Nowhere To Go But Up

In this episode I am talking to Lynn Espejo who was suggested that I have her on my show to tell her story. Lynn was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison. Here is a little bit about Lynn: Lynn Espejo lives in Sherwood, Arkansas. She is a wife, mother to three grown sons and a very old and spoiled French bulldog. Lynn has a BBA in Accounting and a BBA in Finance and an MS in Clinical & Mental Health Counseling. She spent many years working in the corporate business world and has owned her own small business. Lynn is a Christ follower. She also volunteers her time working with food pantries, the homeless, and those less fortunate. She and her husband, Pancho, volunteer their time helping with their church’s Share Your Lunch program. SYL, since its inception in 2017, has provided over 23,000 bags of groceries to individuals and families, as well as weekend backpacks of food to elementary age children, in partnership with local schools in the Central Arkansas area. Lynn was indicted in the Eastern District of Arkansas on March 2, 2011, however, that indictment was dismissed in May 2012. She was indicted on the same charges on October 8, 2014, after she refused to give up claim to monies seized by the federal government during her 2011 indictment, and dared to complain all the way to Washington, D.C., regarding the corruption and prosecutorial misconduct she experienced from staff at the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Arkansas and an Agent at the Internal Revenue Service. She was convicted on February 8, 2017, after an eight-day jury trial, and was sentenced to 45-months in federal prison, of which she served 27 months, before being released to home confinement during COVID-19. Her blog, Inside-The-Walls, started out as a way for her to vent her frustration at being indicted and convicted for a crime she did not commit, and what she saw as a broken criminal justice system. However, it soon became a voice against the corruption, fraud, and violation of inmate rights she witnessed while incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp Bryan located in Bryan, Texas. Many times, Lynn was subjected to retaliation by BOP staff for continuing to blog while incarcerated. During her incarceration, Lynn taught classes to other inmates, including classes on women’s value, worth, and self-esteem. She also volunteer tutored inmates with their college business classes, worked as a clerk in the Reentry Department, and took Cosmetology classes. She gained recognition from other inmates for her knowledge of BOP Program Statements, which allowed her to help many women fight false incident reports and retaliation by BOP staff. During COVID-19, Lynn spent almost 100 days in solitary confinement, and was quarantined in the Men’s Maximum-Security Special Housing Unit (SHU) at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma before being released to home confinement under the Cares Act. Lynn continues to advocate for inmates and their rights, and wishes to help all women realize their value and worth. She wants to bring awareness to, and expose the corruption, that is our country’s criminal justice system. Lynn’s radio show Inside-The-Walls & Beyond focuses on women’s issues as they journey through the criminal “injustice” system. You can find Lynn here: Website YouTube Video: Our Conversation You Can find Sean here: All my links

Myke and Mike are a dynamic duo that speak about the importance of being mindful of one's emotions and perceptions by discovering how we experience reality and how we can apply these concepts in the workplace as well as in any social situation.

Bio's:

Dr. Myke Merril has been a pastor of a local church in one town for forty years, He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy, and a minor in psychology, he also has a Master's of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, with academic honors. After two years as an associate, he and his growing family located in Hilton, NY, and are still based there. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Northeastern Seminary with his dissertation, "The Five Basic Emotions: A New Systems Approach."

Seizing on a wide variety of opportunities, he taught as an adjunct instructor in a local college for 29 years, directed regional and national youth programs for 20 years, owned a restaurant for seven years, and he wrote 22 books and training manuals. He has traveled extensively to train others across the United States and he currently co-owns a school system in Honduras.

Michael Wilson is a Social Scientist and working professional in education for almost 20 years, along with 25 years in professional religious work. In both areas he was actively training, speaking, counseling, crisis counseling, leader and leadership development. He traveled around to places around the world including, Israel, Haiti, Central Mexico. He is a Father of 5 grown children.

Conversation YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/b3f1lRqPHU4

Episode Sponsor:

This episode of the podcast is being sponsored by the book "Get Past Your Sh*t". This book is available by paper back or Kindle. It was written by Kelly McCausey who is a friend and a podcaster too.

Kelly takes a stand that you can get past your fears, insecurities and tough circumstances. She knows hearing other people's stories is motivating so she recruited brave friends to tell theirs.

If you're waiting for fears, insecurities and touch circumstances to go away before you move towards a better life, you'll wait forever. It's time to get past your shit ❤

Claim a free chapter and coaching program at: https://getpastyourshit.com/

You can find Dr. Myke Merril here:

Website: https://whydopeopleactthatway.com/

Book: Why Do People Act That Way - https://amzn.to/3t9FNcN

You can find Myke & Mike here:

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTCT...

In this episode we accidently end up down the road of covert racism, and white fragility when we expressly said in the beginning of the conversation that we were going to steer away from social issues in this episode. I'm not sure if we made it 10 minutes before it moved into that space and you can clearly see from the conversation that it wasn't intentional but you can also see that it kept going back there by both of us.

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I'm not sure how I felt about my participation in this conversation. I noticed some old behaviors starting to creep out in the video in some of my mannerisms and facial expressions. I think I could have done better in how I responded to a couple of things. I think the concept of white fragility has some truth to it. Find out where you fall on covert racism spectrum.

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Check out these resources that Lori has provided on the subject of white fragility and covert racism.

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• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
• https://robindiangelo.com/publications/
• Seeing White Podcast Series
• https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/
• What I am learning from my white grandchildren – truths about race Ted Talk
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5GCetbP7Fg
• How to Be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
• https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1
• The Raw and Wild Hearts Podcast, 'Thoughtful Conversations About Whiteness with Good Friends and Cats'
• https://therawandwildhearts.com/2020/02/09/thoughtful-conversations-about-whiteness-with-good-friends-and-cats/
• The Raw and Wild Hearts Podcast, "A Critical Conversation About Racial Profiling and Police Reform'
• https://therawandwildhearts.com/2020/06/14/a-critical-conversation-about-racial-profiling-and-police-reform/

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You can find Lori Here:

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Professionally, Cassandra is an Enrolled Agent, the only federally-licensed tax Practitioners who specialize in taxation and have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS. She is the owner and operator of her own tax practice, Wallace Tax, where she specialize in preparing individual and business income tax returns, IRS correspondence, and tax planning services. * In 2020 she partnered with PG Spirit Paris to release her own perfume, “Ms World America” by PG Spirit Paris. The designer of the perfume created the scent based off of interviews and getting to know Cassandra. It is representation of her personality in the form of a scent. * Cassandra Wallace is the winner of a number of pageant titles, including Mrs. Poulsbo, Mrs. Washington, Ms. World America, Ms. World International Mrs. She also holds the title of Pageant Planet Best of Fitness for all Ms./Mrs. Pageants worldwide for 2019. Cassandra won her titles of Ms. World America and Ms. World International Mrs. in 2019. However, because of the Covid related postponement of this year’s pageant, her reign will be extended for an additional year (2020). * Cassandra is also an ambassador for the Ligue Nationale De Football Des Jeunes D’Haiti(LNFJH). This is the official, and only, youth soccer league in Haiti, and was launched in 2020. In addition, all registered players are provided with a full home and away uniform. Prior to this year, there had been no organized youth league in Haiti. By participating in the league, young players are provided with a positive outlet and an atmosphere that promotes both physical and mental health. Playing the sport of soccer is also known to develop life skills, such a self-confidence and teamwork. The cost of their experience is completely subsidized, and allows them to play in the league at no cost. * When Cassandra originally was approached about being an ambassador for the league, one of the biggest concerns was the present gender inequity. Many boys were sponsored to play but there were not currently enough girls sponsored to play in the league. *

Today on the podcast I welcome someone right up my wheelhouse, Joe Martinez. Joe joins me to discuss his gripping life story. From growing up a latchkey kid in San Antonio, Texas, to getting a twenty year sentence for a liquor store break-in, to finally quitting crime and getting clean for his family.

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Joe also talks to me about his childhood, crimes he committed, shock probation, his turning points in life, major health issues from drug use, and parenting using his life decisions as teaching moments.

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Joe Martinez is the host of his own podcast, The Talk From Cell Block, where he talks to current and formerly incarcerated people to give them back their voice.

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Joe's Bio:

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A man with a year of college (tried to major in English. I got bored)

I had my first run in with the law at the age of 10, and it never stopped. Rarely having to confront consequences for my petty to grand larceny crimes, I never understood the consequences of committing a crime and getting caught and being found guilty, until I was 17, when I took a guilty plea for a burglary and was given a 20 year sentence for it. After that, it was in and out of jail through out my life leading into my late 30’s. Now, I use the time on my hands to try to help expose the justice system for all the corruption that fills the court rooms in the united states, state and federal level.

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Joe's Personal Story:

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https://anchor.fm/jose-martinez13/episodes/Pilot-Episode-eekcu2

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Joe's Podcast "Talk From The Cell Block":

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https://anchor.fm/jose-martinez13

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