Streets 2 Success Podcast

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Welcome to Streets 2 Success — where real stories create real impact. Hosted by Frank Benton and co-host Jalil, this podcast dives into the lives of underdogs, entrepreneurs, and comeback stories that inspire. We shine light on people who weren’t handed anything — but built everything. From prison yards to boardrooms, from street smarts to business plays, we uncover how real ones turn pain into purpose and pressure into progress. Every episode delivers raw insight, real experience, and a roadmap for growth. We talk transformation, discipline, redemption, ownership, and what it really takes to rise — mentally, financially, and spiritually. This isn’t fluff. This is legacy talk. Whether you’re building a business, shifting your mindset, or trying to elevate your life, you’re in the right place.

  1. Feb 2

    JoJo Simmons on Fame, Mental Health & Building His Own Legacy | Streets 2 Success

    In this episode of Streets 2 Success, we sit down with JoJo Simmons for one of our most layered and honest conversations to date. JoJo opens up about what it was really like growing up famous as a kid — being in the spotlight before fully understanding himself, living under constant scrutiny, and dealing with the pressure that comes with having a last name the world already knows. He breaks down how fame at a young age can shape confidence, identity, and mental health in ways most people never see. We talk about the internal battle of proving yourself — not to the public, but to yourself — and how JoJo made a conscious decision to create his own lane, separate from expectations and comparisons. From entrepreneurship to content creation, he shares how he’s built his media company, launched his own podcast, and taken control of his narrative instead of letting the media define it. JoJo also dives deep into his work in the cannabis space — not just as a business, but as education and advocacy. He explains his role as an ambassador for the Last Prisoner Project, the contradictions in an industry generating billions while still criminalizing the same communities, and why this mission matters to him personally. This episode touches on: • Fame as a child • Mental health and vulnerability • Creating your own identity • Entrepreneurship and media ownership • Cannabis education and justice • Growth, purpose, and long-term vision This isn’t a highlight reel conversation. It’s an honest look at evolving, learning, and building something real on your own terms. 🎙️ Streets 2 Success — real stories, real growth, real conversations.

  2. Feb 2

    Southside Bar & Grill Streets 2 Success From Foster Care, Streets, Prison, To Growth & Business

    In this powerful episode of Streets 2 Success, we sit down with the owners of SouthSide Bar & Grill — three men from Philadelphia whose paths all included incarceration, hard lessons, and ultimately a shared decision to change direction and build something legitimate. This is a raw, honest conversation about what really happens after prison, when the cameras are gone, the support fades, and real life starts again. We dive deep into: • Life after incarceration and the pressure to return to old habits • Making the mental shift from street survival to business ownership • Accountability, discipline, and personal responsibility • Losing friends, outgrowing environments, and choosing growth anyway • Turning past mistakes into motivation instead of excuses • Building a legal business in a city you’re not originally from — and earning respect • Brotherhood, trust, and what it takes to build something together This episode is not about glorifying the streets. It’s about evolution — how men with shared pasts can choose different futures. If you’ve ever struggled with: • Transitioning after prison • Breaking generational cycles • Leaving behind people, places, or mindsets that no longer serve you • Starting over when the odds feel stacked against you This conversation will resonate. Streets 2 Success exists to highlight real stories from real people who’ve lived it — not internet motivation, not fake success narratives, but honest conversations about growth, setbacks, and rebuilding life from the ground up. Whether you’re currently incarcerated, recently released, or simply trying to level up mentally and financially, this episode delivers perspective, truth, and direction. 👇 Subscribe for more real conversations around transformation, business, mindset, and life after adversity 🎙️ New episodes weekly 📍 From the streets to success — the long way, the real way

  3. Feb 2

    15 Years Locked Up for One Moment | Mike Elliot’s Story of Accountability, Growth & Redemption

    Mike Elliot’s story is one that’s painfully real — and deeply human. From Philadelphia, Mike spent most of his life caught in the system. As a juvenile and young adult, poor decision-making and a lifestyle rooted in the streets eventually led to an accidental homicide that changed everything. Mike was incarcerated for 15 years. Inside, he made a choice. Instead of letting his past define him, Mike took full accountability for his actions. He showed genuine remorse, faced his mistakes head-on, and committed himself to becoming a better man — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. While incarcerated, Mike earned his barber license, completed numerous programs, and collected certifications and awards focused on self-improvement. He didn’t just pass time — he built a foundation. Since coming home, Mike has: • Worked construction • Applied to 27 barbershops before landing at his dream shop • Become the lead men’s barber • Started a handyman business that’s gaining traction But Mike doesn’t want his story to fade. He continues to speak openly about his past — not for sympathy, but in hopes of helping someone else make a different choice. Giving back, being of service, and spreading awareness is how he chooses to live with purpose today. This is a conversation about: • Accountability • Regret and growth • Mental prisons vs physical ones • Transformation after incarceration • Using your past to help others Real people. Real stories. Real change.

About

Welcome to Streets 2 Success — where real stories create real impact. Hosted by Frank Benton and co-host Jalil, this podcast dives into the lives of underdogs, entrepreneurs, and comeback stories that inspire. We shine light on people who weren’t handed anything — but built everything. From prison yards to boardrooms, from street smarts to business plays, we uncover how real ones turn pain into purpose and pressure into progress. Every episode delivers raw insight, real experience, and a roadmap for growth. We talk transformation, discipline, redemption, ownership, and what it really takes to rise — mentally, financially, and spiritually. This isn’t fluff. This is legacy talk. Whether you’re building a business, shifting your mindset, or trying to elevate your life, you’re in the right place.