Soft White Underbelly - Lost and Found-Pete Polis
The speaker recounts his life journey from being a professional baseball player to becoming a drug dealer, and eventually finding redemption through faith and community service. After a series of personal and professional setbacks, including a struggle with addiction and legal troubles, he turned his life around by starting a nonprofit organization called Seasons Housing. This organization provides housing and support services for individuals recovering from addiction. His story highlights the challenges of overcoming a criminal past and the importance of faith and perseverance in achieving personal transformation. He emphasizes the role of community support and the need for second chances in helping former inmates reintegrate into society. His nonprofit has grown to include multiple housing facilities and a detox center, demonstrating the impact of his efforts to give back to the community and help others avoid the mistakes he made.
Key Points:
- The speaker transitioned from a professional baseball career to drug dealing, facing addiction and legal issues.
- He founded Seasons Housing, a nonprofit providing support for addiction recovery, after his own redemption journey.
- Community support and faith played crucial roles in his transformation and success in helping others.
- His organization has expanded to multiple facilities, showing the effectiveness of his approach to rehabilitation.
- He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and second chances for former inmates seeking to rebuild their lives.
Details:
1. 🎙️ Podcast Payment Surprise
- A podcast host received an unexpected payment for their guest appearance, indicating a trend towards monetizing podcast guest spots.
- Monetizing podcast appearances reflects the increasing value placed on personal stories and experiences in media.
- Sensitive topics, such as personal experiences with adversity, can increase engagement and lead to financial opportunities in media.
- The cultural value of social media exposure is rising, leading to more income opportunities through platforms like podcasts.
- Personal storytelling, particularly about overcoming adversity, attracts interest and can be leveraged for opportunities, evident in the desire to start a podcast about recovery from drug addiction.
2. ⚾ Baseball Dreams and Reality
- The speaker balanced his early life between baseball and odd jobs, influenced by his father who was a cop.
- By the third year of college, he secured a full five-year scholarship due to his exceptional baseball skills, particularly as a catcher, maintaining a .300 batting average.
- Despite being physically immature in high school and not being drafted initially, he held a high school home run record that remains unbeaten.
- Drafted in the 42nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays, he played three years before moving to the White Sox and then the Yankees.
- In 1995, he joined the Yankees where he met and spent time with Derek Jeter, marking a significant phase in his career.
3. ⚖️ The Politics of Major League Baseball
- Professional baseball, including Major League Baseball (MLB), is highly political, with success often tied to personal connections rather than just talent.
- A notable example includes a player who performed well, catching close to 72-73% of runners at second base, yet was overlooked for a starting position due to another player's family connections in the league.
- The speaker's experience highlights how being 'hurt goods' affected his career, as injuries can significantly impact a player's opportunities within the political landscape of MLB.
- The cultural biases and stereotypes held by some managers, such as those from the Dominican Republic regarding New Yorkers, can influence team dynamics and player treatment.
- Spring training decisions can be critical, as failing to make the roster with the major league team often results in not progressing in MLB.
4. 🏟️ Decision to Leave Baseball
- The speaker had a promising baseball season and was close to joining the main team, potentially the 40-man roster.
- During the baseball strike, players had to choose whether to become 'scabs'. Notably, Derek Jeter and Wade Boggs advised against playing for $1,000 a day, influencing the speaker's decision.
- The speaker practiced alongside major league players for about two to three months during the strike period.
- After the strike concluded, the speaker played for the Tri City Posse in Washington, an independent team, for three years.
- The speaker's perspective on baseball changed with the birth of his first son, influenced by difficult experiences with his own father.
- Despite signing a new contract, the speaker decided to quit baseball abruptly during a warm-up session, firmly deciding against continuing in the sport.
5. 🚗 From Car Sales to Corporate Misunderstanding
- The speaker transitioned from a baseball career to car sales after a chance encounter at an auto dealership, leading to a sales job where they earned between $5,000 and $10,000 monthly.
- A significant career opportunity arose when a man in a suit offered a corporate position, which the speaker eagerly accepted, resigning from their car sales job without fully understanding the nature of the new role.
- The speaker demonstrated a pattern of self-sabotage, quitting the car sales job on impulse and joining a new job without thorough consideration, highlighting the importance of fully evaluating new opportunities before committing.
- The corporate role was misunderstood, illustrating the pitfalls of not researching job roles thoroughly, which led to career instability.
- The transition underlines the importance of strategic career planning and understanding job descriptions and expectations to avoid misalignments.
6. 🍽️ Building a Food Bank from Scratch
- The speaker initially explored different income avenues within the church, identifying a food pantry as a potential development area, although it began as a small closet with limited capacity.
- Proactively expanding the food bank, the speaker branded the initiative 'Harvest Outreach' and took pictures of warehouses to visualize the potential.
- Aiming to raise $779,000, the speaker presented the food bank project to large corporations, including a sheet metal company, despite facing rejection due to its nonprofit nature.
- The speaker's bold approach and confrontation with a billionaire during a pitch led to a follow-up from the vice president, intrigued by the mission, indicating potential strategic interest from corporate partners.
- The initiative's growth from a small pantry to a potentially large-scale food bank highlights strategic planning and resilience in nonprofit development.
7. 💊 From Ministry to Drug Dealing
- Raised $67,000 by selling tiles for earnest money, showcasing innovative fundraising strategies and financial acumen.
- Transitioned from ministry to working in prison telemarketing safety meetings, demonstrating adaptability and resilience in career changes.
- Founded a consulting company and generated $39,000 in a weekend through onsite training, highlighting entrepreneurial skill and ability to capitalize on market opportunities.
- Achieved a managerial position within two and a half weeks at a furniture store, indicating strong leadership and sales skills.
- Consistently generated $105,000 a month in sales, reflecting outstanding performance and sales proficiency.
- The narrative of moving from ministry roles to drug dealing reveals a complex journey marked by significant financial achievements and strategic career shifts.
8. 💼 Drug Operation Expansion
- The drug operation began with selling pills and other drugs at a dollar per milligram for opiates, leveraging a dual role as a pastor and furniture store employee to blend legitimate business with drug sales.
- A system was devised using furniture layaway codes to represent drugs, e.g., 'bedroom' for pills, 'living room' for cocaine, with drugs hidden in showroom items like mattresses and vases.
- The operation initially involved a small team but expanded to include 10 employees, generating $50,000 to $60,000 in monthly revenue, which required more sophisticated integration with legitimate operations.
- The expansion led to having 75-100 clients, causing increased traffic at the operator's residence and raising law enforcement suspicions.
- The operation's scale attracted a two-year investigation by the DEA, FBI, and ATF, and even caught the attention of a cartel due to its success.
9. 🚔 Law Enforcement Closing In
- The individual transported drugs from Arizona using a multi-car strategy, with one car carrying drugs and others acting as decoys to avoid detection.
- Initially resisted involvement due to discomfort, but persuaded by higher pay to drive the drug-carrying car.
- Realized severe consequences like incarceration and asset loss but continued operation for a year, conducting 50-70 drug runs.
- Used creative methods to avoid direct exchanges, like magnets, Red Bull cans, fake sprinklers with coordinates to hide drugs.
- Leveraged a 911 dispatcher for advanced warning of law enforcement interest or actions.
- Despite a clean record and a background as a pastor, law enforcement questioned involvement.
- Rationalized actions using religious justifications, claiming to help others find a better path.
10. 🕵️ Arrest and Indictment
10.1. Arrest Operation
10.2. Legal Consequences
11. 🔒 Prison and Redemption Plan
- The speaker shares a past of heavy fentanyl addiction, consuming about 50 pills a day, indicating severe substance abuse and the resulting impact on personal relationships.
- The speaker observed a cycle of recidivism among inmates, noting that many returned to prison shortly after release, often due to returning to criminal activities as a means of economic survival.
- Despite a background in drug dealing, the speaker planned to establish a clean and sober organization upon release, defying skepticism about his ability to secure funding and credibility given his past.
- The speaker demonstrated resilience and determination by creating a business plan for a rehabilitation organization while still incarcerated, despite others' disbelief in his ability to succeed.
- An unexpected encounter occurred when the speaker met Jason, a person he had arbitrarily included as a partner in his business plan, reinforcing his belief in a 'God thing,' or destiny.
12. 🏠 Establishing Seasons Housing
- The individual was sentenced to 54 months in prison for a first-time offense, but received a reduction due to community contributions, including feeding 750,000 people with 15 million pounds of food.
- After release, the individual faced challenges with probation and treatment but began building a foundation for a new organization, Seasons Housing.
- Seasons Housing, a 501c3 organization inspired by the Bible verse in Ecclesiastes, initially started with one house and has expanded to five houses within a year and a half.
- The organization has been awarded 38 beds in a new detox facility and is supported by previously skeptical city officials, showcasing forgiveness and a shift in perception.
- Seasons Housing now collaborates with the drug court and aims to expand to six houses by the end of the year, with plans to move into a new facility by May 2026.
- The organization provides essential services on-site, assisting hundreds in recovery and treatment, demonstrating a successful transition from adversity to making a positive impact.
13. 🔄 Personal and Professional Rebirth
- The speaker underwent a significant life transformation, including a new marriage and fatherhood, which prompted a reassessment of past behaviors and values.
- Reintegration challenges were faced due to societal stigma against former inmates, impacting both personal life and business endeavors.
- Despite initial success in a legal furniture business with earnings of $15,000 per month, the speaker struggled with self-sabotage, revealing underlying personal issues.
- Universal principles such as hard work, dedication, and integrity are emphasized as crucial across both legal and illegal activities, underscoring their importance in personal growth.
- Reflecting on past actions, the speaker expresses regret for the impact on family, particularly the emotional distress caused to their mother, while acknowledging personal growth and business success.
- The speaker’s journey through prison and eventual success illustrates the power of resilience and personal transformation, highlighting strategies to overcome societal stigma and personal challenges.
14. 📜 Lessons Learned and Continuing Challenges
14.1. Trademark Success
14.2. Overcoming Personal Challenges
14.3. Lowest Point and Recovery
14.4. Long-term Health Effects of Addiction
15. 🌱 Expanding Hope and Helping Others
15.1. Personal Transformation and Business Expansion
15.2. Overcoming Past Challenges
15.3. Lessons Learned and Community Engagement
15.4. Future Plans and Community Support
16. 📚 Soft White Underbelly Book Announcement
- The first Soft White Underbelly book had such a strong sales performance that it warranted the creation of a second book.
- The second book is ready to ship and includes some of the best portraits from Soft White Underbelly, accompanied by quotes from the interviews.
- The book features portraits, including a collection of color images of the Whitaker family, and is priced at $125, or $150 for a signed copy.
- Once sold out, there will be no more prints of this second book, similar to the first edition.