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How do you stay motivated when you might still have decades left behind bars?

In Part 2 of my conversation with Shawn Johnson, we go straight to the heart of what kept him moving forward while facing a 60-year sentence. Shawn shares how his relationship with God became the foundation for endurance, how he learned to pray with honesty (not performance), and why being “used” by God mattered as much as being set free.

We talk about praying through disappointment, what it means to be “ready” for the next chapter, and how encouragement often comes from realizing your gifts can strengthen someone else—even in the darkest environment.

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, exhausted, or like the timeline isn’t moving. Shawn’s message is simple and powerful: it’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying faithful.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In Episode 5 of this limited solo series, JD explores peace not as a feeling, but as a discipline. Drawing from lived experience, he explains why peace doesn’t automatically appear in unsettled seasons—and why waiting to “feel peaceful” often keeps people stuck.

This episode breaks down how peace quietly erodes through uncertainty, shifting schedules, financial pressure, and the need for control. JD clearly distinguishes peace from denial, passivity, and avoidance, showing instead how peace functions as regulation—of thoughts, reactions, and decisions. He also outlines practical ways to practice peace through pausing, simplifying routines, writing things down, and resisting the urge to react to false urgency.

If life feels unsettled and clarity feels partial, this conversation reframes peace as something you actively protect and practice. Unsettled seasons aren’t failure—they’re part of the process, and peace can still be cultivated within them.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In this powerful episode, JD reconnects with Shawn Johnson, a man he first interviewed while Shawn was still incarcerated and serving what was effectively a life sentence. Nearly two years later, Shawn is home—his entire sentence commuted through executive clemency.

Shawn shares the extraordinary journey that led to his release: the reality of being sentenced to 60 years for a self-defense case, the long road of incarceration, and the unexpected opportunity created by New Jersey’s clemency process. He opens up about the discipline of praying every night at the same time with a small group of men inside the prison, the unwavering expectation that God would answer, and the transformation that happened along the way.

This conversation goes deeper than a legal victory. Shawn talks about choosing to grow instead of giving up, helping change the culture inside a maximum-security prison through faith, leadership, and service, and how one committed group of men can shift an entire environment.

This episode kicks off a multi-part series catching up with Shawn and exploring what life looks like after freedom, faith under pressure, and the power of consistency, community, and hope when the odds are stacked against you.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In Episode 4 of this limited solo series, JD explores a counterintuitive leadership skill: learning to speak less without losing authority. Drawing from personal experience, he challenges the belief that being understood requires saying more—and explains why, in practice, fewer words often carry greater weight.

This episode unpacks why people overexplain, how fear (not clarity) drives excessive talking, and what actually happens when you learn to pause, listen, and speak with intention. JD breaks down the difference between healthy silence and avoidance, showing how intentional restraint preserves energy, protects options, reduces unnecessary conflict, and creates space for discernment.

If you tend to overexplain, feel pressure to fill silence, or worry that being quiet means losing influence, this conversation offers a grounded, practical shift: authority isn’t lost by speaking less—it’s lost by talking past your values.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In this episode, JD speaks directly to those who find themselves in a hole—mentally, emotionally, or spiritually—and are searching for a way out. Drawing from personal experience, he explains why motivation alone isn’t enough and why what’s truly needed in hard seasons is better tools and discernment.

This conversation breaks down the difference between tools and crutches, showing how healthy tools support clear thinking without replacing responsibility or decision-making. JD shares practical tools that helped him regain clarity—such as structured routines, handwritten journaling, thought frameworks rooted in truth, and even the careful use of modern tools like AI—while also warning against common misuses that lead to dependence, bias, or avoidance.

If you’re rebuilding, feeling overwhelmed, or trying to slow your thinking instead of speeding up your decisions, this episode offers a grounded path forward: use tools to serve clarity, not replace it, and stay engaged in the process of discernment.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In Episode 2 of this limited solo series, JD tackles a challenge nearly everyone faces: what to do when one negative voice gets loud. Whether in business, leadership, or personal growth, a single critical voice can outweigh dozens of neutral or positive ones—and derail steady progress if left unchecked.

This episode breaks down why negative voices have so much power, how they often attach to existing insecurities, and why volume never equals truth. JD clearly outlines the questions to ask before reacting, the common mistakes that quietly wreck careers and lives, and practical ways to regain center without panic or overcorrection.

If you’ve ever felt pressured to move faster, explain yourself, or make big changes based on one loud opinion, this conversation will help you slow down, regain clarity, and stay anchored to what’s working. Steady consistency, not reaction, is what outlasts criticism.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In this episode, JD sits down with Colonel Tom Kelly, a retired U.S. Army officer with over 30 years of service who found an unexpected second calling as a professional dog trainer. After transitioning out of the military, Colonel Kelly turned a growing interest in canine behavior into a purpose-driven business, Contented Canines.

The conversation explores leadership, transition, and purpose—drawing powerful parallels between military experience, human growth, and dog training. Colonel Kelly shares how relationship-based training focuses on trust, relevance, and communication rather than control, and why understanding a dog’s nature is essential for helping dogs and humans live better lives together.

Listeners will hear insights on finding your “why” after major life transitions, the importance of structure and calm leadership, and how modern society has unintentionally created challenges for both dogs and people. This episode is thoughtful, practical, and grounded in real-world experience, offering lessons that extend far beyond dog training.

JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace

In this opening solo of a limited series, JD breaks down a lesson he learned the hard way: being nice and being kind are not the same thing. Drawing from personal experience, he explains how “nice” often avoids conflict, seeks approval, and keeps surface-level peace—while quietly causing long-term damage. Kindness, on the other hand, is rooted in truth, clarity, and intention, even when it feels uncomfortable in the moment.

This episode explores why so many people get stuck choosing what feels safe instead of what is right, and how kindness—when practiced with boundaries—protects long-term peace. If you’re rebuilding your life, learning to say no, or trying to live with greater alignment, this conversation will challenge you to stop performing and start being clear.