Damon West

Sentenced to sixty-five years in a Texas prison, Damon West once had it all. Damon West, M.S. Criminal Justice, is a college professor, nationally known keynote speaker and best-selling author (with best-selling author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon) of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change. His first book and autobiography, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World, was published just three years after his release from a Texas maximum-security prison. Join Dr. Michelle and Damon as they talk about: Damon's background story and his health journey of letting go of addiction for greater wellbeing. Why the world is a pot of boiling water and you have three choices: be a carrot, be an egg, or be a coffee bean and why you should choose to be a coffee bean. His childhood and the impact of being sexually abused by his babysitter. Takeaways Damon took away from his experience with drugs and going to prison for it. Damon and his wife, Kendell's foundation, Be A Coffee Bean. The impact of COVID-19 on Damon's career as a speaker and how he had to work through the struggles of events being canceled. Why Damon began to give free presentations during the pandemic to give back to others. The differences between racism and prejudice plus what change we can make happen. Why Damon and his wife, Kendall, launched the program, Mister Coffee Bean, to help people get back on their feet after prison and teach in schools. How their program, Coffee Bean CARES, is financially helping incarcerated parents provide for their children's extracurricular activities. Mentioned In This Episode  216 – Damon West The Coffee Bean by Damon West and Jon Gordon 185 – Jon Gordon Be A Coffee Bean Foundation Mister Coffee Bean Dabo's All In Team Foundation Call Me Mister Episode 329 - Alana Muller and Johnny Waller Coffee Bean CARES Wellness On A Shoestring by Dr. Michelle Robin SCBS Sleep Campaign Your Wellness Connection SCBS 40 Days of Gratitude SCBS 31-Day Kindness Campaign Big Shifts Foundation CommunityAmerica Credit Union AdventHealth Connect with Damon via: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube