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

Feb 28, 2026
Feb 28, 2026
19 min
Shorter versions of Background Check Podcast, in between the longer versions.

Feb 22, 2026
Feb 22, 2026
54 min
In this episode, “I Got Your Back”, Reggie share his life story in a very unique way, from being called a “mistake” to being one of the most sought after school assembly speakers in the world.
Born to an unwed teenager, Reggie Dabbs considers himself fortunate to be alive. With no place to go, the pregnant teenager ended up living in a chicken coop in Tennessee. It was there she remembered a former school teacher, Mrs. Dabbs, who had said to her students, “If you ever need anything, call me,” and gave the students her home phone number. The girl called.
Mrs. Dabbs and her husband, whose six children were adults by this time, took the girl into their home and cared for her until after the baby was born. They continued to care for little Reggie as foster parents until he was in the fourth grade, and then they officially adopted him and gave him the Dabbs name.
As the Dabbs’ reared Reggie, they instilled in him strong moral values, for which he is genuinely grateful. They also ingrained in him the fact that in every situation he faced, he had a choice. What he did with those choices was entirely up to him.
In the sixth grade, Reggie began playing the saxophone and hated it. At the insistence of his parents he continued to practice and to play. Not until his freshman year in college did he actually enjoy the instrument, and today, he plays with fervor and expertise.
After graduating from college, Reggie began his public speaking. During one speaking engagement, his host asked if he would be interested in addressing a high school assembly. From that small beginning in 1987, Reggie has become a popular public school speaker.
When addressing a school assembly, Reggie talks to the kids in a humorous style about choices each of them has when faced with drugs, alcohol, suicide, etc. Reggie gets in kids faces and tells them that he never smoked a cigarette, never did drugs, never drank alcohol, because he chose not to. He assures them that they can make the same kinds of choices.
Reggie talks to kids about family and how thankful they should be that they have families. Most of all, Reggie drives home the fact that “You can never change your past, but you can change your future!”
From being a “Problem” to an unwed teenager, Reggie is fast becoming one of the most in-demand speakers who helps teenagers meet their problems head-on and overcome them.
Reggie has been invited to speak to our military, including the Navy Seals, professional sports teams, and more.
We laugh (hard), Reggie inspires, he plays his saxophone, and shares a message of hope to everyone, inside of prison, and out.
Watch this clip, then head over to our YouTube channel to hear the full story and listen to some of his inspirational music.
Thank you Reggie, for sitting down with us and sharing your story with our audience. Thank you to his wife, Michelle, for hanging out with us (off screen) and rolling your eyes at our jokes.
You don’t want to miss this episode. You will want to share it with someone.
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
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.
Reggie's soundtrack credits:
Bruno Mars- "Just the Way You Are" Easy Karaoke Players Version
Shawn Mendes- "If I Can't Have You" Sing King Karaoke Version
Marc Anthony- "Vivir Mi Vida" Agrupacion LatinHits Karaoke Version
DJ Snake, ft Justin Bieber- "Let Me Love You" Karaoke Famous Version
Rascall Flatts- "Bless the Broken Road" Karaoke Version Karafun

Feb 18, 2026

Feb 18, 2026
Feb 18, 2026
1 hr 32 min
This is a replay for the men and women inside prisons all over the nation.
Live concert in Plano, TX
With permission to record and play on this platform.
Enjoy guys

Feb 8, 2026
Feb 8, 2026
13 min
Super Bowl Background Check In
With Jessa and Jay Dan, talking about various things from the Olympics, to volleyball, to a devotion about the Super Bowl teams.

Jan 24, 2026
Jan 24, 2026
11 min
Jessa and Jay Dan do a quick Check In, highlighting two successful former inmates, talk about sports, fine arts, the sleet that's happening in the Dallas area, and we they pray over the inmates.

Jan 21, 2026
Jan 21, 2026
7 min
We are bringing back the shorter episodes, Background Check In's, to hold us over til the next full episode is ready.
Preparation. Prayer.
Have a great day.

Jan 19, 2026
Jan 19, 2026
7 min
We are bringing back the shorter episodes, Background Check In's, to hold us over til the next full episode is ready.
Have a great day.

Dec 26, 2025
Dec 26, 2025
1 hr 15 min
This is our annual tour of lights for the men and women still incarcerated.
Before we start the tour, we do announcements, recap of events like Christmas party, talk sports, show video shout outs from residents and other organizations.
This episode plays on their tablets inside prisons and jails across the nation. They can call their loved ones on the tablets, and the whole family can look at lights together.
This year, we had technical trouble at Prairie Lights so we went to Dallas Zoo Lights.
We did salvage a couple of angles from Prairie Lights that we added to the end.
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.

Dec 24, 2025
Dec 24, 2025
4 min
John Montana performs "There For You"
Written by John Montana and Terry Solley
We air this here but it's for the men and women behind bars to enjoy too. If you have a loved one on the inside, across the nation, tell them to watch on the Edovo app, the Podcast App (Securus), the NCIC tablet (county jails).
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.







