The Devine Salerno Podcast

Paul English - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 25 In this raw episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast, Devine sits back down with Paul “Halloween” English for round two. Paul grew up in Park Hill, Denver — Crenshaw Mafia / Blood neighborhood — and went to prison at 14 years old for second-degree murder. He did 26 years on a 48-year sentence. The nickname came from a gang-related shooting on Halloween night in 1993. This conversation picks up where Episode 7 left off. Paul talks about coming home, family, still being non-residential at the halfway house, running sober living at Authentic Recovery Homes, and why he spends his time...

J’son Folds - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 24In this raw episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast, Devine sits down with J’son Folds for an unfiltered conversation about the circumstances around his 360 month spent in federal prison.J’son takes us deep into the reality of growing up and surviving on the streets of Chicago — the violence, the culture, the losses, the code, and what it actually takes to make it out (or keep going) when the city is stacked against you. No filter, no sugarcoating. Just real talk about the environment that shaped him, the choices that def...

John Vargas - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 23 In this raw and powerful episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast, Devine sits down with John Vargas for an unfiltered conversation about his journey, the challenges he’s overcome, and the lessons that shaped who he is today. John shares the real, unpolished details of his path — the highs, the setbacks, the turning points, and what it looks like to keep moving forward with accountability and purpose. 🎙️ Topics covered: - Early life and the experiences that set the foundation - Key challenges, rock bottoms, and pivotal moments - Mindset shifts, growth, and perso...

Grant Aaron - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 22 From growing up in Maryland to living with ShoeNice's filmer, the Denver skate scene to building SneakerCrete — a product made by skaters for skaters that’s now available at Zumiez and CCS — Grant Aaron sits down for a real conversation about drive, ambition, and turning ideas into motion. Grant opens up about the hustle behind creating a preventative skate shoe solution that actually works without killing traction or board feel, the grind of building something local, and what it takes to keep pushing when most people talk more than they move. Raw ta...

Angel Ramirez - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 21 From pro skateboarder tearing up the streets and traveling the world to building a new life tattooing in Denver — Angel Ramirez sits down for a raw, inspiring conversation. Angel rose fast in the skate scene out of Denver, landing a standout part in Foundation’s legendary “That’s Life” video and going on to skate professionally for Foundation, Volcom, Independent, Spitfire, and more. He lived the dream most skaters only talk about — but life had other plans. He discussed feeling exploited and discarded by the business and lost the love he once had for...

Josh Garcia - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 20 In this deeply honest episode, Devine sits down with Josh Garcia — Marine veteran, cancer survivor, and a man who turned a decade of active addiction and criminal behavior into a powerful recovery journey. Josh enlisted in the Marines in 2006, faced personal struggles after returning home, and eventually battled addiction until getting clean in April 2024. Today, he lives in Denver with his fiancée and works in behavioral health, giving back to the community. Josh opens up about losing his mom young in a car accident, growing up in a blended Hispanic fam...

Dustin Chavez - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 19 In this raw and motivating episode, Devine sits down with Dustin Chavez — a former show promoter, street hustler, and 25-year addict who turned his life around after 2 years in prison. Now 4+ years clean and sober, Dustin serves as the Director of Workforce Development at Empower Recovery Homes in Denver, where he builds vocational programs and fights hard to get justice-involved men and women real job opportunities. Dustin opens up about the music industry grind (including working with Baby Bash), the party lifestyle that masked deep addiction, building (and almost burning) relationships, an...

John Cupich - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 18 In this episode, Devine sits down with John Cupich — a seasoned clinical addiction and behavioral health professional with over 20 years in the field and deep lived experience in recovery. John shares his journey from Omaha, Nebraska to Denver in the late '80s, building a family, navigating the American dream, and confronting alcoholism that led him into treatment and long-term sobriety. From growing up in a large Croatian family with roots in a domestic violence home, to finding independence, starting college, skiing the slopes, and eventually rediscovering his path through recovery, Jo...

From the streets of Billings, Montana to co-owning a recovery company in Denver — Shay Kirkness delivers one of the most raw, powerful, and inspiring redemption stories you’ll hear. In this episode, Devine Salerno sits down with Shay Kirkness — recovery coach, APRS facilitator, and co-founder of Driven Recovery alongside her husband JD. Shay opens up about her traumatic upbringing, how the DARE program ironically introduced her to the drug game, her rise as a female drug dealer in a violent world, escalating addiction to methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple overdoses, prison time, and the health crisis that finally forced her to cho...

Christian Rebaza - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 16 In this raw and powerful episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast, Devine sits down with Christian Rebaza — a man whose life has been marked by international roots, family challenges, addiction, loss, and an inspiring path to recovery and service. Born in Honduras to a Peruvian father and a mother from Colorado, Christian shares his unique journey: early embassy struggles, family road trips through Central America, cultural identity, street life, and the battles with substance abuse that nearly broke him. He opens up about hitting rock bottom, the power of sobriety, rebuilding re...

🎙️ Sparkle Lindsay - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 15 In this powerful and inspiring episode, Devine Salerno sits down with Sparkle Lindsay — motivational speaker, author, recovery coach, and founder of Sparkle LLC and Phoenix Rising Coaching University. Sparkle shares her incredible journey from addiction and adversity to building a thriving coaching business centered on lived experience, leadership, growth, and helping others find their light. From pioneering her unique approach in the coaching space to creating a "home" for coaches who want to get busy while taking care of themselves, this conversation is full of raw truth, hope, and practical wisdom. If you...

🎙️ Daniel Okodo - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 14 In this powerful episode, Devine Salerno sits down with Daniel Okodo — a driven young entrepreneur, part owner of Empower Recovery and Empower Re-entry, and founder of multiple businesses including Primary Electrical Services and KSX Services. Daniel shares his incredible journey of recovery (over two years strong), building a full life after struggle, and staying grateful through the hustle of entrepreneurship. They dive deep into Daniel’s vision for his upcoming podcast — blending passionate conversations, craft coffee vibes, food, music (jazz, lo-fi, neo-soul, electronic), and that intimate, intentional energy of serving people good energy...

🎙️ Vida Elekovic - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 13 In this episode, Devine sits down with Vida Elekovic — a 23-year-old Serbian entrepreneur who moved to America 10 years ago and became a business owner by age 19-20. Vida shares her journey building a custom signage company (Me on Neon / Worldwide Signage), running sober living homes, the influence of her serial entrepreneur family, and raw stories from her past. From growing up in Serbia, navigating immigration twists, to scaling multiple businesses and turning personal challenges into purpose-driven work — this is a powerful conversation about hustle, family influence, resilience, and building something real. Plus, she...

In this raw and powerful episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 12, host Devine Salerno sits down with Chris "Psycho" Mendoza — a man who's lived the streets, survived Arizona prison yards, battled addiction, and is now fighting for a new life in Colorado. Chris holds nothing back as he shares his unfiltered journey: growing up with abuse, Tourette's, and ADHD, turning to boxing and violence as a kid, high-speed chases, multiple prison bids, running with the "Skina" table on the Murder Yard, prison politics, hustling, and the brutal realities of gang life behind bars. He also opens up about re...

🎙️ Alfredo "Houdini" Serna - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 11 From the streets to shooting a cop at 17, a 27-year prison sentence, and one of the most legendary escapes in Colorado history — this episode is as real as it gets. Alfredo opens up about being taken from his mom at 11, diving headfirst into gang life, car thefts, guns, and everything that came with it. He breaks down the high-speed chase that changed his life forever, doing time in the Colorado State Penitentiary, surviving "convict college," the hole, and what prison really does to a man. He also tells the full story o...

In this episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 10, we sit down with Sean Davis — former gang member, prison kingpin, street-level drug dealer, and now successful owner of Lotus Recovery Homes. Sean holds nothing back as he takes us on a raw, unflinching journey through the darkest chapters of his life. From running the streets as a gang member and battling a brutal drug addiction, to multiple prison stays where he rose to become a kingpin masterminding a full-blown “prison trap house” inside Colorado’s Department of Corrections — Sean shares the gritty, heartbreaking reality of rock bottom and the hopelessne...

In this episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 9, we sit down with Aaron Miller — lifelong mechanic, seasoned street racer, and former owner of MOD CC and MOD Automotive in Denver. Aaron doesn’t hold back as he dives deep into the raw, unfiltered side of the underground automotive world. From high-octane street racing stories that’ll have your heart racing, to the insane business drama that went down in Denver’s car scene, this conversation is packed with jaw-dropping moments. You’ll hear the wild tale of how his landlord got busted by the FBI and Interpol, plus the shocki...

In this powerful episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 8, host Devine Salerno sits down with Zackariah Jones (AKA Kunta Kente) for an inspiring conversation about redemption, resilience, and rebuilding life after incarceration. Zackariah opens up about his journey from serving a life sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He shares how he founded multiple businesses, including Servin Up Recovery Kitchen — a food truck-style operation delivering nutritious, "food truck" meals directly to halfway houses and recovery centers across the Denver metro area, supporting those in addiction recovery and reentry. Devine and Zackariah di...

In this episode, host Devine Salerno sits down with Paul “Halloween” English for a powerful, raw conversation about resilience. Paul grew up in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood—a predominantly Bloods area—during the late 80s and early 90s. At just 14 years old, he was sentenced to 48 years for second-degree murder. After serving 26 years in prison, Paul was released in 2019. In this interview, Paul opens up about: • Life in Park Hill during its most turbulent era • The harsh realities of decades behind bars • The profound challenges and adjustments of re-entering society after 26 years locked up • His remarkable mindset shift that led to personal...

Episode 6: From the Streets to Building a Legacy of Redemption | Chris McDonald on The Devine Salerno Podcast In this compelling and insightful Episode 6, host Devine Salerno welcomes Chris McDonald — founder and owner of Empower Recovery Homes, a successful network of sober living and transitional recovery homes in Denver, Colorado. Chris takes listeners on a journey through his life, sharing raw stories from his past growing up on the streets of Tennessee. He opens up about the challenges, struggles, and hard lessons that shaped him before he made the move to Denver and turned his life around. Through deep dives in...

Episode 5: From Tragedy & Prison to Redemption Through Music | Austin “AK?” Kudrna on The Devine Salerno Podcast In this powerful and raw episode, host Devine Salerno sits down with Austin “AK?” Kudrna — a Colorado native, musician, and father who has completely transformed his life after years of struggle. Austin opens up about the traumatic events that shaped his early years: losing a close friend to violence at just 14 (shot at his own house), lax parenting that led to trouble as a teen, multiple stints in juvenile detention, addiction, and eventually prison. He doesn’t hold back on how these experiences spiraled int...

Episode 4: “Question Everything” of The Devine Salerno Podcast (produced by Ledger Media Company) features host Matt Bate interviewing Devine in a bold, unfiltered discussion. They cover:

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