts in my life so I thought I’d talk about it. It also got me thinking of firsts that haven’t happened yet, and why they haven’t happened.   One of mine is my first book. I’m scared. That fear keeps me from my first book. Not anymore though. What is a first in your life that is being held up by something? Let me know. I pray this episode encourages you.   Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1   How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 103 ”Hope Lost, Hope Gained” with Paul and Hope Lin

Summary of Show: This is my second interview with Paul. As I sat down to edit the first interview last fall I noticed the audio was garbled in some areas and I didn’t know why. I was crushed to tell him I wouldn’t be able to use it but that we would record again at a later date. Well, it’s better this time because we had the honor of interviewing his wife as a part of his story. This episode was a lot of fun to do but I was also just in amazement most of the time because there’s so many miracles in it. Paul was defending his friend outside a club one night and what he thought would end up as a case of self defense or defense of a third party, ended up being turned into a murder charge. But God worked it all for His good and Paul’s story din’t end hopeless. In fact, married Hope. Literally. Check out the pics on the show page and the links below for the prison ministry and church they are involved in. Resources Mentioned in the Show: Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary on Roku: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 Joseph Company Prison Ministry: https://www.jcprisonministry.org/ Dwelling Place Church: https://www.dwellingplace.com/ How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.