Reentry Reframed focuses on the journeys of individuals who are returning to the community after being incarcerated. Our goal is to reframe the way reentry is perceived while giving hope to those going through this process. We strive to inform society of the obstacles justice-involved individuals face while gathering like minds to systematically develop a solution. This podcast is sponsored by Mirror.
…
continue reading
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Eliza Barr describes her childhood as quite typical for the most part. Her parents were very protective of their large family of seven children. Reflecting on this, Eliza believes this was likely due to her parents experiencing “intense childhoods” they wanted to shield their children from. At the time of her birth, E…
…
continue reading
This episode is incredibly special because Heather is sharing her journey for the first time on a public platform. Heather will tell you, “Hope is everything,” and we could not agree more. Born raised in South Central California, Heather DiDomenico Graves recalls what impacted her childhood most was childhood obesity. Reflecting, she describes how …
…
continue reading
Judge Stephen Bough joins us for a special episode providing perspective from his side of the courtroom. Judge Bough was nominated by President Obama in 2014 to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States Court for the Western District of Missouri. In more recent years, Judge Bough presided over Reentry Court for the Western Distri…
…
continue reading
Dustin Moore grew up in an idyllic setting in San Diego, California, where he surfed and lived the “country club” lifestyle. He claims his childhood was one of privilege and care, and he gravitated towards any sport he could be involved with. Starting college, that is when his life started to turn course; regarding addiction, Dustin remarks this is…
…
continue reading
Sheesh! What a wild ride! This past year has “kinda” been one for the books. As MG and K. Shook reflect on previous episodes, guests, new program initiatives, and just downright nonsense, this episode is a lot of fun. With thirty episodes published and going strong, Reentry Reframed continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Second chances are a …
…
continue reading
As the first face welcoming those seeking sobriety walking through the doors of Topeka Residential Treatment, LaShanda Daniels says, “When you’re here, you’re family.” Emulating the ‘open arms’ approach of Mirror’s beloved director who passed away in 2020, Richard Gilchrist, LaShanda explains how she carries on his legacy every single day. LaShanda…
…
continue reading
From a young age, Nathan Voss recalls struggling in school. Eventually, he was prescribed medication to help him focus while learning. It did not take long for Nathan to realize his medication was a hot commodity he could trade for other medication, such as opiates, to feed his addiction. While his passion was in music, he spiraled deeper in his ad…
…
continue reading
As a youth, Fred spent a great deal of time moving around due to being the youngest child in a military family. Following the separation of his parents, Fred and his mother settled in El Paso, Texas where his home life would feel anything but safe. As his mother's addiction spiraled out of control, Fred sought refuge in the streets. Having a strong…
…
continue reading
Olivia Penman, newly Mrs. Olivia Herrman is someone you can find just about anywhere you look in the recovery community celebrating and supporting others. Olivia exudes kindness and love everywhere she goes. When asked what she was like as a youth, Oliva reflected she was not quite sure who she was because it would really depend on who she was arou…
…
continue reading
This incredible episode features Seth Dewey, a man who is working hard to ‘disrupt and dismantle’ the systems surrounding Substance Use Disorder to better serve individuals. Prior to being the Health Educator for Reno County, Seth remarks he qualified for his current position by turning his record into his resume. With his perspective, passion, and…
…
continue reading
In this episode, Adam Cobuluis and Nick Casarona ‘flip the script’ on Shook and MG. Earlier this summer, Nick and Adam reached out with a request to do a podcast “takeover” to get to know the ladies of Reentry Reframed better. Well, they quickly found out Melissa wears her heart on her sleeve- it did not take long to get the tears flowing. Instead …
…
continue reading
With more than 30 years of experience as a U.S. Department of Justice Federal Law Enforcement Officer, 26 of the 30 years behind federal prison walls, Rodney Harmon shares his incredible perspective on this episode. As a Corrections Officer, Rodney would remind the men, “You are a hero to someone.” During thousands of discussions with men who were …
…
continue reading
From using together to losing together, Ashley and Sean share their story on this episode with openness and raw honesty in hopes of reaching others. Ashley describes her struggle and ultimate despair stemming from her substance use while pregnant and as a new mother. Ashley and Sean also share their experience navigating the foster care and court s…
…
continue reading
On this episode, Tre’Jor Hopkins, savvy business owner, shares the ins and outs of starting his own business. His food truck, Flavor Wagon 785, is a treasure in Topeka for those who are looking for a healthy, fresh, delicious meal on the go. What makes Tre’Jor’s food truck even more incredible is the road that led to his now successful venture. Arr…
…
continue reading
Facing nearly 20 years in prison, Adam received news his two young boys would be in state custody under the supervision of KVC. Instead of losing hope, Adam knew he would one day be reunited with his boys. With steadfast determination, Adam began the process of reunification from foster care with his children after the case was dismissed. Fresh out…
…
continue reading
From a quite normal childhood, being involved in numerous school activities and doing well in the classroom, Marcus Pitts' life slowly faded into one of despair, and a life he despised. He created a persona that drew others in, finding himself to be a “people pleaser.” Continuing into the lifestyle of popular activities, such as becoming a member o…
…
continue reading
Growing up in small-town Kansas, Misty endured a traumatic childhood. Being surrounded by the drug-induced chaos of her parents, she struggled to feel supported. With the effects of her childhood lingering into adulthood, she found herself repeating the cycle of domestic violence and addiction which spiraled even further out of control following th…
…
continue reading
Growing up, John Cantrell’s life was filled with limitless opportunities for the future. As a teenager, Cantrell quickly learned he was never ready for the party to stop like it did for others. This fast-paced lifestyle caught up with him in college as he constantly searched for ways to fill a void within himself. By the age of 22, Cantrell was fac…
…
continue reading
Jennifer Wolfe started her life off living the “American Dream.” Following a traumatic event, her reality was completely altered at the age of 7. Unable to process the drastic change in a healthy way, Jennifer began to act out as a child. Becoming enveloped in a lifestyle fueled with rage, she spent her adolescent years in juvenile detention. At th…
…
continue reading
Born in a small town in Illinois to teenage parents, Kasey Kern describes her life as tumultuous and filled with chaos. Kasey’s outlook and attitude is nothing short of beautiful grace as the love she has for her family radiates throughout her story. She describes how generational trauma altered not just her life but reflects on her family tree of …
…
continue reading
Born in Los Angeles, Luis Leyva’s life had a rocky start. At the age of 15, Luis was initiated into his neighborhood gang following a traumatic experience that stewed up a hatred for the opposing neighborhoods. Through this lifestyle, he became involved in the juvenile justice system which continued throughout his adult life. Ultimately, becoming a…
…
continue reading
Pointing out one memento from a friend, she said, “He calls me CAPY: Catholic Alcoholic Patricia from Yonkers.” As Trish walked me around her apartment, her excitement was palpable! As she explained, this is the first time she has lived on her own this century. At nearly 70-years-old, Trish’s life has been full of twists and turns, highs and lows, …
…
continue reading
As we reflect on our 12th episode posting, we are so incredibly grateful for your support! As we near 1,000 downloads, we wanted to jump on and share some updates with you all! This episode has some behind the scenes and the “why” behind what we do. In this episode, there is a hidden gem contained within you will need to hear for yourself on how we…
…
continue reading
Melissa Goldsmith has 26 years of experience working in the criminal justice field, with 23 being with U.S. Probation in the District of Kansas. She is the Assistant Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer and oversees the program initiatives. Recognizing the importance of reentry services, she assisted in developing the Pretrial Orientation Program, B…
…
continue reading
Nick Casarona, a talented athlete with a bright future ahead, graduated high school with his “ticket out” of Topeka. After accepting a scholarship in Florida to compete on a diving team, Nick eagerly awaited his opportunity to shine and make others proud. Unfortunately, a devastating twist of fate ended his dreams of being a collegiate athlete. Fro…
…
continue reading
Social butterfly, Shawn, enjoyed the glamorized nightlife scene until it led to a path of addiction. Ultimately, Shawn was sentenced to federal prison for two separate convictions totaling the better part of a decade. Shawn, a transgender individual who identifies as a woman, shares her journey through the justice system. In this episode, she break…
…
continue reading
Starting at the tender age of 13, Jodi’s life tumbled down a broken road as her 20-year addiction to methamphetamine began. Learning the pain she was trying to numb by using drugs was actually amplifying her trauma, Jodi offers tremendous wisdom and guidance for others facing addiction. She describes wanting to be there for her children, and for ot…
…
continue reading
With 22 years of experience working inside a federal penitentiary, Thiessen shares a treasure trove of knowledge in this episode. After decades of working in the field of corrections, her passion for helping others has only grown. As she thinks outside of the box to create innovative programs at the prison, she exudes enthusiasm for finding impactf…
…
continue reading
By the age of 19, Emmanuel "Manny" Herron entered the federal prison system. Still a teenager, he faced a sentence of 180 months (15 years) in prison. Manny describes his life prior to prison being one of poverty, grief, and anger; a life where he felt lost. Upon entering the federal system, Herron was dyslexic and had not learned to read. Finding …
…
continue reading
Dr. Donald Denney, Vice President of General Services for Mirror, Inc., joins Melissa Goodman on this episode of Reentry Reframed. Dr. Denney holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During the first part of his career, Dr. Denney spent 17 years working as a Psychologist at the United States Penitentiary, Lea…
…
continue reading
John Zollicoffer, a U.S. Veteran and former police officer, lived a life of turmoil and crime stemming from his addiction to crack. His parents originally hoped the military would help them to escape the deep south, Jim Crow era. Although he had good role models, early trauma brought him to a life of “madness” in his own words. John walks us throug…
…
continue reading
Social work is one of the most important career paths, especially in the world of reentry. As corrections and reentry services move forward, criminal justice and social work backgrounds have intersected and overlapped to better serve this population. To build rapport with individuals and guide them through one of the most important transitions in l…
…
continue reading
By the age of 17, Gordon Smith struggled with substance use disorder and undiagnosed mental health concerns. Stemming from his addiction, the decisions he made led him to serve nearly a decade in prison. Taking us through his journey of recovery and reentry, he is now pursuing his dreams and helping reduce recidivism from the other side of the bars…
…
continue reading
The process of reentering society after incarceration is shrouded in mystery. In this episode, Melissa Goodman, Vice President of Correctional Services, provides insight on how a federal halfway house (Residential Reentry Center) operates. Goodman describes the services provided while also bringing attention to the importance of our community comin…
…
continue reading