At 21, Yusef Andre Wiley was sentenced to life in a California prison after growing up in the gang-ridden streets of South Central Los Angeles. After surviving violence, a year in solitary, and a near-fatal run-in with a tower guard, a single letter from his father sparked a complete 180° turn.

In this episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, Brent Cassity and Yusef walk through the journey from life sentence to reentry leader, creating self-help programs inside prison and later founding Timelist Group, a reentry and housing nonprofit helping formerly incarcerated people with jobs, housing, education, and community. He is the author of the book "If I Knew Then."

If you’ve ever wondered whether real change is possible after a long sentence, this conversation is a masterclass in hope, responsibility, and total commitment to change.

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. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

What happens when your worst fear becomes your reality… and somehow becomes the launchpad for a popcorn empire?

In this powerful episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, Brent Cassity sits down with Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, to unpack how a honors grad from Canada went from international development and corporate sales… to being groomed by a boyfriend, caught smuggling cocaine back from St. Lucia, and sentenced to four years in a Canadian prison.

Emily shares the raw details of how quickly life can spin out of control, what it was like to be arrested at the airport, face her family in shackles, and navigate the Canadian prison system. She opens up about addiction, bad decisions, shame, and the brutal uncertainty of house arrest and sentencing.

But this isn’t just a story about a fall — it’s about a comeback. Inside prison, Emily started experimenting with popcorn recipes, listening to other women’s stories, and dreaming up a brand that would stand for second chances. That prison-born idea became Comeback Snacks — a popcorn company that now sells in over 1,200 retail stores, hires formerly incarcerated people, and uses bold flavors to spark conversations about redemption and prison reform.

From building a business out of a halfway house kitchen to speaking on stages, producing documentaries, and becoming a voice for fair-chance hiring, Emily proves that mistakes are universal — and so are comebacks. If you’ve ever wondered whether your worst decisions have to define you, this episode will hit home.

Listen in as Brent and Emily talk prison, purpose, entrepreneurship, Comeback Snacks, and what it really takes to rebuild your life after a conviction.

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. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"

What happens when your worst fear becomes your reality—and you decide to ask, “Why not?” instead of “Why me?”

In this episode of Nightmare Success In and Out, host Brent Cassity sits down with Rusty (Rustin D.) Pangburn—author of Mindset Matters, founder of Why Not Mindset, motivational speaker, and CDL truck driver—to unpack a remarkable second-chance story. Rusty went from running the streets to serving a 60-month federal sentence, from 480+ lbs to 189 lbs, and from “inmate number” to mentor, author, and nonprofit leader helping justice-impacted people reenter with confidence.

We dig into:

• The “Why Not” question that rewired Rusty’s life and inspired his book & nonprofit

• How he used walking, running, and routine to lose 300+ lbs inside

• RDAP, mindset shifts, and preparing for life after the gate

• Finding a career path in trucking (CDL) and building a future with his wife as team drivers

• Writing Mindset Matters and the “Ripple Effect” chapter—why small actions change lives

• Creating an AI-produced song to capture his story and mission

If you’re looking for hope, practical reentry insight, and proof that mindset matters, this one’s for you.

📘 Rusty’s book: Mindset Matters
🌐 Nonprofit: WhyNotMindset.net
🎙️ Subscribe for weekly comeback stories & share with someone who needs a second chance.

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. Discover support today at Prisonist.org Protect your online reputation with Discoverability! Use code NIGHTMARE SUCCESS for an exclusive discount on services to boost your digital image and online reputation. Visit Discoverability.co and secure your online presence today. Skip the hassle of car shopping with Auto Plaza Direct. They’ll handle every detail to find your perfect vehicle. Visit AutoPlazaDirect.com "Your personal car concierge!"