The Straight Outta Prison Podcast

James walks Haley through the highs and lows of Kairos Kafe in Gardendale, and it’s ultimate failure… From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows… He compared the experience to his Prison Sentence because the emotions were very similar… This fail was public and humiliating, but James explains to Haley through this process he was stripped of any arrogance and pride,  which is where we all want...

In 2012, at the same time James was dealing with the loss of his Granny, Haley’s Dad unexpectedly went to Heaven. This episode is very real and raw from Haley’s perspective, but also filled with the joy and hope that is his legacy… One clear thought she remembered having was “He didn’t even get to walk me down the aisle.” She was 32 and single. She heard Jesus say “He’s been walking you down the a...

In 2012, in the midst of opening Kairos Kafe Gardendale, James experienced loss in a way he never would have imagined, when his Granny went to Heaven. Almost simultaneously, Haley was walking through the same grief with the loss of her Dad, who unexpectedly went to Heaven… In this episode James gives Haley great detail about the relationship he had with “his person” and the legacy she has left on...

James realizes his business has hit a wall… to keep growing, he would have to add a second location. In a Facebook post on the Kairos Kafe Page, he asked “If Kairos were to open a 2nd location, should we go North, South, East, or West of Birmingham?” The post exploded, and the stats increased 948% in favor of one location… Gardendale. The Birmingham News published a front page article on the idea,...

The roles are reversed in this episode… Haley is recounting her first few years in Alabama, and James is asking the questions… She left a successful career and life in Europe and moved to a place where she knew no one, and for the first time, found herself in a place where she couldn’t make things happen… It was during this challenging season that Haley found out what her identity was, and what re...

His Story and Her Story are about to be The Team Jones Story… But James comes very close to marrying someone else… He asks Corinna to marry him, but can’t shake off the feelings and vibe that he’s headed down the wrong path. He’s very confused because his Mentor, Pastor, and Business Partner is advising him to proceed… He is also very lonely. This would be the last time James received any input fr...

His Story and Her Story are about to be The Team Jones Story… But Haley lives on the other side of the Planet, in Gothenburg, Sweden. In this episode Haley shares how the Florida Hurricane Seasons led her parents to Alabama… and how a Google search from her Sister Abi, and a visit to Church of The Highlands (which her Dad called “Jesus World”) would create a desire in her to abandon her career and...

🌟 We made it to Season 4! In the opener James tells Haley how he finally feels settled… He’s got the girl, his restaurant is growing, he’s feeling momentum, and creating the “Kairos” brand in Birmingham. He’s cooking on T.V. and publishing recipes in The Birmingham News… Then the rug gets pulled out from under him when he experiences the greatest heartbreak of his life… In this Season we are also...

James and Haley return with the best of the best from Season 3 of The Straight Outta Prison Podcast… Stay Tuned! Season 4 drops September 7, 2021! Team Jones is working on a few exciting things that will be announced… Subscribe for extra content here: https://www.patreon.com/straighouttaprisonpodcast We are telling the Team Jones Story chronologically… the good, the bad, and all the juicy details....

James and Haley recap Season 3 of The Straight Outta Prison Podcast, and talk about what’s coming next… Haley’s favorite was episode 10 “Denver Colorado” because she is fascinated with the story of James finding his biological Father. James says his was episode 5 “Leonardo’s” and we learn some additional details in this episode. You’ll also hear about reactions from other family members, fact chec...

It had been 18 years since James uncovered a family secret that had been neatly concealed, and the summer of 2007 was the time to uncover it… Listen to the season 3 Finale as James tells Haley the miraculous story of driving across the country to find someone who has no clue that he even exists… It was like searching for a needle in the proverbial haystack, because the information he had was painf...

From a Prison Cell to Business Owner in 7 years…  James takes Haley on a journey through the first few months of being a Restaurant Owner. The highs and lows, the stress, the fears, and the uncertainty of being in business. The shock of being arrested again (for his original crimes) sent James into a tailspin, but the way things worked out strengthened his faith and helped him understand he was ri...

James finally gets to a place where everything he’d ever dreamed of is coming true…but he’s learning that sometimes dreams don’t always work out for the best… In this episode he recounts to Haley the origins of his first business, and the long process required to get to opening day. The obstacles were overwhelming, and the Team working with him were all Shana’s family members… There was plenty of...

James finally arrived at a place that held everything he’d ever dreamed of… home, car, resources, influence, a new business… and finally the girl he believed was “The One” … But things don’t always work out the way we plan them… Tune in to find out why Haley says this was “the most interesting episode to record” and James thinks it’s “The most awkward one yet” … Subscribe for extra content here: h...

James is continuing his “Straight Outta Prison” journey through what he describes to Haley as the most productive years…He has found good success in business, in his community, in his finances, a new home, and almost everything he ever dreamed of… but it seemed empty without someone to share it with… Tune in for more. Subscribe for extra content here: https://www.patreon.com/straighouttaprisonpodc...

After a very hard first year “Straight Outta Prison” James recounts to Haley how it all turned around when he began a new job at Leonardo’s Italian Restaurant in November of 2000…  how Tony Falletta was like a Father to him, and the impact he had on his life: teaching him to cook Italian from scratch, how to make people feel special, to love life and live every second of it, to tell stories, take...

In this episode James recounts his first year to Haley… It seemed as if everything that started off great began to fall apart… His relationship with Tommy, the exciting Job at Rossi’s, World Victory Church, and more… It was all fun and games to start with, but now real life had settled in and James had to learn to navigate hard times… There were many high points though, the main one being his firs...

In Season 3 episode 3 “Birmingham” James tells Haley all about his first days in his new City… His job waiting table’s at Rossi’s, making his rounds with all the Volunteers that helped him get there, World Victory Church, and his instant love for the city and it’s history… James is “Straight Outta Prison” and ready to see what’s next…tune in for more!  Subscribe for extra content here: https://www...

Season 3 is here! In episode 2 “Halfway House” James explains to Haley what a Halfway House is, and all the different versions that exist in our world today… You will meet Joel Brumbach, the Director of Shepherds Fold, and his assistant Habbey, who drove James nuts! James talks about the violent neighborhood, the environment of poverty and his revulsion to it, and all the rules he had to adhere to...

Season 3 is here! In this episode “Free at Last” walk with James and Haley through his first day of freedom. The exhilarating ride away from Donaldson, his first meal at Shoney’s (and the tears over Milk), meeting the Pastor of World Victory Church, the confusion over Cell Phones, his first interview with the parole officer, and more…. Subscribe for extra content here: https://www.patreon.com/stra...

James and Haley return with the best of the best from Season 2 of The Straight Outta Prison Podcast… Stay Tuned! Good things are coming in season 4, and Team Jones is working on a few exciting things… Subscribe for extra content here: https://www.patreon.com/straighouttaprisonpodcast We are telling the Team Jones Story chronologically… the good, the bad, and all the juicy details. (Apple & Spo...

James and Haley recap Season 2 of The Straight Outta Prison Podcast. They do fact checks, answer questions from listeners, and give updates about Season 3 “Free At Last!” … Tune in to Season 2 Episode 13 “Season 2 Recap” for more!  Subscribe for extra content here: https://www.patreon.com/straighouttaprisonpodcast We are telling the Team Jones Story chronologically… the good, the bad, and all the...

In the Season 2 Finale, James is battling a mixture of excitement and fear as he approaches his first parole hearing. When Chris left the year before, he left behind a trail of unmet expectations with all the “free world” people that helped him get out of prison. Because that was recent, James decided that all the volunteers were jaded by Chris, so he wouldn’t be asking any of them for help… To hi...

In 1999 with The Honor Dorm fully established, good things were happening and James was living the dream. Then suddenly, everything fell apart… James was encouraged to begin counseling with Steve Longenecker. It was some thing he did not want to do, but knew that it was necessary. He had a word from Jesus written in his journal that said “I won’t  get you out of here until you allow me to heal wha...

Things were beginning to make sense to James. He helped establish The Honor Dorm at Donaldson Correctional Facility and the momentum for good things just kept rolling… eventually one whole side of the most violent prison in Alabama was filled with men and volunteers desperate to do something different. They were on a positive wave, and James was astonished to see all that was happening in such a s...