Good Morning: Second Chances and Black Sheep - Feel Good News Stories

Good Morning: Second Chances and Black Sheep - Feel Good News Stories

Author: Steve Rhode - Local Good News Podcast Host June 10, 2025 Duration: 12:45

In this episode of Good Morning Wake County, hear good news about second chances.

We start in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where David Peters turned his struggles with addiction into a national Facebook support group called Never Give Up — now 15,000 members strong and led by his brother Jason Peters. It helped transform the life of Chris Puddy, a former drug dealer turned restaurant general manager at Greece E Spoon.

Then we head to San Diego, California, where Cambodian refugee Steve Yeng, paralyzed by polio and raised in a refugee camp, built a peanut butter whiskey empire called Skrewball with his wife Brittany — a brand that went from outsider idea to national sensation, eventually partnering with Pernod Ricard (the makers of Jameson).

Finally, we travel to Bessemer, Alabama, just outside Birmingham, where Bryan Odom, once incarcerated, now hires others like him at Expedited Transport Agency — thanks to the Second Chance Hiring Fair founded by District Attorney Lynniece Washington and supported by U.S. Pipe and the Birmingham Business Alliance.

It’s a show about redemption, grit, and the surprising power of being seen.

🎧 Plus: a Dad joke you’ll be telling in the carpool lane.
🗺️ Stories from: Sheboygan, San Diego, and Bessemer
👥 Featuring: David Peters, Jason Peters, Chris Puddy, Steve Yeng, Brittany Yeng, Bryan Odom, Lynniece Washington
🛠️ Organizations: Never Give Up, Greece E Spoon, Skrewball Whiskey, Expedited Transport Agency, U.S. Pipe, Birmingham Business Alliance, Pernod Ricard

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Start your morning with Good Morning Wake County-Your Daily Dose of Good News. Each episode is a brief, focused look at the positive stories happening right here in our community, hosted by Steve Rhode. This isn't your typical news cycle; instead, it's a deliberate search for the encouraging and often overlooked moments that define Wake County. You'll hear about local entrepreneurs whose small ideas are making a big difference, volunteers whose quiet work strengthens our neighborhoods, and everyday people whose actions create genuine connection. Steve delivers these narratives in a concise, friendly format designed to fit into your morning routine, offering a genuine alternative to the day's louder headlines. Tuning into this podcast means beginning your day with a reminder of what's going right, highlighting the specific characters and efforts that collectively make this area unique. It’s a daily habit for anyone who believes that local news should inform and inspire, providing a reliable source of optimism directly from the places you know.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 97

Good Morning Wake County - Your Daily Dose of Good News
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