Background Check Podcast

EP 36 ”The Gift of Sobriety” Cheri Garcia CEO Cornbread Hustle

Show Summary: I’ve known Cheri for a few years now and I’ve enjoyed watching her grow her company and her life. She has a heart to see people bounce back from addiction and anything else in their past. Here’s a little more about her. Cheri Garcia is the Founder of Cornbread Hustle, a staffing agency for second chances. Cheri is passionate about helping people with criminal backgrounds and individuals in recovery find transformation through employment or entrepreneurship. As someone who has re-invented her own life, Cheri wanted to create a company to help others do the same. Before starting Cornbread Hustle, Cheri found her first transformation and recovery through inventing a tanning bed and starting a career in the TV news industry. She later found recovery a second time, but through faith and a sober lifestyle. With a strong background in marketing and PR, Cheri uses the skills she acquired to help individuals getting out of prison re-brand themselves to become the person they want to be and get noticed by the people they want to meet. For more information about Cheri and Cornbread Hustle please visit the show page: forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck

EP 35 ”From Wrongfully Convicted to Being A Lawyer” TEDx Speaker Jeff Deskovic

Show Summary: This interview was eye opening. You should check the links below, get Prime Video, and watch the documentary short as well. Jeff is a great guy and to know that he was wrongfully convicted and treated this way breaks my heart and pisses me off. Here’s a short bio of Jeff. The Deskovic Foundation is a New York based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to exonerating the wrongfully convicted both in DNA and non-DNA cases, as well as wrongful conviction prevention. The Foundation was established as a result of Jeffrey Deskovic’s own wrongful conviction at the age of 17 of the rape and murder of a 15 year old girl. Authorities knew his DNA did not match that of the actual perpetrator – who, three years later, went on to murder another young woman and mother of two – but rogue police officers, prosecutors, and other law enforcement personnel knowingly and maliciously accused, prosecuted, and eventually secured his conviction. After his exoneration and release after sixteen years in prison, Deskovic successfully sued the authorities responsible and used a substantial portion of the compensation he was awarded to start the Deskovic Foundation. Deskovic has dedicated himself to helping the wrongfully convicted, and recently graduated from the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University with a law degree. For pics and all the resources mentioned in the show please visit the showpage: forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck

EP 34 ”3 Minutes that Saved a Life” Jesse Paul Smith from World Wide Dance Challenge

Show Summary: This episode was one of the most fun episodes. Having met Jesse at a John Maxwell conference, and seen him perform on stage, it made his journey that much more exciting to listen to. We talk about his childhood when he describes himself as a band geek, his battle with depression that almost ended his life, his rubbing shoulders with other celebrities, and his latest creation, World Wide Dance Challenge. Check out his bio below as well as his links to everything on our show page. Jesse is an established dancer, recording artist and entrepreneur.  Getting his start in the entertainment world when he moved to L.A. in 2005 as a dancer with McDonald Selznick Associates.  There he got an opportunity to work with artists like Justin Timberlake, Rhianna, Mario and more.  Since then he has been using his talents to perform and speak all over the world on stages in front of over 100,000 people in his career. Now Jesse continues to help creatives turn their passion into a thriving business that can make a positive impact on the world through his business My Creative District. Through My Creative District, Jesse cofounded WorldWide Dance Challenge – An online Dance Show/Competition where they bring dancers from around the world and all different styles to compete head to head live online in front of a live audience for a chance to be named the worlds best. For all the resources mentioned in the show please visit our show page: forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck For you free trial of Audible and to help out our ministry, click here: audibletrial.com/backgroundcheck

EP 33 ”We Made it OUT of 2020” Happy New Year- Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: If you're reading this, you made it out of 2020. Congratulations.  The Gumm family and Forgiven Felons had some hard times because of the virus, but we pivoted (this word is the word of the year) and made it through.  I talk about 3G, not the data speed from 12 years ago, but how I live my life.  1. Get Right 2. Get Out 3. Give Back Some great things happened for the organization in 2020 and we are expecting even greater things to come. We've had some amazing guests and we have even greater guests coming.  Hang on tight! Happy New Year from the Gumm's and Forgiven Felons.  As always, thanks for listening and spreading the word. 

EP 32 ”Family Christmas Traditions” The Gumm Family and Mama - 122520 2.45 PM

Show Summary: Jay Dan, Jessamy, Jessa, and Jane (Jay Dan’s mom) talk about family Christmas traditions, favorite Christmas drinks, movies, and songs. A few funny and touching moments in this episode.

EP 31 ”Covid Christmas” Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: Today on the show I talk about Christmas in prison and how Covid19 has turned our prison system into a huge mess. I reminisce about my holidays in jail and prison and how my family was impacted deeply by the decisions I made. I list some stats about the current positive cases and death toll among inmates and staff. The staff are put in the middle of all this. If they don’t do their job, they’ll lose it but if they do their job, they could die. The inmates are treated poorly as well. We can do better as a system. I put a link to a recent investigative video of what is going on in our Texas prisons. The mayor of Palestine, TX had some blunt things to say about our system. Check out the link on our show page as well as Christmas cards that I drew in prison. I posted a couple of letters to my mom and dad during that time too. forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck

EP 30 ”Grace and Truth” Jay Dan Gumm

What’s up? Another solo episode by me. I like doing the solos but man I get more nervous doing these. Not sure why. In this episode I talk about grace and truth, my parenting skills, our legal system, and how it can use a little more grace. Thank you for listening. If you can, and you listen on apple, please give us a review and rate us if you don’t mind. For more information and pics of my car wreck visit the show page at: forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck

EP 29 ”We Can Change” Michael Elizondo from the Inside

Show Summary: Jay Dan and the guys at Forgiven Felons have a conversation with Michael Elizondo, an inmate that is coming to the transitional house when he gets out.  Michael tells his story of how God changed his life after he was sentenced to life in prison. "We can change" is the message Michael sends to everyone.  For more info about Forgiven Felons and to see pics of Michael, please visit our show page: forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck Follow us on social media to see pics of him after he is released. 

EP 28 ”1st Thanksgiving Out” Forgiven Felons Residents

Show Summary: Today's episode was recorded on Thanksgiving Day 2020 at the Forgiven Felons house. On the holidays, most of our guys go spend it with friends and family.  But there are usually several men who are on lockdown and cannot go anywhere on holidays because they wear an ankle monitor. Each year we stop by Boston Market and grab thanksgiving meals and spend time with these men.  This year it was Chris Aguilar, Chris and Georgianne Ramirez, Boyce Gholson, Daniel Lindsey, and of course my beautiful bride, Jessamy. We ate then talked about thanksgiving in prison and what they're most thankful for now that they're out.  We had fun and could've talked for hours about what we are thankful for.  For more info and pics please visit the show page at: forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck Watch the Forgiven Felons documentary on ROKU TV: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/5c40f7221c025695a3ba2321dc322db0/forgiven-felons-s1-e1-the-consequences-of-crime 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 Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER.

EP 27 ”I’m So FREAKIN’ Thankful” Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: This episode Jay Dan takes a break from the regular stories and topics and just gives thanks.  Take a thankful journey with Jay Dan and hopefully it will encourage you to see something to be thankful for IN everything life throws at us.  For pics, resources, and more visit the show page at : forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck