An Army of Normal Folks - Jon Ponder: Hope for Prisoners (Pt 1)

Episode Date: June 20, 2023

After 26 years of crime, Jon ironically found hope in prison and committed his life to helping other returning citizens live at levels that they had never dreamed about. His Hope for Prisoners has had over 4,700 clients and boasts a recidivism rate of only 8%, which is over 8 times better than the national average. Most extraordinary is that they've recruited 135 Las Vegas law enforcement officers to mentor returning citizens, which has never been done at this scale before.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/support-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And I said, well, why do you want to name it hope for prisons? This is what I said to him was that the number one reason I'm naming it over prisons is God told me to appear it. Right. God. God. And I said the other reason why I'm naming it hope for prisons is because the mission of our organization is to help to create a massive amount of people

who come home from the prison system and not only do they never re-offend again that they begin to live levels of life that most people on their dream of. When we do that, then they become the hope for the Christmas. That's a beautiful thing, brother. then they become the whole for the Christmas. That's a beautiful thing, brother. Welcome to an Army of Normal Folks. I'm Bill Courtney. I'm a normal guy.

I'm a husband. I'm a father. I'm an entrepreneur. And I'm a football coach in Intercity Memphis. And the last part unintentionally led to an Oscar for the film about our football team. It's called undefeated. I believe our country's problems will never be solved

by a bunch of fancy people in nice suits talking big words that nobody understands on CNN and Fox. Rather an army of normal folks, us, you and me just deciding, hey, I can help. That's what John Ponder, the voice we just heard, is done. A former prisoner himself, John,

led a life of crime for 26 years. Until finally, he found his own hope, oddly, inside of federal penitentiary. It's an incredible story that we're about to share with you. Hope for prisoners, his nonprofit, helps returning citizens in Las Vegas, those coming home from prison, just like he once did, to flourish,

and not just become one more member of a dreaded statistic. 67%, two-thirds of former prisoners end up back in prison within three years. At Hope for Prisoners, the recidivism rate is only 8%. That means they're over eight times better than the status quo. Just wait to hear the secret sauce behind what John does, and John doesn't want it to be a secret anymore.

He wants to share it with you. So, let's get started, but first, a brief message from our generous sponsors. Talking dogs? Well, hold on to your tails because it gets better than that. I mean, not better, like, more impressive than a talking dog exactly. But if you apply now at Crocodotles.com, you can adopt me or any other breed we offer with just a few easy steps. Whether you find a match immediately or buy your time looking for just the right family member, we're worth the wait. We're all raised by reputable, responsible breeders and can be delivered anywhere in the United States. We're even certified by the Better Business Bureau and have over 500 positive reviews. But if you don't believe me, Jess asked Bentley.

He's British, so he knows what he's talking about. Cooper is quite right. Are we coming all different breeds and sizes in personalities? Plus, we have a three year health guarantee. So, check us out at Crocododles.com and apply for the perfect addition to your family now. I shouldn't lie around perfect addition to your family now. I shouldn't wear a round-of-hour Uda with terribly popular. Crocododles is making families whole.

One pup at a time. Eh! Say goodbye to summer shaving and hello to Hair Free Skin all year long. Give Laser Hair Removal a try this month with one free treatment at any of Milan Lasers 5 Raleigh Durham locations. Laser Hair Removal a try this month with one free treatment at any of Milan Lasers 5 Raleigh Duran locations. Milan Lasers delivers smooth hair-free skin with permanent results for all skin tones. So you can finally end that never-ending cycle of shaving and waxing.

Laser Hair Removal is all they do, and you'll save time and money by never shaving again. They're overseen by medical professionals and use the latest technology to safely, comfortably, and effectively give you the best results. And because their exclusive unlimited package is included with every purchase, you'll never pay touch-up fees or run out of sessions before you're officially hair-free. Don't spend another season shaving and waxing.

Give Milan Laser Recall at 833-No-Razor to speak to a laser hair removal expert or check out NeverShaveAgain.com today to schedule your free treatment and consultation. That's NeverShaveAgain.com. Hi, I'm Kristen Bell. Getting help from my anxiety made me feel like myself again, but we have all sorts of reasons for putting off taking care of ourselves. I thought I could just keep pushing through my depression symptoms. Let's push through dinner with the in-laws, not life.

I don't want medication to change who I am. Understood. But what if it helps you feel like yourself again? I hoped my depression would just go away after a while. Same. But for me, it was kind of like wishing away my taxes. I've thought about trying medication for my anxiety before, but I don't know where to start.

I've got you. Through hers, you can get a prescription 100% online if a medical professional determines it's right for you. And through the hers app, you can message them at any time. There shouldn't be a stigma about taking medication for anxiety. Start your free assessment today at forehers.com slash care. That's forehers.com slash C-A-R-E. Prescriptions require an online consultation with a health care provider who will determine

if appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for details and important safety information. Subscription required. Control substances like Adderall are not available through the HRS platform. John Ponder. An interesting dude. How are you today, man?

Man, I am doing terrific. Thank you so much for asking man It is it is so good to be in your offices and Las Vegas and I can't wait to tell the listeners what I just listened a little later That is some inspirational redemptive stuff I saw and we'll talk about that in a minute But first this is an army of normal folks. I don't go around the country interviewing bigwig politicians and the smart people that know everything. I like to talk to normal folks that do extraordinary things like yourself and so first, John, where are you from?

Where did you grow up? Tell me about John, the young man. Okay. Well, I grew up in the streets of New York. Brooklyn and Long Island spent a lot of time out in Long Island. Boy, you can hear it when you say Brooklyn in that accent. Yeah, man, that's still there. Yeah, man, that's still there.

Yeah, man, that's still there. That's right. Got it. But single parent home, dad left home at a very early age. You leave your mom raising five knuckle head boys and one knucklehead girl all by herself, you know, and I think that growing up in that environment, my story is not much different than any, you know, many in the other urban communities, right, without the dead, growing up in that type of environment, you know, that led me to the streets to kind of validate masculinity, right? I get it, man. So the streets led me to the drugs drugs, the let me to the gangs, gangs,

let me to the criminal activity, that criminal activity led me to the drugs, drugs, drugs, the leads me to the gangs, gangs led me to the criminal activity, that criminal activity led me to my very first set of handcuffs at the 10th of the range of 12 years old. 12, you got locked up? 12 years old. Did you get locked up or arrested as a juvenile? Oh, it was, it was arrested as a juvenile, but it kind of, you know, started from there. No, it was, it was, it was popping the cork off the top of the house. Right, absolutely. And because my older brothers were already getting in trouble, I'm the second to the baby, but I watch my older brothers in the streets as well

and getting in trouble and so forth. So at 12 years old, just that arrest, it had become the norm, right? It was like the expectations of. So my dad left when I was four. And I'm 54 now, John. And I spent, until I was about 47 or 8 trying to figure out why my father didn't value me. And I spent a lot of time working to prove my worth to myself.

Because you get this weird thing when your father leaves, especially as a young strapping man, that hey, I got a prove that I'm valuable enough. So the next person doesn't leave me in. And I felt that way when you came up, you had big brothers and stuff. So did you follow in their footsteps because they filled a little bit of masculinity void

or were you trying to prove yourself to the streets? I mean, give me a feel for what that really was. Yeah, so I think you're right. I was following in their footsteps, but they were going down the wrong path. Right. So not getting any satisfaction out there. I like to tell people that I began to live my

life growing up somebody that I was not. Right. In other words, I grew up and I was wearing a mask. I had become to everybody in the world around me who it was. I thought they wanted to see. I know that. And it wasn't even me, right. Growing up wearing a mask, right? And I'm going into relationship to relationship to relationship, you know, wearing different masks, I call it like the falsehoods of masculinity. I get it. Insecurity is what it is. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.

I thought, well, I mean, you can look at me. You're good looking. I'm fat-red at it. So, you know, I already have built-in insecurity, right? And then you just cack it on. I feel that I've read though that when your mom and had it with the six knucklehead family, that she would ship you kids off to some grandparents.

Tell me about that experience. Yeah, so I had my mom would ship us down to Mississippi. Well, when I read that, I started giggling. Cause a young man from Brooklyn, from New York, from the mean street, wearing Mississippi football. Yeah, it was in equipment, the soda Mississippi. That first of all, that just had to be culture shock in and of itself, bro.

Yeah, but it was, and it was, it was fun because the city kids are getting down into the farmlands of Mississippi Yeah, but the thing about going down the Mississippi, you know, I had a grandmother and they was Madilla It was the original idea. It's not the Tyler. This was Madilla Madilla, right? Madilla, Madilla, Madilla, Madilla. And we get down to Mississippi and boy, I tell you Madilla loved Jesus Yeah, and Madilla would take those city kids and and we go to see his and roll bucks in Meridian, Mississippi. And she would buy all these like Sunday school clothes and she would get us in St. John's church.

And she's got us in front of that dusty black piano and she's teaching us all these hymns and you know songs like, yes, Jesus loves me. What what denomination was St. John? As St. John's was was a Lutheran church. A Lutheran church in Meridian? No, that was actually in the Soto, Mississippi. New York kid. Yep.

Getting in trouble. Getting down to Mississippi with Medea the grandmother. Yes. And going to a Lutheran church with some church clothes bought at the Sears and Robo. Absolutely. And do you think do you think where you are today, which we will get to where you are today, but do you think that that little bitty seed that wasn't getting a whole lot of water or fertilizer,

do you think it mattered today? You know absolutely 100%. I love to hear people's story when they say they had a praying grandmother, right? But my idea took it a lot further than that. Well, my dear had us in front of those that dusty black piano and she's got us singing those hymns and she's teaching the songs like, yes, Jesus loves me and amazing grace, right? My dear was so in seas in us that took 40 some years later

to come to a harvest. She's in heaven now looking down on your on her legacy. Very proud, John. Yes. I mean, that's real, right? Oh, absolutely. All right. So let's talk about that a little bit as well.

I'm just doing the math. What year would that have been? Probably what years to 70s or do? Oh, absolutely. I would say we started going, I mean, as far as back and I can remember, I'm 56. I was born in 1966. So I remember, you know, 1974, 75.

And how old was she then? Medea was, oh my goodness, she was, well, she passed away and I can't even do the math. She passed away in 1978. And she was 72 years old. So some mathians too. She was born in 1906. Right, yes.

So she was probably the daughter of... Sharecroppers. Oh, absolutely she was. And granddaughter of Slice. Absolutely. Absolutely, 100%. Did you feel that? No, Medea did an incredible job and so did my mom, right?

And protecting us and shielding us from those things. That's amazing. Not that they were hiding like the obvious racism. But when we were around Medea, around my mother, but we could never refer to someone else. We couldn't refer to a white person as a white boy, a white girl. That boy, a girl is a boy, a girl. That was it.

That was it. Period in the report. I think that what was really fascinating about that is because they grew up in Mississippi, right? In the deep south during those times where absolutely, absolutely 100%. Yeah. I think that they did a great job in doing that. That's something that I pass

on to my kids to this day. Honestly, I fear that in our society, that's uncommon. Very much so. And I think that it becomes, is become, people become desensitized to that. I couldn't agree more. Right. So, John's scamper around at 12 years old with some handcuffs on, fallen after big brothers in the society that he sees and lives in. He has listened to Medea playing a seed, but that's not his reality because he lives in New York. Right. And he's in the streets. And he goes to jail. And there was a time, you committed a lot of little crimes here and there, but then there was a big one. Tell me about the big one.

Oh, it was several big ones. And if you refer into my last little prison stent, you know, I committed a string of bank robberies, right? How, how, where you, I was 30, 36 years old. 36? Yeah, committed a string of bank robberies, right? How, how, how, I was 30, 36 years old. 36? Yeah, committed a string of it. Maybe I've missed something for 12 to 36. I'm doing a job of stringing this together.

Okay. Well, let's back up. Tell me what you did at 25. Right, right, right. So the 25s were, you know, a little tiny things, but after my arrest at 12 years old, when I was 16 years old, was when I've caught my very first felony conviction at 16, it was for an arm robbery, right?

So strong arm. You know, it was with the weapon, but I robbed some drug dealists, right? 16 years old, growing up in New York, and I got over that. You know some of our listeners say, well, they probably deserve that. Well, no, I don't think that, yeah, if you would ask me that question, you know, some of our listeners say, well, they probably deserve that. Well, no, I don't think that, yeah, I know you don't. If you would ask me that question, you know, 25, 30 years ago, I might have said, yeah, it is, right now they didn't deserve that. That was me, you know, but so it was at 16 years old when I caught my very first felony

conviction. I did not learn my lesson from there. And then thing just got gotten progressively worse. We'll be right back. Hi, my name is Cooper and I'm a mini golden doodle from Crocodoodles. And I'm a midnight, the Cavalry. Now I know what you're thinking, talking dogs? Well, hold on to your tails because it gets better than that. I mean, not better, like, more impressive than a talking dog exactly.

But if you apply now at Crocodotles.com, you could adopt me or any other breed we offer with just a few easy steps. Whether you find a match immediately or buy your time looking for just the right family member, we're worth the wait. We're all raised by reputable, responsible breeders and could be delivered anywhere in the United States. We're even certified by the Better Business Bureau and have over 500 positive reviews. But if you don't believe me, Jess asked Bentley. He's British so he knows what he's talking about. Cooper is quite right. Are we coming all different breeds in sizes? In personalities? Plus, we have a three-year health guarantee. So, check us out at Crocododles.com and apply

for the perfect addition to your family now. I shouldn't wear a round-of-hour Uda with terribly popular. Crocododles is making families whole. One pup at a time. Say goodbye to summer shaving and hello to Hair Free Skin all year long. Give laser hair removal a try this month with one free treatment at any of Milan Lasers 5 Raleigh Durham locations. Milan Lasers delivers smooth hair-free skin with permanent results for all skin tones.

So you can finally end that never-ending cycle of shaving and waxing. Laser Hair Removal is all they do, and you'll save time and money by never shaving again. They're overseen by medical professionals and use the latest technology to safely, comfortably, and effectively give you the best results. And because their exclusive unlimited package is included with every purchase, you'll never pay touch-up fees or run out of sessions before you're officially hair-free. Don't spend another season shaving and waxing. Give Milan Laser Recall at 833-No-RRaser to speak to a laser hair removal expert or check out NeverShaveAgain.com today to schedule your free treatment and consultation.

That's NeverShaveAgain.com. Hi, I'm Kristen Bell. Getting help from my anxiety made me feel like myself again, but we have all sorts of reasons for putting off taking care of ourselves. I thought I could just keep pushing through my depression symptoms. Let's push through dinner with the in-laws, not life. I don't want medication to change who I am. Understood.

But what if it helps you feel like yourself again? I hoped my depression would just go away after a while. Same. But for me, it was kind of like wishing away my taxes. I've thought about trying medication for my anxiety before, but I don't know where to start. I've got you. Through hers, you can get a prescription 100% online if a medical professional determines

its right for you, and through the hers app, you can message them at any time. There shouldn't be a stigma about taking medication for anxiety. Start your free assessment today at 4hurst.com slash care. That's 4hurst.com slash C-A-R-E. Rescriptions require an online consultation with a health care provider who will determine if appropriate, restrictions apply. See website for details and important safety information. Subscription required.

Control substances like Adderall are not available through the hers platform. Now let's return to John's early life of crop. Getting arrested for, you know, many of of things, everything from just burglaries and things of that nature. And I tell people, I used to get arrested for burglaries. And I have this thing because I earned my stripes. And I'm going to prison, I mean, I'm locked up for burglary. And I used to say that they're not going to hold me for this.

And, you know, I used to have to say that I'm greasy from the shoulders, right? And I'm going to go to court and they're going to give me an OR. And I'm going to take the first deal that's come, This is released on your own record this right or you're gonna pay to bill or or better yet The public defender is gonna come at you with some deal and I don't even care what the deal is if I click guilty to it Does this mean I go home for sure? Yeah? I get to go home and play on my next car exactly right so my you know And I take those and it was a bunch of those that had got stacked up and then 1990 eight or somewhere I had gotten arrested for another felony and it was for

Assault with a deadly weapon. What's that also on another street person? Oh Yes, that was another street person, but then immediately in the interim of that, I had a quarter domestic violence, right? And the domestic violence in there, one of them was in my fault. You know, I had become addicted to everything known to man, I'm completely out of my mind, I'm acting very rational.

And that domestic violence was actually with my brother, right? Did we live in the same house? Did we live in the same house? And because we lived in the same house, it was under, it was considered domestic violence. I have a question. Yes, sir. I'd coached football in the inner city for a large part of my life.

And I remember the first time I ever heard one of my players say that their brother had caught a charge. And it really, really, really shocked me. And I am a phonetics person. And I thought, that's ridiculous. You catch a cold. You earn a charge. And whenever I use a would say I got a charge, it's almost like, And whenever I use them would say I got a charge. It's almost like I got a charge. I just caught it. I mean, you know, I was walking around and I caught a cold. I was like, right, I caught a charge.

It's, I know that that's, well, I'm gonna use that. I'm gonna write that down. I'm gonna use that. It's true. You know, catch the charge. Go do something to get one. Yes.

But so you kept catching charges and kept getting the second chance. I kept earning the charge. Yeah, thank you very much. We have fixed that on this show. You kept earning the charges and you kept getting second chances. But but you're you're the world you were lived in. You lived in. that was the second chance was just as I could chance to go do something and not get caught. Right. Right. So you robbed some banks at 34. 36, 37 or something like that. Yeah. So you'd actually robbed some banks and guys got together and said, let's go robbed some banks. No, I was, I was, I did his solo. Did you really? That was a solo guy. Yeah. Right. Again, I worked out for it. Well, I went to federal prison. Tell me right. So you get caught. Yes. And what are you facing in terms of time?

Well, because I'm in the federal system, right? I was facing the possibility of a spin in 23 years in prison at 36. Yes. So you're 60. Absolutely. So your life, yep. Your life's over. It's, it's over. It's, it's one hundred percent over because how the federal system works is they take a look at your criminal history, which was, and they can go back to that 16 yada, yada,

yada, yada. They can go back to juvenile even. They can go back. It's a, it's a time frame. I see. Right. So if, and I forget what it was like, they can go back. It's a timeframe. I see. Right. So we've, and I have to get what it was like, they can go back 25 years and whatever that's right. And then based on that comb, or history, they give you points. And it was, you know, it could, it could have helped

the resume. Absolutely. Right. Yes. I like the way he put that. So you're looking at 20 years. Possibly spending, you know, 20, think it worked out to like 23 years in prison. And what happened? You know, I, um, I'm mad and I'm angry. What, what's your bad and angry anyway? Oh, nobody even more now. But let me tell you reason why, because the realism reality is setting in right now. What are you mad and angry at the people that call you? Are you mad and angry at circumstances? Are you mad and angry at yourself? Man, I'm mad and angry with all of the, of the, of the both above. Yeah, I'm mad and angry with all of the above above. Yeah. I'm hate myself, right?

Because I find myself once again in a detention center about the go-before judge, where I'm doing the same thing all over again, where he's gonna determine how I'm gonna spend the next, you know, 20 some ideas of my life. I'm angry at myself. I'm angry that I didn't learn my lesson. I'm angry with the people in the world around me who, you know, the drugs and all these

different things, you name it. I'm angry. So even after all of it, you really do have some self-realization still. Absolutely. You want to understand? Which means the people that you're helping, they do too. Yes. Even the worst of the worst, except for some that are just mentally sick.

Yep. But even some of the worst of the worst offenders that have a rap sheet amount long, when it's them and then in a mirror, I know what they're looking at. Oh, absolutely. And you did. Yeah, absolutely. So you're staring 20 years in prison now. How do you, you're not 60 and you're not in prison.

Right. Right. So so oh my goodness I it again being angry. I was fighting people and fighting offices and and we literally fighting oh literally fight Everybody yeah, everybody in the world around me fight right because of that anger and because of those Institutional behaviors they put me in solitary confinement and I found myself in solitary confinement what me in solitary confinement. And I found myself in solitary confinement. I'm angry, I'm like, food's sake and I'm not eating.

Let's talk about solitary confinement for the people to hear that. And it's overused in movies and it's become, we've become just sensitized to it. But solitary confinement, some people may have earned or deserve that. But what that is, and my understanding is, an A by concrete block cell, 23 hours

with one hour of exercise a day. Yes. So literally you're caged. Absolutely. And there's no socialization with any other human being. Well, unless you're screaming down the hallway at the inmates next door, right? Which is, which is hardly comforting. Right. Yeah.

So you are staring at walls for 23 hours with no socialization. Yep. Staring at, I'm going to be here to I'm 60. Yep. Do you ever get suicidal? Of course I did. I think that when you're facing the unknown, and those are some of the thoughts that are in your back,

your mind, I think I remember the thing that was killing me the most, is that my son is now growing up without his dad, just like I grew up without mine. Yeah, it's just killing me. It's just killing me. So once again, you're facing it. What happened?

Yeah. How in the world are you here? What happened? Man, I get to tell you a story about how I'm in solitary confinement. Twenty-three hour lockdown, one hour. I'll never forget the day that a chaplain, one of the prison chaplains, they come by at the prison cell and he was speaking me through the door having a conversation and trying to do it like a food

slot little food slot in there and he's been down his a brother how you doing always actually trying to get our contact with you. Yes, yeah, and he was having his conversation and I don't remember exactly what it was he was saying but I wasn't trying to hear it. I'm mad. You have it. Yeah, so I. So I cursed the guy out and called him every name except for the name that his mom gave him told him to get away from the door and he before he left the door he dropped the Bible through the little food flap. And he was getting Bible. Yeah, it was just to get what it was, but it was a Bible. Right.

And he dropped it through the food flap and And he said to me, hey, brother, Jesus loves you. And close a food flap. And then he left the door. And I left the Bible on the floor and just left it alone. I'm still angry. And I don't know. It had to be like a week or so later. Same chap that comes by, he opens up the food.

Like I have a conversation. I curse him out. And before he left, he said, Jesus loves you. And he drops this daily devotional through the food flap. It was a daily devotional by Kenneth Copeland and it was called the pursuit of his presence. And I left it on the floor, did not read it, whatever case it means. And then I don't know, a couple weeks later, out of 100% complete boredom, just bored, nothing else to do. So I was very confinement. I picked up that daily devotional and I turned to whatever page I

thought that it was. I don't even know what day it is. And I opened it up and I I've to the date and I started reading the story on there. And as I'm reading the story and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is right. It was something leaped on the inside. I mean, then right in the top right hand corner, there was a passage of Scripture. And I immediately picked the Bible up and I started opening it up to that passage of Scripture to where I'm reading it, as I'm reading it.

Oh my God, something has happened. I got this flashback of 40 some odd years ago. To Medea. To Medea in Mississippi, so in seeds that it took almost 40 years later to see the harvest of what Maldira was selling. And then when that happened, when the two weeks leading up there, when you kind of stepping over the Bible, and you're cussing the dude out, did you ever once just flashpoint for a millisecond to Medea? No.

She was gone. Oh yeah. It was gone. It was buried. Right. But when you open the devotional and then open to the scripture and the devotional, it all came full circle for you. Yeah. Man, and again, I think it was when I read that devotional, that passage of Scripture, and when

I opened up the Bible, it was this old, so familiar, erity of being inside the Word. And I looked up that passage of Scripture, and I began to read. And from that day forward, I could not put my Bible down. And I'm start reading the stories. And all those stories, Medea was saying, there's a woman at the well, there's a blind man, they bought a meast. I'm laying back on my, on my bonk,

and I'm just chewing on. And all those things that Medea was talking about came to life. And a minute that I did that, the minute that I did that, something on the inside of me changed. I'm not as angry as I was before. I'm starting to have conversations with corrections officers.

It's something about it was just different. There was this peace that dropped on me. I can't even comprehend. Now, I know that I'm still going to prison. I know that I'm still going through this maximum security United States federal bill in a dentistry, but there's this peace about me that is just, I can't even explain.

We'll be right back. Hi, my name is Cooper, and I'm a mini golden doodle from Crocodoodles. And one bit late, the cover. Now I know what you're thinking, talking dogs? Well, hold on to your tails because it gets better than that. I mean, not better, like, more impressive than a talking dog, exactly. But if you apply now at Crocodoodles.com, you can adopt me or any other breed we offer

with just a few easy steps. Whether you find a match immediately or buy your time looking for just the right family member, we're worth the wait. We're all raised by reputable, responsible breeders and can be delivered anywhere in the United States. We're even certified by the Better Business Bureau and have over 500 positive reviews. But if you don't believe me, Jess asked Bentley. He's British, so he knows what he's talking about. Cooperie's quite right.

Are we coming all different breeds and sizes in person at least? Plus we have a three year health guarantee. talking about. Say goodbye to summer shaving and hello to hair-free skin all year long. Give laser hair removal a try this month with one free treatment at any of Milan Lasers 5 Raleigh Durham locations. Milan Lasers delivers smooth hair-free skin with permanent results for all skin tones, so you can finally end that never-ending cycle of shaving and waxing. Laser hair removal is all they do, and you'll save time and money by never shaving again. They're overseen by medical professionals and use the latest technology to safely, comfortably,

and effectively give you the best results. And because their exclusive unlimited package is included with every purchase, you'll never pay touch-up fees or run out of sessions before you're officially hair-free. Don't spend another season shaving and waxing. Give Milan laser a call at 833-No-Raser to speak to a laser hair removal expert or check out nevershaveagain.com today to schedule your free treatment and consultation. That's nevershaveagain.com. Hi, I'm Kristen Bell. Getting help from my anxiety made me feel like myself again, but we have all sorts of reasons for putting off taking care of ourselves.

I thought I could just keep pushing through my depression symptoms. Let's push through dinner with the in-laws, not life. I don't want medication to change who I am. Understood. But what if it helps you feel like yourself again? I hoped my depression would just go away after a while. Same, but for me, it was kind of like wishing away my taxes. I've thought about trying medication for my anxiety before, but I don't know where to start.

I've got you. Through hers, you can get a prescription 100% online if a medical professional determines it's right for you, and through the hers app, you can message them at any time. There shouldn't be a stigma about taking medication for anxiety. Start your free assessment today at 4hurst.com slash care. That's 4hurst.com slash C-A-R-E. Prescriptions require an online consultation with a health care provider who will determine if appropriate restrictions apply. See website for details and important safety information. Subscription required, controlled substances like Adderall are not available through the HRS platform.

Now let's return to John being in prison in the peace that kept growing in his heart while waiting for sentencing. And then one night there was a there was a young man that was leaving and he was on the US Marshal who was coming to get him and he was on his way to federal prison right and it's like three o'clock in the morning, they come and get him. And then I hear him talking to one of the corrections officers, hey, I got my transition radio. Can I give it to Ponder? Because they won't let me take it on the plane, Conair. They won't take that you're taking it on plane.

Can I give this radio to Ponder? And I need me here as reply. I heard the door closed. I was like, oh, well, and I turned't even hear his reply. I heard the door closed. I was like, oh well, and I turned over and went back to sleep. A couple of hours later before that officer shift changed, he came over, opened up the food flap and literally dropped this transitional radio on the floor and it went into a couple of pieces. I just said, didn't it break? Oh yeah, it just went into a couple of pieces and then, you know, I'd get up for breakfast and I'd grab it and I'd

turn this thing on and I couldn't find a radio station on here. And the only radio station I found was this radio station is 90.5, which is a Christian radio station. What city is it? This is here in Las Vegas. This is in Vegas. This is here in Las Vegas. I'm in the detention center here. Okay, so it's 90.

90.5, SOS radio. They're my dear friends that is there. No kidding. I promise you. And that's the only thing that came over that all right. That was the only thing that came in that old radio and had one earbud. I don't even know what happened the other earbud.

But I'm listening to it and so forth and so on. And then as I'm listening to it one night across the radio There's the pastor came on and he started preaching the story about the product of son And I set up on the side of the bed and it was progress on and you know how her story is and come home And we just run back to you and at the end of it that that pastor made a made an alter call and said of this touches your heart And you know you want to surrender your life to the Lord. Jesus knocking on the door your heart. I stood up in that detention center, raised my hands up,

and I asked God to forgive me for all the stuff that I did over the past 30 some might years. Did he? And oh, 100% he did. How sure are you? Oh, I am 100% sure that he did. I wish everybody listening could see your face when we said 100%.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I am absolutely positively sure, but then I ask him to be the Lord of my life and I surrendered my life to God in that moment. And when I got up off the floor, I went in a 180 degree turn in another direction. You're still looking at 23 years, John. Oh, absolutely, I am.

I mean, that's great. Oh, absolutely. It's redemptive. Right. You're still looking at 23 years. Well, let me tell you what happened, right? So I'm walking into the courtroom, right? Before I go in the courtroom and I'm about to get this time,

I play, let's make a deal with God in that holding zone. Right? Are you mounting all of us here? I am mounting all right now, right? Playing, let's make a deal. And what I said to God was, listen, I'm going up in his courtroom and I'm asking you to go before me in his courtroom.

And I'm asking you to climb in the robe of that judge, James E. Mayan, who's my best friend to this day? The judge. The federal judge is being depressed. Now you're best friend. It's my best friend. Okay. So I asked him to climb up into the robe of that judge, move him out of the way. And I said, God, whatever time I got coming to me, let it come from you. You be my judge. But then I said to him to search the meditation of my heart. When I surrendered, right, it was 100% you know, a to you search the meditation of my heart. And I said, examine what it is about to say to I said to him that whatever time I get right now, if it comes from you, whether it's 50 years or whether it is, whatever it is,

right, I am committing to you that I am going to spend the rest of this life into eternity serving you. And I stepped up in that courtroom and unmistakably got showed up. And I didn't get what it was that I deserved. Evidence that my father showed up because my father said his son that I might not get what I deserve. Move that judge out of the way and instead of him giving me what I deserve, he gave me six and a half years. I still got to go to federal prison. I still got to go in maximum security in the United States federal penitentiary.

But I remember I went back to the holding cell right in the US marshals that scored me back down there and they said, man, I don't, they was talking to you. I mean, I don't know what happened in there. And I said, I don't, my God, show it up. And as I'm laying there on the floor and I'm thanking them. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And God says, you know, listen, my son, I honored

What you asked me to do. Yeah, there's a problem. You said let's make a deal now. You got work to do He says don't ever forget the promise that you made with me That you were going to spend the rest of this life serving you and listen I got a buffed out flaw and my life went in a 180 degree turn in the other direction and I never look back. And just waiting to hear what John Ponder has done once he never looked back. That concludes part one of our conversation with John and I hope you'll listen to part two that's now available.

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