Eric Van Buren grew up in Washington, DC in a stable home with hardworking parents and a strong family foundation, but his life took a turn after high school when fighting and drug dealing pulled him into the streets. After being arrested on a state murder charge and beating the case, Eric thought the worst was behind him — until the federal government indicted him on a major drug conspiracy. The feds sentenced Eric to life in prison, and he went on to serve 19 years inside some of the most dangerous federal prisons in the country, fighting to survive both mentally and physically. In this episode, Eric breaks down how a good kid ended up with a life sentence, what day-to-day survival in high-security federal prison is really like, and how he ultimately got his sentence reduced after nearly two decades behind bars. This is a raw, unfiltered story about choices, consequences, and redemption inside the federal prison system.

Anthony Page grew up in West Virginia and was raised by his grandparents before getting involved in selling drugs, a path that eventually led to federal charges. In this episode, Anthony breaks down how the feds caught him, what it was like being sentenced, and serving five years in a Kentucky federal prison camp. He shares real insight into federal prison life in the 1990s, the mental shift that prison forced on him, and how that experience changed his outlook for good. After completing his sentence, Anthony rebuilt his life, stayed out of trouble, and today runs a merchandise company created to support and represent formerly incarcerated people, proving that you don’t have to go back to prison to move forward.

Leo Leonardo is a Rhode Island native who got caught up in the system at a young age, facing repeated arrests that pushed him out of school and into the workforce—before turning to selling drugs when legitimate options fell apart. His path led to a federal drug case, time in both state and federal prison, and some of the harshest consequences behind the walls, including segregation (SEG) and maximum-security prison after continued trouble inside. After his release, Leo struggled to stay straight and was hit with additional gun charges, showing how hard it is to break cycles once the system has its grip. In this raw true-crime interview, Leo breaks down how the feds built their case, what life is really like in max prison and SEG, and the long-term consequences of early choices—an unfiltered look at crime, punishment, and life after prison.

Joseph De Gregorio was raised in a good family and built a successful career on Wall Street, but the 2008 market crash derailed everything. After losing his footing, he started his own business, which eventually turned into a fraud scheme—a decision he ultimately took responsibility for by coming clean and turning himself in to authorities. At the same time, Joseph was battling a severe alcohol addiction, drinking himself to the point of needing a liver transplant. He was later sentenced to federal prison, where he faced harsh conditions and medical challenges while serving time in a federal medical center prison. After his release, Joseph reinvented his life, dedicating himself to helping others navigate the justice system through prison consulting and sentence mitigation work, turning his darkest chapter into a mission to help people avoid the same mistakes.

Ernie Leon shares a story of survival, violence, and redemption. Growing up in Arizona, Ernie fell into addiction and gang life at a young age, which led to an armed robbery conviction and time in the Arizona prison system. After getting into trouble behind the walls, he was sent to maximum-security prison, where survival became a daily battle. Following his release, tragedy struck when Ernie witnessed his brother get shot and killed, and Ernie himself was shot and paralyzed. Despite everything, he was later sent back to Arizona max prison on another armed robbery case. In this conversation, Ernie breaks down the realities of Arizona maximum-security prisons, the consequences of street life, and what it takes to keep going after losing everything.