How to Sit with the Incarcerated | An Interview with Travis Richey

Travis Richey is an entrepreneur and speaker. At the age of 25,
Travis managed a hedge fund with millions of dollars under
management. Due to a regulatory oversight in the State of Arizona,
he was charged with transactions of an unregistered securities
dealer and sentenced to 2 years in Arizona Department of
Corrections. This 17,520 hours became the framework of Travis’ new
mission in life; he founded AccomplishED Ventures to provide
incarcerated and returned citizens the proper resources for a
second chance at a successful life. Over the past 10 years he
created the largest incarcerated curriculum company In America. His
weekly message is seen or heard by over 500,000 inmates. When
Travis is not impacting the incarcerated community, he speaks the
language of identity and adversity to youth around the world,
helping them understand their greatness and true potential. Travis’
message to the world is that biography is not destiny and no matter
your past circumstances, you are in control of how far you go in
life and what you achieve. Travis lives by the idea that every
adversity carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit;
the challenge is for most people that they’re so focused on the
adversity in front of them that they don’t water the seed. Travis
believes that the worst prisons in America are not made of concrete
and steel, but moreso the limiting beliefs which keep us locked
inside a mindset—or even worse, a life that does not serve our
potential or purpose. Travis served in the Washington, Spokane
mission and has degrees in finance and business administration. He
has served in various church callings: nursery, Primary, Young Men,
elders quorum, and his current and favorite calling as Gospel
Doctrine instructor. Travis and his wife Melissa have been married
15 years, have four children, and reside in Boise, Idaho.
Highlights 02:00 Kurt introduces Travis Richey. 03:30 Travis’
background 06:00 Travis talks about his incarceration and what led
to it. 15:00 Many leaders were involved in Travis’ case and it was
confusing for all of them. 21:30 Travis describes the years of
mental anguish and court hearings. After a six year legal battle he
was finally sentenced to 2 years. 24:45 Taking ownership and
accountability and getting out of victim mode 27:30 What Travis
learned from his experience and what he hopes listeners and leaders
can get out of his story is empathy. He explains the difference
between sympathy and empathy. 28:40 What does it look like to crawl
in the pit with someone? Do people know that they can count on you?
33:20 As church leadership, how do you help someone who is
incarcerated? Get them out of victim mode. 38:10 Travis shares what
he does when he sits across from someone in jail. When you don’t
know how to relate to someone, start with the end in mind. Help
them see where they want to go and who they want to be. 40:00 Stop
focusing on behavior! Focus on identity. 40:50 Where do we start
when talking about identity? Kurt shares his own personal story of
finding identity. 42:45 Telling your story unlocks levels of
authenticity. 44:30 Bringing authenticity and unlocking identity at
church 48:50 If you hide your story, you hide God’s glory. 50:50
Moments of change. Travis’ time incarcerated was his self mastery
moment. He was able to reframe his whole experience. His story is
now global and changes people’s lives. 52:30 Changes that will be
made to the Gospel Library for people incarcerated 59:45 Resources
and Travis’ nonprofit 1:01:50 How being incarcerated helped Travis
become a better follower of Jesus Christ Links Accomplished
Ventures Travis Richey Ep. 570 The Cultural Hall Read the
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