By Brandon Burley of The Redemption Project Redemption Story of the Week: Steve Smith Steve walked out of prison in August 2025 with nothing but the clothes on his back and a box of books. No family waiting.No friends.No safety net. Before prison, Steve knew the life he was living wasn’t right. A divorce sent him spiraling. Drugs followed. Then selling meth and heroin. Then prison. Behind bars, something changed. Steve found God. And instead of wasting the time, he used it—working to become someone different than the man who went in. When he was released, he came straight to Men of Valor Knoxville. Now, Steve is starting over from zero—but with purpose. He’s grateful for the structure, the accountability, and the opportunity to rebuild a life he never thought he’d have. Redemption doesn’t always come with applause.Sometimes it comes quietly—when a man decides he’s done living the old way. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today . My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing , The Arizona Capitol Times , South Florida Sun Sentinel , Police1 , among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Dewey Burton’s past isn’t easy to talk about — and it shouldn’t be. Before coming to Men of Valor, Dewey had already been convicted of robbery. After serving his time and being out of prison for just over a year, he was charged with aggravated child neglect. When that case crossed my desk years ago, I knew from the way Dewey responded that it wasn’t going to sit right with me. Some cases don’t. This was one of them. That matters. Redemption does not erase accountability. While incarcerated, Dewey applied to multiple halfway houses. Every door closed — except one. Men of Valor was the only program willing to take him. Not because they minimized what he’d done, but because they believed that change still had to be possible if accountability meant anything at all. While still in jail, Dewey completed the Men of Valor F.O.C.U.S. class — a 12-week program centered on discipline, responsibility, and confronting the truth about oneself. He didn’t pretend he could fix his life on his own. In fact, he was clear about the opposite. “I know I can’t do this by myself,” Dewey said. Since entering the Men of Valor program, Dewey has been working and rebuilding structure in his life. One of the biggest lessons he’s had to learn is slowing down — not rushing decisions, not reacting emotionally, not defaulting to old patterns when pressure hits. What surprised him most wasn’t the rules or the workload. It was the love. Dewey admits that growing up, he wasn’t used to the kind of consistent, accountable care he’s experienced at Men of Valor. Love with boundaries was unfamiliar territory. It forced him to confront how much of his past behavior was shaped by what he never learned growing up — especially his relationship with his father. That realization hasn’t excused his choices. But it has made him take ownership of changing them. Today, Dewey says he is following Jesus — not as a slogan, but as a daily discipline. He knows trust is rebuilt slowly. He knows redemption isn’t owed. And he understands that some people will never be comfortable with his story. He’s learning to live with that too. Redemption isn’t pretending the past didn’t happen. It’s choosing to live differently anyway — every single day. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Dustin Morgan’s story carries a weight that never fully goes away — and he doesn’t pretend that it should. Dustin was convicted of second-degree murder. He shot and killed a man. He pled guilty and received a 15-year sentence. There’s no minimizing that, and Dustin doesn’t try to. He owns it. Before prison, Dustin worked as a paramedic — a job built around saving lives. Losing that identity, and then facing the reality of taking a life, forced him into a level of humility he had never known before. Prison stripped everything familiar away. Titles, confidence, control — gone. What remained was the hard work of reckoning with his actions and deciding whether his life would end there or be rebuilt from the ground up. Through Men of Valor Knoxville, Dustin began that rebuilding process. The work wasn’t dramatic. It was humbling. He learned discipline, accountability, and how to show up consistently — even when the work felt small or unseen. Today, Dustin speaks openly about how humbling his current work has been compared to who he once was. Not with bitterness — but with gratitude. He understands now that growth often comes through being brought low. Dustin is nearing graduation from Men of Valor. He’s focused on the next chapter of his life — not pretending the past didn’t happen, but refusing to let it define the rest of his story. Redemption doesn’t erase consequences. But it does make transformation possible. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
In this episode of The Redemption Project , Brandon Burley sits down with TK , a licensed therapist and recovery professional whose life was nearly ended by addiction before it was rebuilt through faith, accountability, and community. TK’s story challenges stereotypes. He didn’t grow up in poverty or chaos—he grew up privileged. And yet addiction still took hold, escalating from early alcohol use to prescription opioids, pain clinics, dealing, methamphetamine, and ultimately a near-fatal overdose that left him on life support. After being revived with Narcan nine times, TK faced prison, the loss of his career, and the collapse of his family. What followed wasn’t a shortcut to redemption—it was treatment, humility, consequences, and years of rebuilding from the ground up. Today, TK is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC II) in Tennessee—despite felony convictions that nearly disqualified him from licensure. His journey offers rare insight into addiction, recovery, criminal justice, and what actually sustains long-term change. This conversation explores: • Why addiction doesn’t discriminate by class or background • The moment TK realized he couldn’t save himself • Near-death, faith, and the cost of recovery • Employment barriers for people with felony records • Why community—not independence—keeps people alive This is not a slogan-driven recovery story. It’s a real one. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Sean Luttrell’s first arrest came in 2023. By his own words, he wasn’t confused about how he got there. He was living an evil life — one bad decision stacked on top of another until the weight finally caught up with him. The arrest didn’t surprise him. In a way, it confirmed what he already knew: the path he was on only led one direction. While incarcerated for aggravated assault, something shifted. Sean didn’t start with grand promises or dramatic declarations. He hit his knees. He opened his Bible. And he began reading it every day — not for comfort, not to pass time, but because he knew he needed real change. Slowly, he says, he could feel something happening inside him. Not all at once. Not overnight. But enough to know this wasn’t just another jailhouse phase. After serving one year, Sean expected to be released. Instead, he stayed another year. At the time, it felt like a setback. Looking back, Sean believes it wasn’t punishment — it was preparation. “God had other plans,” he says. Plans that required more time, more discipline, and fewer distractions. During that additional year, Sean completed the Men of Valor program while still inside the jail. He chose growth over bitterness. Structure over excuses. Accountability over shortcuts. It wasn’t easy — but it was necessary. Redemption, Sean learned, doesn’t always mean getting out sooner. Sometimes it means staying longer… so you don’t come out the same. Today, Sean carries that lesson with him. He doesn’t deny his past or minimize his mistakes. He understands the harm his choices caused. But he also understands that change is possible — when someone finally stops running and starts surrendering. Sean’s story isn’t loud. It isn’t flashy. It’s quiet, deliberate, and honest. And sometimes, those are the ones that last. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
From Maximum Security to Redemption. Michael Charles King was convicted of murder in 1992 and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. He spent years in maximum security, planned an escape for over a year—and was caught the same day.But that’s not where his story ends.In this full conversation, Michael talks honestly about what prison couldn’t fix, what finally changed him, and how love, accountability, and structure reshaped his life after release.Paroled in 2023. Nearly lost everything again. Didn’t quit. Today, he works with Men of Valor Knoxville and mentors other men rebuilding their lives from the inside out.This isn’t a story about excusing the past.It ’s about what real redemption looks like when it’s lived daily. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Matt Holder’s story isn’t about a single bad decision — it’s about how addiction slowly dismantles a life, one rationalization at a time. Growing up in East Tennessee, Matt came from a stable family, earned a degree in criminal justice, and built a career. But prescription opioids changed everything. What started as pain management turned into years of addiction, felony charges, repeated incarceration, probation violations, and the constant weight of consequences he couldn’t outrun. At his lowest point, Matt was facing a potential 28-year sentence and believed there was no way out. What followed was not a miracle moment — it was structure, accountability, brutal honesty, and people willing to walk with him without excusing his behavior. In this conversation, Matt walks through: How addiction escalates quietly and relentlessly Why “white-knuckling” recovery fails The role jail, probation, and treatment really played in his transformation What accountability looks like when grace doesn’t erase consequences How redemption is built over years, not moments Today, Matt works in recovery and ministry, advocates for people reentering society, and lives a life that looks nothing like the one that nearly ended him. This is a long-form conversation for anyone who wants to understand what real change actually takes , both inside the justice system and beyond it. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Do you think Kris has changed? Is he still a criminal or is he reformed? Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Kevin’s story isn’t built on a single dramatic turning point. It’s built on decisions. In this short-form episode, Kevin talks about how small choices stacked up over time and eventually led him to prison. Inside, the noise faded—and what remained was the truth he couldn’t avoid anymore: the life he had been living wasn’t working, and no one was coming to rescue him from it. Kevin shares what it was like to encounter Men of Valor, a program that demanded accountability, discipline, and humility. There were no shortcuts—only the daily choice to take responsibility and keep going. This episode of The Redemption Project is about quiet change, honest work, and rebuilding life one decision at a time. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Clark doesn’t begin his story with a testimony. He starts with the record. Manufacturing methamphetamine. Identity theft. Criminal simulation. Unauthorized use. A list of charges that once defined his life. Addiction drove the collapse—relationships failed, trust disappeared, and prison became the inevitable outcome. In this long-form conversation, Clark talks about what actually changed him while incarcerated: structure, accountability, faith lived out daily, and people who refused to let him drift. Redemption didn’t arrive as relief. It arrived as responsibility. Years later, Clark was granted a pardon by Governor Bill Lee. The paperwork made headlines—but it didn’t create the change. It recognized it. This episode of The Redemption Project is about confronting the past honestly, rebuilding consistently, and the people who walk with you long before the world notices. 🎧 New episodes release weekly. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Kris shares his story of coming to Men of Valor Knoxville after being released from Bledsoe Prison and choosing to stay—not because he had to, but because he knew he needed structure, accountability, and community. In this short-form conversation, Kris talks about navigating self-doubt, facing unexpected responsibilities like child support, and how relationships—not just sobriety—became the foundation for lasting change. Today, he serves as the ReEntry Minister and Family Coordinator at Men of Valor Knoxville, helping others walk the same path he once did. This episode is part of The Redemption Project —real stories about responsibility, faith, and rebuilding life after incarceration. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
A long-form conversation with Savannah Ford, whose life once revolved around addiction, incarceration, and the belief that she didn’t really matter. Savannah talks about growing up in Sevier County, years of IV drug use and repeated overdoses, serving time in jail, and what it was like to walk out with no structure—and fall right back into the cycle. She reflects on the moment a court decision diverted her into treatment, the slow work of accountability and faith, and why staying—long after the program ended—changed everything. Today, Savannah works on staff at FOCUS Ministries, helping other women navigate the same road she once walked. This conversation is part of The Redemption Project —a podcast about real people, real consequences, and the long, imperfect work of change. 🎧 New episodes release weekly on Spotify and major podcast platforms. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Hey! Welcome to season 2. In season 2, I will be focused on more long form storytelling from individuals who have overcome their demons. Season 1 was more short from storytelling (less than 10 minutes), and we will have that again in season 3 if thats what you like! Season 4 is narrated Journalism. That is where I will be reading, and/or commenting on my own journalism and those podcasts I am trying to keep around the 2 minute mark. Season 5 is episodes of me teaching. I will be uploading videos of me teaching criminal justice to middle school and high school students. This may include videos with guest speakers, or field trips- but it is everything that is part of teaching criminal justice. Season 6 is all about ministries. Ministries throughout the United States that are doing great things in the redemption world. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
What do you think about Dwan's position? His story will be out January 26, 2026. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
A short conversation with Duan, who chose to continue his journey with Men of Valor Knoxville after his release from the Knox County Jail. After completing the Men of Valor program while incarcerated, Duan could have walked away. Instead, even while on enhanced probation, he chose to stay focused on the work in front of him. For Duan, this season isn’t about fear — it’s about focus. He talks about getting clean and sober, learning new ways to cope, and why turning to God changed how he handles life’s problems. This conversation is part of The Redemption Project , a podcast about real people, real consequences, and the ongoing work of change. 🎧 Full conversations available weekly on Spotify and major podcast platforms. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
Bobby, now works for Men of Valor but it wasn't always that way. Bobby gives us the details on how this transformation was possible! Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
This week’s Redemption Story comes from Knoxville, Tennessee. John Duck graduates from the Men of Valor residential program on December 26, 2025—the day after Christmas, and his daughter’s birthday. Hard to imagine a better gift.John was addicted from age 13 to 43. A former gang member. In and out of prison. A man the world would’ve written off a long time ago.But in a prison cell, he met God.And everything started to change.He’s now been sober for three years.He’s rebuilding his life.And after he graduates, John wants to stay with Men of Valor and pour into the next group of men—because, as he told me:“They shaped me into somebody who was tired of killing the community… and wanted to help the community.”That’s redemption.That’s Knoxville.That’s what happens when faith, accountability, and second chances collide. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
This is the full, unedited 60-minute radio interview from The Weekly Law Round-up, where The Redemption Project is introduced; discussing redemption, recovery, reentry, and public safety.The conversation explores what life actually looks like after incarceration, the role of accountability and structure in long-term recovery, and why some reentry approaches succeed while others fail.Topics include:• Life after prison and reentry challenges• Addiction, recovery, and personal responsibility• Faith-based and community reentry programs• Reducing recidivism while improving public safety• What real rehabilitation looks like beyond policy slogansThe Redemption Project focuses on real stories of transformation, responsibility, and second chances.For written stories and additional resources, visit: www.BurleyBooks.com Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe
