17 Winters Podcast

The Road to 50 starts here. For Episode #41, I'm joined by Adam Grant , Executive Director & CEO of A Brighter Way , for an honest conversation about leadership, sacrifice, and building a new vision for reentry in Michigan. Adam shares why he made the difficult decision to take a pay cut at the beginning of the year, what it means to lead a mission-driven organization, and why A Brighter W...

Episode #40 of the 17 Winters Podcast dives into the painful and often overlooked reality of generational incarceration. In this powerful conversation, we sit down with author Alexis Devon Smith to discuss his impactful book, Momma Does My Daddy Still Love Me, and the emotional toll incarceration takes on our women, children and families across generations. Together, we explore the trauma, abandon...

In this episode of the 17 Winters Podcast, the roles are reversed as Sidney Black steps in as the interviewer to walk me through the story behind the name. We go back to the days, weeks, and months leading up to the moment that changed everything—the decisions, the environment, the mindset, and the reality of what I didn’t yet understand. This is a raw conversation about how I caught my case, what...

Episode 38 was completely unplanned—and that’s what made it special. Local artists Tugg and Reaff pulled up to the studio just to kick it, and the conversation turned into something worth sharing. Fresh home after serving 7 years in the MDOC, Reaff opens up about his bid, the realities of incarceration, and what he’s focused on now that he’s back in the free world. Tugg, while never incarcerated h...

This episode is a milestone for 17 Winters. For the first time, I sit down with a TV star from BET+’s American Gangster: Trap Queens (Season 4, Episode 7), and for the first time ever, we feature a formerly incarcerated woman with the camera rolling—telling her story on her own terms. Episode 37 is a real, unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship, reentry, and survival. We talk honestly abou...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur and Tony Gant for a necessary, honest conversation about the past, present, and future of criminal legal reform. We reflect on the changes in Michigan over the 25 years since Dr. Shakur’s release, the 10 years since Tony and I have been home, and what those timelines reveal about progress, power, and persistent gaps in the movement....

The conversation continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the role of formerly incarcerated people in Community Violence Intervention (CVI), I sit down with my co-defendant, my best friend, and one of the sharpest minds in this work—Sidney Black, Lead Neighborhood Change Agent for Advance Peace, a national leader in CVI.We get into the CVI discussion immediately. Sidney breaks down what the Adva...

In this solo episode of  17 Winters , I step into the studio alone for the very first time—no guest, just me, the mic, and a lot to unpack. Fresh off the “Michigan School Based Community Violence Intervention” webinar hosted by FORCE Detroit, The Michigan Transformation Collective, and End Gun Violence Michigan, I break down some of my biggest takeaways and why I think they’ve finally carved out a...

In this second special FAMM Conference episode, we sit down with Alisha Kohn, a transgender activist and leader with the Prisoners Brain Trust of New York—an organization whose staff is mostly still incarcerated, including its executive director. Alisha opens up about her time inside an all-male facility as a trans woman, the daily realities and dangers of that experience, and how it shaped her co...

Recorded on the ground at the FAMM Conference’s Second Chances Working Group, this special episode features a candid conversation with Kyle Hedquist of the Oregon Justice Resource Center. After spending 28 years inside and receiving a rare Governor’s commutation, Kyle has turned his second chance into a mission for systemic change. We discuss his journey from youth incarceration to release, how he...

In this powerful episode of 17 Winters, I sit down with Demetric Walls, better known as D. Walls Can Talk, to unpack a story of transformation, redemption, and purpose. D. Walls opens up about the events that led to his incarceration as a juvenile and what it was like growing up behind bars. He shares the pivotal life-changing moment(s) that shifted his mindset and set him on a new path—one focuse...

In this special bonus episode of 17 Winters, I step off the mic and into a chair — as a Live Book in the Ingham County Human Library. Just like traditional libraries offer mystery, memoir, or poetry, this space offers living, breathing stories — told by real people who’ve walked through real chapters. At Voices of Ingham, no story is too heavy, too complex, or too raw to be heard. Each “book” is a...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of  17 Winters , I sit down with  Marcus Miller  — a Lansing native whose journey from the streets to success is nothing short of remarkable. Marcus shares his story of  growing up in Lansing during the crack era , his early involvement in the drug trade, and the painful consequences that led to him serving  12 years in prison . Now a respected  real es...

In Episode 29 of 17 Winters , Brother Mike X sits down with Brother David X (Bates), a formerly incarcerated man who returned home in 1999 and has since lived a life rooted in purpose, faith, and transformation. A dedicated member of the Nation of Islam, Brother David shares his powerful story of transitioning back into society, building a professional life grounded in discipline and service, and...

In this raw and reflective episode, I reconnect with Joei Jordan , calling in from behind the walls, for a powerful follow-up to his first appearance on the podcast. The last time we spoke, Joei was serving life without parole (LWOP) —sentenced at just 20 years old . Today, his future looks dramatically different. On April 1, 2025 , the Michigan Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking decision in Pe...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Brother Malachi Muhammad , a deeply rooted voice of transformation, truth, and liberation. We trace his incredible journey—from navigating the complex relationship between the Nation of Islam and the Melanics , to joining the Nation of Islam and our shared commitment to the fight for justice and freedom for Brother Dyson X . Brother Malaci opens up about t...

“Time is the most valuable asset in life…”  In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Calloway , who served 9 years in MDOC . Ethan shares his firsthand experience with the challenges of prison programming , the gaps in rehabilitation, and how these issues impact reentry. But this conversation is also personal—Ethan had a front-row seat to my transformation while we were both inside. He shares his pe...

“Everything that happened had to happen that way to make me who I am…” In this episode of the 17 Winters podcast, we delve deep into the life of Steven X Jones, a man whose journey through the tumultuous landscape of crime and redemption offers profound insights into the human experience. Serving 12 years for armed robbery, Steven is not just a statistic; he is one of the most intelligent individu...

"Breaking the cycle of incarceration.” In this eye-opening episode of the 17 Winters podcast, we meet Hakim Crampton, a resilient individual who spent 15 years in the Milwaukee prison system for a crime he did not commit. Now, nearly two decades after his release, Hakim shares his incredible journey of survival, struggle, and triumph, all while navigating the complexities of life on parole. H...

In this thought-provoking episode, Sidney and I engage in a compelling discussion as we explore the complexities of the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution. This episode delves into the nuances of justice, freedom, and the implications of incarceration. One of the key questions we tackle is whether PTSD is considered real or respected if it is self-inflicted —specifically, when individuals commi...

In this powerful episode of The 17 Winters Podcast, I kick it with Chamar Avery, who shares his harrowing journey from being sentenced to 20-50 years for a murder he didn’t commit to his exoneration after serving 8 years behind bars. Chamar opens up about the struggles he faced during his time in prison and the fight for justice that ultimately led to his freedom. We delve into his remarkable tran...

“Prison saved me from me…” In this episode of I sat down with entrepreneur and visionary, Vonte X, the founder and driving force behind Legalize the Hustle. Vonte opens up about his early struggles, including the challenges he faced when returning home and the business missteps that shaped his journey.  Vonte shares his experiences running up credit and the crucial lessons he learned about leverag...