Episode 85: From Prison to Purpose: Jade Laws on Work, Budgeting & Starting Over

John sits down with Jade Laws, a new team member who came home in January 2025 after 8.9 years incarcerated. In this candid conversation, Jade shares the real reentry journey—applications and offers pulled after background checks, rebuilding family relationships, and the grind of saving every dollar to move into her first apartment. She talks about skills she gained inside (MVD call center, B2B sales), why meal prep and budgeting matter, and the mindset shift that keeps her moving forward: don’t go back; one foot in front of the other. They compare men’s and women’s experiences coming home, the power of soft skills, and how employers can create real second-chance opportunities. If you’re starting over—or hiring people who are—this episode is a field guide to resilience, work ethic, and hope. Highlights: Getting hired after incarceration: the real obstacles Building soft skills that win jobs Budgeting, meal prep, and avoiding “make-up” spending Reconnecting with family while staying focused on goals Why women’s reentry paths can look different—and what helps