The Conviction Fiction w/Antoine Rivers

In this powerful episode of the Conviction Fiction Podcast , we dive deep into one of the most underestimated forces shaping our lives: the fear of fear itself . This isn’t just about being scared — it’s about denying fear, avoiding it, masking it, and letting it silently control our decisions, our reactions, and our opportunities. We break down the ways fear hides behind anger, pride, aggression,...

In this powerful episode of the Conviction Fiction Podcast , we tackle one of the most damaging but often unspoken barriers to healthy relationships: the ownership attitude. This mindset—believing people belong to us or should move according to our expectations—creates emotional chaos, fuels insecurity, and leads to controlling behaviors that hurt everyone involved. We explore how control shows up...

In this powerful episode, we unpack one of the most common—but least talked about—barriers to personal transformation: the lack of interest in responsible performance. Why do so many returning citizens, people in recovery, and individuals overcoming trauma struggle with responsibility? Why does consistency feel impossible? Why does accountability sting so deeply? Antoine breaks it all down with ho...

Jonathan Todd Schwartz once stood at the top of Hollywood’s financial world, managing the fortunes of global icons like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Alanis Morissette, Linkin Park, Halsey, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Known as the “diva whisperer,” he was one of the industry’s most trusted advisors—until addiction, deception, and a multi-million–dollar embezzlement scandal sent his life crashing into the headli...

In this powerful episode of the Conviction Fiction Podcast , Antoine Rivers breaks down one of the most overlooked barriers to growth and transformation: lack of effort — the mindset that wants the reward without the work, the progress without the discipline, the elevation without the sacrifice. With raw honesty and lived experience, Antoine explores why so many returning citizens — and people in...

In this solo episode, Antoine Rivers breaks down one of the most overlooked barriers to personal transformation: the belief that “doing a few good things makes me a good person.” This mindset—common in the justice-impacted community—creates confusion, blocks accountability, and keeps people stuck in old patterns. Antoine unpacks why isolated positive actions don’t erase harmful behavior, how self-...

In this powerful solo episode of Conviction Fiction , Antoine Rivers breaks down one of the most common — and most destructive — criminal thinking errors: The Closed Channel . A closed channel happens when you stop receiving feedback, correction, truth, and support. It’s the mental and emotional shutdown that keeps people stuck, even long after they’ve returned home. And the cost? Missed opportuni...

Imagine a future where you are in complete control of your story. Free from the shadows of incarceration, free from labels, free from the limitations of what others believe about you. In this Conviction Fiction Quick Guide , host Antoine Rivers — author, entrepreneur, husband, father, and returning citizen — breaks down the five essential steps to reclaiming your narrative and taking ownership of...

He spent years in prison — and walked out to build a multi-million dollar empire. What did he learn behind bars that Harvard Business School could never teach? In this powerful episode of The Conviction Fiction Podcast , host Antoine Rivers explores the untold stories of men who turned incarceration into innovation. Featuring the incredible journeys of Freddie Figgers , the abandoned child who bec...

Some patterns don’t start with us — they’re inherited. The silence, the anger, the need to survive — all passed down from generations that never had the space or tools to heal. But recognizing those patterns is the first step toward breaking them. In this episode, host Antoine Rivers opens up about his own journey through generational trauma — tracing the roots of pain, silence, and survival that...

Parenting doesn’t end with incarceration — it transforms. In this episode of The Conviction Fiction Podcast , host Antoine Rivers explores the emotional, spiritual, and practical realities of being a parent from behind bars and after release. From letters that keep love alive to the quiet work of rebuilding trust after years apart, this episode dives deep into what it means to nurture connection t...

In this powerful episode, host Antoine Rivers explores what happens when justice moves beyond punishment — and steps into healing. Echoes of Empathy dives deep into the growing movement of restorative justice — a practice rooted in empathy, accountability, and the belief that true justice repairs rather than destroys. Antoine unpacks how communities across America are reimagining the way we respon...

Reentry isn’t just about getting a job or finding housing — it’s about rebuilding the mind. In this episode of The Conviction Fiction Podcast , host Antoine Rivers dives deep into the mental and emotional side of reentry, following his recent conversation with Dr. Peter Lindsay and the students at Georgia State University. Together, they sparked a powerful dialogue about what it really means to he...

From a life sentence to a life of purpose — legendary Sacramento rapper X-Raided joins host Antoine Rivers on The Conviction Fiction Podcast to talk about transformation, truth, and the power of expression. At just 17, X-Raided was sentenced to 31 years to life after prosecutors used his lyrics and album art as evidence — a practice now outlawed under California’s AB 2799. After serving over 26 ye...

Freedom doesn’t start the day you walk out of prison — it starts the day you learn how to live differently. In this powerful solo episode, host Antoine Rivers breaks down five hidden traps that quietly destroy successful reintegration for the formerly incarcerated — and how to overcome them before they cost you your future. From losing structure to revisiting toxic environments, from pride to unhe...

Coming home isn’t the end of the sentence — it’s the beginning of the story. In this heartfelt solo episode, host Antoine Rivers dives into what happens after the celebration, when the real work of reentry begins. Drawing from personal experience, community insights, and the voices of those who’ve walked both sides of the gate, Antoine breaks down five essential ways loved ones can support returni...

What if the fight against mass incarceration started before the first arrest? In this powerful episode, host Antoine Rivers sits down with Courtney Teasley, Esq. , a legal disruptor and justice strategist who’s turning the courtroom into a classroom. As the CEO of emeffen. and the creator of the MFn Framework — Mindset, Finesse, and Non-Negotiables — Courtney has built a blueprint for proactive ju...

We live in a world that celebrates speed — fast money, fast success, fast validation. But when it comes to rebuilding your life after incarceration, nothing about the process is instant. In this episode, Antoine Rivers breaks down how the need for “right now” thinking sabotages growth, relationships, and reentry success. From unrealistic expectations about jobs and family to the quiet frustration...

Reentry isn’t just about getting your life back — it’s about finding your peace again. In this powerful episode of Conviction Fiction , Antoine Rivers explores the spiritual foundation that fuels lasting transformation after incarceration. From the redemptive grace of Christianity to the mindful awareness of Buddhism , the disciplined devotion of Islam , and the purposeful harmony of Hinduism , ea...

Prison looks like strict order from the outside—count times, lockdowns, schedules, and routines. Civilian life looks like freedom—jobs, bills, alarms, and responsibilities. But underneath both, chaos is always waiting. In this episode of Conviction Fiction, host Antoine Rivers breaks down the discipline it takes to survive behind bars and compares it to the discipline required to thrive in civilia...

⏳ Time isn’t just hours on a clock — it’s the measure of your life. In this solo episode of Conviction Fiction , Antoine Rivers explores the lessons of effective time management through the lens of two very different worlds: prison life and civilian life. Inside, time is rigid, structured, and often wasted. Outside, time is free, unstructured, and just as easily squandered. Antoine compares these...

Momentum is invisible—but it’s one of the most powerful forces shaping our lives. Once it starts rolling, it doesn’t stop. The only question is: where is it carrying you? In this episode of Conviction Fiction , Antoine Rivers explores the power of momentum and the purpose behind every move we make. Drawing from life behind bars and life in freedom, he contrasts how momentum inside often revolved a...

When it comes to returning citizens, society is quick to judge and slow to understand. Misconceptions often paint people who’ve been incarcerated as dangerous, unemployable, or undeserving of a second chance. But the reality tells a very different story. In this episode of Conviction Fiction , I take a hard look at the myths that hold people back—from the belief that a criminal record automaticall...

I took a brief hiatus to get my mind, body, and soul right—all is good, and I’m back with a refreshed backdrop and a renewed focus. In this solo episode, I break down a clear, no-shame health roadmap for returning citizens: how to get care even if you don’t have insurance yet, what preventive screenings to ask for, why your family health history is a game-changer, and how to navigate recovery and...

What happens after prison—when the gates open and freedom begins? The answer depends on where you are in the world. In this episode of Conviction Fiction , we take a global journey to explore how different societies approach reintegration after incarceration. From Norway’s progressive rehabilitation programs, to Japan’s family-centered reentry shaped by stigma and tradition, to South Africa’s gras...