Podcast appearances and mentions of Scott Budnick

Now streaming on Hulu: AKAPAD The Film Buff breaks down Winner, a must-see biopic based on the true story of Reality Winner, the whistleblower who leaked classified government documents." Cast: Emilia Jones as Reality Winner Connie Britton as Billie Winner Kathryn Newton as Brittany Winner Zach Galifianakis as Ron Winner Danny Ramirez as Agent Garrick Leah Gibson as Jennifer Solari Stephanie Sy as Anne McCoy Shannon Berry as KayLee Thompson Sam Duke as Taylor Crew: Director: Susanna Fogel Writers: Kerry Howley (based on the article "Who Is Reality Winner?"), Susanna Fogel Producers: Susanna Fogel, Amanda Phillips, Shivani Rawat, Julie Goldstein, Scott Budnick, Ameet Shukla Executive Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Michael B. Clark, Connor Flanagan, Daniele Tate Melia, Peter Saraf, Alex Turtletaub, Ben Yano Cinematographer: Steve Yedlin Editor: Joseph Krings Casting Director: Deanna Brigidi Production Designer: Sara K. White Set Decorators: Mary Kirkland, Sara McCudden Costume Designer: Anastasia Magoutas Makeup Department Head: Kristy Greig Key Hair Stylist: Lexy Fabiano Original Music Composer: Heather McIntosh

Now streaming on Hulu: AKAPAD The Film Buff breaks down Winner, a must-see biopic based on the true story of Reality Winner, the whistleblower who leaked classified government documents."Cast:Emilia Jones as Reality WinnerConnie Britton as Billie WinnerKathryn Newton as Brittany WinnerZach Galifianakis as Ron WinnerDanny Ramirez as Agent GarrickLeah Gibson as Jennifer SolariStephanie Sy as Anne McCoyShannon Berry as KayLee ThompsonSam Duke as TaylorCrew:Director: Susanna FogelWriters: Kerry Howley (based on the article "Who Is Reality Winner?"), Susanna FogelProducers: Susanna Fogel, Amanda Phillips, Shivani Rawat, Julie Goldstein, Scott Budnick, Ameet ShuklaExecutive Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Michael B. Clark, Connor Flanagan, Daniele Tate Melia, Peter Saraf, Alex Turtletaub, Ben YanoCinematographer: Steve YedlinEditor: Joseph KringsCasting Director: Deanna BrigidiProduction Designer: Sara K. WhiteSet Decorators: Mary Kirkland, Sara McCuddenCostume Designer: Anastasia MagoutasMakeup Department Head: Kristy GreigKey Hair Stylist: Lexy FabianoOriginal Music Composer: Heather McIntosh

Gerald Cypert tells his emotional story from a humble position of forgiveness, acceptance and moving forward. Surrounded by disfunction during his entire young life he plunged into criminal behavior at an early age. It's hard to believe that the man I interview is the same man from the first part of his story. Thanks to two separate experiences that brought him to himself and the sheer grit of self-determination mixed with a strong intellect, he has spent the last 11 years, helping others, both inside and outside of prison find their way and rebuild their lives. Gerald tells his emotional story that will truly touch your heart. Sponsors & Partners The Other Side Academy - theothersideacademy.com My Story Matters / Captain Your Story - mystorymatters.org 00:00:00 - Gerald Cypert00:01:18 - The Other Side Academy 00:01:34 - My Story Matters 00:02:34 - Drugs Hidden in the Christmas Tree 00:08:35 - Moving to CA to live with Mom 00:09:27 - Molested by a Break-in 00:12:30 - Reacting/Adapting Without the Proper Care 00:18:58 - Taking Criminal Behavior into Adulthood 00:20:48 - From Cocaine to Meth 00:23:38 - Convicted for Stealing 00:30:10 - Getting Stabbed 32x in Prison 00:33:48 - Killing a Man  00:36:48 - Losing Hope & Sinking into HIs Sentence 00:38:40 - The Impact of Scott Budnick & a Creative Writing Group 00:47:09 - Losing His Mother & Becoming a Certified Addiction Counselor 00:48:57 - Requesting a Sentence Modification 00:55:58 - Getting Out! 00:57:09 - “You can get anything out of your life!”

The Lives and Stories of the Wrongfully Convicted _______________ Welcome back listeners. There is so much left to cover. In upcoming episodes, we will explore topics like Junk Science, Plea deals, Eyewitness Misidentifications, and Evidence Preservation. There is an amazing lineup of guests. We will hear from real-life exoneree Amanda Knox, Oscar nominated filmmaker Matthew Cook, Hollywood producer Scott Budnick, and famed attorney David Rudolph from The Staircase, a Netflix documentary.  So stay tuned... The first episode of season 2, ‘Zavion's Story' drops April 11th.

Working in the entertainment industry requires the resilience to advocate for impact. From the stories we tell to the staff on production, every aspect of entertainment should usher in diversity, equity, and inclusion. This week on HBCU IN ENTERTAINMENT, we want to introduce you to an amazing American film producer who creates impact-driven entertainment, Scott Budnick. Scott Budnick is a film producer, Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and CEO of 1Community. As the Executive Vice President of Todd Phillips' Green Hat Films, Budnick produced Old School, Due Date, and the highest-grossing R-rated comedy trilogy in film history, The Hangover, which grossed over $1.4 billion. On top of spearheading some amazing projects, which we'll talk about today, Scott is also a fierce advocate for social justice and works to attain a fairer judicial system. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hbcuinentertainment/message

Recapping on the first 4 episodes, Nick Warner of Nick Warner Consulting invites Chaz Volk of Mr. Thrive Media to join him on an insightful commentary. In this live reaction, Chaz highlights the lessons learned from guests Matt Cate, Scott Budnick, Laura Cole, and Anthony Williams.  ---------- GUEST: Chaz Volk | Mr. Thrive Media HOST: Nick Warner | Nick Warner Consulting Previous Guests: Matt Cate| Cate Consulting Scott Budnick | One Community, LLC Laura Cole | Cole Pro Media Anthony Williams | LinkedIn: Anthony C. Williams | Twitter @ACalWilliams ---------- Thanks to our sponsors: Shulz Brick & Rogaski Ships and Trips Travel Onymous Media, inc. 3 Bridges Consulting --------- This podcast is produced by Mr. Thrive Media. Learn more at www.MrThrive.com | IG: @MrThriveMeda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Budnick might be best known for producing The Hangover trilogy, one of the most successful R-rated comedy franchises ever. But making frat-boy comedies and spending years among ladder-climbers and clout-chasers in Hollywood left Budnick wanting. “I just felt empty inside,” he tells Art of Power's Aarti Shahani. Budnick tells Shahani about the turn of events that led him to become one of California's foremost advocates for criminal justice reform. He explains how he broke into the film industry — and then why he left it to found the non-profit Anti-Recidivism Coalition. And he describes his pivot back to creating films — including the 2019 Michael B. Jordan drama Just Mercy — through One Community, a production company with an explicitly political agenda.

“I'm sitting on a mountaintop in Vegas. I should be super happy, with all the movie stars, shooting Hangover 3. But instead I wish I had been there for that kid.”How does someone go from producing comedy blockbusters, like The Hangover, to helping to pass landmark criminal justice reform? For Scott Budnick, it was all about taking that first step: saying ‘YES.' He started out teaching a writing class at a juvenile hall. Now Budnick is the founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, which helps people coming out of jail and prison access support. In this episode, we dig into the ways that Scott has connected with people from ALL political backgrounds and walks of life, creating allies instead of enemies, to get amazing things done. This conversation will give you insight and inspiration as you take your own next steps toward positive change.New episodes of Uncommon Ground with Van Jones release weekly, every Wednesday.What's one small step you could take to make a big change–something you could say “YES” to? Call 347-770-2785 and leave Van a voicemail. Your message will be recorded, and may be played on a future episode of Uncommon Ground!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scott Budnick is a Hollywood producer known for his iconic comedy blockbusters Project X, War Dogs, and The Hangover. What he should also be known for is his extensive work for social justice reform along with his unparalleled passion to make the world a better place. Nick Warner of Nick Warner Consulting dissects Scott's leadership and management styles. ---------- GUEST: Scott Budnick | One Community, LLC HOST: Nick Warner | Nick Warner Consulting ---------- Thanks to our sponsors: Shulz Brick & Rogaski Onymous Media, inc. 3 Bridges Consulting --------- This podcast is produced by Mr. Thrive Media. Learn more at www.MrThrive.com | IG: @MrThriveMeda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American film producer Scott Budnick (The Hangover, Just Mercy, Respect), joins the Rock ‘N Talk crew to talk about his passion for breaking the stigma that surrounds ex-convicts, and how he became an advocate for individuals in the prison system. Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Scott also discusses how movies and TV can be used to create awareness on social issues, and help to implement positive change.  STAY CONNECTED:  Facebook | @therockntalkshow YouTube | @therockntalkshow Twitter | @TheRockNTalkSh1 Instagram | @therockntalkshow Website | http://rockntalkshow.com Find The Rock ‘N Talk Show “Beyond Backstage” LIVE every other week on Facebook Live and YouTube, at 5:30pm-6:30pm PST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bryan and Krissy discuss the Olympics, the most scandalous outfits in women's sporting and Bryan's uncanny ability to get every fact in a story wrong and make it sound convincing! Then the gang compares the commercial space race audio and the Red Bull Stratos event. 10...7...5..3..1..LIFT OFF on this episode of The Commercial Break! LINKS:Watch this episode on YoutubeTCBTV-minusSponsorFUM (Use Code TCB)MEMPHO Music Fest (Oct 1st-3rd 2021)Subscribe to The Commercial Break Podcast Youtube ChannelNew Episodes on Tuesdays and now Fridays everywhere!Text or leave us a message: +1 (470) 584.8449FOLLOW US:Instagram: @thecommercialbreak @bryangcomedy  @tcbkrissyClubHouse: @bryangreen @tcbkrissyClubHouse: The Commercial Break Club on Clubhouse! (home of live recordings)Twitter: tcbbryanFacebook: The Commercial Break PodcastYouTube: Youtube.com/TheCommercialBreakEmail: info@tcbpodcast.comA Chartable Top 100 Comedy Podcast#1 Trending Comedy Podcast Worldwide! (Chartable)#1 Trending Comedy Podcast U.S.(Chartable)An Apple Top 100 Comedy Podcast Top 1% Downloaded Podcasts, Worldwide (ListenNotes)A Hot 50 Podcast (Podcast Magazine)

Bryan is reminded of his extensive Dick Tracy movie memorabilia. Then he explains to Hoadley how underwhelming the first commercial Virgin Galactic space was...at least on T.V. Finally, they gang reviews more ghost chaser clips!LINKS:Watch this episode on YoutubeTCBTV-minusSponsorHello Fresh is a good service doing good things! (Use the Code TCB14)Apostrophe: Dinner Table Dermatology. $15 off your online appointment. Use The Code COMMERCIALMEMPHO Music Fest (Oct 1st-3rd 2021)Subscribe to The Commercial Break Podcast Youtube ChannelNew Episodes on Tuesdays and now Fridays everywhere!Text or leave us a message: +1 (470) 584.8449FOLLOW US:Instagram: @thecommercialbreak @bryangcomedy  @tcbkrissyClubHouse: @bryangreen @tcbkrissyClubHouse: The Commercial Break Club on Clubhouse! (home of live recordings)Twitter: tcbbryanFacebook: The Commercial Break PodcastYouTube: Youtube.com/TheCommercialBreakEmail: info@tcbpodcast.comA Chartable Top 100 Comedy Podcast#1 Trending Comedy Podcast Worldwide! (Chartable)#1 Trending Comedy Podcast U.S.(Chartable)An Apple Top 100 Comedy Podcast Top 1% Downloaded Podcasts, Worldwide (ListenNotes)A Hot 50 Podcast (Podcast Magazine)

Scott Budnick, the producer and financier of Just Mercy (and the director of the Hangover) speaks about the national interest coming to fuel reentry/reform/decarceration efforts in Wisconsin very soon.- To contact and for more info on The Community: https://sociatap.com/Thecommunity/- For resources and events in reentry/reform/decarceration work in Wisconsin visit the Wisconsin Decarceration Platform

Sam Lewis grew up in the 80's in South Central Los Angeles, at a time when gang culture was at an all time high around that area. Sam was convicted of first degree murder at the age of 18 and was sentenced to 15 years to life. Sam was denied parole 8 times throughout his time in prison and eventually was released in 2012. Growing up he recalls having his father around until he was 7 years old, at which time, he left him and his mom. Sam remembers his dad beating his mother and it impressed on him a belief that that was how one dealt with anger and fear. His role models growing up were all in gangs, that was the life he was living. He looked up to those who taught him how to rob, fight, and sell drugs. By the time he was a teenager, he was completely immersed in the gang lifestyle. He was shot several times, had his house shot at, and was committed to criminality. At the age of 18, he committed murder in the midst of a gang rivalry. A month after he was incarcerated his daughter was born, she never knew him outside of prison. Sam didn't decide to change right away, he had a few instances of violence inside of prison, and wasn't thinking about how much this affected him and the people around him. There was a moment after his 7th year of incarceration, his mom came to visit him and she brought his daughter. This was the first time his daughter had seen him behind the glass. She was worried about him and asked why he was there and what he did wrong? That was a big moment for Sam, realizing how much it affected his daughter and everyone else in his life. He decided to make a change for himself and the people he loved in his life. The first time he went in front of the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) was 10 years. He knew he was putting half effort towards his freedom. They denied him the first time for 4 years. It wasn't until about 2 years into that denial, that he started joining self help rehabilitative groups and worked to facilitate actions to de escalate violent situations. He joined the “We Care” program in 2005. We Care brought young kids into Soledad and gave them a chance to tell their stories. He and other leaders in the program would explain to them how they could handle difficult life situations and taught them how not to make the same mistakes they had made. Sam found his calling here and he really enjoyed helping the youth figure out how to get out of or make the best of bad situations. Sam was denied seven more times at the parole board. He finally was released from prison on January 12th, 2012. He was a little overwhelmed at first, but finally got to spend time with his daughter, his mom, and the rest of his family.  Sam cut ties with all of the gang members he was associated with and although it was a hard decision, it was one he needed to make. He was a “ranking” member at that point and other members saw it as disrespectful and he thought they might kill him because of it. Sam started to spread the message that he was once the problem that tore the neighborhood down, but now would build his community up stronger than ever. He was speaking at an event and a long time local reverend, Chip Murray, had a conversation with Sam and told him to never stop telling his story, he found it incredibly powerful and valuable to the community. After his release, Sam quickly started volunteering at an organization called Shields for Families, that helped 16 to 25 year olds get out of difficult situations in tough neighborhoods. Sam was doing such good work with them that his volunteer role quickly turned into an unpaid internship. Eventually, he met someone from the Friends Outside program for a paid internship. Sam couldn't believe he could get paid for something that he loved to do. Eventually, through some mutual friends, Sam was introduced to a movie producer by the name of Scott Budnick. Scott asked Sam to come work with him at the Anti Recidivism Coalition (ARC). Sam quickly rose through the ranks and...

After producing The Hangover and its sequels, Scott Budnick took the incredibly rare step of leaving Hollywood to work full-time on sentencing reform and keeping young people out of jail. Through his work with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, he was instrumental in passing sentencing reform and other key social justice measures in California. He's continuing in this work and is now pack in Hollywood with One Community, a production company making socially-minded entertainment. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alyssa-milano-sorry-not-sorry/message

Scott Budnick was on-track to be one of the most successful producers in Hollywood. Having worked with Todd Philips on films like Road Trip, Old School, and The Hangover, something happened to Scott that completely changed his perspective on what it means to be "successful" in life. Nowadays, Scott runs a non-profit called the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) that supports formerly incarcerated people in getting back on their feet and advocates for criminal justice reform. On today's show, Scott and John talk about what experiences led him to leave his old life and start down this new path. They also talk about how and why he's now approaching a return to filmmaking. Plus, his experiences working with actors like Will Farrell, Robert Downey Junior, Zach Galifianakis, and Scott's new film "Just Mercy."Follow John on social media!@JohnRoa@BetweenUs_PodA Jam Street Media Production

RICHIE RESEDA: Freed from prison in 2018, Richie is a music and content producer, abolitionist-feminist community organizer and the founder of Question Culture, a social impact record label. He executive produced and produced multiple songs on Defund The Sheriff (The Album) (2020), featuring Vic Mensa, Lauren Juaregui and more, to bring national support to #DefundTheSheriff Campaigns accross LA County. He produced the mini-doc/music video “YQYG” (2019) which premiered at AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2019, contributed to the Proximity art installation for the release of the Just Mercy film (2020), and is executive producer alongside Common, Greg Wells and Scott Budnick for an album featuring major and incarcerated recording artists. While serving his 10-year sentence in California prison, Richie co-founded the prison abolition organization Initiate Justice and the feminist program for incarcerated men, Success Stories, which is the subject of the 2018 CNN documentary, The Feminist on Cellblock Y. Madame Gandhi is an American electronic music producer, drummer, artist and activist. Gandhi holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, has been listed as Forbes Music 30 Under 30 and is a 2020 TED Fellow. Her music career includes being a touring drummer for artists M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, and Kehlani. Her music and activism focuses on gender liberation and fourth-wave feminism. Artists-In-Presidents: Fireside Chats for 2020 will be released weekly via podcast, virtual gallery, and social media. To visit the virtual gallery: www.artistsinpresidents.com and follow us @artistsinpresidents Sound design by Phoebe Unter & Nicole Kelly featuring Mara Lazer on saxophone. Music by DASK.

Welcome to The Prison Post. Today our guest is Michael Mendoza who is the Director of National Advocacy at the Anti Recidivism Coalition. This dynamic conversation includes Michael's transformational story, his journey to where he is today as a formerly incarcerated leader at the forefront of criminal justice reform, and his relationship with ARC founder, Scott Budnick. Michael shares his perspectives on advocacy and various new laws on the ballot this year. Join this conversation and hear Michael's views on various ballot measures. #theprisonpost #theprisonpostpodcast #CROPOrganization #workingtogethertorestorelives #thepolicyhourwithkenoliver #criminaljusticereform #restorativejustice #AntiRecidivismCoalition

Host of FOX Business Network's The Claman Countdown, Liz Claman is joined by Hollywood Executive Producer, Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and Founder and CEO of One Community Scott Budnick.  After 16 years of executive producing blockbuster Hollywood films like The Hangover, Due Date, Project X, and War Dogs, Scott Budnick left his contract at Green Hat Films to embark on a new venture. In 2013, Budnick instituted The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a non-profit committed to "[empowering] formerly and currently incarcerated people." Today, Scott has melded his commitment to criminal justice with the power of film to return to the big screen with Just Mercy, featuring Michael B. Jordan. Liz and Scott discuss the work of the ARC, the power of impactful filmmaking, and his plans for future projects. Follow Liz on Twitter: @LizClaman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Budnick is the Founder of One Community Films, the Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and one of the most successful comedy film producers in history. Scott was the Executive Producer of the Hangover film franchise and via One Community Films, the producer of Just Mercy, the feature film that details the story of Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Scott's work with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition began as an annual camping trip bringing together a few dozen formerly incarcerated young people with positive mentors to offer encouragement, guidance, and resources.  Today, ARC has grown into a support and advocacy network of more than 450 members and hundreds of volunteers, mentors, and allies committed to helping one another through reentry and advocating for a fairer criminal justice system.  ARC provides its members with mentorship, mental health services, supportive housing, access to jobs and education, opportunities to advocate for criminal justice reform, and has been responsible for changing dozens of laws that create a more humane reality for those at the bottom of our society. He joins us to discuss his circuitous journey, from producing the Hangover franchise to founding one of the leading advocacy+policy groups affecting criminal justice reform, and back again to making films and television whose stories seek to change policy by changing perceptions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

“Just Mercy” executive producer and founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Scott Budnick, and campaign ambassador for Represent Justice, Jarrett Harper, will join the program to discuss the grave impact of the pandemic on U.S. prisons.

Dr. Judy and Scott Budnick get together to talk about why he left a red-hot career in Hollywood behind to start the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a non-profit organization with the mission of ending mass incarceration, improving the community, and promoting impactful policy change. Scott is well-known for being one of the executive producers of The Hangover but after a fateful visit to Sylmar Juvenile Hall, he began to follow a different dream: to work in criminal justice reform and to provide mentorship and employment opportunities for incarcerated youth. Scott describes how he was able to have empathy and take compassionate action with a population that is largely forgotten by society, many of whom were victims of neglect, trauma, and physical or sexual abuse without positive role models to show them the way to living a responsible and meaningful life. Scott tells incredible stories of how he helped disenfranchised youth turn their life around and become productive and helpful citizens upon release, drastically reducing the stark recidivism rates that plague our country.  Scott’s heartfelt commitment and his passionate voice to this cause has attracted meaningful partnerships with legislators, politicians, movie studios, employers, and celebrities, including Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award Winning musician Common. His phenomenal activism includes continuing to provide creative resources for education and healing to inmates during the pandemic, and his triumphant return to filmmaking by partnering with Warner Bros. to create Just Mercy. This award-winning film was paired with the largest social impact initiative ever tied to a film, between a Common concert at California Rehabilitation Center to movie screenings for policy makers. Scott’s energy and enthusiasm is truly contagious, and his message of hope and positivity, especially during this challenging time amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests for racial equality, is so refreshing, incredibly timing, and sorely needed.  If you have a passion to start an initiative or want to offer help to people who are suffering, this episode will provide you with the tools you need to roll up your sleeves today and do something impactful. By learning the skills of empathy and compassionate action, you will become an expert at communication, persuade and motivate those around you, and solve problems and handle conflicts with greater ease. These skills will supercharge your own success and relationships and help you to live a purposeful, joyful life. Come along and listen in as Scott teaches all of us how we can spread our own positive messages to the world like wildfire, and how each of us can make a difference in the lives of our loved ones and our community at large. In this episode, we discuss:  Startling statistics regarding the prison system, budget, and recidivism (2:20) The moment that changed Scott’s life (3:15) Scott’s “woke” moment and the valuable lessons he learned from his parents (10:30) The shocking commonality among many incarcerated youths (12:45) The power of mentorship and why every kid need someone to show up for them (15:05) How Scott advocated for a bill to ban a juvenile life without parole in California (20:50) The rehabilitation problem in the U. S. and how we should fix it (28:50) Are there prisoners who cannot and should not be rehabilitated? (34:25) Scott’s triumphant return to filmmaking with Just Mercy and how he married his two passions (37:10) SuperCharged Tips for Empathy and Compassionate Action (42:00) https://www.drjudyho.com https://www.instagram.com/drjudyho https://twitter.com/drjudyho             https://www.facebook.com/doctorjudyho https://www.instagram.com/stage29podcasts https://twitter.com/stage29podcasts https://www.facebook.com/Stage29Podcasts   https://www.instagram.com/scottbudnick1 https://antirecidivism.org https://www.facebook.com/antirecidivismcoalition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 2! Jonathan sits down for a powerful conversation with film Producer Scott Budnick. Scott is known for his work on the Hangover Franchise and most recently the devastatingly beautiful film, Just Mercy. Scott shares regarding his journey and work regarding criminal justice reform and racial equality.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sonofapreacherman/Visit Jonathan's Website: http://www.jonathanmartinwords.com/Watch The Zeitcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdHzTuNKhTK-AZjfmkxQiwwPlease rate, review, share, and subscribe!

Today on the Venture Mentality podcast I interview Scott Budnick. Scott has helped produce many Blockbuster movies such as The Hangover, Just Mercy, Old School, Project X, War Dogs etc. Scott is now currently lobbying for criminal justice reform, as seen in the movie Just Mercy.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venture.mentality/?hl=en Check Scott Out: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottbudnick1/?hl=en https://www.representjustice.org   https://antirecidivism.org  

Guest: Scott Budnick  https://www.instagram.com/scottbudnick1/?hl=en ARC (Anti-Recidivism Coalition) https://antirecidivism.org/ Represent Justice https://www.representjustice.org/ One Community http://1communityllc.com    Audible Free Trial:  https://www.kinjazpodkast.com/audible Kin Aesthetik:  http://store.kinjaz.com/ https://www.kinjaz.com/podkast https://www.instagram.com/kinjazpodkast https://www.twitter.com/kinjazpodkast https://www.facebook.com/kinjazpodkast Host/Producer: Ben Chung - https://www.instagram.com/btek_benchung Audio/Producer:  Jeremy Lai - https://www.instagram.com/jdl2012 Producer:  Justin Kim - https://www.instagram.com/itsjuskim   This week we have film producer, criminal justice reform activist, and philanthropist, Scott Budnick in the pod! From executive producing films such as “The Hangover” franchise, “War Dogs,” and most recently “Just Mercy,” needless to say, Scott has made a firm footprint in Hollywood. As a man of vast influence and an ocean of resources, Scott practically has the ability to pour his energy wherever he wants, and chances are, things will move. Over the past handful of years, Scott’s passion for reform for the injustices that exist within our very own criminal justice system have steered him away from the film industry, and straight to the ground floor of where these issues lie. Listen as Scott walks us through where it all began, where it took a left turn, to how it circled all the way back, but with a much different intention. We all have a platform, however large or small. How we utilize that platform can be the difference of simply being a spectator to what’s happening right in front of you, to actually being a part of the force that has the power to move the needle. This one is FULL. Get ready. Jump in.

A decade ago, Scott Budnick was a producer on the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever, The Hangover. Now, he’s an executive producer of Just Mercy, which is about as serious as a movie can get. It’s the true story of an African-American Harvard Law School graduate, Bryan Stevenson, who goes to Alabama to defend inmates on death row and takes the case of a man who’s been wrongfully convicted. It’s an incredibly powerful film. Scott’s own life transformation will make you think deeply, as well.

In Just Mercy, lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) takes on the case of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who is sentenced to die for murder despite evidence proving his innocence. In the years that follow, Stevenson encounters racism and legal maneuverings as he fights for McMillian's life. In conjunction with the movie's release, Scott Budnick and Kerry Myers joined 'The Movie Zone' in studio while in town for a special screening with the Utah Jazz. Scott is the executive producer of the film and CEO of One Community, a film, TV, and new media company that focuses on creating content that effects positive social change. On behalf of Represent Justice, Kerry Myers also serves as the deputy director of the nonprofit Louisiana Parole Project. In April 1990, Kerry was wrongfully sentenced to life without parole for a crime he did not commit. After fighting for nearly three decades to establish his innocence, he was unanimously recommended for commutation and immediate release in September 2013 but was not actually released until December 2016.

Austin Horton and Adrian Leiser get together to talk movies for an hour every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday on The Zone Sports Network. Segment 1: Movie Zone Fone -1917 -Just Mercy -Like a Boss -Underwater Segment 2: Special Guests Kerry Myers and Scott Budnick In Just Mercy, lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) takes on the case of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who is sentenced to die for murder despite evidence proving his innocence. In the years that follow, Stevenson encounters racism and legal maneuverings as he fights for McMillian's life. In conjunction with the movie's release, Scott Budnick and Kerry Myers joined 'The Movie Zone' in studio while in town for a special screening with the Utah Jazz. Scott is the executive producer of the film and CEO of One Community, a film, TV, and new media company that focuses on creating content that effects positive social change. On behalf of Represent Justice, Kerry Myers also serves as the deputy director of the nonprofit Louisiana Parole Project. In April 1990, Kerry was wrongfully sentenced to life without parole for a crime he did not commit. After fighting for nearly three decades to establish his innocence, he was unanimously recommended for commutation and immediate release in September 2013 but was not actually released until December 2016. Segment 3: Reaction, wrap up

Is the American prison system the most broken part of this country? Believe it or not, prison reform might be the one issue Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Scott Budnick, the producer behind The Hangover and Just Mercy, joins Nick to elucidate the many pitfalls of the U.S. incarceration system, why over 6 million Americans are under correctional supervision, why America is the only country that jails kids for life, and why we need to start giving people a second chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In my conversation with Scott Budnick we talk about the work that's being done at Mathewson Street Friendship Prayer Breakfast in Providence, RI. The breakfast serves between 250-300 people each week and truly is a community gathered on Sunday mornings. Scott, along with the leadership of the church and all of the amazing volunteers are in the trenches and fully committed to helping improve the lives of people struggling with food insecurity and homelessness in the city. They are truly inspiring.

Featured interviews with Gretchen Peterson, the director of human resources at Dave's Killer Bread, and Hollywood producer turned prison-reform advocate Scott Budnick.   Lily Bowles, sustainability officer at Aspiration, examines which companies are exemplary when it comes to hiring a diverse workforce.

Hollywood producer, Scott Budnick, tells Michele and Igor what he really thinks about the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal. Then Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) joins to digest President’s Trump’s intention to decertify the Iran deal this week and to respond to the mass shooting last week in Las Vegas. Murphy says members of Congress who are unwilling to act to pass legislation are complicit in gun-related deaths in this country.

On Episode 7, Common talks about his Emmy nomination and gives a call to action on criminal justice reform with Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Scott Budnick. We also talk #imwithKap and boycotting the NFL.

A voice outside the jumpsuit Part 1. Daniel interviews Carlos Monte DeLeon who is out of prison but still in CDCR custody with an ankle GPS monitor. Carlos served 17 years on a 19 year sentence he received when he was 15 years old and was released because of SB 260.  Daniel and Carlos met during a JLUSA leadership training at the USC Gould School of Law with Glen Martin and David Mensah. Carlos and Daniel discuss meeting with Human Rights Watch’s Elizabeth Calvin during a recent policy training session at ARC, acceptance, and spreading the word about available resources to the incarcerated .  Daniel briefly discusses his first trip to Sacramento to advocate for SB 394 and SB 395 and participate in the Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing where colleagues Jerome Dixon and Joel Aguilar testified. Sam Lewis, a future guest, stops in and mentions shutting down Rikers Island and turning a juvenile facility into job center. LARP (Los Angeles Re-entry Program) and Troy F. Vaughn.  Bikila Ochoa, Director of Policy at ARC, and Scott Budnick, ARC founder. www.releasedintocaptivity.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Released2cptvty Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Releasedintocaptivity/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/releasedintocaptivity/ Email Daniel: danielh@releasedintocaptivity.com Email Carlos: carlosc@releasedintocaptivity.com

Scott Budnick is best known as the executive producer of the Hangover movies, the highest grossing, R-rated comedies in history. But unknown to many, Budnick’s mission is to reform the criminal justice system. In October 2016 Budnick sat down with Lance Knobel, founder and curator of the Uncharted Festival of Ideas in Berkeley, to talk about why he founded the Anti Recidivism Coalition in 2013, an organization of very high-achieving, formerly incarcerated young adults who work to support one another while stopping the flow of men and women into the criminal justice system. Every year in Berkeley, Uncharted draws together some of the world’s leading thinkers for conversations that provoke, entertain, and attempt to shift the needle towards a better future. Uncharted is produced by Berkeley’s independent news site, Berkeleyside.  

Daniel interviews Mark “Blu” Lambert. This is Daniel’s first interview with anyone for the podcast. This interview is where it all began. Mark discusses being shot 5 times by the police, his first term and second term, Project Rebound (this program is now available outside of the Bay area), and the culture of death. Armed burglary, terroristic threats. St Nikolas, sober living, addiction, alcoholism, BA in psychology, San Francisco University, The Urban Ministry Institute, Warden Martel, college dorm, Goon Squad, Verizon, heroin balls the size of baseballs, Mr, Van Pelt, Inmate Youth Offender Program, taxi driver, Inmate Day Labor, dorm next to visiting, Fire camp behind the fence, John Irwin, restorative justice, Inmate Family Council, former inmate at President Obama’s State of the Union, education is a key, Scott Budnick, bad social model, second class citizens, Do inmates matter? Does society have a greater moral responsibility? Human life devalued. www.releasedintocaptivity.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Released2cptvty Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Releasedintocaptivity/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/releasedintocaptivity/ Email Daniel: danielh@releasedintocaptivity.com Email Carlos: carlosc@releasedintocaptivity.com

Positive Connections: Through Justin I met Scott Budnick. Through Scott Budnick, I met Chris Redlitz. And through Chris Redlitz, I met Tulio Cardozo. Tulio was one of the first graduates from The Last Mile. As I had done, Tulio made some bad decisions as a young man, becoming involved with drugs. While incarcerated, however, Tulio chose to reinvent himself. Through textbooks, he trained himself how to code computers. Those efforts brought Tulio to the attention of Chris Redlitz and Chris authorized Tulio to participate in The Last Mile training program. When Tulio concluded his prison sentence at San Quentin, Chris offered Tulio an internship so he could learn more about working with technology companies. As it turns out, Tulio also followed the pattern of masterminds. He lived deliberately, and his deliberate actions led to success. Although I didn’t know much about technology, Tulio had a wealth of information. He invested hundreds of hours helping me to build MichaelSantos.com. Whenever I had a technology problem, I could turn to Tulio for immediate advice. If he didn’t know how to solve the problem, he used his resources to help me find solutions. The human connections, I learned, were incredibly valuable to accelerate growth. What type of human connections are you making?What could you do today to build stronger, more valuable connections tomorrow?In what ways will the connections you build contribute to your success?   Quora Besides introducing me to Tulio, Chris Redlitz also introduced me to the importance of social media. Chris and Beverly used Quora as a resource for teaching prisoners at San Quentin through The Last Mile program. Historically, prisons isolated people inside from the broader population. Yet Chris recognized that if people were going to overcome the challenges they would face upon release, they would need to build stronger connections. Although prisoners didn’t have direct access to the Internet, through volunteers, they could use Quora to interact indirectly. Quora was a question-based website. Anyone with access to the Internet could use the Quora website to ask questions. Then, the millions of people who used Quora could answer. Those who responded with subject-matter expertise would receive more attention. When people asked questions about prison on the website, The Last Mile team would print out those questions and bring them into San Quentin. Men who participated in The Last Mile program had subject-matter expertise on such topics, and they handwrote responses to questions that people asked. Then team members from The Last Mile would convert the prisoner responses into a digital file and publish responses on the Quora website. “You should open a profile on Quora,” Chris advised me during our first meeting. “Start answering questions about prison.” When I returned to my computer, I logged onto the Quora website and began to explore. In the search field I typed prisons and I saw all types of questions. I started to answer, always being authentic about the perspective from which I was writing. Responses I wrote have generated more than 1.1 million views, broadening my social network. As a consequence of that exposure to my writing, many opportunities opened that would advance the career I was trying to build. Several editors of other publications contacted me and asked permission to publish more of my writing. Gizmodo, a popular technology website published one of my articles, generating thousands of new connections. An editor from The Daily Dot, another online news service invited me to contribute articles. I received invitations to contribute new articles for many publications. That publicity brought me to the attention of Dr. Alan Ross, a professor at the University of California in Berkeley. “I’ve got more than 700 students who want you to come speak about your experiences in prison,” he said. I’m hoping that readers who are in jails or prisons will see the pattern. Many opportunities opened for me when I transitioned from the prison in Atwater to the halfway house in San Francisco. But had I not prepared myself during the decades I served as a prisoner, none of those opportunities would’ve opened. When I went to prison I didn’t have any academic credentials and I didn’t know how to write a coherent sentence. I certainly couldn’t stand in front large audiences and give one-hour lectures, or write for publication. Yet as a consequence of my exposure to Socrates, I learned about Socratic questioning. Instead of focusing on my own struggles, I focused on what my avatars would expect. By anticipating their expectations, I had reason to avoid the negativity and criminal influences. Instead, I focused on educating myself, on contributing to society, and on building strong support networks. Those decisions led to new relationships and new opportunities. They empowered me through the time I served in prison and they eased my adjustment into society upon my release.   Social Networks: As a consequence of my experience with Quora, my social media profile grew. By posting regularly on Facebook, thousands of people ‘liked’ my public page. On Twitter, my followers grew into the thousands. On LinkedIn, I could build an online resume where anyone could read about my passion for improving outcomes of our nation’s prison system. More than 1,000 people followed my progress through LinkedIn. By building a larger social network I could claim more authenticity. Instead of hiding from my criminal background, I lived transparently. Every step I took had a relationship to the successful life that I wanted to build. Since I anticipated that others would judge me for the bad decisions I made when I was 20, or the decades I served in prison, I wanted to provide them with more information to influence their judgment. By populating the record with my writing and speeches, I could influence them. And by influencing them, I could open more opportunities. Some of those opportunities brought financial resources, many did not. Either way, every investment of time that I made to spread awareness about the criminal justice system paid enormous dividends. They brought experience that I needed, they brought new relationships, and they brought new opportunities for me to persuade other people that I was worthy of their time. The stronger my social network became, the more opportunities opened. During the time that I served in the halfway house, NBC Bay Area Proud profiled my work, PBS NewsHour featured me on a segment, and organizers of a TEDx conference in Silicon Valley invited me to present. With that exposure, I built more credibility. I could then leverage the credibility to further my quest to improve outcomes of our nation’s criminal justice system, while simultaneously working to build a career.

5. Support Networks Accelerate Growth Opportunities Earlier, I wrote about rules in the halfway house that required me to have a job. So long as I had a job that paid a steady paycheck, my case manager in the halfway house authorized me to leave. My friend Lee was more like a sponsor for me than an employer. He set a schedule for me to work 10—hour shifts, Monday through Saturday. I reported to an office and sat at a desk, but instead of doing work for Lee, I focused on creating a business. First, I needed Lee to see the vision. I persuaded Lee that our nation’s commitment to mass incarceration was one of the greatest social injustices of our time. Although it would take time, I convinced him that a need existed for programs and services to help people emerge from prison successfully. He encouraged me to develop a plan that would lead to a sustainable business providing products and services that would improve outcomes of our nation’s prison system.   Technology: My first challenge was learning how to use technology effectively. The world had changed during the decades that I served. I went to prison at a time when Bill Gates was talking about a time when there would be a computer in every home and on every desk. When I returned to society his vision had become a reality. We didn’t only have computers in every home and on every desk, but also in everyone’s pockets. Since I’d been away during the hyper-growth era of technology, I had to learn how to use computers and the Internet effectively. Although most people used personal computers powered by Microsoft operating systems, I’d read that Apple products were easier to learn. On the Saturday after I transitioned to the halfway house, Carole and I visited the Apple store. I purchased a MacBook Pro and a 27” iMac desktop computer. Knowing that technology could help me reach a wider audience, I spent my first weeks on the job learning how to use these fascinating products. While I was in prison I didn’t have much access to computers. I read many books about the development of the Internet, search engines, social media, and software applications. Yet when I began working with my computers, I realized that I would need to invest hundreds of hours to become proficient. Fortunately, I had Carole to tutor me. When she wasn’t at the hospital, she would sit at desk beside me to work on her studies. I liked having her close by and she was always willing to assist when I had questions about technology.   Websites: I began learning about WordPress, the powerful platform for building websites. When Carole first came into my life, we purchased the domain name MichaelSantos.net because the dot-com domain wasn’t available. Carole retained a web developer to build our new website. I published thousands of articles to document progress I made through my final decade in prison. Toward the end of my journey, we were able to purchase the domain name MichaelSantos.com for $1,000 and we began making the transition from MichaelSantos.net to MichaelSantos.com. I wanted to have a central location that would demonstrate my authenticity. Since Carole was busy with her career and school work, I needed to educate myself quickly on how to use WordPress so that I could manage my own websites. I made some critical errors in the beginning. By switching hosting companies and redesigning MichaelSantos.com, I lost thousands of articles and journal entries that I’d made over the years. For decades, I wrote a daily journal entry and sent my journals home. Carole published each entry as my “daily log” on the website. I wanted people to see the path, that through hard work, an individual could triumph over prison. Unfortunately, I lost all of those records with my decision to switch from one web-hosting company to another. We pay a price for inexperience. In time, I became more fluent with WordPress and with social media.   Building Networks: Although I didn’t understand much about using technology or computer networks, my adjustment through prison gave me other skills. One prong of my adjustment strategy was building support networks. If I could build strong support networks, I believed that more opportunities would open in prison and upon release. The goal of building strong support networks influenced my Socratic questioning: What steps could I take today to influence people to believe in me tomorrow? Those types of questions influenced my adjustment. The accomplishments I made while inside persuaded other people to believe in me. I could leverage those relationships to open new relationships. For example, earlier I wrote about my friendship with Justin Paperny. Justin was a graduate from USC and he had built a career as a stockbroker. Although he made some bad decisions that resulted in his being convicted of securities fraud, Justin’s crime didn’t characterize his entire life. He’d been successful in society once and as we built our friendship, I sensed that he would be successful again. When Justin concluded his obligation he launched the Michael G. Santos Foundation and he invested time to build that nonprofit. He attended schools, workshops, and conferences that exposed him to problems people in underserved communities faced. By relaying those findings to me, I had information I could use in ways that would help us contribute solutions. Through our work, Justin met new people and he introduced those people to me. Scott Budnick was one of the people Justin brought into my support network. Scott is famous for his role as a Hollywood producer of many blockbuster films, including The Hangover series, Starsky and Hutch, and other big-budget films. Scott’s passion, however, is juvenile justice. Scott founded The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a nonprofit that strives to reduce recidivism. When I returned to society, Scott invited me to visit him in Hollywood. Rules of the halfway house, however, precluded me from being able travel. Until I concluded my obligation to the Bureau of Prisons, I could only go from the halfway house to my place of employment. Travel limitations and halfway house restrictions were a problem. Human support networks were a solution. Scott said that since I lived in San Francisco, I had to meet Chris Redlitz. Scott then wrote an introductory email to Chris and I followed up by writing Chris about my background, telling him about my vision of building a business around my journey. I wanted to teach other people how to emerge from prison successfully. Chris responded within hours and he invited me to meet him. Turns out that Chris Redlitz is an influential figure from the San Francisco Bay area. As a professional, he was a successful venture capitalist. Through his firm Transmedia Capital, Chris and his partners matched investors with technology entrepreneurs who wanted to build compelling businesses that changed the world. But in addition to providing funding, Chris also ran a series of business incubators, providing resources for technology startups. Besides his business career as a venture capitalist, Chris also had a passion for improving outcomes of our nation’s prison system. When not putting multi-million dollar investments together, he and his wife volunteered at the San Quentin state prison. Initially, he went in to give a speech about entrepreneurialism. The prisoners inspired him. Chris then went home and convinced his wife and business partner, Beverly Parenti, to join him. Together they launched The Last Mile, an organization that would invest in human beings. They created a comprehensive curriculum that would teach business principles to people in prison. Later, participants in The Last Mile could learn how to write computer code from inside of the prison system.

Through Justin I met Scott Budnick. Through Scott Budnick, I met Chris Redlitz. And through Chris Redlitz, I met Tulio Cardozo. Tulio was one of the first graduates from The Last Mile. As I had done, Tulio made some bad decisions as a young man, becoming involved with drugs. While incarcerated, however, Tulio chose to reinvent himself. Through textbooks, he trained himself how to code computers. Those efforts brought Tulio to the attention of Chris Redlitz and Chris authorized Tulio to participate in The Last Mile training program. When Tulio concluded his prison sentence at San Quentin, Chris offered Tulio an internship so he could learn more about working with technology companies.   As it turns out, Tulio also followed the pattern of masterminds. He lived deliberately, and his deliberate actions led to success.   Although I didn’t know much about technology, Tulio had a wealth of information. He invested hundreds of hours helping me to build MichaelSantos.com. Whenever I had a technology problem, I could turn to Tulio for immediate advice. If he didn’t know how to solve the problem, he used his resources to help me find solutions. The human connections, I learned, were incredibly valuable to accelerate growth.   What type of human connections are you making? What could you do today to build stronger, more valuable connections tomorrow? In what ways will the connections you build contribute to your success?     Quora Besides introducing me to Tulio, Chris Redlitz also introduced me to the importance of social media. Chris and Beverly used Quora as a resource for teaching prisoners at San Quentin through The Last Mile program. Historically, prisons isolated people inside from the broader population. Yet Chris recognized that if people were going to overcome the challenges they would face upon release, they would need to build stronger connections. Although prisoners didn’t have direct access to the Internet, through volunteers, they could use Quora to interact indirectly.   Quora was a question-based website. Anyone with access to the Internet could use the Quora website to ask questions. Then, the millions of people who used Quora could answer. Those who responded with subject-matter expertise would receive more attention. When people asked questions about prison on the website, The Last Mile team would print out those questions and bring them into San Quentin. Men who participated in The Last Mile program had subject-matter expertise on such topics, and they handwrote responses to questions that people asked. Then team members from The Last Mile would convert the prisoner responses into a digital file and publish responses on the Quora website.   “You should open a profile on Quora,” Chris advised me during our first meeting. “Start answering questions about prison.”   When I returned to my computer, I logged onto the Quora website and began to explore. In the search field I typed prisons and I saw all types of questions. I started to answer, always being authentic about the perspective from which I was writing. Responses I wrote have generated more than 1.1 million views, broadening my social network.   As a consequence of that exposure to my writing, many opportunities opened that would advance the career I was trying to build. Several editors of other publications contacted me and asked permission to publish more of my writing. Gizmodo, a popular technology website published one of my articles, generating thousands of new connections. An editor from The Daily Dot, another online news service invited me to contribute articles. I received invitations to contribute new articles for many publications. That publicity brought me to the attention of Dr. Alan Ross, a professor at the University of California in Berkeley.   “I’ve got more than 700 students who want you to come speak about your experiences in prison,” he said.   I’m hoping that readers who are in jails or prisons will see the pattern. Many opportunities opened for me when I transitioned from the prison in Atwater to the halfway house in San Francisco. But had I not prepared myself during the decades I served as a prisoner, none of those opportunities would’ve opened. When I went to prison I didn’t have any academic credentials and I didn’t know how to write a coherent sentence. I certainly couldn’t stand in front large audiences and give one-hour lectures, or write for publication. Yet as a consequence of my exposure to Socrates, I learned about Socratic questioning.   Instead of focusing on my own struggles, I focused on what my avatars would expect. By anticipating their expectations, I had reason to avoid the negativity and criminal influences. Instead, I focused on educating myself, on contributing to society, and on building strong support networks. Those decisions led to new relationships and new opportunities. They empowered me through the time I served in prison and they eased my adjustment into society upon my release.     Social Networks: As a consequence of my experience with Quora, my social media profile grew. By posting regularly on Facebook, thousands of people ‘liked’ my public page. On Twitter, my followers grew into the thousands. On LinkedIn, I could build an online resume where anyone could read about my passion for improving outcomes of our nation’s prison system. More than 1,000 people followed my progress through LinkedIn.   By building a larger social network I could claim more authenticity. Instead of hiding from my criminal background, I lived transparently. Every step I took had a relationship to the successful life that I wanted to build. Since I anticipated that others would judge me for the bad decisions I made when I was 20, or the decades I served in prison, I wanted to provide them with more information to influence their judgment. By populating the record with my writing and speeches, I could influence them. And by influencing them, I could open more opportunities. Some of those opportunities brought financial resources, many did not. Either way, every investment of time that I made to spread awareness about the criminal justice system paid enormous dividends. They brought experience that I needed, they brought new relationships, and they brought new opportunities for me to persuade other people that I was worthy of their time.   The stronger my social network became, the more opportunities opened. During the time that I served in the halfway house, NBC Bay Area Proud profiled my work, PBS NewsHour featured me on a segment, and organizers of a TEDx conference in Silicon Valley invited me to present. With that exposure, I built more credibility. I could then leverage the credibility to further my quest to improve outcomes of our nation’s criminal justice system, while simultaneously working to build a career.