Own It: Starting A Business After Prison podcast

#Business #Criminaljustice #Entrepreneurship #Prison #Reentry #Kyle J Benson-Smith

24:35

It’s the very first episode of The Big Pitch with Jimmy Carr and our first guest is Phil Wang! And Phil’s subgenre is…This Place is Evil. We’re talking psychological torture, we’re talking gory death scenes, we’re talking Lorraine Kelly?! The Big Pitch with Jimmy Carr is a brand new comedy podcast where each week a different celebrity guest pitches an idea for a film based on one of the SUPER niche sub-genres on Netflix. From ‘Steamy Crime Movies from the 1970s’ to ‘Australian Dysfunctional Family Comedies Starring A Strong Female Lead’, our celebrity guests will pitch their wacky plot, their dream cast, the marketing stunts, and everything in between. By the end of every episode, Jimmy Carr, Comedian by night / “Netflix Executive” by day, will decide whether the pitch is greenlit or condemned to development hell! Listen on all podcast platforms and watch on the Netflix Is A Joke YouTube Channel . The Big Pitch is a co-production by Netflix and BBC Studios Audio. Jimmy Carr is an award-winning stand-up comedian and writer, touring his brand-new show JIMMY CARR: LAUGHS FUNNY throughout the USA from May to November this year, as well as across the UK and Europe, before hitting Australia and New Zealand in early 2026. All info and tickets for the tour are available at JIMMYCARR.COM Production Coordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Production Manager: Mabel Finnegan-Wright Editor: Stuart Reid Producer: Pete Strauss Executive Producer: Richard Morris Executive Producers for Netflix: Kathryn Huyghue, Erica Brady, and David Markowitz Set Design: Helen Coyston Studios: Tower Bridge Studios Make Up: Samantha Coughlan Cameras: Daniel Spencer Sound: Charlie Emery Branding: Tim Lane Photography: James Hole…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

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We bring you real life stories of what it takes to start a business after prison from people who have been there. We’re bringing you hope, advice, and plenty of laughs. We want you to succeed, to get out of prison and never go back, and to live the life of your dreams. Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org.

35 episodes

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

updated 2 years ago

Series home•Feed

35 episodes

#Business #Criminaljustice #Entrepreneurship #Prison #Reentry #Kyle J Benson-Smith

All episodes

1
Patterns of Successful Entrepreneurs with Leslie Walton 55:03

2 years ago55:03

55:03

Leslie Walton is the Entrepreneur Success Manager at Determination, Incorporated & the Founder of A Cents of Change where she empowers women to build a better relationship with their money. Leslie is a lifelong entrepreneur who loves helping other people reach their own definition of success. From her wide ranging life experiences, including getting her MBA & starting a catering business with food stamps, Leslie has identified the patterns of successful entrepreneurs that will help you no matter your starting point. Today on the show you will learn how to make goal setting practical and enjoyable, why self discipline means freedom and not punishment, how to change your relationship with money from reactive to proactive, and whether or not you should talk about your criminal history at networking events. Learn more about A Cents of Change and download Leslie’s free ebook “Mindful Spending: Aligning Your Financial Decisions with Your Values and Goals” at her website . Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org .…

1
Building Resilience Through Adversity with Ricky Kidd 53:24

2 years ago53:24

53:24

Ricky Kidd spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost his appeal 11 times before finally winning and regaining his freedom. During that time, he focused on getting “better, not bitter,” and learned how to not just survive, but to thrive in terrible circumstances. Today on the show, Ricky shares how he turned his resilient spirit into the five keys of resiliency that anyone can use to make it through difficult times: get anchored, get moving, find your energy, access perspective, and live selflessly. These days, Ricky is an author, board member, and a national public speaker advocating for wrongfully convicted people across the U.S.. He trains prosecutors on how to avoid wrongful convictions as a criminal justice consultant and delivers resilience trainings for businesses and organizations. Learn more at www.resiliencemode.com . Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org .…

1
Creating a vision and a plan for your life with Diamond Fuse 38:57

2 years ago38:57

38:57

When Diamond Fuse got a felony at age 19, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to make anything of her life. That is, until she learned how to take charge of her own destiny through the power of vision boards, positive affirmations, and manifestation. When she made her first vision board in 2012, she didn’t have enough money to fill up her gas tank. By 2016, Diamond owned her own home, had a college degree, and completed everything on her vision board. “I am abundant,” is one of Diamond’s go-to positive affirmations. In this episode, you’ll learn how to cultivate abundance in your own life by achieving goals through action planning and nurturing a positive mindset. Diamond is the owner of Bizzy Babies, Kansas City’s #1 soft playground and bounce house rental company. Learn more at www.bizzybabies.com . Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org .…

1
Starting a Business After Prison with Sarah Muntean 52:15

2 years ago52:15

52:15

When Sarah Muntean started her first business All American Construction Contractors in 2013, she had recently been released from prison, she was homeless, and not many people in her life believed she could succeed. Through pure grit, and by staying humble and learning on her feet, Sarah grew her business year over year to hundreds of thousands in revenue and was able to hire many people in transition and recovery. Today on the show, Sarah shares her advice for starting a successful business after prison. While she had to learn many lessons the hard way, you can avoid her missteps and build a strong foundation for your business by following her hard earned advice. Connect with Sarah Muntean on LinkedIN . Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org .…

1
Drafts: Latahra Smith, Trinity First Aide & CPR Services 28:14

4 years ago28:14

28:14

"I've turned my pain into purpose." That's Latahra Smith, owner of Trinity First Aide & CPR Services and Executive Director of the KC Freedom Project. After being released from prison, Latahra had to overcome a lot of obstacles to heal relationships with her family, to reset her life with a renewed mindset, and to start her nonprofit and business. She has lost family members tragically and been mistreated by the criminal justice system, but she has persevered by staying true to her purpose of helping others and by trusting in God. Today's conversation is humbling, and Latahra will inspire you to make the most of your blessings and your pain. Learn more about the KC Freedom Project on Facebook .…

1
Drafts: Aaron Smith, Escaping the Odds podcast 31:52

5 years ago31:52

31:52

1
Drafts: Ricky Kidd, I Am Resiliency 31:12

6 years ago31:12

31:12

Ricky Kidd is the founder of I am Resiliency, a speaker, an entrepreneur, and a recent exoneree in the state of Missouri. Ricky served 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Today he shares his story, and how he used that time to grow as a man, a leader, and an entrepreneur. Learn more about Ricky's case and the Midwest Innocence Project: https://themip.org/clients/ricky-kidd/…

1
Drafts: Lamont Carey, Contact Visits and Lacarey Enterprises 27:33

6 years ago27:33

27:33

Lamont Carey is an author and entrepreneur from D.C. who has been featured on HBO's Def Jam Poetry and the tv show The Wire. His journey to successful business owner started after prison when he realized that in order to dream big, he needed to do right by others and make his hustle legit. Keep up with Lamont: https://www.lacareyenterprises.com/…

1
Drafts: Jabari Muhammad, FOI ETC 58:42

6 years ago58:42

58:42

Jabari Muhammad and his wife own FOI ETC. They sell fragrances, oils, and incense at stores and online, and are the creators of the Bari Butter. Jabari honed his entrepreneurial skills on the streets in KCMO, and became the upstanding business man he is today in prison. Visit FOI ETC: http://www.foietc.com/…

1
Update: Second Chance Entrepreneurs "Drafts" 4:10

6 years ago4:10

4:10

Welcome to Own It: Starting a Business After Prison, a podcast where we interview second chance entrepreneurs about what it really takes to start a business after prison. For the next season of the show, we will share the firsthand experiences of formerly incarcerated people who have started successful businesses. These episodes are called "Drafts," and will be rough and full of inspiration and education. Enjoy! Learn more: www.determinationincorporated.com…

1
Paige Johnson, Gilded Sparrows Network 31:33

6 years ago31:33

31:33

Paige Johnson is a successful entrepreneur in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the founder of the Gilded Sparrows Network. The team at Gilded Sparrows works with women with justice-involvement to help them create product-based businesses that are beautiful and profitable. https://gildedsparrows.org/

1
Marcus Bullock: Flikshop 26:57

6 years ago26:57

26:57

Marcus Bullock started a construction company when he got home from prison, and now he is the founder and CEO of Flikshop: www.flikshop.com Marcus is the keynote speaker at the Rise Up, Get Started Entrepreneurship Celebration in Kansas City, MO, on Thursday, May 30, Kansas City’s first entrepreneurship competition for formerly incarcerated people, hosted by Determination, Incorporated. The Rise Up, Get Started Entrepreneurship Celebration, is free and open to the public, get your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rise-up-get-started-entrepreneurship-celebration-tickets-59699862897…

1
Johnny Waller: Choose Your Passion KC 31:29

6 years ago31:29

31:29

Johnny Waller is exactly what this podcast is all about. After years of gang banging and time in prison, Johnny left the street life to pursue his education and stumbled into running a successful business. Today, he helps with violence reduction campaigns in Kansas City, Missouri and shares his story to inspire others to lead their best lives.…

1
Sonja Skvarla, A Social Ignition 33:35

7 years ago33:35

33:35

Sonja Skvarla is the founder of A Social Ignition, a prison entrepreneurship program in Portland, Oregon. www.asocialignition.com A Social Ignition workshops focus on business feasibility and values-based decision making, while using entrepreneurship to bridge social networks. Business professionals come into the prisons to mentor, and often leave with their eyes opened as well.…

1
Josh Munoz, Prison Entrepreneurship Program 31:08

7 years ago31:08

31:08

Josh Munoz is the reentry manager with the Prison Entrepreneurship Program in Austin, Texas. Prison Entrepreneurship program, or PEP, is widely considered the gold standard in entrepreneurship programs for currently and formerly incarcerated people. https://www.pep.org/ Since 2004, PEP graduates have started 361 businesses and have a recidivism rate of just 7%. Josh is a graduate of the program, and joined the staff after leaving prison. His story is powerful, and the success of PEP will teach and inspire you to harness the power of formerly incarcerated people to adopt the entrepreneurial mindset and make the world a better, more prosperous place. Report on PEP: http://icic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ICIC_PEP-Impact-Analysis_final_post.pdf…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Carl Brown: The Fountain Fund 32:13

7 years ago32:13

32:13

Carl Brown is the program manager with The Fountain Fund in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Fountain Fund helps formerly incarcerated people by providing them with low interest loans that they can use to repay fees incurred during their involvement with the criminal justice system. https://www.fountainfund.org/ By helping them out with their immediate needs, The Fountain Fund can ensure that their clients have the necessary support from partner organizations and instill in them the entrepreneurial mindset so they can find their way to economic independence.…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Bobby Clark: Sustainable Business Ventures 32:54

7 years ago32:54

32:54

Bobby Clark is the founder and president of Sustainable Business Ventures in Lexington, Kentucky. Bobby helps people who are having a hard time getting a job find their way through entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on folks in rural communities and the formerly incarcerated. http://www.sbventures.org/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Amy Barch: Turning Leaf Project 31:54

7 years ago31:54

31:54

Amy Barch is the founder of Turning Leaf Project, a nonprofit in South Carolina that helps formerly incarcerated people change their attitudes, thinking and behavior using a cognitive behavioral intervention, a research-backed, evidence-based solution to helping people stay out of prison. https://www.turningleafproject.com/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Christine McDonald: Seeing the marginalized and exploited through the eyes of grace 34:24

7 years ago34:24

34:24

Christine McDonald is the author of “Cry Purple”, her memoir, and “The Same Kind of Human” a book about “seeing the marginalized and exploited through the eyes of grace.” http://www.christinesvision.org/ The wisdom and insight Christine shares in “The Same Kind of Human” is hard-earned; she spent 17 years homeless and on the streets, where she was sex trafficked, addicted to drugs, and arrested more than 100 times alongside 7 stints in prison. When Christine decided to get clean, educated, and out of danger, it was not an easy journey. Today, she has dedicated her life to helping others break down the barriers imposed on them by themselves and society, and helps people harness the power of their entrepreneurial mindset and their story to make the world better and more just for all of us.…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Emily Hunt Turner: All Square Restaurant and Institute 51:25

7 years ago51:25

51:25

Emily Hunt Turner is the founder of All Square Restaurant and Institute, a social enterprise in Minneapolis, Minnesota that sells grilled cheese and empowers formerly incarcerated people by teaching them how to take charge of their own destinies through entrepreneurship and the study of law. https://www.allsquarempls.com/ Emily worked for the federal government in the Department of Housing and Urban Development before starting All Square. This conversation takes a deep dive into the obstacles facing people returning home from incarceration as they look for a place to live and opportunities to rebuild their lives and do good in the world.…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
A.J. Ware: Inmates to Entrepreneurs 30:32

7 years ago30:32

30:32

A.J. Ware is the co-chairman of Inmates to Entrepreneurs, a North Carolina-based program whose mission is perfectly encapsulated in its name. Inmates to entrepreneurs introduces currently and formerly incarcerated people to the opportunities and obstacles of starting your own business, and helps people make and execute a business plan both pre- and post-release from incarceration. Inmates to Entrepreneurs has been refining their model since 2007 and is now gearing up for national expansion. http://inmatestoentrepreneurs.org/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Joyce Klein: Entrepreneurship as a re-entry strategy primer 33:46

7 years ago33:46

33:46

Joyce Klein is the director of FIELD at the Aspen Institute, which advances microenterprise business ownership as an economic opportunity strategy. In 2016 she published a paper called Prison to Proprietor: Entrepreneurship as a Re-Entry Strategy: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/prison-proprietor-entrepreneurship-re-entry-strategy/ The paper looks at multiple programs for supporting currently and formerly incarcerated people through entrepreneurship and explores best practices for advancing the field. This conversation is an excellent primer for the philanthropic community, government departments and anyone interested in starting a entrepreneurship program to help folks stay out of prison.…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Tamra Thetford: Credit building on the path to entrepreneurship 28:52

7 years ago28:52

28:52

Tamra Thetford is the Chief Program Officer at Justine Petersen, a St Louis-based nonprofit that helps people build their credit so they can reach their goals. The organization started by helping folks work toward home ownership, and eventually expanded its services to include a path to entrepreneurship. Tamra is here to tell us about Justine Petersen’s business program for formerly incarcerated people, Aspire Entrepreneurship Initiative. She also shares lots of information about credit building, an incredibly important process for many people who are home from incarceration and looking to start a business. http://www.justinepetersen.org/small_business/aspire…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Jason Cleveland: Unlocking Futures 43:20

7 years ago43:20

43:20

Jason Cleveland is a returning citizen and the founder and CEO of Obodo, a software for small human services organizations. He was recently selected as a member of the first cohort of Unlocking Futures, an accelerator run by New Profit and John Legend’s organization, Free America. Jason is a dynamic guy and also runs an entrepreneurial workshop in a prison in St. Louis, MO. He has a beautiful vision for activating natural born entrepreneurs who are currently locked behind bars. But more importantly, actionable ideas on how to get there. https://www.facebook.com/obodo.is/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Adam Martin: F5 Project 36:01

7 years ago36:01

36:01

Adam Martin was in and out of prison for years and had a hard time staying sober until he realized the power of transparency, hope and community. Now he helps others achieve all three through housing and employment with F5 Project in Fargo, North Dakota: https://www.f5project.org/

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Bob Pelshaw “Illegal to Legal: Business Success for the Formerly Incarcerated” 30:40

7 years ago30:40

30:40

Bob Pelshaw was a very successful real estate developer in the midwest before spending 10 months in prison on a felony charge for misspending federal loans. While in prison, he was struck by the untapped entrepreneurial potential amongst the community of incarcerated people he served time with. Through working with people one on one in prison, he came to believe very strongly that the entrepreneurial mindset and business acumen he saw in his incarcerated brethren was just waiting to be activated. He wrote a book, “Illegal to Legal: Business Success for the Formerly Incarcerated” to help people see the path of entrepreneurship and is now dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated people learn and achieve success in both business and life. http://pelshaw.com/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Tracey Syphax: From the Block to the Boardroom 32:17

7 years ago32:17

32:17

Tracey Syphax is the author of “From the Block to the Boardroom.” It is a memoir detailing his youth in Trenton, New Jersey, his time on the streets as a drug dealer, his stint in prison, and his twenty plus years experience since as a successful entrepreneur. Today, Tracey is a strong advocate for reentry reform and helps returning citizens like him through coaching, entrepreneurial training, and much more. http://www.ftb2tb.com/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Cerise Hall: Business Speaks 30:32

7 years ago30:32

30:32

Cerise Hall is a business consultant specializing in startups and young businesses. She has a particular passion for working with returning citizens in black communities, helping them create wealth and build businesses that they can pass onto their children. Cerise’s consultancy is called Business Speaks and her style is dynamic and engaging. Many people in her family have been in and out of prison so she knows first hand the struggles they face. She believes wholeheartedly that through entrepreneurship returning citizens can solve the problem of recidivism and make the world a better place. https://www.facebook.com/Businesspeaks/…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Kate Mereand- Aspire to Entrepreneurship 32:08

7 years ago32:08

32:08

The Aspire to Entrepreneurship program started in Washington DC in 2016. The 6 month program teaches folks coming home from incarceration business skills and helps them launch their ventures. 35 returning citizens have completed Aspire. Out of those 35 graduates: 10 are holding down jobs, 10 are working while pursuing their businesses, and 15 are running businesses that employ 39 people. And to top it all off, no Aspire graduate has returned to prison. That’s right, a 0% recidivism rate. For all of us who wish to harness the power of entrepreneurship to support returning citizens, we have a lot to learn from today’s guest, Kate Mereand: https://dslbd.dc.gov/service/aspire-entrepreneurship…

Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

1
Zach Sloan: InnerCity Weightlifting 33:46

7 years ago33:46