Damon West "Be The Coffee Bean", a former starting college quarterback at the University of North Texas, shares his story of overcoming addiction and incarceration. USA Today says Damon West is the modern day Shawshank Redemption. He was sentenced to 65 years in prison for his involvement in organized criminal activity of breaking into homes to feed his meth addiction. However, he had an awakening during his incarceration that arose from his conversation with a lifer about the prison yard being a boiling pot of water. Damon emerged as a changed man. He is now a Criminal Justice college professor, internationally known keynote speaker, and international bestselling author of "The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson To Positive Change." He shares his story of redemption and inspires others to transform their lives. The Coffee Bean story has inspired thousands from Wal-Mart, State Farm, to sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama and others. The U.S. Army has even incorporated the #beacoffeebean mindset into their resilience training. Damon West discusses the flaws in the American criminal justice system, including the power of prosecutors and the lack of jury understanding. He shares his experience of being sentenced to 65 years in prison and the shock and realization that followed. Damon also talks about the importance of hope and the concept of the coffee bean as a symbol of transformation and resilience. He emphasizes the need to fight all your fights and the power of living in the moment. He emphasizes the power of positive energy and servant leadership. Damon believes that your past does not define you, your windshield is a lot bigger than your rearview mirror for a reason. He discusses the challenges of reentry and the ongoing punishment ex-felons face in society. Damon's biggest takeaway is the importance of putting back into the world and helping others. He is proof of perseverance and not giving up on your goals. One of my favorite quotes is, "you don't have to win every fight, but you have to fight every fight." Show Sponsors White Collar Support Group prisonist.org START HERE, Autoplaza Direct "Your Personal Car Concierge" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brent-cassity/support