Prison to Promise

In this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with entrepreneur, athlete, and nonprofit founder Jamie Leibert for a candid conversation about confronting the parts of ourselves that can either hold us back or push us toward transformation. Jamie Leibert, known as Captain Manicorn, is a professional adventure athlete and filmmaker whose climbs and flights span 80+ countries. He climbs into the world's most remote places and flies out by wingsuit and mini-wing. He spent about 13 years in the system, group homes, through four years in federal prison, and beat a meth addiction he still manages every day. He built Just Care More to help kids, then realized he had to heal himself first. Now he leads the Battling Monsters movement, using adventure to fight for mental health. He is directing El Monstruo, a Battling Monsters film in production. Show up. Struggle. Suck less. Repeat.Jamie shares his journey from a troubled youth and incarceration—including time spent in solitary confinement—to building a life rooted in purpose, discipline, service, and personal accountability. A pivotal decision to seek therapy helped Jamie develop deeper self-awareness and recognize potential within himself that had gone largely untapped.Their conversation explores what it means to face the "monsters" we carry: fear, insecurity, trauma, destructive habits, self-doubt, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Jamie also discusses founding Just Care More, his work supporting foster youth, his path into entrepreneurship, and the lessons athletics has taught him about perseverance.At the heart of Jamie's philosophy is a simple but powerful mantra: "Show up. Struggle. Suck less. Repeat."It reminds us that transformation rarely happens all at once. It happens when we keep showing up, confront what is uncomfortable, learn from the struggle, and become a little better each time.

In this episode of Prison to Promise, host Dr. Craig Waleed speaks with Wafeeq Amin of CTC Services LLC about transforming the lives of men in reentry and recovery. Wafeeq shares his journey into reentry coaching and explains why reclaiming identity, strengthening self-confidence, and shifting one’s mindset are essential to lasting change. Their conversation explores the power of authentic connection, supportive relationships, and transformative coaching to help people move beyond incarceration, challenge harmful narratives, and build lives grounded in purpose and fulfillment.

In this episode of Prison to Promise, host Craig Waleed sits down with Tashawn "Shawn" Wilson for a powerful conversation about incarceration, reentry, purpose, and transformation. Craig shares his work with Unlock the Box to end long-term solitary confinement, while Shawn reflects on his journey home after serving 18 years in prison. Together, they discuss the challenges of reentry, the struggle to find purpose, the need for community support, and the importance of real rehabilitation within the criminal legal system. This episode reminds us that people are more than their past mistakes, and with support, opportunity, and determination, transformation is possible.

Podcast DescriptionIn this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Dr. Joe Louis Hernandez, a father, son, friend, and man in recovery whose life reflects the power of transformation. Joe shares his journey from addiction and incarceration to getting clean at 21, returning to school at 28, and eventually becoming a director at a community college.Through honest reflection, Joe discusses the mentors who helped shape his path, the role of education in rebuilding his life, and the importance of programs like Rising Scholars in supporting formerly incarcerated students. His story is one of redemption, responsibility, and the healing power of community.

In this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Adolphus Redding for a meaningful conversation about life, growth, accountability, and transformation. This interview explores the human side of struggle and the powerful process of becoming more than the circumstances, choices, and systems that may have once defined a person’s path.Through honest reflection, Adolphus shares pieces of his journey, offering insight into resilience, personal change, and the importance of finding purpose after hardship. This conversation reminds listeners that redemption is not just a word—it is a process, a commitment, and a lived experience.At its heart, this episode is about what it means to move forward, rebuild, and turn pain into wisdom. It is a conversation rooted in truth, hope, and the belief that every person has the capacity to grow beyond the past.

In this thoughtful and timely conversation, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Taryn VanderPyl and Kyle Black to explore the human realities too often hidden beneath systems of punishment, control, and social marginalization. Together, they reflect on what it means to center the voices of people most directly impacted by harm, and why dignity, listening, and lived experience must be at the heart of any serious conversation about justice.The discussion moves through the overlapping issues of juvenile justice, reentry, race, disability, and the ways institutions often fail the people who need care and support the most. Taryn and Kyle offer insight into what vulnerable young people and adults truly need in order to heal, rebuild, and move forward, while challenging the narrow ways systems often define worth, safety, and accountability.This episode is ultimately a conversation about humanity — about who gets pushed to the margins, who gets heard, and what becomes possible when we choose to see people more fully. Honest, compassionate, and deeply reflective, this is a powerful exchange for anyone concerned with justice, healing, and human dignity.

On this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Waymon Daniels of Rochester, New York, for a conversation about transformation, healing, and the power of finding your voice. Waymon shares insights on overcoming pain, rebuilding from the inside out, and what it means to turn lived experience into purpose, leadership, and service to others.

In this powerful episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Edward “Scottso” Scott, a formerly incarcerated man who served nearly 30 years before coming home in 2019. Scottso shares his journey from Brooklyn and North Carolina to prison, to transformation, to faith, to family, and to reentry work. He speaks openly about the emotional and psychological weight many people carry after incarceration, including what he and Dr. Waleed discuss as post-incarceration stress disorder, or PISD. Through his work with Wounded Healers, Scottso is helping create safe spaces, curriculum, and support for returning citizens to heal, rebuild relationships, and truly live after incarceration.

In this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed speaks with Richie Desersa, currently incarcerated in the South Dakota prison system, about life in prison, his musical journey, and the work of personal change. Their conversation explores mindset, avoiding violence, lessons from solitary confinement, self-belief, legal knowledge, and the struggle to be seen as more than a label.

In this episode of Prison to Promise, Craig Waleed sits down with Nicholas Tsiamis for a powerful conversation about recovery, reentry, education, and personal transformation. Nicholas reflects on the impact of recovery programs, recovery housing, mental health awareness, and the role of lived experience in helping people rebuild stability after incarceration. Together, they explore desistance, age-related change, the importance of persistence, and how education and community can become a foundation for long-term success.The conversation also highlights Nicholas’s current outpatient work, educational pursuits, future advocacy goals, and his upcoming documentary, “The Struggle Is Real,” which uses real stories to influence policy, challenge stigma, and encourage others to keep pushing toward change.