A Journey of Redemption: Branden Terrell's Path to Accountability and Transformation

In this week’s raw and powerful episode, Marcus and Melanie meet with Branden Terrell, a man whose life has been defined by both profound tragedy and transformation. Branden's journey began with a devastating crime—the voluntary manslaughter of his friend, Ryan Roth, in 2012. After serving over a decade in prison, Branden is now committed to rebuilding his life and advocating for restorative justice, but his path to redemption is far from simple.
Branden gets real about the night he took Ryan's life—a night marked by a dangerous mix of drugs, alcohol, and emotional turmoil. He shares how this tragedy has shaped his current mission to support victims' families, advocate for survivors, and push for more effective rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals.
Branden takes full responsibility for his actions, acknowledging the pain and devastation caused to Ryan's family and the community. He also discusses the impact of substance abuse on his behavior that night, but emphasizes that no excuse can absolve him of his actions.
Throughout the episode, Branden shares his struggles, regrets, and efforts to make amends for the harm he caused. His commitment to transformation is clear, but he acknowledges that healing, for both himself and the Roth family, is a long and complex journey.
This episode is not just about Branden's personal redemption; it's about understanding the broader impact of crime, the importance of accountability, and the possibilities for growth and healing within the justice system.

In This Episode You Will Hear:
• I’ve seen a lot of poverty and the impact of drugs. My hopes and dreams was to play professional football or baseball. (12:30)
• By the time I was expelled in my junior year after football season, I had been to 17 different schools. (12:46)
• I knew my family loved me, but the only place I had that real validation was playing sports. (13:02)
• I started hanging around all the wrong people, all the wrong places, seeking validation, wanting to be accepted, covered myself with tattoos. (15:29)
• The only time I’ve ever had handcuffs on me was when I was under the influence of alcohol. (18:08)
• By the time I was 18, I was living a full-on criminal lifestyle. (19:35)
• My mom – even if I’m doing something wrong, she’s gonna have my back. (25:49)
• All the folks I was running with [would say] “You’re the biggest liability when you start drinking.” (34:54)
• We went out to dinner with some of the folks that were trimming. I remember sitting at the table, waitress is taking orders and everybody’s ordering drinks, and I’m having this internal conversation with myself: “Brandon don’t do it. You don’t need to drink.” They get to me: “What the heck, 1 drink ain’t gonna kill nobody. I ordered a drink. Within hours after that, I was arrested for murder. (38:10)
• Me and Ryan had some words. He punched me and then from there, I went into a blackout. I grabbed a knife and ended up taking his life. (39:01)
• When I was drinking and I got into something, I’d just go into a rage.(47:45)
• I had this vision of “I’m gonna use this to help people be sober one day. I’m gonna help people live their best life through sobriety.” (53:59)
• I didn’t know that was okay, as a man, to talk about feelings. (55:32)
• There’s a lot of strong guys in prison, but there’s a lot of weak individuals too. (57:55)
• I was a closet cowardly christian. (75:48)
• So I get on my knees, and promised God never to use alcohol again.(80:24)
• That’s what life’s all about. Finding the God-given strength, ability and purpose and using it to help people. (91:11)
• I knew I had a problem with alcohol, but I was afraid to ask for help. (119:45)

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