Greg Carlisle on Bad Loans, Debt & Grit

What turns a 16-year-old facing life or the death penalty into a community leader fighting to keep kids alive? Edwin Desamour’s story shows how prison, fatherhood, purpose, and The Lighthouse became the foundation for a life of service.
Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about murder, incarceration, suicide, depression, gun violence, childhood trauma, death, and exploitation.
In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall talks with Edwin Desamour, Executive Director of The Lighthouse in Philadelphia, to trace the path from a teenage conviction to a life dedicated to serving others. Edwin opens up about being charged with first-degree murder at 16, serving eight and a half years in prison, being incarcerated alongside his father, becoming a father while behind bars, and later receiving a pardon.
The conversation explores The Lighthouse, youth programs, boxing, violence prevention, fatherhood, prison reentry, nonprofit politics, Latino and Puerto Rican history, human trafficking prevention, and why Edwin believes purpose is the difference between survival and destruction.

Chapters:
02:01 Meet Edwin Desamour
02:35 The Lighthouse and Its Mission
05:52 Facing Life and Death at 16
08:19 Conviction, Pardon, and Accountability
16:31 Prison With His Father
27:38 Release, Family, and Coming Back From the Dead
33:07 Why Purpose Defeats the System
49:01 Talking a Kid Out of a School Shooting
52:28 Nonprofit Politics and “Poverty Pimping”
59:01 The Lighthouse, Affordability, and Belonging
01:01:02 MIMIC, Street Legends, and Life Skills
01:06:33 The Exodus Road and Human Trafficking Prevention
01:09:06 Fatherhood, Street Smarts, and Book Smarts
01:13:35 Losing His Son and Breaking Generational Patterns
01:23:36 Wind Therapy, Grief, and What Comes Next

Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.

Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletter

Learn more or connect with Kendall:
Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/
SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/
YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPod
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402e
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229

#HiddenFoundations #EdwinDesamour #TheLighthouse

What shapes an entrepreneur who refuses to sacrifice integrity? For Ed O’Brien, it started with childhood money pressure, a complicated father-son relationship, family secrets, and early lessons in responsibility.
In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall talks with Ed O’Brien to trace the family system behind his leadership style. Ed grew up in a large Irish-Italian Catholic family in New Jersey, where love, discipline, scarcity, and silence all lived under the same roof. He shares how his father’s business struggles shaped his relationship with money, why he rejected his father’s allowance at 11, and how carrying the secret of his father’s affair pushed him toward independence.
Ed also reflects on trying to save the family business, building a career through GE mentorship, entering the fiber optics and power infrastructure world, and creating a company culture built on honesty. The conversation closes with a powerful reflection on fatherhood, success, and the difference between providing for your children and truly being present with them.

Chapters:
00:00 Cold Open: Money, Secrets, and Responsibility
00:43 Meet Ed O’Brien
01:54 Childhood Money Pressure and Family Business
05:08 Rejecting His Father’s Allowance
05:36 Carrying the Secret of His Father’s Affair
10:46 Money With Strings and Closing the Family Business
16:22 Running Away, Reconnecting, and Hearing “I’m Proud of You”
21:11 Fiber Optics, AI Infrastructure, and Business Integrity
27:25 GE Mentorship, Autonomy, and Plan B
40:30 Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, and Listening
48:25 Success, Fatherhood, and Being Present

Hidden Foundations is a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and investor Kendall Schoenrock, examining how family systems, early adversity, and childhood dynamics quietly shape high-performing adults. Each conversation uncovers the “invisible wiring” behind resilience, ambition, leadership, and grit — told through candid stories from entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and leaders.

Guided by the thesis that strength is forged early at home, the show uses a consistent framework to explore emotional environments, money narratives, family roles, conflict patterns, and early challenges. Every episode delivers at least one practical, repeatable insight for parents, leaders, and anyone seeking to understand how greatness is built long before it’s visible.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://hiddenfoundations.com/#newsletter

Learn more or connect with Kendall:
Website: https://kendallschoenrock.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenrock/
SilverRock Ventures: https://silverrockventures.com/about-us/
YouTube: youtube.com/@HiddenFoundationsPod
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VKN6BBbuVxNDl4zKh4E3O?si=0c56c9aebfaf402e
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-foundations/id1895154229

#HiddenFoundations #EdOBrien #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Meenal Lele shares how her son’s severe food allergies reshaped her life and career, leading her to focus on food allergy prevention, early allergen introduction, and improving access to practical solutions for families.