In the first half, Shaun Hayes, a former banker who sold his company at the age of 44 for $500 million and later served eight years in prison for a felony, discussed his dramatic rise and fall, as well as insights into human nature, redemption, and personal transformation. Hayes and his partners acquired a bank and significantly expanded its size before it went public in 1995. "We went from being the 42nd largest bank to the fifth, and got lucky and sold out before the [2008] crash," he recalled. What led to his incarceration was a poor decision involving undisclosed personal loans. Reflecting on his mistakes, he attributed his downfall to greed and a critical legal error.
He detailed his prison experience, including the harsh realities of the county jail where he spent over a year. "Every day you stood for every meal, and you fought for your place," he said, describing it as a brutal contrast to the more manageable conditions he later encountered in federal facilities. Despite the adversity, Hayes maintained resilience, walking "10 miles a day" within confined spaces to cope mentally. He emphasized the harshness of prison life, contrasting it with the freedom he now cherishes.
Commenting on the complex reality of friendships post-prison, he noted, "You realize you have dozens and dozens of acquaintances and very, very few friends." He highlighted the importance of surrounding oneself with honest, caring people who hold you accountable. Addressing broader life lessons, he urged listeners to embrace risk wisely but avoid crossing ethical lines, and to cultivate entrepreneurial resilience in a changing economy.
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In the latter half, paranormal investigator and medium Chris Fleming shared his harrowing battle with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia and the role faith played in his recovery. Diagnosed in August 2024, he faced a grim prognosis of six to nine months to live. Yet, through a combination of medical treatment and what he describes as supernatural intervention, he defied the odds. He recounted the surreal experience of repeatedly delayed chemotherapy due to mutating cancer cells, which he attributed to the power of collective prayer. After five weeks of treatment, doctors were astonished to find no trace of cancer cells, with one oncologist stating, "You're not even in remission... we don't even see one cancer cell."
Throughout his ordeal, Fleming focused on the spiritual dimension of healing and maintained a positive outlook, drawing strength from his near-death experience (NDE) in 2010 and the memory of his late father, a former NHL player who urged him to be strong. Reflecting on his NDE, he noted, "I was ready then, but I was not ready this time. I want to write my book… I want to accomplish more." His forthcoming book is inspired by messages from spirits encouraging him to present stories of angels and hope (a call for submissions is posted on his website).
Fleming recounted vivid paranormal experiences during his treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. In the underground tunnels near the morgue, he saw "apparitions… men, women, children… all wearing gowns" and a cloaked, shadowy figure resembling the Grim Reaper, which he and his friend both witnessed. He experienced unexplained phenomena in his hospital room, including nurse call buttons activating on their own and hearing a little girl's voice who nurses confirmed was a known ghost in the hallway. Further, a hospital worker shared stories of objects moving and voices calling out-- reportedly common occurrences in the hospital's haunted environment.
News segment guests: Mish Shedlock, Howard Bloom