How To Battle Podcast

79. "Hope Had to Die So I Could Survive" | 25 Years in Prison | Brandon Baker

Some men break under pressure. Brandon Baker got forged by it. At 18, Brandon was sentenced to 75-to-life. He spent 25 years behind bars — and walked out employed, enrolled in college, published, and on a mission. In this episode, we go deep on what it really takes to survive maximum security prison at 18, why hope sometimes has to die before it can grow, and how Brandon is now training counselors at Rikers Island and performing at theaters across LA. This conversation will hit different if you've ever felt like the system wrote you off, or if you love someone who did time. We talk about: Suppressing hope to survive — then letting God resurrect it Why he says prison prepared him for society His goals: EGOT, doctorate, nonprofit, and generational wealth Why he's an abolitionist for juvenile incarceration The power of speaking things into existence 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. 📖 Brandon's book: Where I Belong — available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/09XB3iSA [https://a.co/d/09XB3iSA] 📲 Follow Brandon: @bethatsuccessful81 | YouTube: Where I Belong with Brandon J Baker 📚New Books: The PRICE Method: How I Turned Pain into Purpose https://thepricemethodbook.com [https://thepricemethodbook.com] The Leader's PRICE: Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F] 👉 📬 SUBSTACK LINK: https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezofficial [https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezofficial] 👉 Follow Carlos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial [https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial] 🙏 Sponsored by Legendary Foods — high-protein snacks done right. www.eatlegendary.com [http://www.eatlegendary.com] #podcast #prisonreform #redemption #motivationalpodcast #secondchances #faith #incarceration #reentry #mentalhealth #hope #brandombaker #truecrime #purposedriven #blackexcellence #streetstosuccess

78. Loving Someone With Trauma: The Truth No One Talks About

Can love heal trauma? In this deeply personal episode of the How To Battle Podcast, Carlos opens up about the reality of loving someone after childhood abandonment, gang life, prison, violence, and years spent in solitary confinement. He shares how trauma affected his ability to trust, why isolation became his comfort zone, and what it actually takes to build a healthy relationship after a lifetime of survival mode. Together, Carlos and Shirin explore the difficult truths about healing in relationships, the impact of abandonment wounds, why trust issues don't disappear overnight, and how love, accountability, and self-awareness can create lasting transformation. This conversation explores: How trauma impacts trust and intimacy Why isolation can become a coping mechanism The connection between childhood wounds and adult relationships What healing together actually looks like Why love alone isn't enough without accountability The importance of self-awareness in healing trauma How abandonment shapes the way we connect with others Practical ways couples can support each other's healing journey Why healing is possible no matter what you've been through If this episode resonated with you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is healing from trauma or learning how to love someone through their healing journey. Your support helps us continue bringing meaningful conversations to the world. 👉 Follow Carlos & Shirin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial [https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial] https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial [https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial] 👉 Subscribe for weekly insights: https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezof [https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezof]... 👉 New Books: The PRICE Method: How I Turned Pain into Purpose https://thepricemethodbook.com/ [https://thepricemethodbook.com/] The Leader's PRICE: Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F] Thank you to our sponsors for their support! Legendary Foods – Protein Snacks https://www.eatlegendary.com/ [https://www.eatlegendary.com/] #TraumaHealing #Relationships #TrustIssues #HealingJourney #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #CarlosVasquez #ShirinHejazi #HowToBattle #EmotionalHealing #ChildhoodTrauma #SelfDevelopment #LoveAndRelationships #Resilience #Transformation

77. The Magic of Life: Why Some People Attract Miracles and Others Don't

Have you ever experienced a coincidence so strange it felt like the universe was trying to tell you something? In this episode of the How To Battle Podcast, Carlos explores the idea of "magic"—not the kind found in movies, but the extraordinary moments that happen when belief, energy, resilience, gratitude, and intention come together. From lessons learned through entrepreneurship and prison, to finding love unexpectedly, Carlos shares why he believes that miracles, synchronicities, and life-changing opportunities become more common when you develop the right mindset. This conversation explores: The psychology behind synchronicities Why successful people believe before they see results Michael Jordan's mindset around performance How resilience creates opportunities Why gratitude attracts more abundance How to create your own reality The role energy plays in success Why becoming your best self attracts extraordinary people and opportunities If you've ever wondered whether luck, coincidence, miracles, or manifestation are real, this episode is for you. If this episode resonated with you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that extraordinary things are still possible. Your support helps us continue bringing meaningful conversations to the world. 👉 Try the “Find Your Fire” AI App (Free): https://findyourfireai.com [https://findyourfireai.com] 👉 Follow Carlos & Shirin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial [https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial] https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial [https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial] 👉 Subscribe for weekly insights: https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezof [https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezof]... 👉 New Books: The PRICE Method: How I Turned Pain into Purpose https://thepricemethodbook.com/ [https://thepricemethodbook.com/] The Leader's PRICE: Human-centered Leadership in the Age of AI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F] Thank you to our sponsors for their support! Legendary Foods – Protein Snacks https://www.eatlegendary.com/ [https://www.eatlegendary.com/] Youth Champions – Youth Empowerment https://youth-champions.org/ [https://youth-champions.org/] #Mindset #Manifestation #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #CarlosVasquez #HowToBattle #SuccessMindset #Leadership #SelfDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLife #Miracles #Synchronicity #Energy #Resilience #Entrepreneurship

76. What Prison Is REALLY Like (No One Tells You This)

Most people think they understand prison… They don’t. In this episode of the How To Battle Podcast, Carlos shares the raw, unfiltered truth about life behind prison walls—what Hollywood gets wrong, the violence that actually happens, and the unexpected lessons that changed his life forever. From surviving brutal environments to witnessing acts of kindness in the darkest places, Carlos breaks down the real psychology of prison life, including power structures, survival tactics, and the moments that shape transformation. This is not about glorifying prison, this is about revealing the truth so others don’t end up there. 💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn: What prison is really like vs what movies show The brutal reality of violence behind bars What “putting in work” means in prison How prison hierarchy and “shot callers” operate Why kindness in prison is more powerful than outside The psychology of survival in high-risk environments Why some people never escape the prison mindset The truth about redemption and second chances Why some individuals should never return to society How transformation actually happens If this episode resonated with you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is building a life or business with their partner. Your support helps us continue to bring meaningful conversations to the world. 👉 Try the “Find Your Fire” AI App (Free): https://findyourfireai.com [https://findyourfireai.com] 👉 Follow Carlos & Shirin https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial [https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial] https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial [https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial] 👉 Subscribe for weekly insights: https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezofficial [https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezofficial] 👉 New books: The PRICE Method: How I Turn Pain into Purpose https://thepricemethodbook.com [https://thepricemethodbook.com] The Leader's PRICE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F] Thank you to our sponsors for their support! Legendary Foods – Protein Snacks https://www.eatlegendary.com/ [https://www.eatlegendary.com/] Youth Champions – Youth Empowerment https://youth-champions.org/ [https://youth-champions.org/] #PrisonReality #LifeAfterPrison #Redemption #PersonalGrowth #CarlosVasquez #HowToBattle #Mindset #Transformation #SecondChances #Leadership

75. I Just Wanted Love

Some of the hardest conversations… are the ones we never had. In this deeply emotional episode of the How To Battle Podcast, Carlos opens up about his childhood, running away at 13, and the relationship he had with his mother. This is not a conversation about blame: it’s about understanding, healing, and releasing resentment. Carlos shares what his younger self truly needed—love, security, and protection—and how the absence of those things shaped his path into the streets, gangs, and ultimately prison. But more importantly, he reveals how he found peace by reframing his past—not as something that broke him, but as something that led him to his purpose. This episode is for anyone carrying pain from their childhood, struggling with forgiveness, or learning how to move forward without resentment. 💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn: What children truly need: love, security, and protection How childhood pain can shape life decisions The difference between running away vs being pulled toward something How to release resentment toward your parents Why your past may be part of your purpose How to forgive without needing closure The impact of absent or struggling parents Why you shouldn’t blame your parents forever How to create your own family and reality The power of acceptance and gratitude in healing If this episode resonated with you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is building a life or business with their partner. Your support helps us continue to bring meaningful conversations to the world. 👉 Try the “Find Your Fire” AI App (Free): https://findyourfireai.com [https://findyourfireai.com] 👉 Follow Carlos & Shirin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial [https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial [https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial] 👉 Subscribe for weekly insights: https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezof [https://substack.com/@carlosvasquezof] 👉 New books: The PRICE Method: How I Turn Pain into Purpose https://thepricemethodbook.com/ [https://thepricemethodbook.com/] The Leader's PRICE: Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYXQ1H1F] Thank you to our sponsors for their support! Legendary Foods – Protein Snacks https://www.eatlegendary.com/ [https://www.eatlegendary.com/] Youth Champions – Youth Empowerment https://youth-champions.org/ [https://youth-champions.org/] #Healing #MotherWound #PersonalGrowth #Forgiveness #CarlosVasquez #HowToBattle #Mindset #TraumaHealing #SelfDevelopment #InnerChild