SP 288: Don Cummins - The Prison Within and Breaking Free

The SHAIR Recovery Podcast

In 2011, Don Cummins was homeless, desperate to get high, and had already served 20 years in prison for bank robberies. Not only suffering from mental health issues, addiction, and incarceration, the court had also declared him insane. Willing to do anything to escape from reality, he went to any lengths to not feel discomfort from the trauma he experienced and abuse he suffered.

From the age of 10 Don started to get high, and by the age of 13 was committed to a program, never to live at home again. The rest of his teenage years were spent in youth homes, juvenile detention centers, and at the age of 16, Don was sentenced to prison as an adult.

As the years went on, the drugs only got harder, and the prison sentenced only got longer. Reaching a bottom, Don faced the choice to attempt suicide or reach out for help. Facing an awakening while sitting in his prison cell at the age of 23, he realized the pattern of his denial state and the inability to see the truth. Years later at the age of 39, Don decided to begin working through resentment, anger, fear, and reached out for help and began putting in the work.

From being isolated and alone, Don began experiencing deep friendships and connections. From not knowing how to be loved, he ended up meeting the love of his life, and from being jobless, he went back to school and became a software developer that integrates with banks.

With an incredible self-transformation, Don’s story is a testament to overcoming adversity, overcoming obstacles, and finding freedom. Today, Don Cummins is an author and speaker whose passion is to spread the message that regardless of anyone’s background or life situation, absolutely anyone can overcome their obstacles and have the life they dream of.

Don lives in Florida with his wife Brianna and his two boys Levi and Finley. While he’s not hanging out with his family or working on a project, he’s riding his bike and playing guitar.

For the show notes and links for this episode go to theshairpodcast.com/288.

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