Background Check Podcast
After five DWI’s landed me prison, something had to change. One day I got into a fight and I spent eight days in solitaire confinement thinking about my life and the decisions I had made that led me to that dark place, literally. I came out of the hole a different man with a different heart, mind, soul, direction, and outlook on life. I got mentored by a couple of inmates who eventually made parole but within a year they were both back in. This confused me and ticked me off. I wondered how I was going to make it out there. Since my release in 2006 we’ve opened up a transitional house for men, with another ”ranch” coming, launched a documentary, been on the Mike Huckabee Show, launched this podcast, and it goes into prisons all over the nation.
Episodes

Jun 22, 2026
Jun 22, 2026
32 min
Quick Background Check-In to give an update on Mama, and share some other things.
Our family is doing ok. Details on the memorial service to come soon.

Jun 19, 2026
Jun 19, 2026
1 hr 25 min
In this episode we sit down with BOTH of the Earle brothers. And boy, having them both on doesn't disappoint.
We ask them questions like "Who's better......?" and have them pick. It's so funny.
John and Guy are former professional football players for the NFL and Canadian Football League. They have been doing prison ministry for a long time now and cover almost all of the Texas prisons.
They do pod ministry exclusively and it is so effective in reaching the ones who will never set foot in a chapel or gym.
We talk about being a dad, their dad, and being a spiritual dad.
How to connect with Think Twice Ministries: https://www.thinktwiceministries.org/
To partner with us please click here:
https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Other ways to support us:
Cash App: $ForgivenFelons
Mail Check to:
Forgiven Felons
PO Box 4283
Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

Jun 18, 2026
Jun 18, 2026
1 hr 19 min
In this episode, we sit down again with speaker, mentor, entrepreneur, and now author, Shawn from 2nd Chance Fitness and 2nd Chance Mentors.
This time we talk about everything from his story that led him to federal prison, his relationship with his son and how that affected his parenting, marriage, his new roofing company that he started, AND his book release.
We laugh, but we also dig into some deep topics.
You will enjoy this episode and want to share it with someone you know.
How to connect with Shawn, his organization, and his companies.
Shawn's Book: https://www.forgivenaf.com/
2nd Chance Mentors: https://www.2ndchancementors.com/
2nd Chance Fitness: https://2ndchancefitcamp.com/
Alpha Storm Roofing & Construction https://www.alphastormroofing.com/
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Other ways to support us:
Cash App: $ForgivenFelons
Mail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283
Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home?
Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
2 hr 17 min
In this episode we sit down with Bill and Stephanie Everts to hear one of the most fascinating God stories I've ever heard, and I ain't playing games.
But their lives cross in an online game called Empires and Puzzles. Their stories individually are incredible, but their together story is filled with redemption, love, sacrifice, and Jesus.
Bill is the Executive Director of Less Than The Least Ministries which is heavily involved in the prisons across Texas. They also host, together, The Edge Podcast and is one of the most watched prison podcast on Pando.
You've got to watch this episode and share it with someone you know who could use some encouragement.
Connect with Less Than The Least Ministries:
Website: https://lessthantheleast.org Facebook: @lessthantheleast Instagram: @lttl.pm YouTube: @TheEdgePrisonPodcast Inside Prison: Pando App To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Other ways to support us: Cash App: $ForgivenFelons Mail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283
Cedar Hill, TX 75106 Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026
57 min
In this episode, Jay Dan and Jessa talk about everything from her short sermon coming up, date nights, inmate graduation classes, dad jokes and funny commercials, Jay Dan's trip to the ER, the Ranger's, Jessa's new club volleyball team, and what we learned when we went to the Ellis County Rodeo.
We also highlight one of our newest residents at the house.
It's a fun episode where Jessa gives some shout outs to her junior high friends.
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Other ways to support us: Cash App: $ForgivenFelons Mail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

May 19, 2026
May 19, 2026
8 min
Hey Background Check family, just wanted to give everyone on the inside a quick update with what's going on with my health. We got some great episodes coming with Jessa and Bill and Stephanie from The Edge Podcast, but just wanted to share with you what's been happening to me the last 9 days.
Thank you for your prayers.

May 8, 2026
May 8, 2026
1 hr 21 min
Audrey works for a roofing company, that she found through a second chance staffing agency, which she found because she was connected to B.I.G. Love Ministries.
Audrey's motherhood journey is a rough one, but God is redeeming the time in her life and she is living a life that her family admits is very different. She's involved in church leadership, recovery groups, and prison ministry.
We cry and laugh through her story that involves, abandonment, drug using and dealing, jail, a raid with her own son, prison, and falling on her knees crying out to God.
Share this with a mom you know needs it.
To partner with us please click here:
https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Other ways to support us: Cash App: $ForgivenFelonsMail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise
https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home?
Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

May 6, 2026
May 6, 2026
1 hr 32 min
Facebook Post: "She didn’t know it then… but the woman watching that podcast from a prison cell ….would one day be sitting on it. 🔥"- Sarah Burt
This episode we sit down with Sarah Burt and talk life, addiction, muscle deterioration, motherhood, prison, plea deals, and losing custody of children. We talk a lot about Jesus too.
It wasn't too long ago that Sarah was sitting on her bunk watching the podcast from her prison unit. Now she's out, involved in helping people out here, and back inside prison, all while on her journey to get her relationship with her kids restored. "We serve a God of restoration" says Sarah.
We play a tribute to all mothers everywhere at the beginning of the episode with a poem about mother's and some pics of some amazing ladies. We laugh and cry our way to talking for almost 90 minutes. It's that good of a story.
Share with someone you know, especially a mom.
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Other ways to support us: Cash App: $ForgivenFelons
Mail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

Apr 25, 2026
Apr 25, 2026
2 hr 31 min
Thank you to all the staff, including the wardens, and Matt Petty, at the Farmington Correctional Center in Farmington, MO for allowing us to invade their unit with Jesus.
Thanks to Jimmy Carter for the recording, and editing of the event. Thanks to Real Vida for letting them use your song at the end.
After a brief introduction and shout outs, I air the original production, in it's entirety (with one small, inconsequential edit at the end).
Share with everyone you know.
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Other ways to support us: Cash App: $ForgivenFelons
Mail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283
Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.

Apr 24, 2026
Apr 24, 2026
1 hr 15 min
In this episode we sit down with Cheyenne from the Cheyenne Pitts Band.
Cheyenne's story takes all the normal twists and turns of addiction and family dysfunction, but then adds some guitar, country music, and a "suicide by cop" element to it. Cheyenne admits that most of his trouble came as a result of his anger issues, which, with the help of God, and his time in prison, has been under control.
Cheyenne travels and plays on the weekends but holds down a job during the week in which he is a project manager.
After we chat for a little bit, Cheyenne breaks into a few songs for us in studio. Share this with everyone you know, and let your loved ones in prison know that it's probably available on their tablets.
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Other ways to support us: Cash App: $ForgivenFelonsMail Check to: Forgiven Felons PO Box 4283
Cedar Hill, TX 75106
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.








