If You Only Knew The Half
Roll with us on If You Only Knew the Half podcast. This no excuses podcast explores how real “soulja’s” survive. This is real talk because we’re living it. You all know, it ain't real unless you've lived it. Gloves off, no excuses, nowhere to hide conversations. We’re your hosts, Soulja and Wild Child. Our survival is real, and angels are your only witness—society counted us out a long time ago, but we’ve still here.
Each week, we’ll drop an episode and a beat and talk about life and what keeps us hopeful and how we overcome obstacles. We’ll be talking about things like God is my Sponsor and Mental Health. Our music has kept us here, inspired us. But it’s more than inspiration, it’s acting every day. It’s Smash mode and NO Excuses.
So, whether you’re into [hip-hop, R&B or just love music] roll with us, because we want to inspire you to get into SMASH mode. If you need real inspiration and encouragement, this podcast is for you. Tomorrow Ain’t Promised to You - So let’s roll.
If You Only Knew The Half
Life After Prison and the Fight to Start Over with Calvin Freedom | EP4
What does freedom feel like after spending years behind bars? In this heartfelt episode, Calvin Everson shares the truth about life after incarceration, from adjusting to freedom to the daily struggle of staying on track. At 51, after serving two lengthy prison terms, Calvin opens up about the emotional toll, the broken prison system, and how important community, guidance, and real opportunities are to staying out. The hosts and guests touch on everything from gang culture and broken homes to finding hope and the small joys of normal life like carryout food. This raw and powerful conversation isn’t just about prison, it’s about what it takes to rebuild your life.
Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(2:09) Calvin’s background and prison time
(3:32) Challenges of reentry and mental adjustment
(6:01) The shift in prison culture and youth mindset
(10:30) Respect, gangs, and surviving inside
(14:26) Coming home to a changed neighborhood
(17:43) What does freedom mean after incarceration
(19:44) The trap of poverty and staying focused
(21:19) Importance of support during incarceration
(26:53) Message to the youth: jail isn’t what it looks like
(31:03) What real rehabilitation should look like