79. "Hope Had to Die So I Could Survive" | 25 Years in Prison | Brandon Baker

Some men break under pressure. Brandon Baker got forged by it. At 18, Brandon was sentenced to 75-to-life. He spent 25 years behind bars — and walked out employed, enrolled in college, published, and on a mission. In this episode, we go deep on what it really takes to survive maximum security prison at 18, why hope sometimes has to die before it can grow, and how Brandon is now training counselors at Rikers Island and performing at theaters across LA. This conversation will hit different if you've ever felt like the system wrote you off, or if you love someone who did time. We talk about: Suppressing hope to survive — then letting God resurrect it Why he says prison prepared him for society His goals: EGOT, doctorate, nonprofit, and generational wealth Why he's an abolitionist for juvenile incarceration The power of speaking things into existence 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. 📖 Brandon's book: Where I Belong — available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/09XB3iSA 📲 Follow Brandon: @bethatsuccessful81 | YouTube: Where I Belong with Brandon J Baker 📚New Books: The PRICE Method: How I Turned Pain into Purpose https://thepricemethodbook.com The Leader's PRICE: Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F 👉 📬 SUBSTACK LINK: https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezofficial 👉 Follow Carlos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial 🙏 Sponsored by Legendary Foods — high-protein snacks done right. www.eatlegendary.com #podcast #prisonreform #redemption #motivationalpodcast #secondchances #faith #incarceration #reentry #mentalhealth #hope #brandombaker #truecrime #purposedriven #blackexcellence #streetstosuccess