What happens when a successful marketing entrepreneur hits rock bottom with a prison sentence and walks out years later with a business idea that changes her life? That’s the story of Emily O’Brien, and I’m telling you, you’re going to want to hear this one.
Emily O’Brien is the founder of Comeback Snacks, a popcorn company with a mission to help people with criminal records rebuild their lives. But before she was building brands or speaking on stages, she was sitting in a prison cell, wondering how she’d gotten there. Our conversation digs into what happened, what she learned, and how she found a way to turn her worst moment into something meaningful.
Emily had been running her own marketing business, doing well, living fast. Then came a toxic relationship, some bad decisions, and one of those moments where you find yourself saying yes when everything in your gut is screaming no. She agreed to smuggle drugs across the border with her boyfriend. She got caught. She was sentenced to federal prison for four years.
One thing that stuck with me was how honest Emily was about the shame. She said, “I thought I was smarter than this. I thought I had it all figured out.” But sitting in that cell, she started to see things differently. She began to listen to the stories of the women around her. She saw how many people were stuck in cycles they couldn’t escape, how judgment and stigma held them back long after they’d served their time. That’s where the seeds of Comeback Snacks were planted.
There’s this moment she talks about—making popcorn in prison using a plastic bag, some kernels, and a microwave. It was something small, but it brought people together. It made people smile. Emily said, “Popcorn was a way to connect. It gave us something to look forward to.” That stuck with her, and when she got out, she turned that memory into a business. Not just any business. One that hires people with records, tells their stories, and gives them a second chance.
We talked about how hard it was to get people to take her seriously. She’d go into meetings and see the shift in people’s faces when they learned about her past. But she kept showing up. She kept using her own story to break down walls. And people started to listen.
Emily O’Brien’s story reminded me that redemption is real, but it doesn’t come easy. She had to own her mistakes and work harder than ever to prove herself. She had to face people’s assumptions and keep going anyway. And she did it all with this strong belief that people are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by a bad decision. For anyone who’s trying to rebuild after life knocked them down. For anyone who needs to know it’s possible to come back from a nightmare and build something better.
Emily taught me a lot. She showed me that vulnerability is strength. That second chances matter. That when you lead with honesty, people respond. And that sometimes the smallest things—like popcorn in a microwave—can spark the biggest changes.
Press play on this one. Emily O’Brien’s story might change the way you see failure, forgiveness, and the future.