Background Check Podcast

EP 97 ”You Die Looking Like Your Decisions” with Craig Long

Show Summary . I met Craig Long on Instagram. I’ve followed him for a while now and enjoy his content. One day he posted something about young kids and not having a father figure in their life due to incarceration. . I made a comment on his post, he replied, and we became friends. . Craig went down a bad path when he was younger after experiencing divorce first hand. Eventually his wrong decisions landed him in prison with some of the worst of the worst people. . It was in prison where he decided to make a change and vowed to never go back to being that old person again. . Craig is an outspoken conservative on social media, loves our country, and is not ashamed to say who his favorite president is. . Follow Craig at the links below and subscribe to his youtube channel. If you would like to book Craig to speak at an event you can email him at realcraiglong45@gmail.com . Resources Mentioned in the Show: Craig’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialcraiglong45/ . Craig’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CraigLong45Show . Craig’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@craiglong45?lang=en . 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 96 A Fathers Day Story-Generational Forgiveness with Jim Buffington COO-Bridges To Life

Show Summary . This by far is one of the most intriguing, impactful, interviews I have ever done. There are so many surprises along the way. You’ll want to listen to the whole thing. Check out the pic below to see Jim’s dad’s old cell mate at Jim’s son’s wedding. They are holding a picture of Jim’s dad. . Jim Buffington is the Chief Operating Officer for Bridges To Life and resides in Grand Prairie, Texas. He is a native Texan and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BSBA degree in Marketing Management. Jim's 30-year business career was in Financial/Legal Services. Jim started volunteering with Bridges To Life in 2004 and then joined the staff as COO in 2016. . Bridges To Life is a restorative justice program which connects communities to prisons to reduce the recidivism rate (particularly that of violent crimes), reduce the number of crime victims, and enhance public safety. Since inception, more than 65,000 men and women have graduated from the faith-based program with the help of over 3,200 volunteers in 16 states and 7 countries. Most recently, the Bridges To Life Self-Study Program received Texas Governor Abbott's Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award for the Most Innovative Program in 2020 in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. . When Jim was 12 years old, his mother was found murdered in the back seat of her car. A year later, his father and two other men were arrested, convicted, and incarcerated for the crime. Jim traveled a long road of pain and betrayal that could have led to a life of bitterness, but instead he chose another path: one of healing and forgiveness. . He volunteers as a Victim Impact Panel Speaker for: Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services, Dallas County Probation, Texas Youth Commission, Dallas County Juvenile Justice Department and Tarrant County Juvenile Services in Fort Worth. . Jim is a Royal Family Kid's camp counselor and is a Board Member for Trinity Kids, Inc., Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation, Brighter Tomorrows, and One CommunityUSA Pathway’s to HOPE reentry program. He volunteers with Bill Glass Prison Ministry, Prison Entrepreneurship Program, and is an active member of Fielder Church in Arlington, Texas. . Jim received the Texas Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Pathfinder Award for his contributions to the welfare of crime victims in 2019, the Texas Governor’s Criminal Justice Carol S. Vance Volunteer of the Year Service Award in 2008, and the Dallas Cowboys Community Quarterback Award for Volunteer Service in 2007. . Jim and his wife, Marilyn, who is an Arlington ISD elementary special education school teacher, have one son, Bryce, who is also a Bridges To Life volunteer.  . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . Watch the documentary Jim and his brothers are in: https://www.shalomworld.org/episode/forgiving-their-mothers-murderer . Watch video about Bridges To Life: https://www.shalomworld.org/episode/when-were-you-in-prison-lord-bridges-to-life . Bridges To Life website: http://www.bridgestolife.org/ . Bridges To Life Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgestolife . Bridges To Life LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridges-to-life . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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 95 ”From Friend, to Fiancé, to Advocate” with Jennifer Gross

Show Summary . I met Jennifer at an event in Dallas in 2021. Since then I’ve gotten to know her business journey as a realtor, but what’s intrigued me the most is her prison and criminal justice reform journey that she’s on. . She’s had to overcome a lot in her life as you will hear in the episode but now she’s trying to help her fiancé prove his innocence. She’s learning first hand that no matter how much evidence there is to prove his innocence, it is much harder and takes way more time to undo a wrongful conviction. . Her passion is contagious. Her community is strong. If you want to know more about her and Rob, you can follow her on Instagram at the link below. You can also use that link to inquire about real estate as well if you’re in her area. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Jennifer’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.gross.yourrealtor/ . 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 94 ”2 Years Strong, Uvalde, Memorial Day, and Dads at the Door” with Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary . On today’s episode Jay Dan talks about the Uvalde shooting, Memorial Day, Dad’s at the Door, and his time at the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program school. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . 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 93 ”The Change Agent” with Best Selling Author Damon West

Show Summary . Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a college professor, nationally known keynote speaker and best-selling author (with best-selling author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon) of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. His first book and autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, was published just three years after his release from a Texas maximum-security prison. . At 20 years old, he was a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, when he suffered a career ending injury. He turned to hard core drugs to cope with the disappointments of life. After graduation, he worked in the United States Congress, was a national fundraiser on a U.S. Presidential campaign and eventually trained to be a stock-broker for United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). One day at UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines; he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit. . After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences today. . Today, Damon lives a life of recovery and service, going to meetings and sharing his story all over the country with schools, churches, athletic teams, corporations, conferences and inside correctional facilities. Over the past few years, he has been sharing the Coffee Bean lesson with dozens of college football teams such as Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, and countless schools and businesses. His #BeACoffeeBean message has inspired thousands from Walmart to the US Army to the NBA. . Damon’s story has been featured both nationally and globally. His second book, The Coffee Bean, co-authored with best-selling author Jon Gordon, became an instant best-seller and a part of Forbes’ “Top Twenty Books You Need to Read to Crush 2020.” Damon is passionate about the Coffee Bean message and loves sharing how it changed his life and how it can change yours, too. . His latest book (with coauthor, Jon Gordon), The Coffee Bean for Kids, is the genesis for Coffee Bean Clubs being started by students at schools all over America. . Of all the hats Damon wears, the two most important to him are being a husband to Kendell and a stepfather to Clara. One of his greatest fears upon re-entry was wondering if he would be able to find someone who found him worthy of love and a family of his own. Like most fears we all have in life, this one was unfounded. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . Damon’s website: https://damonwest.org/ . Follow Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-west-685168152/ . Follow Damon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damonjosephwest . Follow Damon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonwest7/ . Follow Damon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/damonwest7 . Buy The Coffee Bean book: :https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Bean-Simple-Lesson-Positive/dp/1119430275/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/142-7511727-4409935?pd_rd_w=237qC&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=VN9BYSC46J2RPNTY9RXJ&pd_rd_r=918f401c-412e-44b5-a360-97407de8bc0d&pd_rd_wg=FiYui&pd_rd_i=1119430275&psc=1 . Buy The Coffee Bean for Kids: https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Bean-Kids-Simple-Positive/dp/B09ZLYV627/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33C5D35GT042L&keywords=coffee+bean+for+kids&qid=1653654048&s=books&sprefix=coffee+bean+for+kids%2Cstripbooks%2C108&sr=1-1 . Buy The Change Agent: https://www.amazon.com/The-Change-Agent-Damon-West-audiobook/dp/B07W682QT7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OASEVTFBVKWT&keywords=the+change+agent+damon+west&qid=1653654302&s=audible&sprefix=the+change+agent+damon+west%2Caudible%2C95&sr=1-1 . Buy The Locker Room: https://www.amazon.com/Locker-Room-Great-Overcome-Adversity/dp/111989784X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23WI8FP2VBLDR&keywords=the+locker+room+damon+west&qid=1653654373&s=audible&sprefix=the+locker+room+damon+west%2Caudible%2C118&sr=1-1-catcorr . Learn about Coffee Bean CARES: https://beacoffeebeanfoundation.org/coffee-bean-cares/ . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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 92 ”Working with the Warden” with Darren Wallace- Retired TDCJ Warden/Criminal Justice Consultant, Cornbread Hustle

Show Summary . Darren Wallace served the State of Texas for more than 28 years in various positions with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He began his career working on Death Row as a Correctional Officer, and worked his way up to the role of Senior Warden at one of Texas’ largest prisons, housing over 3,000 inmates. Shortly after his retirement, one of Wallace's previous inmates reached out to him to encourage him to apply at a staffing agency for second chances, owing to his leadership inside prison. Wallace is now the Criminal Justice Consultant to Cornbread Hustle, which helps people coming out of prison find meaningful employment. . In this episode I ask Darren about his perspective on inmates when he first started and how that compares to his perspective now. We talk about everything from how and why he got started in corrections, to faith based dorms, to high tax appraisals, to death row, and how he coped with one of his officers being murdered. . Check out the links below to learn more about Darren and what all he’s doing in retirement. .  Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . Cornbread Hustle website: https://cornbreadhustle.com/ . Follow Darren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-wallace-800296217/ . Darren Wallace’s Consulting:http://www.correctionalops.com/ . Watch the Introduction to Darren Wallace by Cornbread Hustle: https://youtu.be/qYg8MtbNr20 . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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 91 ”Escaping The Odds” with Aaron Smith

Show Summary . Aaron Smith, founder of Escaping The Odds, grew up in public housing on the south side of Chicago. It was there that he got involved in a heroin drug operation that produced up to $15,000 a day. As a result of his crimes, he was later indicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl resulting in death. . He was sentenced 12 years in federal prison. While serving nearly a decade in jail, Aaron had a drastic mindset shift. He decided, with God's help, that it was time to switch hustles from selling dope to chasing dreams. As an entrepreneur, podcast producer, and mentor, Aaron continues to contribute to the ever changing narrative of the formerly incarcerated. He escaped the odds and seeks to empower anyone who desires to do the same. . In this episode, we talk about how Aaron is helping people not by giving them a fish, or teaching them to fish, but by buying the whole pond. . Check out the website below and if you are interested in starting your own box truck company, check out his course that shows you exactly how to do that. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . Escaping The Odds website: https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ . Follow Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-smith-3b2492181/ . Escaping the Odds facebook: https://www.facebook.com/escapingtheoddsmedia . Start Your Own Truck Company: https://www.escapingtheodds.com/basic-01 . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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 90 ”Mother’s Day Podcast Highjack” with Jessa and Jemma

Show Summary . Shhhhhhhh. My daughters are taking over this show. They were too lazy to do this part so I still have to do it. lol . My daughters are cute as they recite poems and sing songs and honor their mother. . Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s out there. You are the real heroes. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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 89 ”Arrested At Six Years Old” the John Levitt Story

Show Summary . My new friend John Levitt, from Arizona, was arrested at six years old. I didn’t even know that could happen. That kind of set the stage for the rest of his life. He spent about 22 years in prison but has been out 16, has a family, and has become an amazing citizen. . He talks about how he needed to rewire his brain and how he did it. He and his wife own a car dealership and other businesses. . He has definitely rewired his brain for success. Check him out on tiktok at Xfelon55 . His car dealership is below too if you’re in the that area and in the market for a new vehicle. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . John’s Car Dealership: https://www.everydaycarsllc.com/ . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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 88 ”I Did It For My Son” A&E ’60 Days In’ Star, Johnny Ramirez

Show Summary . Exposed to violence, guns and gangs at an early age, Johnny had to grow up fast. During his sophomore year of high school, Johnny formed his own gang with his friends who had collectively decided this was their only option while living in the ghetto, and he was the formidable leader. When he was 17 years old, his son was born, and Johnny decided to change his life in order to protect his new family. . Despite Johnny’s efforts, his son got involved with the wrong crowd while living with his mother and is currently serving out a 12-year prison sentence. Johnny wants to join the program in order to show the other inmates—and his son—that gang life, drugs and jail does not need to define them, and it certainly does not dictate what their future needs to look like. He chose to leave gang life, and so can they. He wanted to show his son that jail and prison is simply situational. . We talk about why he wanted to do the show, the affects the show had on himself and his family, sports, politics, and then he flipped it and asked me some questions. . We don’t talk about it on the show but his daughter started a Honey company called American Bee Solutions. We ordered some bottles and want to give three away to the first three people who leave a review on Apple. Screenshot your review and send it to us by text or email. Our contact info is on the contact page at forgivenfelons.org. Check out the website below to order your own. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . American Bee Solutions: https://americanbeesolutions.com/ Tell them you heard about them on Background Check Podcast. . Johnny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnny.ramirez3/ . Our Sponsor’s Information: RP Media, robprice6@gmail.com 214-354-6364 Tell them you heard it here. . 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.