Forgiven AF

Shawn Serfass
  • 5.0 (71)
  • RELATIONSHIPS

Prison saved his life and gave him a 2nd chance to make a difference in this world. Shawn has turned his life around, he now owns a successful fitness studio and runs a mentorship program for at-risk youth. The goal of this podcast is to bring motivational content but at the same time we will have hard conversations regarding our current society.

  1. 8H AGO

    Your Past is Not Your Future with John Reel

    Some people hear "15 felonies" and write a man off. John Reel heard it about himself and decided to prove everyone wrong — including the voice in his own head. This one hit different...John grew up in Texas, dealt with childhood trauma he buried for years, ran with the wrong crowd, joined a gang, went in and out of prison for about seven years, and got out in 2014 with nothing but a decision to change. Today he owns a seven-figure concrete construction company, is raising two boys, and is one of the most real conversations I've had on this show. What We Talked About: • The childhood trauma John Reel carried for years — and how prison is where he finally faced it • What it's like being a white dude in an all-black gang — inside and outside the walls • Getting baptized in a horse trough in prison and what that moment meant • Coming home and going right back — three DWIs, fighting parole, and finally surrendering everything to God in 2017 • Losing seven figures, hitting rock bottom again, and rebuilding from zero • Why your circle determines your ceiling — and how John Reel built his way into the right rooms • Reverse engineering your goals — starting with $500 a week and ending up with a company doing seven figures a year • What John Reel would tell his 16-year-old self Why This Matters: Your past is not your future. That's not just something we say on this show — John Reel is living proof. If you're locked up right now, just got out, or you feel like you've blown too many chances — this episode is for you. You can still build something real. All it takes is putting your back against the wall, locking in, and giving God everything — not just the parts that are easy. If you're watching this, you're loved and you're forgiven — and there ain't nothing you can do about it.

    50 min

  2. MAR 2

    Purpose Didn't Wait Until We Got It Together

    Me and Bryan are back and this one got real, fast. We catch you up on the Teen Summit, the D.C. mentoring conference, and the gym flood that's had me paying $10K a month on a space I can't use. I'm not pretending everything's good when it's not — that's not what this is. We also get into the lies we believed about ourselves, why your community determines everything, and what we'd tell anyone coming home: stop chasing the image, build the credit, stack the bread. Full transparency — I'm only a few weeks into complete sobriety. I’m done convincing myself a couple drinks was fine and I feel better than I have in a long time. This podcast exists for you! You're loved, You're forgiven and there's nothing you can do about it. New mailing address: 8001 Valcasi Drive, Suite 131 — Arlington, TX 76001 We read every letter.

    50 min

  3. FEB 24

    From South Florida Struggle to North Texas Success with Mike Wilson

    He grew up broke in South Florida. Single mom. Cuban roots. Four jobs just to survive. No silver spoon. No shortcuts. Mike Wilson chose discipline over excuses. From the military… To wearing the badge as a police officer… To building a restaurant empire that now operates inside Texas Rangers Stadium. But this isn’t just a business story. It’s about resilience. It’s about service. It’s about taking every season of your life — even the hard ones — and using it to build something bigger. Today Mike is a public speaker, entrepreneur, and proof that your background doesn’t dictate your future. If you’ve ever felt behind… If you’ve ever felt broke… If you’ve ever felt like the odds were stacked against you… This episode is for you.

    1h 27m

  4. JAN 28

    Healthy Relationships with Richard Helen

    Richard Helen is one of those people where every time he opens his mouth, you want to grab a notepad and write everything down. We met through a men's group, and I've been trying to get him on the podcast ever since. Richard's story isn't what you'd expect. He grew up in a small town in Texas, joined the military at 19, and discovered leadership in a way that completely changed his life. But it wasn't just about leading others—it was about learning to lead himself first. Through counseling, reflection, and a lot of hard work, Richard discovered how the way he was raised shaped the way he showed up in relationships. And once he understood that, everything changed. This conversation is one of the most practical episodes we've ever done. If you've ever struggled in a relationship—whether it's with your spouse, your kids, or even yourself—this episode will give you real tools to work with. Richard breaks down what a healthy relationship actually looks like, how to communicate when emotions are running high, how to rebuild trust after you've broken it, and why so many of us keep attracting the same type of person over and over again. What We Talked About: • How the military taught Richard about leadership and serving something bigger than himself • The five agreements every healthy relationship needs (spiritual, emotional, financial, sexual, and parenting) • Why emotional intelligence is the foundation of every relationship • How to communicate during conflict without tearing each other down • The rules Richard and his wife created to fight fair in their marriage • How to apologize the right way (and why most apologies don't work) • Rebuilding trust after you've broken it—and why you can't rush the process • Why counseling isn't just for broken people—it's for anyone who wants to grow • How to heal from your past so you don't keep bringing it into new relationships • Why you can't expect someone else to validate what only God can Richard has been married three times, and he's the first to tell you that his past failures made him the man he is today. He doesn't regret any of it—because without those experiences, he wouldn't be able to help the people he's helping now. If you're locked up right now and thinking about the relationships you've damaged or the ones you want to build when you get out—this episode is for you. Start working on yourself now so you're ready when the time comes. Connect with Richard Helen: Website: RichardHelen.com Books available on Amazon (search Richard Helen) If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember — you're loved, you're forgiven, and there's nothing you can do about it.

    1 hr

  5. JAN 19

    A Change of Plans with Justin Visitacion

    Justin Visitacion and I have been talking about this conversation for over a year. We actually recorded a two-hour episode a while back, but only one clip ever saw the light of day. So we sat down again—this time with clarity, intention, and no holding back. Justin’s story isn’t the typical redemption narrative you usually hear on this podcast. He’s never been incarcerated. But what he does bring is a powerful perspective on entrepreneurship, faith, and fatherhood—one that many men coming out of prison need to hear, especially when they’re trying to figure out what comes next. Justin went from being a college baseball player to becoming a father at just 19 years old. That moment changed everything. He was forced to grow up fast and make real decisions about the kind of man he wanted to be. With only one semester left, he walked away from nursing school to pursue roofing sales—a move that seemed reckless at the time, but ultimately reshaped his entire future. Today, he runs Ember Roofing, a roofing company built on integrity, experience, and treating people the right way. That decision didn’t just change his career—it gave him the freedom to provide for his family in ways he never thought possible.

    57 min

  6. JAN 12

    Don't Waste the Wait with Pastory Sly

    We've been trying to get Sylvester Stemley on this podcast for three years. When he finally explained why he waited, it all clicked — he was watching to see if I was answering an agenda or answering an assignment. This conversation hits deep. Sylvester went from managing trainers and working with pro athletes to full-time youth ministry, realizing God had been preparing him all along. We talk about the Teen Summit, the challenge of reaching kids in a noisy world, and a powerful truth: don’t waste the wait. While you’re waiting, are you picking up the weight to grow stronger? If you feel stuck, overlooked, or are waiting on a breakthrough, this episode is for you. Sylvester unpacks Joseph’s time in prison and how purpose can still be lived out in the hardest seasons. We cover: • His transition from fitness to youth ministry • Why he waited three years to come on the podcast • Lessons from the Teen Summit • The real obstacle in youth ministry • Why discipleship starts at home • Agenda vs. assignment • Not wasting your season • Using influence the right way Sylvester is humble, intentional, and serious about reaching the next generation. I’m fired up about what we’re building. If this episode spoke to you, share it. And if you’re in a season of waiting — don’t waste it. Pick up the weight.

    1h 12m

  7. 11/10/2025

    The Pivot, How Will Clewis Turned Heartbreak Into Hustle

    In this episode, we sit down with Will Clewis, a man who went from believing he’d play pro football… to facing the heartbreak of going undrafted and spiraling into depression. But instead of letting that moment define him, Will rebuilt everything from the ground up. He became a teacher, poured into students, and eventually took a massive leap of faith by opening his own gym. That gym didn’t just survive—it blew up, becoming one of the most successful fitness spots in his city. After scaling it to the top, Will sold the business and stepped into his true calling: coaching entrepreneurs on how to build, scale, and sell companies the right way. This conversation is packed with real talk about identity, purpose, failure, entrepreneurship, and the mindset it takes to reinvent your life when the dream you were chasing falls apart. Whether you’re behind bars, building a business, or trying to find your next chapter, Will’s story will show you what’s possible when you refuse to stay down. #ForgivenAFPodcast #BiblicalManhood #HealingAndFaith

    47 min

  8. 11/03/2025

    "OGBruhMike" Redemption Story

    In this powerful episode, we sit down with a man who went to prison at a young age — but that wasn’t the end of his story. After getting out, he turned his life around, got his record erased, found faith, and became a Christian rapper using his story to inspire others. Now he’s working inside the juvenile justice system, helping young people avoid the same mistakes he once made. This is what redemption looks like. This is what 2nd chances are all about. 🔥 Topics we cover: • How prison changed his mindset • The process of getting his record cleared • Finding purpose through faith and music • His mission in the juvenile justice department • Why second chances matter If you’ve ever felt like your past defined you — this episode will change that.

    55 min
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5
out of 5
71 Ratings

About

Prison saved his life and gave him a 2nd chance to make a difference in this world. Shawn has turned his life around, he now owns a successful fitness studio and runs a mentorship program for at-risk youth. The goal of this podcast is to bring motivational content but at the same time we will have hard conversations regarding our current society.

Information

  • Creator
    Shawn Serfass
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Shawn Serfass
  • Show Website
    Forgiven AF