Nightmare Success In and Out

How does a respected university professor lose everything?
Dr. Julie Howell spent decades building a successful career in higher education, earning the respect of colleagues and mentoring future educators. From the outside, she appeared to have it all.
But behind the success was a lifetime of hidden trauma, overwhelming personal challenges, and a gambling addiction that quietly became an escape from reality.
Eventually, those choices led to a federal conviction, a year in federal prison, and the loss of the career she had spent decades building.
In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Howell shares the story behind the headlines—including childhood trauma, raising a daughter through addiction and sex trafficking, facing the consequences of her own actions, and learning how accountability became the first step toward rebuilding her life.
This isn't a conversation about excuses.
It's a conversation about addiction, responsibility, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption after public failure.
If you've ever wondered how successful people can quietly struggle—or whether it's possible to rebuild after losing everything—this episode is for you.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected at prisonist.org. Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount Visit Discoverability.co. Auto Plaza Direct "Your personal car concierge!" Let them handle every detail to find your perfect car autoplazadirect.com. Author Saffron Gustafson www.mynameissaffron.com, "My Name is Saffron." Author Nevin Shetty, "Second Chance Economics: How Hiring The Formerly Incarcerated Can Unlock $1 Trillion in GDP." www.secondchanceeconomics.com

Exonerated twice. Jimmie Gardner was living his dream as a professional baseball prospect with the Chicago Cubs when a wrongful conviction stole 27 years of his life. After decades behind bars, relentless legal work, and unwavering faith, he finally proved his innocence and walked free.
But his nightmare wasn't over.
In this deeply personal conversation with Brent Cassity, Jimmie shares the emotional, spiritual, and legal journey of surviving wrongful imprisonment, rebuilding his life, and facing another false accusation after his release.
This episode explores justice, resilience, forgiveness, hope, and the extraordinary strength required to overcome unimaginable adversity.
If you've ever wondered how someone survives losing everything—and still chooses purpose over bitterness—this is an episode you won't forget.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected at prisonist.org. Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount Visit Discoverability.co. Auto Plaza Direct "Your personal car concierge!" Let them handle every detail to find your perfect car autoplazadirect.com. Author Saffron Gustafson www.mynameissaffron.com, "My Name is Saffron." Author Nevin Shetty, "Second Chance Economics: How Hiring The Formerly Incarcerated Can Unlock $1 Trillion in GDP." www.secondchanceeconomics.com

Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield Jr. joins Brent Cassity for an unforgettable conversation about success, public failure, federal prison, and rebuilding a meaningful life.
Once celebrated as New Orleans' Cultural Ambassador and one of the world's premier jazz musicians, Irvin reached the highest levels of artistic success before finding himself facing federal prosecution and incarceration.
Rather than focusing only on the headlines, this episode explores the deeper questions: What is success? What happens when your identity is stripped away? How do you recover after public failure?
Irvin shares powerful lessons on resilience, radical responsibility, mentorship, humility, purpose, and why prison ultimately changed how he sees life.
This is a conversation about music, leadership, forgiveness, and discovering that your greatest accomplishment may come after your greatest setback.

Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected at prisonist.org. Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount Visit Discoverability.co. Auto Plaza Direct "Your personal car concierge!" Let them handle every detail to find your perfect car autoplazadirect.com. Author Saffron Gustafson www.mynameissaffron.com, "My Name is Saffron." Author Nevin Shetty, "Second Chance Economics: How Hiring The Formerly Incarcerated Can Unlock $1 Trillion in GDP." www.secondchanceeconomics.com

For nearly eighteen years, Damien lived inside a prison cell waiting for the state to execute him.
Most people know the story of the West Memphis Three. They know the headlines, the documentaries, the controversy, and the legal battle that ultimately led to Damien's release in 2011.
But this isn't just a story about a murder case. It's a story about survival. About finding purpose inside a six-by-nine-foot cell.
About holding onto hope when the world has already written your ending. About refusing to let bitterness define your future.
While sitting on death row, Damien immersed himself in books, spirituality, meditation, and personal growth. He built a mindset strong enough to survive one of the harshest realities imaginable. And when freedom finally came after nearly two decades behind bars, he faced a challenge many never consider—how do you learn to live after surviving death row?
Since his release, Damien has reinvented himself as an artist, speaker, spiritual teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. His memoir, Life After Death, gave readers an intimate look at surviving prison, reclaiming freedom, and rebuilding a life that many thought had been lost forever. Today, he continues to inspire people around the world through his writing, teaching, and advocacy.
Now, with his new book, Alchemy of the Blade, arriving this September, Damien is continuing his exploration of transformation, resilience, and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.
Today, Damien Echols joins us to talk about life on death row, freedom after prison, the lessons that kept him alive, and what happens when your worst nightmare becomes the foundation for a remarkable second act.
Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected at prisonist.org. Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount Visit Discoverability.co. Auto Plaza Direct "Your personal car concierge!" Let them handle every detail to find your perfect car autoplazadirect.com. Author Saffron Gustafson www.mynameissaffron.com, "My Name is Saffron." Author Nevin Shetty, "Second Chance Economics: How Hiring The Formerly Incarcerated Can Unlock $1 Trillion in GDP." www.secondchanceeconomics.com

Rashmi Airan had it all—an Ivy League education, a successful law career, and a bright future.
Then everything changed.
After becoming entangled in a mortgage fraud scheme during the housing boom, Rashmi faced federal prosecution, prison, and the public collapse of the life she had spent decades building.
But prison did not become her ending.
Today, Rashmi is a globally recognized keynote speaker who has spoken for companies including Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Merck, Comcast, Caesars Entertainment, Hershey's, and GE Healthcare. Through her Rise Through It® framework and her new book ALL RISE, she helps leaders transform adversity into courage, accountability, and growth.
In this unforgettable conversation with Brent Cassity, Rashmi shares her journey from ambition and success to failure, prison, and ultimately purpose.
This is a story of owning your mistakes, rebuilding trust, and discovering that your worst moment does not have to define your future.
Show sponsors: Navigating the challenges of white-collar crime? The White-Collar Support Group at Prisonist.org offers guidance, resources, and a community for those affected at prisonist.org. Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount Visit Discoverability.co. Auto Plaza Direct "Your personal car concierge!" Let them handle every detail to find your perfect car autoplazadirect.com. Author Saffron Gustafson www.mynameissaffron.com, "My Name is Saffron." Author Nevin Shetty, "Second Chance Economics: How Hiring The Formerly Incarcerated Can Unlock $1 Trillion in GDP." www.secondchanceeconomics.com