The Best of 2025!

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Transcript

Announcement 0:00

Hello, wonderful people. The combined episodes you're about to hear are a reflection of the best moments of 2025, real conversations, real lessons, and real growth. None of this would have been possible without your continued support, feedback, and encouragement. And I truly appreciate every listener and subscriber who has been part of this journey. As we close out 2025 and look ahead to an even stronger 2026, let's reflect, learn, and keep moving forward. You're now locked in to struggle to success. Life is trials. Stay focused. If you have ever been told by someone that you're not capable of attaining success, if you have made mistakes or lived in an underprivileged neighborhood, then this podcast is for you. You are now locked in to struggle to success. Struggle to success aims to inspire individuals to navigate life's challenges with courage, fortitude, and unwavering determination. So if you're in your car, jogging, or somewhere else, trying to find the calm in the storm, then join Struggle to Success airing every other Saturday. Remember, life is trial. Stay focused.

Year-End Reflection And Gratitude

Mission And Audience Of The Show

New Series: Urban Incarceration

Life Behind The Bars Begins

Sterling 1:21

As I record this episode, my arm is once again in a sling. So how do you coach yourself to take that leap of faith? And today we're kicking off a new series, one that's personal to me, Urban Incarceration. Hello, wonderful people. Welcome to part one of Urban Incarceration titled Life Behind the Bars. Every day, after I walk through the front glass doors and clear the metal detector, I grab the cold steel handle of the first metal door and wait to hear that familiar buzzing sound. Approximately 17 to 30% of incarcerated individuals meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. What's going on, wonderful people? Welcome back to Struggle to Success. If this is your first time here, appreciate you locking in with us. And if you've been rocking with me for a while, you already know what it is. Studies show that one in five incarcerated individuals suffer from serious mental illness. If you've been through it, you know the script. Hello? You have a collect call from at the facility. If you choose to accept the charges for this call, press. Prison phone calls can cost three to five times more than regular calls. Struggling on the outside just to support someone on the inside. This isn't about one person, it's about the whole family. The system that doesn't lock up individuals, it traps households. Some people call prison the revolving door because one person comes home, another goes in. Right now, 64.7% of people released from state prison are reincarcerated within that window. We're not just calling out the system. We're confronting the cycles that feed it. Cycles that begin in broken homes and end behind still doors. I've seen it from both sides. And what I see now hurts. The youth are getting younger. I've seen 13-year-olds in cuffs. I've seen kids sentences to numbers older than they are. Let's talk real. You might say, That's not my kid, but if you survive the cycle, then every kid is connected to what we've tolerated.

Erin Conohan 3:32

Yeah, I mean, I think we all have different gifts and talents that we're bringing to the table.

Sterling 3:38

But how do we change the mindset of those negative ones? And that's what I want to ask.

Trauma And Mental Health Inside

Erin Conohan 3:44

I I think that, you know, we we're we're a safety net organization to help meet basic needs. So you're ready to like work on your plan. Whatever that plan is for you, we can help you make those steps. Like, where do you find joy? Because sometimes it's hard to forget it. Where what can I do? Like, talk about finding joy, but what can I do to make somebody smile, to make somebody feel good? Like one thing, one thing a day. Thank you. Thanks so much for having us and helping us share the story. And thank you for all that you do too. Yeah.

The Cost Of Staying Connected

Recidivism And Family Impact

Youth, Sentencing, And Community Responsibility

Community Support And Finding Daily Joy

Sterling 4:19

Homelessness, not just the image people have in their heads, but the reality behind it, the layers, the pain, the decisions, the circumstances, the mental battles, the pride, the fear, all of it. My goal is simple to help you see the issue through a wider lens, to help you understand that human beings behind the struggle, and to remind you that dignity is not a luxury, it's a foundation. Working in corrections, I've seen firsthand. I've had men look me in the eyes and say, CEO, jail is the only place where my mind is quiet. Imagine that. Some people end up outside because life crushed them. Others end up outside because accountability felt heavier than struggle. So let me ask you something. Where are you avoiding accountability because it feels too heavy? Who has been trying to help you that you've pushed them away because of your pride or fear? If this message reached you, share it with one person, allow them to share with another. Remember, growth doesn't start with perfection, it starts with a conversation. I've lived instability, I've seen pain, I've watched people rise, I've watched people run from responsibility, but no matter the story, dignity is bridged back to humanity.

James Ivery 5:38

I broke one of Big E's Ten Commandments and got high on my own supply. I remember that. Yup.

Sterling 5:49

And uh that is real talk.

Homelessness Beyond The Stereotypes

Marisol Santo 5:54

But just keep pressing forward because there are also blessings, there are also achievements, there are also things to be proud of. And the fact that you get up in the morning, that's something to be proud of.

Sterling 6:05

Being in that environment, and again, I remember having to go and sit with my mother in the crack house.

James Ivery 6:13

You can become the creator of your own life. I am helping people learn how to be leaders of their own lives.

Accountability, Pride, And Asking For Help

Hard Truths, Resilience, And Self-Leadership

Sterling 6:22

As we wrap up this recap, I want to say thank you. These moments weren't just episodes, they were lessons, reminders, checkpoints along the journey. And none of it happens without you choosing to listen, reflect, and share this space with me. 2026 is about elevation, deeper conversations, more solutions, more intentional storytelling, and still speaking truth, still respecting families, and still keeping this platform child safe and purpose-driven. If you've been here since the beginning or you're just finding struggle to success, know this: you matter here, your growth matters. Share this episode with someone who needs it and stay connected as we move forward.p at gmail.com. Make sure you like and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. And remember, life is trials. Stay focused.