Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary McDonald.
Gary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Hallandale Florida, a small town where everyone knows everyone. My father Rodney Miller and my mother Debbie Mcdonald Inman had several kids from different relationships, and growing up we moved around a lot, staying from motel to motel. After years of neglect and being left alone by our parents, my siblings and I were placed in foster care. We lived there for about two years until my mother and father got their act together. Although they separated, our family was still close.
My father became a deacon at the church and wanted better for his kids. He worked two jobs and had different hustles on the side, which he made aware to us early on. My father instilled into us that we needed more than one income to fall back on if any Life issues came up. As a youth I worked at Sonnys Triangle Family Restaurant also my siblings and I sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts on Saturday’s to put money in our pockets, it wasn’t much, but it taught us to hustle. The hustling mentality leads me to become a crack and heroine dealer. By the year 2000, my reign came to an end and I was charged with selling and manufacturing of heroine. The Hollywood PD did so many things wrong that night, and I ended up only getting three years probation. After retiring from the drug game, I started working in corporate and I’ve been able to help create jobs especially for those with felony convictions.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road that I’ve been traveling on has been rough and bumpy, it hasn’t had a smooth surface since I was able to walk as a baby. Nobody tells you growing up about felonies and how they can hold you back when you’re older. When you’re young, you feel invinsible, you feel like you know everything, and then the future catches up to you. Apartment complexes, housing, section 8 and many others like them won’t allow convicted felons to live on their properties. It’s very frustrating for me to want to do better, and live a productive life, but the system as a whole makes it impossible on purpose. Implicit bias is just one way that they hold us back from progressing, and when you add a felony to the mixture, it’s rare that you would get a fair shake. Recidivism is up because returning citizens have nowhere to go and limited job opportunities.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Convicted Conversations Podcast story. Tell us more about your work.
Convicted Conversations was started December 26th, 2018 as a way to reach the youth. Experiencing first hand how one-sided the system is, I decided to give them a heads up as to what their futures would look like if they became a felon. My podcast is also used as a deterrent method for the young and old, men and women to stay out here with their friends, family and loved ones.
Jail is not fun, and it shouldn’t continue to be glorified. I go to schools, halfway houses and churches talking to the youth about the importance of not going to jail and becoming a convicted felon. I’ve reached over 50 thousand plays in my 1st year and that’s unheard of for a new podcast. They have millions of podcast discussing a variety of topics, but none of them were talking about how hard it is for felons to live or find a place of their own.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
People have told me for years that I was a lucky dude. I would say that I’m black, blessed, and highly favored.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anchor.fm/prosandcons
- Phone: 754-281-0525
- Email: gmcdonald480@gmail.com
- Instagram: Convicted Conversations
- Twitter: ConvictedConvo
Image Credit:
Yatted Photography & Promotions
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