NEW EPISODE IS LIVE! Ep. 20: Born into Poverty: Jerry's Story of Survival & Resilience

Join Tracy and Jerry for an incredibly raw and powerful conversation that goes beyond resilience. Jerry shares his unimaginable upbringing – growing up in abject poverty as one of nine children, stealing food to survive, navigating violent streets, witnessing murder, and fighting for his life from a young age.

This episode is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome the darkest of circumstances. Jerry's story is not just about surviving trauma, but about finding an unbreakable strength and learning profound lessons that shaped him into the man he is today.

In this gripping episode, you'll hear about:
Growing up in a household of 11 people in a 2.5-bedroom house.
Stealing food to survive as a child.
Working and paying taxes since the age of 11.
The shocking realities of violence, heroin dens, and gang life in 1970s Portland.
bGetting robbed and nearly killed at 14, and hearing a life-changing voice.
Surviving a screwdriver stabbing at 19.
Witnessing a gang murder and seeing life drain from a body.
The mantra: I am who I am because of where I come from, and in spite of where I come from.
How resilience is built through continuous survival and self-reliance.



Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction to Jerry: Beyond Resilience
1:00 - Jerry's Mantra: Who I Am Because & In Spite Of
2:10 - Early Life: Child #7, Mother's Sacrifice & Abject Poverty
4:05 - Stealing Food to Survive as a Kid
6:15 - Working & Paying Taxes Since Age 11 (Club Sandwich Story)
11:00 - Growing Up Poor in the 70s/80s vs. Today
13:45 - Violence & Heroin Dens at 7 Years Oldb(Protecting Brother in Public Bathrooms)
17:40 - Survival Lessons: Learning the Hard Way** (150 Fights)
19:10 - Robbed & Left for Dead at 14 (Broken Ribs, Nose)
21:30 - The Life-Changing Voice: "Everything is Your Fault."
25:00 - Losing Vision in One Eye at 14
26:30 - Screwdriver Stabbing at 19 (Surviving a Liver Stab)
30:30 - Witnessing a Gang Murder at School (10 ft Away)
33:20 - Becoming Numb to Violence: A Way of Life
34:50 - Living in a Flop House with Addicts and Hookers
36:00 - Early Marriage & Kids: Trying to Break the Cycle
37:30 - The Cycle of Anger & Self-Sabotage
39:00 - Finding Help & Therapy: I'm Not Crazy"
41:40 - The Importance of a Good Therapist
43:15 - A Father's Responsibility & Breaking Generational Trauma
45:00 - If You Don't Change, You'll Be Like Everyone Else (The Voice Revisited)
47:00 - The Ongoing Journey of Healing
48:30 - Finding a New Perspective & Forgiveness
50:00 - Jerry's Advice for Survivors
51:40 - The Power of Taking Responsibility
53:00 - Conclusion & Final Thoughts

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