Paul English - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 25 In this raw episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast, Devine sits back down with Paul “Halloween” English for round two. Paul grew up in Park Hill, Denver — Crenshaw Mafia / Blood neighborhood — and went to prison at 14 years old for second-degree murder. He did 26 years on a 48-year sentence. The nickname came from a gang-related shooting on Halloween night in 1993. This conversation picks up where Episode 7 left off. Paul talks about coming home, family, still being non-residential at the halfway house, running sober living at Authentic Recovery Homes, and why he spends his time trying to pull people up instead of repeating the same cycle. 🎙️ Topics covered: - Recap of Park Hill, the case, and hitting the system at 14 - 26 years on a 48 — what that actually felt like as a kid in Centennial - Coming home, family, wife and daughter, and staying locked in - Halfway house, UAs, and finishing the last of the time - Authentic Recovery Homes and coaching people out of the life he lived - Why the first episode clips took off — and what people miss about prison stories - Giving the game away and what happens when people don’t take it Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro clip 1:17 - Who is Paul “Halloween” English 2:23 - Round two / what’s changed 4:54 - Authentic Recovery Homes & family 6:43 - How he got the name Halloween 9:11 - Can’t leave the state 16:38 - Locked up at 14 18:19 - First yard: Centennial at 15 24:02 - Shipped to Minnesota 31:28 - Limon / Flight for Life on day one 34:17 - How many yards 35:13 - Ghosts in Cell House 5 40:38 - Nathan Dunlap / Chuck E. Cheese 42:36 - Denver in the 80s and 90s 47:14 - Blood In Blood Out in the theater 49:31 - Summer of ’93 50:47 - Kids catching bodies now 55:50 - Kids vs grown men in the system 1:02:54 - Losing his mom while locked up 1:08:04 - God and what’s in your heart 1:09:58 - Public speaking and AI Brought to you by Ledger Media Company Booking & inquiries: booking@ledgermediacompany.com 👉 Follow Devine: Snapchat: @devinesalerno Instagram: @thedevinesalerno TikTok: @thedevinesalerno Facebook: The Devine Salerno Podcast X: @westdevine4tay thedevinesalernopodcast.com 👉 Follow Ledger Media Company: TikTok: @ledgermediacompany Instagram: @ledgermediacompany ledgermediacompany.com 👉 Follow Gold Standard Recovery: Search “Gold Standard Recovery” or visit goldstandarddenver.com IG: @goldstandarddenver Beginning Production Nobe Inf Gang Main Intro Production by C-Lance Episode Recorded on July 27th, 2026 All Rights Reserved - Ledger Media Company | The Devine Salerno Podcast Search “Paul English - The Devine Salerno Podcast” on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms! If you’re into real stories of prison, reentry, and turning the page, this one hits different. 🔥 Watch the full episode and drop a comment with the biggest takeaway. The Devine Salerno Podcast — Real stories. Real recovery. Real growth. Brought to you by Ledger Media Company. ✅ Subscribe, like, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode! 🗣️ Drop a comment: What’s one lesson from your past that changed how you move forward? #DevineSalernoPodcast #PaulEnglish #Halloween #Episode25 #ParkHill #RedemptionStory #Recovery #Reentry #LedgerMediaCompany #GoldStandardRecovery

John Vargas - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 23 In this raw and powerful episode of The Devine Salerno Podcast, Devine sits down with John Vargas for an unfiltered conversation about his journey, the challenges he’s overcome, and the lessons that shaped who he is today. John shares the real, unpolished details of his path — the highs, the setbacks, the turning points, and what it looks like to keep moving forward with accountability and purpose. 🎙️ Topics covered: - Early life and the experiences that set the foundation - Key challenges, rock bottoms, and pivotal moments - Mindset shifts, growth, and personal accountability - Lessons on resilience, relationships, and building a better future - Advice for anyone walking a similar path Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome to Episode 23 3:45 - Meeting John Vargas & Setting the Tone 8:20 - John’s Introduction & Background 16:40 - Early Life & Formative Experiences 28:15 - Key Challenges & Turning Points 42:50 - Rock Bottom Moments & Hard Lessons 58:30 - The Shift: Mindset, Accountability & Growth 1:14:20 - Rebuilding Life & Finding Purpose 1:29:45 - Current Chapter & What He’s Building Now 1:45:10 - Relationships, Family & Personal Evolution 2:00:35 - Lessons Learned & Advice for Others 2:16:50 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find John 2:28:40 - Closing Conversation & Gratitude 2:35:15 - Outro Brought to you by Ledger Media Company Booking & inquiries: booking@ledgermediacompany.com 👉 Connect with John: Instagram: / eljohnny24k Facebook: / Johnny TF 👉 Follow Devine: Snapchat: / devinesalerno Instagram: / thedevinesalerno TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/thedevinesalerno/ Facebook: / thedevinesalernopodcast X: https://www.x.com/westdevine4tay/ thedevinesalernopodcast.com 👉 Follow Ledger Media Company: TikTok: @ledgermediacompany Instagram: @ledgermediacompany ledgermediacompany.com 👉 Follow Gold Standard Recovery: Search “Gold Standard Recovery” or visit goldstandarddenver.com 👉 Support Empower Recovery Homes: IG: @empowerrecoveryhomes empowerrecoveryhomes.com Episode Recorded on July 14th, 2026 All Rights Reserved - Ledger Media Company | The Devine Salerno Podcast Search “John Vargas - The Devine Salerno Podcast” on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms! If you’re into real stories of growth, accountability, and turning the page, this one hits different. 🔥 Watch the full episode and drop a comment with the biggest takeaway. The Devine Salerno Podcast — Real stories. Real recovery. Real growth. Brought to you by Ledger Media Company. ✅ Subscribe, like, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode! 🗣️ Drop a comment: What’s one lesson from your past that changed how you move forward? #DevineSalernoPodcast #JohnVargas #Episode23 #RedemptionStory #PersonalGrowth #Accountability #RealTalk #LedgerMediaCompany #GoldStandardRecovery

Josh Garcia - The Devine Salerno Podcast No. 20 In this deeply honest episode, Devine sits down with Josh Garcia — Marine veteran, cancer survivor, and a man who turned a decade of active addiction and criminal behavior into a powerful recovery journey. Josh enlisted in the Marines in 2006, faced personal struggles after returning home, and eventually battled addiction until getting clean in April 2024. Today, he lives in Denver with his fiancée and works in behavioral health, giving back to the community. Josh opens up about losing his mom young in a car accident, growing up in a blended Hispanic family, not fitting in, and turning to anger, violence, and substances to cope. He shares the raw moments of rock bottom — including an intentional overdose attempt — Marine life, marriage challenges, a cancer diagnosis in 2022, and what finally made this time in recovery different: humility, surrender, and learning to respond instead of react. From processing emotions, rebuilding family relationships, to finding purpose in service and behavioral health work, this conversation is full of vulnerability, resilience, and real tools for anyone walking through trauma, loss, or addiction. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Welcome to Episode 20 01:43 - Josh's Current Life in Denver & Recovery Mindset 04:00 - Introducing Himself: Marine Background & Early Life 07:30 - Losing His Mom at a Young Age & Family Impact 12:15 - Blended Family Dynamics & Feeling Like He Didn't Fit In 17:40 - Anger, Fighting & Early Emotional Struggles 23:20 - Enlisting in the Marines in 2006 28:50 - Post-Service Life, Marriage & Slide into Addiction 34:10 - Criminal Behavior, Rock Bottom & Overdose Attempt 39:45 - Cancer Diagnosis in 2022 & Major Wake-Up Call 45:30 - Getting Clean April 22nd, 2024 – What Made It Stick 52:00 - Humility, Surrender & Learning to Respond vs React 58:20 - Working in Behavioral Health & Giving Back 1:04:45 - Rebuilding Relationships & Processing Emotions 1:11:30 - Advice for Veterans, Those in Recovery & Dads 1:18:50 - Future Vision, Purpose & Words of Hope 1:26:40 - Closing Thoughts & Gratitude 1:31:15 - Outro 👉Connect with Josh: Johncupich@empowerrecoveryhomes.com 👉 Follow Devine: Snapchat: / devinesalerno Instagram: / thedevinesalerno TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/thedevinesalerno/ Facebook: / thedevinesalernopodcast X: https://www.x.com/westdevine4tay/ thedevinesalernopodcast.com 👉 Follow Ledger Media Company: TikTok: @ledgermediacompany Instagram: @ledgermediacompany ledgermediacompany.com 👉 Follow Gold Standard Recovery: Search “Gold Standard Recovery” or visit goldstandarddenver.com 👉 Support Empower Recovery Homes: IG: @empowerrecoveryhomes empowerrecoveryhomes.com Episode Recorded May 22nd, 2026 All Rights Reserved - Ledger Media Company | The Devine Salerno Podcast Search “Josh Garcia - The Devine Salerno Podcast” on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms! If these stories of transformation resonate, like, comment, and subscribe — we're building a community around accountability and redemption. #Recovery #VeteranRecovery #MarineVeteran #CancerSurvivor #Sobriety #RedemptionStory #TheDevineSalernoPodcast #BehavioralHealth