Ep.12 Hustle, Prison, and Fatherhood… Then Everything Changed

Ep. 14 Gang Life, Federal Time, Now a CEO

Jose shares his story going from 20 years in gang life and federal prison to building a legit business and providing for his family. We talk about growing up in poverty, getting involved in gangs at a young age, doing time, and what it really takes to walk away from that life. This episode is about discipline, responsibility, and making the decision to change for real. If you’re trying to level up, stay out, or just need a reminder that it’s possible… this one’s for you. 00:00 Intro + Renaissance Ranch00:02 Pie’s story + getting out of federal prison 00:06 Growing up in poverty + gang life starts00:13 Fatherhood and responsibility00:18 Prison vs federal prison differences00:24 Getting out + starting his business00:30 Entrepreneurship mindset + discipline00:37 Message + helping the next generation00:45 What it really takes to level up00:50 Final advice + where to find Pie Sponsor:⁠⁠https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠⁠ [https://renaissanceranch.net/] Instagram: Smaqs – ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/] Podcast – ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/ [https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/] Guest - https://www.instagram.com/pai21913/ [https://www.instagram.com/pai21913/]

Ep.13 He Went to Prison 10 Times… Now He’s Changing Lives

In this episode, I sit down with Brian from UAPS, one of the pioneers of peer support in Utah. We dive into his story from juvenile prison, addiction, and mental health struggles to helping build the peer support system that’s now changing lives across the state. We talk about what peer support really is, why lived experience matters more than just textbook knowledge, and how it’s transforming recovery, prisons, and treatment centers. This episode is all about purpose, service, and turning your past into something that helps others. 00:00 Intro & Renaissance Ranch00:01 Brian’s early life & juvenile prison00:02 Addiction, schizophrenia & prison cycle00:05 Breaking point & turning his life around00:06 Getting into treatment & recovery00:08 What peer support is00:11 Building peer support in Utah00:14 UAPS & creating a statewide impact00:18 Peer support in prisons & why it matters00:39 Why peer support + therapy works Sponsor:⁠https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠ [https://renaissanceranch.net/] Instagram: Smaqs – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/] Podcast – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/ [https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/] Brian Links: http://www.uapss.org/Brian@uapss.org

Ep.12 Hustle, Prison, and Fatherhood… Then Everything Changed

I sit down with Mr. Regal the Barber and really unpack the journey. From being a young dad at 16, homeless, hustling, and eventually doing time… to building a real business, becoming a father with purpose, and leading by example. This isn’t just about success. It’s about growth, accountability, and becoming the man your kids need you to be. We talk about gang culture, prison, fatherhood, fitness, and what it really takes to level up your life. Not just financially, but mentally, physically, and spiritually. 00:01 Meet Mr. Regal + barber brand story00:04 Early hustle mindset + childhood00:08 Becoming a young father + homelessness00:12 Street life, arrests, and prison sentence00:17 Prison experience + mindset shift00:18 Life after prison + becoming a father00:24 Barber career + mentorship mindset00:33 Fatherhood lessons + raising kids right00:46 Fitness, discipline, and leveling up mindset Sponsor:⁠https://renaissanceranch.net/⁠ [https://renaissanceranch.net/] Instagram: Smaqs – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/] Podcast – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/] Guest: Mr. Regal

Ep.11 From Prison to Executive Director: Michael Ulibarri’s Comeback Story

In this episode of Caged No More, Smaqs sits down with Michael Ulibarri, Executive Director of Defy Ventures Utah. Michael shares how growing up in Rose Park surrounded by crime and incarceration led him into prison at a young age. After multiple prison sentences and years inside the system, he eventually began changing his mindset and focusing on personal growth. Today, Michael works with Defy Ventures, helping incarcerated individuals develop entrepreneurship skills, take radical responsibility for their past, and build a future outside of prison. This conversation dives into prison culture, personal transformation, and how entrepreneurship is helping people break the cycle of incarceration. 00:00 Intro and sponsor shoutouts 01:00 Michael Ulibarri introduction 04:00 Growing up in Rose Park 09:00 First prison sentence at 18 16:00 Life and survival inside prison 26:00 Returning to prison after release 34:00 Discovering personal development and therapy 45:00 Working with incarcerated youth 58:00 The mission of Defy Ventures 1:10:00 Helping people succeed after prison Sponsor: https://renaissanceranch.net/ [https://renaissanceranch.net/] Instagram: Smaqs – https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/ [https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/] Podcast – https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/ [https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/] Guest: Michael Ulibarri

Ep.10 From 20 Years in Prison to Peer Support: Shonek Alvaca’s Redemption Story

In this powerful episode, Smaqs sits down with his brother Sione "CeeOne" Kauvaka, a Tongan American who grew up in Salt Lake City and spent over 20 years incarcerated before completely transforming his life. Sione opens up about growing up with immigrant parents, falling into crime and gang life at a young age, and how alcohol and poor choices eventually led to prison. He shares what it was like catching a murder charge just months after getting out, facing indeterminate sentencing, and mentally preparing himself to sit down for decades. Inside prison, Sione talks about learning how to “do time,” finding unity with other Polynesian brothers, and the moment everything began to shift — a simple math class that sparked his love for learning, followed by adopting his son while still incarcerated. That responsibility changed everything. From earning his associate degree behind the walls to becoming one of Utah’s first certified peer support specialists directly out of prison, Sione explains how the SOLID program gave him purpose and how lived experience is now helping him guide others through reentry. Today, Sione works inside the Salt Lake County Jail helping men and women build exit plans, find housing, treatment, employment, and hope. This episode is about accountability, fatherhood, growth, and proving that no matter how far you fall, you can still rise. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your past or unsure about your future, this conversation is for you. 00:00 Intro and Renaissance Ranch sponsor 04:30 Growing up Tongan in Salt Lake and early trouble 09:15 Gang influence and searching for belonging 14:10 First prison sentence at 22 years old 19:40 Falling away from church and identity struggles 29:20 Catching a murder charge and facing life 37:10 Learning how to “do time” and finding unity 42:35 A math class that changed everything 44:50 Adopting his son and choosing growth 53:40 Becoming a peer support specialist and reentry work Sponsor: https://renaissanceranch.net/ [https://renaissanceranch.net/] Instagram: Personal – https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/ [https://www.instagram.com/smaqs.mafia.uso/] Podcast – https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/ [https://www.instagram.com/caged.no.more.pod/]