** Pre-interview process ** | Thomas Egbert

My Pre-Interview Process A day before—sometimes the day of—the podcast, I carve out several hours to sit with my guest in complete intimacy. No cameras, no microphones, just my notebook and two humans sharing a space. With nothing but curiosity and a pen, I guide my guest through their story, capturing the raw details that will become our roadmap. We explore the emotional landscape, identify the moments that changed everything, and uncover the universal truths hidden within their personal journey. Some of the most profound conversations of my life have emerged from these sessions. There's something sacred about this process to me—the trust a human places in me to handle their story with care, the vulnerability required to excavate painful memories, the honor of witnessing someone's truth unfold in real time. I'm endlessly grateful for the souls that let me capture their stories. Decade-Long Fight for Freedom What happens when the system designed to protect us becomes the very thing that destroys us? Thomas Egbert was 21 years old—a certified mechanic with no criminal history and everything to live for—when he was sentenced to 20 years for a crime he didn't commit. While the actual shooter walked away with a six-year plea deal and surviving three. Thomas found himself facing two decades in maximum security hell. For seven brutal years, he navigated the razor's edge of a level-four prison yard. Racial riots. Daily violence. The systematic stripping away of hope. All while his young children grew up without their father. But Thomas refused to surrender. In the darkest corners of that concrete tomb, he found unlikely mentors—lifers who pointed him toward the prison law library with words that would change everything: "Nobody's going to get you out of here but yourself." For years, Thomas became his own lawyer, studying case law by day and dodging violence by night. Appeal after appeal, motion after motion, until finally—after serving over ten years for someone else's crime—his conviction was overturned. But perhaps the most remarkable twist was yet to come. While Thomas fought for his freedom, his first love discovered his name while working as a child support enforcement officer. She wrote. She waited. She believed. Today, they're building the life that was stolen from them. Have you ever wondered how someone survives losing everything unjustly and still finds the strength to rebuild? Listen to this raw, unflinching journey through our broken justice system—and proof that even in our darkest moments, hope can find a way to survive. Music by Quie Support the show Contact & Info: www.hangingwithhumans.com https://poplme.co/hash/P5oM9JFj/1/dash Support the Podcast: https://gofund.me/2a99e9b7 Video Podcast : https://www.YouTube.com/@hangingwithhumans https://rumble.com/c/c-2507620 Special Thanks: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your important life to listen, It means the world to me. #HangingWithHumans #Podcast #HWHP In honor of those who served our country. During times of peace and war. Those who gave the supreme sacrifice, Those still missing and those who came home both whole and broken. In honor of those still fighting everyday to keep their head above water.