#55 - Briana Calhoun - Hope On The Inside

In this episode, we sit down with Briana Calhoun, a Louisiana-born artist, teacher, mother, and founder of the nonprofit Hope on the Inside. Briana shares her extraordinary journey from growing up in a musical family to battling addiction, facing incarceration, and ultimately rebuilding her life. Briana opens up about how her experience in prison gave her a second chance, the struggles of overcoming addiction, and the powerful transformation that followed. Today, Briana uses her platform not only to create music but also to provide hope and support to inmates through her nonprofit work. Co-founded with country music legend Kix Brooks, Hope on the Inside brings music and mentorship to inmates, helping them rediscover self-worth and purpose. Tune in to hear Briana’s honest reflection on her past, her thoughts on rehabilitation, and the inspirational work she’s doing to change lives. 00:00:00 Intro 00:06:48 One of the People Who Used Drugs As A Child 00:13:15 First Run-in With The Law 00:17:10 The First Time I Was Arrested For Shoplifting 00:22:05 Raising Money for Drug Rehab 00:27:00 Women on the Road to Sobriety 00:32:43 Prisons: The Good Things 00:37:36 Was prison where you found yourself? 00:45:03 Was There a defining moment when you were in prison 00:49:14 When You Were Released From Prison, Did You Fool Yourself? 00:55:15 How I got my teaching certification in Louisiana 01:00:11 Teacher Gets Recognition For Her Work 01:07:56 "I Should've Known" 01:14:34 Tom Petty on Songwriting 01:23:31 "Find Your Gift" 01:32:54 Where to Contact Hope on the Inside?