Ex-Con Goes From Prison to Creating a Successful Business & Life. What Turned His Life Around?
Sean Dustin describes his path from drug dealing and identity theft to creating the podcast Nowhere To Go But Up, what made him decide to change in December 2010, and his plans for a men-only re-entry non-profit.
About This Episode
Sean Dustin has led a tumultuous life. After a troubled childhood, he found himself in and out of state and federal prisons as an adult, serving time for drug trafficking, and fraud. After his 2006 release, he suffered with a meth amphetamine addiction before finally kicking the habit and committing himself to a life on the straight and narrow.
These days he is the creator of the successful podcast, Nowhere To Go But Up, in which he chronicles the journeys of others who also come from difficult backgrounds. Hoping to help others who may be going down similar, dark paths. He is also starting a non-profit that emphasizes a holistic approach to re-entry for men going through the criminal process, from pre-trial, to halfway houses. How was he able to defeat the odds and turn his life around? Tune in to episode 78 of Open Mike Podcast to find out.
Show Notes
- Sean’s background and bio
- You implied that you hit rock bottom at one point — can you tell us about that?
- This all led to a prison sentence. How many years did you spend inside?
- How does a decent human being such as yourself decide that committing crime is a better way to go than getting a real job?
- Sean explains how his periods of good behavior would culminate in self-indulgence, which would further escalate into selling drugs to afford to live.
- Besides drug dealing, one of your preferred crimes was identity theft, is that correct?
- How do people protect themselves from identity theft?
- Tell us about your podcast, Nowhere To Go But Up Now. You have a lot of great reviews, what is it about?
- Topics on the podcast range from personal accounts of people’s rock bottom moments, interview with politicians, Sean’s personal interests, etc.
- What do you do when you’re not podcasting?
- Sean is starting a non-profit that emphasizes a holistic approach to re-entry for men going through the criminal process, from pre-trial, to halfway houses.
- How long have you been sober and on the straight and narrow?
- What happened in December 10 that caused you to change your ways?
- There are “politics” in federal prisons, whereas in county and city jails, there’s not as much of an established hierarchy
- Adult slow-pitch softball helped Sean get on the straight and narrow because it gave him something to focus on as well as a different group of people to be surrounded by
- You can find everything on Sean and Nowhere To Go But Up Now, here!
- Sean is one of the founders of Indie Pods United, a live, virtual podcast summit. There will be over 100 different events throughout the summit which runs for twelve hours each day between November 29th and December 3rd. There will be game shows, comedians, breakout sessions, keynote speakers — if you’re a podcaster, check it out!
- You find Sean on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
- Thank you for supporting Open Mike Podcast!
FAQs
-
What crimes did Sean Dustin go to prison for?
According to the episode’s introduction, Sean Dustin went to state and federal prison for selling drugs and for white-collar crimes such as making credit cards in other people’s names. Later in the episode, Sean confirmed he was convicted of identity theft.
-
How did the identity theft scheme Sean described actually work?
According to Sean, when a system is hacked, the stolen credit card numbers and other information are sold over the dark web as “dumps.” He and others would pay for that information, buy blank cards with a magnetic strip on the back, encode them with the stolen data and add bank logos, pressing and printing their own cards.
-
What made Sean Dustin decide to turn his life around?
Sean said it was a culmination of things: he was in his 30s with nothing to show for it and still doing drugs. After chasing his ex-wife down the highway and trying to manipulate his way back into her life, he stood crying on the roadside as she told him she was done with him, which forced him to look at what he was doing. About a month and a half before going back to serve a 90-day violation, he quit smoking and doing drugs.
-
What is Sean Dustin's podcast Nowhere To Go But Up about?
Sean said the podcast covers rock bottoms, life struggles and how his guests get through them, along with his own interests. Guests have included the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate and the founder of Real Progressives.
-
What is Sean Dustin's plan for his re-entry non-profit?
Sean said his non-profit has been incorporated and is awaiting non-profit status. He plans a holistic re-entry program, for men only, that follows individuals from pre-trial through the halfway house, working with them in prison to change their behaviors before they get out and helping them prepare, for example with a resume or an exit plan. He said he is shooting for a one-to-five-year time frame.
Keep Listening
More Episodes
Ep 77
Nov 3, 2020
Innocent Michigan Woman Sent to Prison for Abusing her Adopted Nephew- The Story of Julie Baumer
with Julie Baumer & Sarah Miller Watch Episode
Ep 76
Oct 27, 2020
Are Ghosts Real? Paranormal Investigators Visit Haunted Locations to Find Answers From Beyond
with Kris Sumner Watch Episode
Ep 75
Oct 20, 2020
