Podcast season

Season 5 — Stories of Good Work

Conversations about constructive community and civic work. This permanent season archive preserves the season's relationship to Stories of Good Work and the umbrella The Redemption Project Podcast.

4 episodes

September 2026

Stories of Good Work

Paul Schmitz, Founder of ShowerUp

Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe Paul Schmitz thought Christian radio would be his lifelong career. Then God took him on a left turn. In this Season 5 Good Works episode of The Redemption Project , Brandon Burley talks with Paul Schmitz, founder of ShowerUp , a ministry providing clean, private, hot mobile showers and laundry services for people experiencing homelessness. Paul shares how a simple act of serving meals grew into a national ministry, how a box truck became the first ShowerUp unit, why consistency builds trust on the street, and why the work is never really about soap and water. It is about dignity. It is about relationship. It is about helping people feel human again.

S5 E5

September 6, 202617

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June 2026

Stories of Good Work

Reentry & Redemption in Our Community

Knoxville is quietly building a reentry ecosystem that many communities wish they had—connecting mentorship, recovery programs, stable housing, and community support in ways that improve public safety and reduce repeat arrests.In this read-aloud video, I share key points from my article originally published in Knox TN Today, explaining how sustained accountability, long-term mentorship, and community-rooted recovery efforts are strengthening lives after incarceration in Knoxville.Topics covered in this conversation include:• Men of Valor’s year-long aftercare housing and accountability model • The Knox County Church Network and its role in community support • ReNew Clinic’s long-term recovery focus • RISE mentoring for individuals and families facing instability • All4Knox and early intervention strategiesThese local initiatives show that redemption is not just a moral idea; it is a public-safety strategy proven to work when supported.This story is shared as part of The Redemption Project.Original article: https://www.knoxtntoday.com/knoxville-is-quietly-rebuilding-lives-and-its-time-we-paid-attention/ Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

S5 E1

June 21, 202652

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January 2026

Stories of Good Work

“Mission of Hope at Christmas and Every Other Day” | Article Read + Commentary

In this episode of The Redemption Project podcast, I read and comment on my article originally published in Knox TN Today: “Mission of Hope, at Christmas and Every Other Day of the Year.” This piece reflects on how ministries and community partners work year-round—not just during the holidays—to care for people in need, extend compassion, and provide meaningful help that leads to stability and purpose. In this read-aloud and commentary, we explore: • What hope looks like in action, not just in intention • How community ministries sustain support beyond seasonal generosity • Why long-term relationships matter in recovery and reentry • The broader impact of consistent care in building resilient lives For the original written article, visit: https://www.knoxtntoday.com/mission-of-hope-at-christmas-and-every-other-day-of-the-year/ The Redemption Project tells real stories of change, accountability, and second chances, hosted by Brandon Burley. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

S5 E3

January 8, 2026119

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Stories of Good Work

What Redemption Looks Like in Knoxville | Read & Commentary

In this episode of The Redemption Project , I read and comment on my article “What Redemption Looks Like in Knoxville: A Day Inside Men of Valor,” originally published in Knox TN Today . The piece offers a firsthand look inside Men of Valor Knoxville—a long-term reentry program built on accountability, structure, and community. It explores what life actually looks like for men transitioning out of incarceration, beyond slogans and statistics. This episode reflects on what redemption requires in practice: time, responsibility, mentorship, and systems willing to invest in people after prison. Redemption doesn’t erase the past—it shapes what comes next. Read the original article here: https://www.knoxtntoday.com/what-redemption-looks-like-in-knoxville-a-day-inside-men-of-valor/ Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

S5 E2

January 1, 2026119

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