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  • Driven by Second Chances: Inside Focus Freight’s Mission to Employ Returning Citizens

    Driven by Second Chances: Inside Focus Freight’s Mission to Employ Returning Citizens
    May 7 2026
    In this powerful and engaging episode of Talking Second Chances, hosts Mandy Philyaw and Jeremy B. White sit down with second chance employer Focus Freight to explore how opportunity and purpose can transform lives.

    CEO Quania Johnson shares how launching her woman-owned trucking company was inspired by a deeply personal mission to help her nephew secure employment after returning home from prison. She’s since built a business committed to opening doors for others seeking a fresh start.

    Joining the conversation is Justin Mills, who brings a remarkable story of resilience and success. After spending more than 20 years incarcerated, Justin turned a second chance into a thriving career in trucking earning six figures within a year of release. Now the owner of Mills Logistics, he’s committed to helping others follow a similar path by creating opportunities for justice-involved individuals.

    This episode is a candid, inspiring, and often fun conversation about redemption, entrepreneurship, and the real impact of second chance employment in Tennessee.
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    34 Min.
  • From Probation to Purpose: Mandy Philyaw’s Journey in Reentry

    From Probation to Purpose: Mandy Philyaw’s Journey in Reentry
    May 5 2026
    In this episode of Talking Second Chances, Mandy Philyaw shares her personal and professional journey into the world of reentry work. Starting her career as a Probation Officer, Mandy offers insight into how her early experiences shaped her passion for helping justice-impacted individuals rebuild their lives.

    Now serving as a Grants and Programs Manager with the Tennessee Office of Reentry, Mandy reflects on the pivotal moments that led her to this role and the deeper purpose she’s found along the way. Tune in for an honest conversation about career growth, second chances, and the impact of dedicated reentry support in Tennessee.
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    20 Min.
  • A New Chapter for Reentry: Vision, Programs, and Partnerships in Tennessee

    A New Chapter for Reentry: Vision, Programs, and Partnerships in Tennessee
    Apr 23 2026
    The Talking Second Chances podcast is back with new hosts and a renewed vision. Grants and Programs Managers Jeremy B. White and Mandy Philyaw introduce the future of the Tennessee Office of Reentry and how it’s working to create meaningful opportunities for justice-impacted individuals across the state.

    In this episode, Jeremy and Mandy break down key initiatives driving this mission forward, including TN Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) and the Community Reentry Reinvestment Grant Program (CRRG). They also highlight the importance of collaboration through the TN Works initiative and how partnerships are helping build stronger pathways to employment and successful reentry.

    Tune in to learn how these programs and partnerships are shaping second chances and strengthening Tennessee’s workforce.
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    13 Min.
  • Talking Second Chances-Filipe Goncalves

    Talking Second Chances-Filipe Goncalves
    Feb 10 2025
    In this episode of Talking Second Chances, host Trevor White sits down with one of the Tennessee Office of Reentry's Reintigration Specialists, Filipe Goncalves, who covers the Southeast and Upper Cumberland areas of the state. Join in a conversation about how this work is done including lessons learned, best practices, and stories from the field.
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    21 Min.
  • Talking Second Chances - Grace Goins

    Talking Second Chances - Grace Goins
    Jan 6 2025




    Talking Second Chances Podcast: Season 3 PremiereIn this first episode of 2025, Talking Second Chances kicks off its third season with an inspiring conversation with Grace Goins, a Reintegration Specialist serving the East Tennessee region. Grace shares her journey from graduate school to her current role, highlighting how her master’s thesis, Correctional Career Pathway: A Journey to Hope, laid the foundation for her work in supporting justice-involved individuals.

    Host Trevor White dives into a discussion with Grace about the challenges and opportunities of reintegration, with a special focus on the innovative tablet program. This initiative equips individuals behind bars with digital tools designed to support their education, skill-building, and reentry preparation, offering hope and a pathway to success as they transition back into the community.

    Tune in for an engaging and hopeful conversation that sets the tone for a transformative season!
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    35 Min.
  • Talking Second Chances-Charles Johnson

    Talking Second Chances-Charles Johnson
    Nov 14 2024
    In the latest episode of Talking Second Chances, host Trevor White sits down with Charles Johnson, a new Reintegration Specialist from West Tennessee. Charles shares his unique journey from being an Adult Education teacher who worked with justice-involved individuals within prison walls to now supporting their reintegration into society. Together, they explore the challenges and successes of working with individuals who are rebuilding their lives after incarceration, discuss the skills and strategies that truly make a difference, and highlight the importance of education as a stepping stone to change. This episode offers listeners a candid look at the power of second chances and the transformative role educators and reintegration specialists play in breaking down barriers to reentry.
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    33 Min.
  • Talking Second Chances - Angela Lax

    Talking Second Chances - Angela Lax
    Oct 7 2024
    In the latest episode of Talking Second Chances, host Trevor White sits down with Angela Lax, the newly hired Reintegration Specialist for the Office of Reentry. Angela, who previously worked in Adult Education, Angela serves the Middle Tennessee area, focusing on implementing state-issued tablets in jails and prisons. These tablets are a vital tool for helping justice-impacted individuals "behind the wall" access education, employment resources, rehabilitation programs, and training opportunities. Tune in to hear how these efforts are transforming lives and offering second chances through technology and education.
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    23 Min.
  • Talking Second Chances - Trevor White

    Talking Second Chances - Trevor White
    Sep 5 2024
    In a reversal of roles, this week host Trevor White becomes the one answering questions as he is interviewed by fellow Tennessee Office of Reentry member Jeremy White (no relation!) about his professional history, new role as data analyst, and more!
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    25 Min.