Escape The Odds

Marlon Chamberlain didn’t realize that losing his freedom and spending a decade in federal prison would be the catalyst for the “Fully Free”Campaign. This is a campaign Led by Marlon and the goal is to end permanent punishment. This campaign was  started in his home town of Chicago and has become a statewide effort partnering with a multitude of  prison reform organizations. Marlon discusses how p...

Watch full interview at Escapingtheodds.com ) Myron Pierce born and raised in Omaha,Nebraska. From early on he got involved in gangs which led to serving 8 years in state prison. Upon his release, no longer was he a gangbanger but a reformed Pastor, businessman and community leader. Even Without any formal business experience he scaled a roofing company to multi millions in sales. It was this kind...

Full video on Escapingtheodds.com Kevin Miller spent 13 years in federal prison on a drug charge out of Baltimore, Maryland and has Switch'd Hustles to start the book publishing company, Rock Bottom. His latest book is a 4 part series called " A park heights Tale", which he penned while Incarcerated. This brother has been home less than 90 days and Its a MUST READ. Tune in and hear his story on de...

(Watch full video escapingtheodds.com)Several years of working out in a prison yard has produced real life gains for Jermaine " Max Maine " Branner. Who would have thought a former drug dealer  from the streets of Pontiac, Michigan would return from incarceration and totally switch hustles. Max Maine was released from prison after 7 years and turn his passion for healthy living into a brand of pos...

Travis Richey, who has personal experience with incarceration, noticed there was a gap in what inmates were learning and what skills they needed upon release. Travis spent about 2 years incarcerated in the Arizona Department of corrections. But because of his MBA, Travis was released from the yard everyday and taught a Business 101 course at the local community college.“I realized any and all curr...

Divine'' grew up in New York, thrust into the streets at a young age. Living in a poverty culture & his mother struggling with drug addiction, he started selling drugs himself. This led to Divine serving a total of 10 years in federal prison. While incarcerated he switch'd his mindset & hustles. He is the founder of BLAK Group, a consultant, mentor, recording artist, advisor, and more. Check out t...

Yohance Joseph Lacour better known as YJL designs learned to handcraft leather bags and Shoes while serving 10 years in Federal Prison. He discusses growing up in Chicago and his days as a journalist utilizing his skill set to tell the stories of the inner city. Yohance's craftmanship and unique style of design will change the game. Check it out for yourself at yjlacour.com.

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Richard's story begins on Wall Street, where he worked at several large investment banks. He became a partner at the infamous Wolf of Wall Street firm, Stratton Oakmont, depicted in the Movie starring Leonardo Dicaprio, The Wolf Of Wallstreet. He eventually started his own financial services firm, which he grew to 500 employees, generating $100 million in...

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ ) I sat down with Larry Roberts Jr. who has spent many years in Cook County Jail in Chicago, IL. However not as an inmate but an instructor/owner of Larry’s Barber college. He offers an accredited Barber college to inmate locked up inside juvenile and state facilities in Illinois. His program is changing lives of men and providing a viable...

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ )Befitting for a queen is the best way to describe Ms. CoCo Davis. Growing up on the West side of Chicago, Coco made a name for herself as a hustler distributing Kilos of Columbian produced Cocaine. Her status in the streets was that of a Queen pen but the fast life caught up with her in 1999. She was convicted and sentenced to 262 months...

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Sean Hosman is the CEO of Vant4ge point, a data analytics company in the criminal justice space. Sean is an attorney and criminal justice expert with more than 20 years experience. However his lived experience as an inmate himself is what helps him lead an organization dedicated to really helping inmates while incarcerated and upon their release. His non...

David Gathers is an amazing guy who continues to Escape the Odds. After spending 15 years in a gang infested Maximum security Prison in Illinois, he found his voice, In this episode, he speaks on his experience in the criminal justice system and his successful life as a Motivational Speaker. This is an inspiring story packed with how to tips on becoming a highly successful Speaker.

(Full video www. Escapingtheodds.com) We decided to celebrate Second Chance Month by taking a look at extraordinary people who are helping changing the narrative as it relates to justice involved individuals. Jeff Korzenik is the Chief Investment Strategist for a National Bank. However, as he worked along side executives, the topic of labor shortages was becoming a common topic. Jeff begin to expl...

Myron Pierce has always been an entrepreneur. Growing up in North Omaha was plagued with violence and dysfunction. Unfortunately he became a product of his environment and spent 8 years incarcerated. But during that time away he had a mindset shift. Upon his release he began his legitimate hustle. Fast forward 10 years, Myron was able to help transform the entrepreneurial land scape in Inner city...

We are sadden by Deans passing. We hope his words resonates and live on. Dean Dipierro was serving 20 years in federal prison when he decided to take the law into his own hands. He seen not only the injustice within his own case but of countless others doing time around him. This particular case that you all will hear is a sensitive one and Dean could have been killed for helping this guy. This is...

David Edwards story is an absolute comeback story. Growing up in Chicago south side and north side. He was always an entrepreneur owning a salon/barber shop. His life took a drastic turn when he was arrested for 2 homicides at his place of business. Eventually serving 10 years in Illinois State prison. David returned to the streets with a plan to stay on the right path. A trip to New Mexico would...

Luis Centeno known as Lou the trainer spent 8 years in federal prison for drug distribution. Growing up in a gang infested South Side of Chicago options were limited. His involvement with gangs and street level hustling led to  multiple arrest but nothing to the magnitude of his federal indictment. Luis explained how he would go in between Worlds of a street hustler and construction worker when th...

Deshawn Nelson wasn’t going to be a product of his environment. Despite growing up on the tough streets of the West side of Chicago, he has started a successful moving company, Nelson Movers. At one point is Deshaun’s life ,he was moving in the wrong direction which led to time in prison for Gun possession.  After his release, he started Nelson Movers after a prompt from a child hood friend. (All...

Dre Rodriguez was raised in the Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, a predominantly hispanic community. After spending  a decade in federal prison for drug trafficking , he vowed to never return. Upon his release, Dre wanted to give back to the same community he was once apart of destroying. After spending time as a director of an Outreach non profit ,focusing on youth development he started offering t...

..Jacques Loftin did not imagine becoming an Airbnb expert while doing time for drug distribution. However,after seeing an oppurtunity in this new space she put her all in and now has properties in Atlanta,Miami,and Houston. In this episode she demystifies the Air BNB Game with great tips on setting yourself apart. Follow her on IG at iamjacquesr.

Watch video podcast www. Escapingtheodds.com Ed  Hennings , The Comeback coach , grew  up on the tough streets of Milwaukee  ,Wisconsin particularly in the zip code 53206 which has the highest incarceration rate of black men in the United States. So as you can see the Odds were hard to Escape.  At 24,ED Hennings was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a homicide. After redeeming himself, he set on...

Ryan Willis was most likely to succeed, receiving a scholarship to De Paul University in Chicago. However, the Chicago streets possessed an allure that Ryan chose not to escape. While attending college, Ryan seen an opportunity to sell cocaine and marijuana to the affluent students on campus. This behavior led to an arrest for possession with the intent to distribute , heroin,crack and marijuana....

In this 1st interview on his platform Aaron Smith sat down the co founder Yasaman Hadjibashi of Stretch finance( www.stretch.money) which is an online bank that provides banking/Full time employment to the formerly incarcerated about his life and all things finance. Aaron Smith is a native of the South Side of Chicago and lived in the Dearborn homes public housing and the South Shore area. He earn...

( Watch video podcast www. Escapingtheodds.com Pete "Esau" Keller made it out of one of Chicago's most dangerous housing projects. In and out of the penitentary and gun fights most of his life provided the experience to reach the youth with his organization ULON.life. He has penned an autobiograohy entitled Pete Keller, The Canrini Green Chronicles. This is a Must Read!!!

Antwoin "Chef fresh" Gutierrez,  At the age of 16, He demonstrated the 1st signs of of an emerging, but misguided entrepreneurial spirit when he began to sell illegal narcotics on the streets of New York. He eventually was incarcerated a few times and realized he had to Switch Hustles or spend his life cycling in and out of prison. Chef Fresh created FRESH TASTE BAKERY, a delicious brand of alcoho...