The stories that Andre brings to light can give you hope for a better future, as well as positive steps to take while still incarcerated. Listening to how others have faced challenges and won will help prepare you for successful reentry.

Everyone deserves a second chance. Your past may have led you to incarceration, but your past does not define you. Listen to SEC2ND ACTS podcasts with Andre Norman to see how others have turned their lives around and start planning your second act, too.

Seeing his mom get shot when he was just nine years old, along with a tough upbringing in New Orleans, set Wallstreet on a path of crime and repeated incarceration—until he decided to turn his life around. While incarcerated, he studied finance and used this knowledge to become a financial powerhouse after he was released.

Seeing his mom get shot when he was just nine years old, along with a tough upbringing in New Orleans, set Wallstreet on a path of crime and repeated incarceration—until he decided to turn his life around. While incarcerated, he studied finance and used this knowledge to become a financial powerhouse after he was released.

“Be patient – we’re often only looking at what we’re getting today … not understanding that tomorrow is coming.”

Starting with his first business of selling candy in high school and then marketing promotions for clubs when he was in college, Matty J, CEO of Digital Brandz, learned how to identify a good opportunity and make money from it. He worked with mentors who taught him how to listen intently, stay humble, and act on his ideas.

“Self-awareness is important. I found out what I was good at, what I was bad at, and what I had to improve.”

As a child, Jeremy struggled in school and had a hard time fitting in, which caused him to start fights and get into all kinds of trouble. After high school, he found a good job but started dealing drugs, too. Learn how a series of divine interventions led him to a new beginning and a celebrated career.

“Don’t think you’re so bad of a person that you can’t hit the reset button.”

As a child, Michelle attended a new school every year to escape an abusive father. Constantly meeting new classmates was hard, but she gained strong people skills, which ultimately led to her success as a real estate entrepreneur. In 2020, her father, sister, and daughter passed away and she was once again challenged to keep moving despite her personal tragedies.

“You always have the opportunity to pivot, no matter where you are.”

Jamel is an entrepreneur, a musical artist, and a self-proclaimed “Relationship Mechanic” but he wasn’t always such a positive light in the world. See how Jamel transformed from a life of crime to a career as a motivational speaker who helps people identify their triggers, develop healthy relationships, and create positive changes in their lives.

“No matter where you are, you can stir up the gifts inside you.”

Kenneth, a partner at a real estate investment house, believes if you get knocked down, you can use that opportunity to get back up and make a new life for yourself. In this podcast, he talks about how you can create your own destiny. He offers advice on getting started in real estate with little to no capital and provides tips on building your personal wealth.

“Know your own worth to make better decisions.”

At 38, Mark found himself on the 16th floor of a building ready to jump. Thankfully, he didn’t go through with it. Instead, he reached out to someone he trusted and shared his pain, which helped him overcome his despair. Mark now owns several businesses, speaks to audiences of over 10,000 people, and believes everyone has the power to not only survive, but thrive.

“I made a conscious decision that if I put my head down and dug deep, I could do anything I wanted in my life.”

Keon was “directly attached to his cash” so when he lost his business, he thought he had nothing to live for. As he contemplated suicide, he thought about how killing himself would affect the people he loved, and he picked up a pen and paper and started journaling. Learn how Keon’s Gratitude Journal saved his life and led him back to a successful entrepreneurial career.

“The quicker you find out what you’re dealing with … the faster you can move forward and grow.”

In 2014, Michael’s teenage son died tragically in Ferguson, Missouri. After being imprisoned by his own pain for many years, he bravely transformed himself from an angry dad to a Forgiveness Coach. He now teaches people from all walks of life about the power of forgiveness and the freedom that comes from forgiving yourself and others.

“Once you get ahold of yourself again, find something positive to do.”

Friends with Andre Norman since the age of 12, Dominic has also left his dark past behind. Today, he works alongside Andre at the Academy of Hope to encourage and prepare incarcerated men and women to rebuild their lives, so they don’t end up back in the system. Tune in to hear how he found a new purpose in life and why he thinks you have the power to do the same.

“Get prepared now. Don’t wait until it’s time for the door to open.”

Since he was 6 years old, gospel Grammy winner Lecrae, was drawn to the sounds of hip-hop and always saw himself becoming a rapper one day. He started out as a secular rapper but after a life-changing event—which included a police officer, his grandmother, and a bible—he knew that his words and actions had to change, too. He now uses his Christian hip-hop lyrics to share his faith and spread the word about how it’s never too late to be who you were created to be.

“You may not be able to change your sentence, but you can change how that sentence changes you.”