He was just a kid chasing a thrill. It started small. It always does. Skateboarding. Friends. A little rebellion that didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. But by 17, Dan Graves found himself going down a path that was anything but harmless. What began as experimenting with drugs slowly pulled him into something darker… until he was running with real criminals. By the end of his senior year, Dan was the getaway driver in a gas station robbery. And it cost him. He got caught. He went to jail. Six months behind bars with nothing but time… and the quiet voice of God beginning to plant seeds. In this episode of the Life Upside Down Podcast, Ryan and Karina Martinez sit down with Dan Graves to hear the full story—one he’s never shared quite like this before. Jail didn’t instantly change everything. The seeds were there, but surrender hadn’t happened yet. It wasn’t until after he got out—watching people around him genuinely follow Jesus—that something began to shift. The life he was chasing started to feel empty. And then came the moment. A real, tangible encounter with God that changed everything. Dan didn’t clean himself up first. He surrendered first. Now his life looks completely different. He owns a successful carpet cleaning business. He has a beautiful family. And he’s built something powerful out of his past—literally. A skate barn on his property, running a skate ministry called The NAAR. A place for the next generation—walking the same roads he once did—to come, find real community, and encounter God for themselves. This episode covers Dan’s early years, the slow drift into drugs and crime, the robbery, jail, the seeds planted behind bars, and the moment everything flipped when he encountered Jesus for real. If you’ve ever wondered how far is too far… this story answers that question. No one is too far gone. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Dan’s story didn’t just change his life—it shaped the way he works and leads today. If you’d like to support his business or learn more, check it out here: rugredeemer.com (service) steaminredeemer.com (Equipment) #dangravestestimony, #getawaydriverstory, #robberytestimony, #jailtestimony, #fromcrimetochrist, #drugstoJesus, #radicaltransformation, #godencounter, #excriminaltestimony, #findinggod, #lifechangestory, #christiantestimony, #faithbasedpodcast, #christianpodcast, #jesuschangeseverything, #redemptionstory, #youthministry, #skateboardministry 🎙️ Life Upside Down is a faith-based podcast hosted by Ryan and Karina Martinez, sharing real stories of redemption, marriage, and Christ-centered living. 💍✝️ Subscribe for new episodes every week. 🔗 Website: https://lifeusd.com 🔗 TikTok: @livelifeupsidedown 🔗 Instagram: @lifeusd.podcast 🔗Support Life Upside Down With a Direct Download of Ryan's Music Here: https://lifeusd.com/store/albums 🔗Stream Ryan's Music Here: https://lifeusd.com/ryanmartinezmusic 🔗Visit The Life Upside Down Merch Store Here: https://lifeusd.com/store 🔗Give A Tax Deductible Donation Here: https://lifeusd.com/donate 🔗For podcast appearances, speaking engagements, or collaboration inquiries, please email us at marketing@lifeusd.com
