Episode #169 w/ Big Brizzle

Shanduke McPhatter is living proof that transformation is possible when purpose meets discipline. Born and raised in South Brooklyn, Shanduke’s early life was marked by instability, foster care, and the absence of his biological father. By 16, he was incarcerated at Rikers Island for robbery and it was there that he joined the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods, becoming one of the first five adolescents to form the set on the East Coast. Known in the streets as “Trife Gangsta,” his influence grew but so did the consequences. Over the years, Shanduke faced more than 18 arrests and served a total of 13 years behind bars.  During his last prison sentence, everything changed. Through a spiritual awakening, Shanduke decided to redefine his life. Upon release, he founded Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes Inc. (G-M.A.C.C.), a nonprofit dedicated to reducing gun violence and uplifting communities. Under his leadership, G-M.A.C.C. helped achieve a 65% reduction in shootings in East Flatbush and provided hundreds with mental health counseling, legal aid, and job training. Today, Shanduke is an activist, motivational speaker, and certified trainer who travels the country teaching nonviolence, conflict resolution, and community empowerment. From the block to the boardroom, his story is one of redemption, resilience, and real change.  #DogInTheYard #ShandukeMcPhatter #GMACC #BrooklynStories #GunViolencePrevention #RedemptionStory #FromPrisonToPurpose #CommunityHealing

Joseph “Yusuf” Cobb is a community activist, leader, and mind cultivator based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania known for his tireless dedication to driving positive change and helping others heal from cycles of violence and loss.  A survivor of the streets who turned his life toward service, Yusuf now channels his experience into empowerment. As Vice President of S.A.V.E. Pennsylvania, he advocates for peace and safety in communities impacted by gun violence. Through his work with the Victim Impact Program, he helps others find healing, accountability, and direction after trauma. Yusuf is also a public speaker, trainer, and mentor captivating audiences with his insight on street violence, grief, leadership, and self-transformation. Beyond his community work, he’s known as a “mind cultivator,” guiding people to grow through reflection, purpose, and personal discipline.  This episode of Dog in the Yard explores Yusuf’s powerful story of redemption from navigating street life to becoming a force for peace and change in Philadelphia and beyond.  #DogInTheYard #YusufCobb #Philadelphia #SavePennsylvania #CommunityActivist #RedemptionStory #MindCultivator #FromPrisonToPurpose #ViolencePrevention #HealingThroughAction

From the streets of East New York’s Pink Houses to nearly 25 years in prison, Joe Robinson known as Donkor inside, meaning “humble person” has lived both sides of transformation. At 22, he was sentenced to 25 years to life for murder in the second degree and spent the next 24 1/2 years incarcerated, where he turned time into purpose. Behind those walls, Joe became known for teaching entrepreneurship and personal finance to other men serving time, using his own growth as a roadmap for theirs. Since his release on October 3, 2016, Joe has built a new legacy. He worked as Director of Reentry Services at a law firm for seven years, helping others transition successfully after incarceration, and today he’s the founder of Mindful Money, LLC, a business dedicated to financial empowerment and personal accountability. Joe is also the author of three self-published books, with his memoir Losing Mama set for release next spring a story about loss, love, and redemption. Married for 20 years to the same woman he met while incarcerated, Joe’s journey is one of humility, discipline, and vision. This episode of Dog in the Yard dives into the life of a man who turned a life sentence into a life of purpose proof that you can rebuild, reimagine, and reclaim your story no matter where you start.

Before the fame, before the plaques Dave East was a young hustler from Harlem trying to find his lane. Growing up between the projects and the courts, he got caught in the streets early, facing several run-ins with the law, including arrests for marijuana possession and disorderly conduct. But those moments didn’t stop him they shaped him. Dave East used his pain, his hunger, and his Harlem roots to fuel his pen. His storytelling caught the attention of one of hip-hop’s greatest Nas who saw something real in him and signed him to Mass Appeal Records, in partnership with Def Jam. From mixtapes like Kairi Chanel to albums like Survival and Paranoia, East turned his experiences into lyrics that resonated far beyond New York. His authenticity earned him collaborations with legends and rising stars alike, and even led him to acting most notably portraying Method Man in Wu-Tang: An American Saga. This episode of Dog in the Yard dives into the real Dave East: the man behind the music, the struggles behind the fame, and how he’s continuing to evolve as an artist, father, and entrepreneur.

Straight out of Harlem’s 140th Street, Claysaun Jones lived the streets that shaped countless young men before him. Convicted of attempted murder and robbery, he spent 24 years incarcerated paying the price of a life defined by survival and split-second decisions. But the time inside didn’t break him. Instead, it became the foundation for transformation. Today, Claysaun works as a Housing Coordinator for the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), helping formerly incarcerated men and women secure stable housing as they return home. His mission is clear: break the cycle of reentry struggles and give people the stability they need to succeed. This episode of Dog in the Yard dives into Claysaun’s journey from Harlem to the yard, through decades of incarceration, and now into community leadership. His story is one of resilience, redemption, and rewriting your ending no matter where you start.

Born and raised in Jersey City, Big Brizzle grew up the youngest of six — with a nine-year gap that shaped how he looked at the world. Athletic, book smart, and influenced by his older brothers, Brizzle’s path shifted early. By 13, he was already in and out of jail. What started as strong-arming quickly turned into stick-ups, hustling, and eventually becoming known as a “work horse” in the streets and inside the system. His reputation was built on being fearless — from crushing rivals to clashing with police and COs — and he lived by simple rules: don’t touch me and hold your tongue. From 2001 to 2006, he did a bid that solidified his name. By his own words, he spent more than half his life behind bars. But today, things look different. Having been home a little over two years — his second-longest stretch of freedom since age 13 — Brizzle is focused on building. He tried real estate, passed the test, but was denied his license. Now he’s working in the construction union and looking ahead to new opportunities. This is the story of Big Brizzle — from decades of incarceration and a life defined by taking, to a man determined to build something real. #DogInTheYard #BigBrizzle #PrisonStories #RedemptionStory #SecondChances #FromPrisonToPurpose #JerseyCity

They call him Howie Miller, one-half of Two Buds Dispensary in the Bronx. His story is a raw reminder that the same streets that can take everything away can also teach you the discipline to rebuild. Growing up in the South Bronx with Jamaican parents, Howie saw both sides of life. His father taught him trades, hard work, and structure — while his stepdad introduced him to hustling weed and the fast money of the streets. By the time most kids were thinking about school or sports, Howie was already moving product, robbing, and doing whatever it took to survive. That path eventually caught up with him, leading to multiple arrests and prison time for drug trafficking. Prison, however, wasn’t the end. It became the turning point. Howie used his time to reflect, regroup, and rebuild. After years of losing and bouncing back through the hustle and the construction business, he came home determined to flip the script. When New York opened the doors to legal cannabis, he was ready. No loans. No handouts. Just his own funds, his construction know-how, and decades of lived experience. Today, Howie Miller stands as living proof that it’s possible to turn struggle into success. From nickel bags in the Bronx to owning Two Buds Dispensary in the legal cannabis industry, he’s rewriting his story and showing the next generation that discipline, ownership, and vision can change everything. This episode of Dog in the Yard dives into Howie’s life — the hustle, the prison bids, the lessons, and the grind that made him the man he is today. #DogInTheYard #HowieMiller #TwoBudsDispensary #BronxStories #Redemption #FromPrisonToPurpose #CannabisBusiness #SecondChances

Dr. Dennis “Prince” Mapp is living proof that redemption and resilience can transform not just one life, but entire communities. After serving nearly two decades incarcerated, Dr. Mapp turned his pain into purpose—becoming a nationally recognized community safety strategist, entrepreneur, and author. Today, he serves as Head of Community & Culture at Citizen, where his leadership has reunited families, saved lives, and built groundbreaking safety collaborations with law enforcement, hospitals, and Fortune 500 companies. He’s also the Founder & CEO of BLK Squares LLC, the powerhouse behind programs like Swag Swap, Pull-Ups for Peace, Financial All Stars, and Freedom Elite Sports Academy—initiatives that uplift youth through mentorship, financial literacy, fitness, and violence prevention. Dr. Mapp’s impact doesn’t stop there. He has helped locate over 800 missing persons since 2018, fought to reduce gun violence across NYC, and been honored with awards such as the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a father, grandfather, mentor, and above all—a Hope Dealer, creating safe spaces and opportunities for the next generation to thrive. This episode of Dog in the Yard dives deep into Dr. Mapp’s extraordinary journey from incarceration to influence, and his mission to end cycles of violence, expand access to resources, and bring lasting peace to our communities.

William Steele, known in the Bronx as G. Child, grew up in the Throggs Neck Projects where the streets shaped his reality. By 13, he was already caught in the school-to-prison pipeline — arrested for gang assault. At 14, it was a drug charge. At 15, police caught him with a Mac-10 submachine gun. And at 16, he faced a murder charge that he eventually beat at trial. But freedom never lasted long. At just 19 years old, William caught an attempted murder case, blew trial, and was sentenced to 17 years. From Sparford to Horizon, from Rikers to state prison, his life became a cycle of incarceration that lasted 21 years. He spent his teens and 20s locked in, and didn’t come home for good until he was 34. Prison tried to define him, but William refused to let it. When he walked out, he made a promise to himself: no more looking back. His journey is a raw example of how the system swallows young men whole, but also how resilience, growth, and the will to change can break that cycle. This episode of Dog in the Yard dives deep into William Steele’s story — the mistakes, the lessons, the survival, and the transformation. From the Bronx projects to the prison yard, and now into a life of purpose, William’s voice is a testament to redemption and the power of never giving up.

Dejohn Huffman’s story begins in Brownsville’s Van Dyke Houses, where survival often meant the streets chose your path. While his siblings went into the military and law enforcement, Dejohn’s road led to his first prison sentence at just 16. By 20, he was facing two devastating moments the tragic loss of his son’s mother and a robbery-homicide he did not commit.  Instead of letting those blows destroy him, Dejohn used them as fuel to transform his life. Today, he is the author of Raising My Inner Male: 12 Steps Toward Uncaged Freedom, a powerful guide for healing, conscious masculinity, and breaking destructive cycles.  As Program Developer for Project Echo, a Cure Violence initiative, Dejohn builds programs for justice-impacted youth that focus on emotional, intellectual, and economic growth. He’s a proud Bard Prison Initiative alumnus with over 174 college credits, an Adjunct Lecturer at Parsons School of Design, and former Program Manager at Second Chance Studios. From the system to the classroom, from the streets to national stages, Dejohn Huffman proves that survival stories can become success stories and that no matter where you start, you are the narrator of your own ending.