Escape The Odds

Watch the full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com. John Collum is the CEO of Bar nunn trucking out of Chicago. He owns and operate 4 semi trucks. John was born in poverty on the west side of Chicago. He decided early on that he wanted the finer things in life and the only way to attain it was through drug dealing. This mindset led him to prison for 1st degree murder at 18 years old. While incarcerate...

Im Aaron Smith & my fed prison number was 18798-424. started this podcast after serving 9 years 5 months for distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl. It was inside where I realized that if I can run a heroin operation in Chicago making 10k-$15k per day I can switch Hustles and go legit. I’m highlighting stories of the formerly incarcerated who are now successful entrepreneurs. Enjoy. Be inspired. Boun...

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Sammy Rangel is the CEO of Formers Anonymous & lifeafterHate.org. He is a TedX speaker ,Consultant and earned a MSW. Early on life for Sammy could only be described as torture and neglect. Abused by close family members and hitting the streets of Chicago 11 years old. Joining a gang was his only sense of family and structure. Eventually his life on the st...

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Todd Dubose CEO of Returning Citizens Magazine. It’s the official magazine of the justice involved community. The magazine can be read electronically on inmates computer tablets throughout jails and prisons nationally. He is providing an outlet for the men and women in bondage. His magazine goes in depth on providing information on topics like expungement...

Watch full video @ Escapingtheodds.com Lester Young is a New York native but spent a significant amount of his life in South Carolina. He is the Founder of Path2Redemption. At the age of 19, he was convicted of 1st degree murder in a drug deal gone wrong. He was sentenced to life in prison with a 3% chance of parole. This was an odd that most prisoners didn’t escape in the state of South Carolin....

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Erika king is the president of Chicago Neighborhood Intiative and Maleia Scufield-Ransom serves as the Program Manager of PERC. They’re both on a mission to empower the formerly incarcerated through entrepreneurship. Their organization trains and funds small businesses ran by the formerly incarcerated throughout the Chicagoland area. I personally graduate...

Andre Peart is the CEO Of tech Startup ConConnect.com , which is being described as the LinkedIn for the formerly incarcerated. Andre was raised in Yonkers, New York and pushed to the streets at the age of 15 and eventually perfected his craft distributing large quantities of marijuana. He attributes his business acumen to hustling on the streets. He was indicted for a shooting and drug distributi...

( Watch full video@ Escapingtheodds.com) Porscha Dlyte is the CEO of Opulence Brow and Beauty based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Life hasn’t always been a life of glamor. She spent over 3 years in Federal prison for tax related crimes. She kept a low profile while incarcerated and focused on developing herself. She knew that her time away would be a time of reflection. In her last year she enroll...

Watch full interview @ Escapingtheodds.com Andre Norman, “The Ambassador of Hope”was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. By the time he was a teenager he was heavily in the streets full time and a high ranking gang member. At 18, he began to serve what Would ultimately be 14 years in both state and federal prisons across the nation. It was in those prisons, where he realized he was the “king...

( full video podcast seen on Escapingtheodds.com). In the last episode of our inaugural season, I sat down with these 3 men againwho are doing extraordinarily well in business after prison. Ben Gordon of Allied Innovation Group, David Figueroa of 2nd chance renovations and Vocci Greer of Luxuraint Commercial Cleaning of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They discussed overcoming The pandemic in business and p...

Episode 39 Escaping the Odds podcast we sat down  with Melissa Odell of Defy ventures along with participants Javier Reyes( 16 years incarcerated) and Ed bachner  ( 5 years incarcerated). Defy Ventures trains  individuals after incarceration to  turn their goals of entrepreneurship into reality. Javier Reyes has started FURR beauty which helps pets and ED Bachner has started Stateline payment proc...

(full video on escapingtheodds.com)Ronnie Reed survived 15 years in prison and now runs a successful Cryotherapy service in Dallas , TX. This unique service burns 500 calories with every 3-minute treatment reducing your body temp down to -240 degrees wow. His mobile service is the one and only in north Texas.  Listen as he breaks down how he came up with this idea while in prison. He also dis...

Keidrain Brewster CEO of Brewster logistics spent 13 years in prison and not long after was able to create a successful life in the trucking industry. Well on his way to being a millionaire,he started with 1 truck and now owns/operates 5 trucks in 2 states. The trucking game has afforded him a life he can only dream of growing up on the streets of Dallas, Tx. This story is a must watch and share....

This story of Charles D Clark is made for this big screen. After 8 years in federal prison on drug charges he became a sought out actor with reoccurring role the hit TV show Empire. His new role in Charm city Kings releases on Oct. 8 produced by Will and Jada Smith, Starting rapper Meek Mill. Tune in and be inspired.

Kaysia Earley thought her dreams of becoming an attorney was shattered when she was arrested on felony embezzlement. But for God, she returned to the same courtroom and thanked her judge who had sentenced her more than a decade prior. Listen to this remarkable story of perseverance.

( watch full episode escapingtheodds.com David Todd spent 20 years in prison for 1st degree homicide and attempted murder. During his time away he honed his skill as a barber and now runs Groom Fly Salon. Check out the amazing story and biz tips.

Watch video podcast www. Escapingtheodds.com . At 24,ED Hennings was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a homicide. After redeeming himself, he set on a path to change his life whether he was coming home or not. Ed has started a successful trucking company, Salon, Beard oil product, motivational speaker and Author. Tune in to an impactful story.

Tim Armour is the regional Director of training at NACA.com which is a not fir profit organization assisting individuals obtain property through the partnership with Bank of America. They provide no money down, no closing cost and below average interest rates. This is a great program for someone whose coming home from incarceration or who needs a fresh start.

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/) From a Decade in federal prison on Heroin charges to running a state of the art multimedia creation studio, Lucas”Blaze”Alvarez is bouncing back with avenges. His career in the Entertainment industry dates back prior to his incarceration with collaborations with hip hop heavy hitters. He is behind the scenes but ahead of the game. Enjoy t...

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ )Since his childhood, Eric Salzenstein has always been a go getter. Growing up in sunny Orlando, Florida was not always sunshine and beaches. His ambition led him down a dark path of addiction and fast money. In 2012, he was arrested for a armed robbery in what prosecutors would describe as a drug deal gone bad. He was sentenced to 4 years...

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ )Brandon Laster spent 10 years in federal prison for credit card fraud. However, his ambition and forward thinking is a true example of switching Hustles and a mindset. While incarcerated, Brandon wrote 75 CEOs of companies with the hopes of gaining employment. This strategy paid off and led to 37 job offers before being released. He is no...

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ ) Kevin Reed is an expert on building and repairing credit and he learned this skill set while serving a 30 year federal drug sentence. Listen as he discusses rebuilding life and credit for success after prison with his business Top Dawg credit solutions.

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ ) Tameka Means was living a great suburban life when her world was turned upside down when her husband was sent to prison. From that day on she became a prison wife but not just any prison wife, but one that has flipped a negative situation and is helping all women use fitness as a way to gain back their life holistically. She is a woman w...

(watch full podcast video https://www.escapingtheodds.com/ ) Sarita LANDRUM CEO of Go2Chefree catering grew up in the church and was considered an all around Good girl. Her dreamy life became an nightmare when she thought, she met her Prince Charming. Only Time would tell that he was a fraud and when it was over she was serving 4 years in federal prison on fraud charges. It was in prison where she...

Kat Baker battled a serious heroin addiction which led to being in and out of jail with felony convictions. She found music as a form of melodic therapy. This allowed her to escape the odds of beating heroin and now runs a successful recording studio in Chicago called Hot Mess records. She's also the lead vocalist and co producer for Broken Robot Music. BROKENROBOTSMUSIC.COM