From Wrong To Strong

In this podcast episode, I interview Ramiro Martinez. He grew up in a community called "Little Village" (La Villita), on the southwest side of Chicago. His parents split up when he was really young. He grows up experiencing physical, mental and verbal abuse. The love and respect he never receives at home he starts getting in the streets when he starts to deal drugs and joins a gang. He i...

In this podcast episode I interview Javier Garcia. He grew up on the southside of Chicago in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods named "Back of The Yards." As a child he is excelling in baseball and makes the all-star team. He tells his parents to come to his game to see him play and they never showed up. That one day of disappointment he equates into rejection and he makes the decis...

In this podcast I interview Dre Rodriguez. He was born and raised in Pilsen, on the southwest side of Chicago.  After serving 10 years in prison, Dre, a former street gang member, decided that his reintegration into society would consist of preventing gang-involved youth from making some of the same bad decisions that almost cost him his life. He didn't know then that some of the hardest tria...

In this podcast episode I interview Mike Rodriguez. He shares about his life growing up in the "Back of the Yards" neighborhood on the southside of Chicago.  It is a very rough area of known for gang violence, drug dealing and poverty. He shares his experience of wanting to join a gang and the trouble he finds himself in because of this. He eventually meets a young man who begins to poin...

In this podcast episode we take a trip to the southside of Chicago, into a neighborhood nicknamed, "The Wild Wild Hundreds."  Antoine Dobine tells us what it was like growing up in this neighborhood starting in the late seventies up until today. He describes the transition this neighborhood has seen starting with the many businesses and companies that started to leave this area. Gangs, d...

In this podcast episode, I interview Keith Hanley from "Hold The Line Ministries." He shares about his life growing up in central Florida. From being introduced to drug dealing at a young age. To ending up in Federal prison at the age of 18. The time behind bars doesn't change him. He ends up returning to drug dealing upon his release and eventually becomes a drug addict himself. Li...

In this podcast episode, I release an interview I did with my twenty three year old son Angel, who has autism.  I believe this podcast will bring a message of hope and encouragement to anyone with a child with learning disabilities. I've seen my son go through some really tough times and come out stronger.  Tune in to hear his heart and hear his story. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Supp...

In this podcast episode I interview Juan, who grew up in the rough streets of the southside of Chicago. From growing up in a very abusive household to being bullied in school as a young man. He only finds help and protection from a local neighborhood gang member who befriends him. This eventually puts him on a life path that ends up getting him deported to Mexico as a "Domestic Terrorist.&quo...

In this podcast episode, I interview Vinny, from "Vinny's Barbershop" in Houston, Texas. He shares what life was like growing up with Pastors as parents. At a young age he feels like he is missing out on life which leads him down a path of experimenting with alcohol and all types of drugs. He finds himself slipping deeper and deeper into darkness, all while he tries to drown out the...

In this podcast episode I interview my Pastor, Juan Sanchez. He grew up in the southwest side of Chicago in the Vittum Park neighborhood. As one of the first Hispanic families to move into that area he experienced a lot of racism as a youth.  He shares how he witnessed first hand the power of "God" bring healing in the life of his wife, who at that time was dealing with anxiety and panic...

In this Podcast, I interview Berto, Host of the "Normalized Crime" Podcast. He joins me on here today to share his story and experiences growing up in the southside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He shares a side of the gang lifestyle that a lot of people are unwilling to talk about. Honest and raw truths.  Listen to this man's story! https://tinyurl.com/NormalizedCrime Send us Fan Mail S...

In this podcast episode, my wife Ann joins me as we reflect together on this past year. From what led & propelled me to start this Podcast back on October 2nd, 2022.  And sharing what the Mission & Vision is for this new year moving forward. There is a purpose that is bigger than us. There is work for us to do that will outlive us.       Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Support our mini...

In this podcast I interview  Lou Rodriguez, who grew up in the North West Side of Chicago in a rough neighborhood named "Humboldt Park."  Lou shares with us what it was like being one of six children in a single mother household.  How growing up in poverty propelled him & pushed him to want to help provide financially for his family at a very young age. Listen to the story of the pat...

In this podcast interview, Victor shares about the male figures in his life that he begins to lose at a very young age. From having an uncle who he was really close to die in a car accident. To losing his father to imprisonment soon after. This left him hurt, alone, confused and with no clear direction in life. He vowed to never do what what his father had done to him but finds himself later on in...

In this episode, Hector G. shares how growing up in a family that was heavily involved in the gangs and drugs lifestyle affected him.  As a child being unexpectedly taken away from his mother and family and being placed into the foster care system. Listen to his story, experiences and the journey that he is on today. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Support our ministry → Text WRONG2STRONG to 5...

Join us to hear how a money-driven businessman with Mafia ties ended up facing the threat of jail time. Involved in racketeering, bookmaking & gambling. In 1980 he owned one of the nations largest houses of prostitution. Learn about the events that led him to turn his life around. William Fay graduated from Denver Seminary with a degree in leadership and has taken up the mantle of evangelist....

My guest Roger Cadena shares his story and the events that shaped his life growing up in the "Back of the Yards" neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.  He witnessed a lot of violence as a youth, which eventually led him to become a perpetrator and victim of violence himself. He ends up doing time in prison and struggles to do right upon his release. He witnesses first hand God trans...

In this episode I interview Pastor Manny Rivera, from "Restoration Church Aurora." He shares what it was like growing up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the north west side of Chicago. From joining a gang at a young age, addicted to drugs, in trouble with the law and finding himself behind bars. But he had a wife that was praying for him and wouldn't give up on him even when ev...

In this podcast, Cisco  shares what life was like growing up in Little Village. How he became numb to all the violence and crime happening all around him because it was just another day in the neighborhood. From a near death experience that put life into perspective and changed the direction of it. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Support our ministry → Text WRONG2STRONG to 53555   or via this...

In this podcast I interview Bruno. He shares how he was on the path to a life in gangs and crime until he made a spontaneous decision to step into an Army recruiting office. His plan was just to be in the Army reserves when he signed up in August of 2000. That was right before 9/11 happened.  From a tour in Iraq to life as a police officer afterwards. He shares honest and raw truths about what he...

This is Part 1 of a two part interview. On this podcast, my wife Ann interviews me on what it was like growing up in Pilsen, on the south west side of Chicago. From a strong family oriented upbringing, to experiencing tragedy and loss. Which led to a life of gangs, drugs, imprisonment and ultimately redemption. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Support our ministry → Text WRONG2STRONG to 53555  ...

This is Part 2 of a two part interview. On this podcast, my wife Ann interviews me on what it was like growing up in Pilsen, on the south west side of Chicago. From a strong family oriented upbringing, to experiencing tragedy and loss. Which led to a life of gangs, drugs, imprisonment and ultimately redemption. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Support our ministry → Text WRONG2STRONG to 53555  ...

Interview with Arturo G.  Listen as he shares what it was like for him growing up in Little Village ( La Villita), 26th street on the South West Side of Chicago. From seeing a body taped off in an alley at the age of 5. Things like this became a common occurrence in his neighborhood. From gang life to redemption. Listen to this man's story. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   Support our mini...

In this podcast I will be interviewing JC from "Wrong To Strong." He has a unique story that starts in the rough areas of Chicago.  He has gone through things that most people would describe as unspeakable and life-changing. From a very young age, he was always fascinated with the wrong lifestyle, so naturally, he was put into very rough circumstances due to his choices. Listen to this s...

On this episode I reflect on a question I was asked many years ago by a gang member. He asked when we were finally going to "see the light" and join him in becoming a gang member. It was almost as if this was our purpose or should be our goal in life. Many years later while reading the Bible a came across a scripture that brought this question back to mind: Matthew 6:23 "But when yo...