Sonny Von Cleveland: Vocalizing Our Pain to Heal | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Sonny Von Cleveland—a man who turned a life marked by profound trauma into a beacon of hope and redemption. From a childhood scarred by molestation beginning at age three, a felony charge at seven, and a harrowing prison sentence at 16, Sonny’s story is one of survival against unimaginable odds. He opens up about enduring a violent prison environment, including a brutal assault in his first week, and how he adopted a gang mentality to survive, only to face a pivotal moment in solitary confinement in 2004 after a drug-fueled crime spree landed him back behind bars. A mentor’s persistent question—“Why are you so angry?”—sparked a 19-month transformation, teaching Sonny emotional intelligence, forgiveness, and the power of vocalizing pain through writing forgiveness letters and reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Emerging from prison in 2016 at age 35, Sonny built a music career, signed with Ferocious Records, and later pivoted to YouTube success, only to face new challenges, including betrayal and the loss of his channel. Now married to a woman he met through a podcast, Sonny runs Frisky Business, the only cat café in the Coachella Valley, and the Von Cleveland Foundation, while speaking at schools and juvenile halls to break cycles of abuse. He shares his upcoming 22-city U.S. tour, “Conversations of Redemption,” starting July 1, where he’ll explore city traumas and invite people to share their stories, partnered with Operation Light Shine to combat child sex abuse material. This episode is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, showing that no matter how dark the past, healing is possible through vulnerability and purpose.

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Timestamps:
00:02:34 - Feeling Trapped in a Cycle of Crime
00:03:02 - Traumatic Childhood and Early Abuse
00:04:16 - Strained Relationship with His Mother
00:05:09 - Early Criminal Record at Age Seven
00:07:00 - Brother’s Downward Spiral and Separation
00:08:02 - Prison Trauma and Survival Tactics
00:10:35 - Chaos in Privatized Youth Facility
00:12:12 - Mentored by a Seasoned Criminal
00:13:23 - Betrayal by Brother and Son’s Mother
00:16:21 - Turning Point in Solitary Confinement
00:18:45 - Learning Emotional Intelligence
00:19:28 - Writing as a Healing Tool
00:21:15 - Crafting Genuine Forgiveness Letters
00:23:24 - Teaching “Thinking for a Change” Program
00:25:32 - Leaving the Gang Life
00:40:20 - Music Career and Temptations
00:42:58 - YouTube Success and Relationship Struggles
00:45:24 - Meeting His Wife and Building a New Life
00:48:11 - Founding the Von Cleveland Foundation
00:49:46 - Upcoming 22-City Healing Tour
00:52:13 - Partnering with Operation Light Shine