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Strawberry Letter

Uplift: His story is a testament to second chances and the power of self-advocacy.

Strawberry Letter

iHeartPodcasts

Relationships, Society & Culture

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 12 July 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dominique Leonard.

Founder of Jus' Free, a parole package provider. Here are some key highlights and themes from the conversation:


🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. From Incarceration to Inspiration

  • Dominique Leonard was sentenced to life in prison for a non-aggravated robbery.
  • He discovered that “life” sentences can vary, and his was eligible for parole after 5.5 to 6 years.
  • He was denied parole initially, which led him to take control of his own legal journey.

2. Birth of “Jus' Free”

  • After being denied parole, Dominique created his own parole package with the help of his family.
  • He realized many inmates are unaware of how they are presented to the parole board.
  • This inspired him to found Jus' Free, a service that helps inmates humanize themselves through custom parole packages.

3. Faith, Family, and Redemption

  • Dominique credits his faith and family for his transformation.
  • He emphasizes that making a bad decision doesn’t make someone a bad person.
  • His story is a testament to second chances and the power of self-advocacy.

4. Entrepreneurial Journey

  • After release, he started with humble jobs and gradually built Just Free into a business.
  • He took a paralegal course to deepen his legal knowledge.
  • He began by contacting inmates directly and now boasts an 82% success rate in helping clients secure parole.

5. Impact and Legacy

  • Dominique’s work not only helps inmates but also supports their families.
  • His story is a reminder of the importance of empathy, support systems, and believing in redemption.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is an IHeart podcast.

0:04.2

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0:06.9

Think again.

0:07.5

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0:08.9

than adds supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora.

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Learn how podcasting can help your business.

0:17.6

Call 844-844-I-Hart.

0:20.4

Smokey the Bears. Then youhart. Smokey the bear.

0:22.6

Then you know why Smokey tells you when he sees you passing through.

0:27.5

Remember, please be careful.

0:29.4

It's the least that you can do.

0:31.8

Because it's what you desire.

0:33.1

Don't play with matches.

0:34.6

Don't play with fire.

0:36.4

After 80 years of learning his wildfire prevention tips,

0:39.6

Smokey Bear lives within us all.

0:41.4

Learn more at smokybear.com.

0:43.5

And remember,

0:44.3

Only you can prevent wildfires.

0:47.1

Brought to you by the USDA Forest Service,

...

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