After five DWI’s landed me prison, something had to change. One day I got into a fight and I spent eight days in solitaire confinement thinking about my life and the decisions I had made that led me to that dark place, literally.
I came out of the hole a different man with a different heart, mind, soul, direction, and outlook on life. I got mentored by a couple of inmates who eventually made parole but within a year they were both back in. This confused me and ticked me off. I wondered how I was going to make it out there.
Since my release in 2006 we’ve opened up a transitional house for men, with another ”ranch” coming, launched a documentary, been on the Mike Huckabee Show, launched this podcast, and it goes into prisons all over the nation.
EP 216 "Have Patience" Announcements, jokes, fishing, golf, and a devotional, with Jessa and Jay Dan
In this episode, Jay Dan and Jessa share big events coming soon, air some shout outs from men who just got out, tell jokes, talk about our fishing trip, and the golf outing.
We share our Thanksgiving gatherings coming up. First one is this Saturday and the second one is on Thanksgiving day. Details in the podcast.
We also share about a community event coming up that is for justice impacted kids. Whether the kids parents are still in prison or already out, we'd love for them to join us. Details in the podcast.
Please subscribe to our channel and share it with someone you think might be encouraged by our show.
Please visit our sponsor’s website: The Way Back
RETURNING TO THE DALLAS AREA WHEN RELEASED? THE WAY BACK IS HERE WITH THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES YOU NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL REENTRY JOURNEY.
https://thewaybackhouse.org
To partner with us please click here:
https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise:
https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.
10 Nov 2025
EP 215 "Change Your Music, Change Your Life" Drew and Cassie Gonzales
One of my favorite episodes.
I know I say this a lot, but Cassie has helped so many of our men coming to the transitional house. The Way Back has been a sponsor of the show for a while now, and even though we had the directors on the audio version a long time ago, we have been waiting to get them back on in studio.
Cassie is a case manager for The Way Back, and Drew, who has his own amazing story, is her husband, and he joins the conversation. He's a master plumber. Cassie is on her journey to be an LCDC.
They share everything in their addiction journey, including the way they met on Social Media (hint, POKE). They share parenting tips as well as talk about how they had to get rid of music that wasn't Christian music because it as pushing them further from God.
You will laugh, cry a little, and want to share this with someone you know. Please subscribe to our channel and share it with someone you think might be encouraged by their story.
Please visit our sponsor’s website:
The Way Back! RETURNING TO THE DALLAS AREA WHEN RELEASED? THE WAY BACK IS HERE WITH THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES YOU NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL REENTRY JOURNEY.
https://thewaybackhouse.org/
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.
20 Oct 2025
EP 214 "The Gamble That Didn't Pay Off, or Did It? with Stevin "Hedake" Smith
In this episode, we sit down with Stevin "Hedake" Smith, a former college and professional basketball player known for his promising career that was derailed by a point-shaving scandal.
He was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection at Arizona State, but in 1994, he was involved in a scandal where he bet on his own games, ultimately leading to a prison sentence and ending his NBA prospects. Today, Smith works to educate young athletes about the dangers of gambling by speaking in universities across the nation.
We talk about how his wife never left his side through the whole ordeal and was also his source of strength, as well as his accountability partner. Stevin has been featured in "Bad Sport", a Netflix documentary series, and on "Here and Now" with Shaun Rabb's Fox 4 News.
You can follow Stevin on Social Media
IG: @therealhedake Facebook: Hedake Smith LinkedIn: Stevin "Hedake" Smith
You can buy Stevin's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/6nyKj9F
Jessa tells a great joke and we talk about her very first homecoming parade, hers and Jemma's mums, her birthday party, sports, Christmas lights, and shout outs.
Please subscribe to our channel and share it with someone you think might be encouraged by his story.
Please visit our sponsor’s website:
The Way Back RETURNING TO THE DALLAS AREA WHEN RELEASED? THE WAY BACK IS HERE WITH THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES YOU NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL REENTRY JOURNEY. https://thewaybackhouse.org/
To partner with us please click here: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop
Are you in the market, or are wondering if you’re in a good position to buy a home, first time buyer, or refinance your current home? Jessamy Gumm, with Cross Country Mortgage can help. 972-897-5476 to get your journey started. Or email her at Jessamy.gumm@ccm.com
Your background shouldn’t HOLD you back, it should PAY you back.
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