Forgiven AF

Success isn’t built by accident. It’s built by intention. In this episode of the Forgiven AF Podcast , I sat down with Preston Woody to discuss what separates men who drift through life from those who lead with purpose. As a former pastor and now a business coach, Preston shares lessons on optimizing every area of life—from business and leadership to faith, marriage, and personal growth. This conv...

🎙️ New Forgiven AF Podcast Episode I sat down with Tyler Osborne, financial advisor to professional athletes, for a conversation that applies whether you’re building a business, rebuilding your life after prison, or simply trying to create a better future. We talk about mentorship, financial stewardship, wealth-building, and the mindset needed to break cycles and build a legacy. Success isn’t just...

In this episode of Forgiven AF, I sit down once again with my friend and mentor, Jay Dan Gumm, founder of Forgiven Felons, host of The Background Check podcast, and one of the most respected voices in the prison and reentry community. Years ago, Jay Dan gave me an opportunity to share my story on his podcast when I was just getting started. Being one of his early guests gave me the confidence to l...

In this powerful episode of Forgiven AF , Shawn sits down with Alex Loredo, a fellow roofing company owner, husband, father, and man who understands what it means to get a second chance. Alex shares his journey from spending seven years in prison—from age 18 to 25—to building a successful business, a strong marriage, and a life centered on faith and purpose. Together, Shawn and Alex have an honest...

How do you know if a decision is truly God’s will—or just something you want for yourself? In this powerful episode of Forgiven AF, Shawn sits down with Paul Facchina Jr., a board member for 2nd Chance Mentors, to discuss one of the hardest challenges people face in their faith journey: waiting on God. Together, they explore the tension between pursuing opportunities and trusting God’s timing, how...

In this episode of Forgiven AF, Warren McKamey Jr. shares his incredible journey from growing up in Waco, Texas with limited opportunities to becoming a self-made millionaire and successful entrepreneur. After joining the military, Warren learned the discipline, work ethic, and mindset that would completely change the direction of his life. Those lessons became the foundation for building multiple...

I sat down with Geoff Barker, and this one’s real. He went from fame, money, and atheism to addiction, depression, and rock bottom—then had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. We talk about his seven-year search for truth, the 40-day fast, and how God turned everything around. Now he’s helping others find freedom through Hope Is Alive. If you feel stuck or empty, this one’s for you. God’s not do...

Some people hear "15 felonies" and write a man off. John Reel heard it about himself and decided to prove everyone wrong — including the voice in his own head. This one hit different...John grew up in Texas, dealt with childhood trauma he buried for years, ran with the wrong crowd, joined a gang, went in and out of prison for about seven years, and got out in 2014 with nothing but a decision to ch...

Me and Bryan are back and this one got real, fast. We catch you up on the Teen Summit, the D.C. mentoring conference, and the gym flood that's had me paying $10K a month on a space I can't use. I'm not pretending everything's good when it's not — that's not what this is. We also get into the lies we believed about ourselves, why your community determines everything, and what we'd tell anyone comin...

He grew up broke in South Florida. Single mom. Cuban roots. Four jobs just to survive. No silver spoon. No shortcuts. Mike Wilson chose discipline over excuses. From the military… To wearing the badge as a police officer… To building a restaurant empire that now operates inside Texas Rangers Stadium. But this isn’t just a business story. It’s about resilience. It’s about service. It’s about taking...

Richard Helen is one of those people where every time he opens his mouth, you want to grab a notepad and write everything down. We met through a men's group, and I've been trying to get him on the podcast ever since. Richard's story isn't what you'd expect. He grew up in a small town in Texas, joined the military at 19, and discovered leadership in a way that completely changed his life. But it wa...

Justin Visitacion and I have been talking about this conversation for over a year. We actually recorded a two-hour episode a while back, but only one clip ever saw the light of day. So we sat down again—this time with clarity, intention, and no holding back. Justin’s story isn’t the typical redemption narrative you usually hear on this podcast. He’s never been incarcerated. But what he does bring...

We've been trying to get Sylvester Stemley on this podcast for three years. When he finally explained why he waited, it all clicked — he was watching to see if I was answering an agenda or answering an assignment. This conversation hits deep. Sylvester went from managing trainers and working with pro athletes to full-time youth ministry, realizing God had been preparing him all along. We talk abou...

In this episode, we sit down with Will Clewis, a man who went from believing he’d play pro football… to facing the heartbreak of going undrafted and spiraling into depression. But instead of letting that moment define him, Will rebuilt everything from the ground up. He became a teacher, poured into students, and eventually took a massive leap of faith by opening his own gym. That gym didn’t just s...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with a man who went to prison at a young age — but that wasn’t the end of his story. After getting out, he turned his life around, got his record erased, found faith, and became a Christian rapper using his story to inspire others. Now he’s working inside the juvenile justice system , helping young people avoid the same mistakes he once made. This is what rede...

This convo with Will Winfield—aka Will is Blessed—was one of the most powerful episodes we’ve done. We talked about everything from father wounds and forgiveness to calling, purpose, and what it really means to walk out your faith with boldness. Will’s journey proves that you don’t need a degree or platform to impact lives—you just need obedience. What We Talked About:  • How he overcame reje...

This episode hit different. I got to sit down with my friend Tuan Nguyen—someone who’s been through it and came out stronger. From multiple stints in prison to leading people as a certified John Maxwell speaker and coach, his story is raw, real, and full of redemption. What We Talked About • His journey from addiction and incarceration to faith and freedom • The trauma that shaped him—and how he’s...

Today I sit down with my friend Robert Walsh—18 years with Arlington PD, former undercover/homicide sergeant, and founder of NEX Metropolitan. Robert was the first person to invite me to share my testimony with students after I came home, and it changed my life. This one is honest, nuanced, and full of hope and accountability.

In this episode I sit down with my guy Bryan Burns—board member, brother, and friend—for a raw Q&A pulled straight from your emails. We get into turning points, imposter syndrome, building “Fresh Out,” and the real heart behind Second Chance Mentors. No fluff—just hope, truth, and what God can do with a messy past.

This one’s special. I sat down with Zachariah Rippey—comedian, podcaster, speaker, and most of all, a man whose life radically shifted when he encountered Jesus in a real way. From chasing laughs to chasing purpose, this is a raw conversation about transformation, calling, and stepping out in faith. What We Talked About: • His journey from stand-up comedy to full-time ministry • How COVID shattere...

This one is wild, y’all. I got to sit down with Robert Borelli , a former member of the Gambino crime family, and let me tell you—his story is straight out of a movie. But it’s real. From running the streets of Brooklyn, living the mafia life, to crack addiction and multiple stints in prison… all the way to a radical encounter with Jesus that changed everything. What We Talked About: •  ...

Check out this conversation with Shawn and Jeffery and see how Jeffery has overcome years of struggles and failures and turned it for good.  He now brings coaching and motivation to many others and has created what he considers the 5 keys to failure. Jeffrey believes all are called but few will answer. Listen in! 

In this episode, Shawn chats with Trevor Burger about his difficult journey to sobriety and the profound purpose he found along the way. Trevor shares how he now helps struggling addicts nationwide by guiding them toward recovery and a relationship with Jesus. Listen in as they discuss the transformative impact of the Hope Is Alive program, which provides men and women with new opportunities for a...

Check out this episode where Shawn and Kendrick discuss what led to prison, the lifestyle and work done behind the walls and the incredible bounce back after getting released.  It’s never too late to start over and take advantage of a 2nd chance. 

Check out this episode where Shawn and Bryan discuss recent life updates and make a major announcement about the future of 2nd Chance Mentors. This announcement could change the lives of so many people, check it out!