Living on Incline
What are we truly capable of? That’s the question Living on Incline sets out to explore.
Hosted by John Eklund, this podcast brings you real conversations with people who have pushed through suffering, setbacks, and challenges — not just to survive, but to grow. From recovery to business, from faith to government, each guest is unlocking their full potential and inviting you to do the same.
The name comes from the Manitou Incline — a steep, grueling hike in Colorado that inspired John to lean into discomfort as a path to growth. This show is about that same mindset: choosing to live on incline, on purpose, every day.
If you’re curious about what you’re capable of — physically, spiritually, emotionally — you’re in the right place.
Living on Incline
#008 This Correctional Facility Is Creating Leaders, Not Just Inmates
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this extraordinary episode of Living on Incline, we go behind bars at Sampson Correctional Institution, a prison that’s turning incarceration into transformation. From college degrees and reentry coaching to emotional healing and leadership development, this facility is doing something few others are: believing in the people inside.
Join host John Eklund as he sits down with three key leaders who are changing the future of incarceration:
• Robert Van Gorder – Facility Warden II
• Charles Wooten – Facility Case Manager & Reentry Coordinator
• Anthony Faison – Campbell University Site Coordinator & Advisor
Together, they unpack what makes Sampson different—from trauma-informed recovery and Christian programming to real education and community reintegration.
Chapters / Timestamps:
00:00 – Reflections from inside Sampson Correctional
01:10 – Campbell University and the Second Chance college program
02:15 – One man writing his memoir from prison
03:00 – Finding purpose inside the fence
03:50 – Mr. Wooten’s vision for reentry and dignity
05:45 – A cultural shift: less violence, more respect
07:25 – Mr. Faison’s story: from incarcerated to site coordinator
09:50 – “15 In, 15 Out” – the Campbell graduation goal
12:40 – How Recovery Alive is changing lives on the inside
14:00 – Vulnerability, honesty, and emotional transformation
15:20 – Complaint stats drop dramatically
17:10 – The difficulty of reentry, even after release
18:35 – Why second chances matter—even for lifers
20:15 – Recovery Alive’s impact behind bars
21:30 – Domestic violence awareness & Reaching Out From Within
23:00 – Walking the yard: generational impact of mentorship
25:00 – Warden Van Gorder: leading with heart and hope
26:10 – Society benefits when prisons invest in people
27:40 – Combating shame and stigma
28:30 – “This man is more free than most on the outside”
30:00 – Final thoughts: “You’re not what you’ve done.”
Guest Info:
• Robert Van Gorder – Warden, Sampson Correctional Institution
• Charles Wooten – Facility Case Manager / Reentry Coordinator
• Anthony Faison – Campbell University Site Coordinator for Sampson Correctional Institution
Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-on-incline/id1828304603
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78HwNrRWZHGAHL8Zv90nO0?si=e4b5d032e9214deb
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdyfS2K4OE4WFJRWSuAgsQ
RSS Feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2521959.rss
Website: https://www.livingonincline.com
Sponsored by Recovery Alive
Living on Incline is proudly sponsored by Recovery Alive, a Christ-centered recovery movement helping people rebuild their lives, restore relationships, and renew their faith.
Website: https://www.recoveryalive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveryaliveinc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveryaliveinc