You're One Choice Away From Changing Everything

> What happens when the experiences that could have broken you become part of the story that shapes you? > In this episode of The Brand Mixology Podcast, our founder, Claire, sits down with storyteller and author Jody McHugh, all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, for a deeply personal conversation about childhood, trauma, addiction, crime, survival, kindness and finding a way forward. > Jody's story is anything but conventional. At eight years old, his perfect family life ended in a single morning. What followed was hunger, crime and a court battle to stay out of prison at 15. But alongside the hard moments came a group of hippies, a determined lawyer and an actress who helped him write his book - people who showed him what kindness and positive influence can do. > This one is a powerful reminder that we never really know which moments, people or experiences will change the course of our lives. Sometimes, the hardest chapters can become the ones that shape what comes next. **What you'll hear in this episode** - The morning at eight years old that turned Jody's perfect family life upside down - Judy Hansen and the "hippies" who gave two hungry boys hope - and a reason to believe in a future - Writing to Legal Aid himself at 15 to fight the judge's last-minute change to his sentence - Quitting drug dealing and learning to fly planes - Writing The Damage Done with actress Polly Craig, and the podcast he now hosts with his daughter, Katie **Words to take away** - Put in the cocktail shaker: Positive influence - find the people who will lead you in a good direction - Put on ice: Drugs - Jody saw what they did to his brothers and everyone around them **Connect with Jody** - Website: https://www.jodymchugh.com/ - The Damage Done (Amazon): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Damage-Done-Jody-McHugh-ebook/dp/B00B6T246W **Connect with Brand Mixology** - Website: https://brandmixology.co - Work out what you should be known for: Brand Therapy - https://brandmixology.co/brand-therapy - Take the quiz: Too Close to See It - https://brandmixology.co/quiz - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brand.mixology/ **Guest bio** Jody McHugh is a storyteller and author from Atlanta, Georgia. He co-wrote The Damage Done with the late actress Polly Craig, co-created the Murder Link podcast with his daughter Katie, and tells true stories on stage with The Moth. His story runs from childhood trauma, crime and prison to a life built on kindness, honesty and positivity, and he is now working towards bringing it to the screen.