460. The Man They Called Jew in Prison To Now Proud Father Ben Freedland

460. The Man They Called Jew in Prison To Now Proud Father Ben Freedland

“You can go from the depths of despair to a life of purpose.” — Ben Freedland

In this gripping episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts and her dad, Wayne Friedman, sit down with Ben Freedland—a man who’s lived multiple lives: Coconut King, federal inmate, devoted father, and now a respected government consultant.

A Wild Behind-the-Scenes Moment

Incredibly, during the recording of this interview, Ben was experiencing a spinal fluid leak. The moment we wrapped, he went straight to the hospital. He’s now out, recovering, and we’re grateful to share this episode—made even more powerful knowing what he was enduring in real time.

From Labels to Legacy

Ben opens up about being known as “the Jew” in prison, surviving solitary confinement, and the pivotal moment a compassionate chaplain changed the direction of his life. He shares how he reclaimed his identity, leaned into faith, and found mentors who helped guide his transformation.

Fatherhood as Redemption

Today, Ben is a proud and present father. He reflects on how parenting fuels his purpose, shapes his decisions, and inspires the legacy he’s dedicated to building for his children.

Key Themes
  • From privilege to crime during the recession

  • Faith, identity, and mentorship behind bars

  • Surviving solitary confinement and unexpected turning points

  • The responsibilities and rewards of fatherhood

  • Choosing redemption, purpose, and storytelling

Episode Highlights

(00:00) Welcome to the Better Call Daddy Show (01:15) Meet Ben Freedland: From Coconut King to Criminal Consultant (10:30) Solitary Confinement & a Life-Changing Encounter (20:45) Reclaiming Faith and Identity in Prison (30:00) Fatherhood: Joys, Struggles & Second Chances (40:15) Building a Legacy by Being Present (50:00) Wisdom from Wayne: Morality, Growth & Success

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts Better Call Daddy Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube Thank you for tuning in to Better Call Daddy—where wisdom, resilience, and heart meet!

Episoder(479)

102. Negotiation Boss, Brandon Voss!

102. Negotiation Boss, Brandon Voss!

Brandon Voss is the President of The Black Swan Group, and has been with the company since its founding. As much as his father, Christopher Voss, has been involved in his career, he has been just as i...

19 Mar 202155min

101. A Star Is Born. Malachi Beasley

101. A Star Is Born. Malachi Beasley

Our families shape us in so many ways, and for Malachi Beasley this certainly rings true! His little sister inspired him to get into acting and he’s now a Drama student at Yale. Malachi certainly had ...

17 Mar 202132min

100. What Does Trust Really Mean? Stephen M.R. Covey

100. What Does Trust Really Mean? Stephen M.R. Covey

Episode 100!!! What does trust and honesty really mean??? Today I’m honored to interview an expert on trust and character Stephen M. R. Covey!  Stephen M. R. Covey is an American writer and public spe...

12 Mar 202144min

99. Reena's Got Gifts. Kristin Sherry Interviews Reena Watts

99. Reena's Got Gifts. Kristin Sherry Interviews Reena Watts

Kristin A. Sherry has been a huge supporter of mine.  I had the honor of working with her on Maximize365 and You’ve Got Gifts!  Today I'm passing her the mic for some rapid-fire questioning.  She reco...

10 Mar 202126min

98. Beyond Beauty With Miss New Jersey. Kaity Rodriguez

98. Beyond Beauty With Miss New Jersey. Kaity Rodriguez

It’s easy to be confident when you are winning!  Sometimes you are going to fail!  Then what???  How do you handle that?  Today on the Better Call Daddy show we talk to another daddy’s girl Kaity Rodr...

8 Mar 202123min

97. Better Call Goldberg

97. Better Call Goldberg

On this episode of Better Call Daddy, Reena and her daddy talk to Michael Goldberg about being a Jew from the South, his upbringing, parenting, improving communication with his mom when his daddy died...

5 Mar 202129min

96. I went to Israel in kidney failure. Alex Jewell

96. I went to Israel in kidney failure. Alex Jewell

They call kidney disease the silent disease!  Imagine finding out you are in acute kidney failure before a scheduled trip to the Promised Land??? Would you still go abroad??? Alex Jewell talks about g...

3 Mar 202129min

95. I met a pedophile at the bus stop! Patricia Bryan

95. I met a pedophile at the bus stop! Patricia Bryan

Have you ever felt like you hid parts of yourself for the comfort of others?!  Have you tried to adapt to situations like a chameleon, fly under the radar, or be more compliant?  On this week’s episod...

1 Mar 202136min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
alt-fortalt
grenselos
wolfgang-wee-uncut
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
krisemoter
fladseth
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen
198-land-med-einar-trnquist