Today we talk to Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, a company she launched while serving time in federal prison for drug smuggling.  And if that alone isn’t enough to get you to listen, I give up.

Emily is raw, funny and vulnerable about the choices she made that landed her behind bars.  She talks about the moment she saw her parents in the courtroom for the first time, the shame she carried, the strength she found, and the mindset shift that helped her recalibrate her life.  

Today, Comeback Snacks is carried in over 1,100 stores across the country and employs a number of formerly incarcerated people. Everyone deserves a second chance, and Emily is proof that joy, humor, and intention can show up in the most unlikely places.

Please enjoy, Emily O’Brien.

Takeaways

• Emily’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter how far off course we get, we can still come back—and sometimes stronger than before.
• Despite growing up in a supportive household, Emily’s descent into addiction and toxic relationships shows how quickly things can unravel—no matter your background.
• Her time in prison became a personal “recalibration,” where she read 82 books, kicked substance use, and began sketching the plans for what would become Comeback Snacks.
• Emily reframes reinvention as recalibration—not becoming a new person, but returning to the good core that was there all along.
• With Comeback Snacks, she’s hired over a dozen formerly incarcerated individuals and developed a reintegration program to help others start businesses post-prison.
• Her “Comeback Blueprint” offers a framework for transformation: Commit, Own it, Be Accountable, Educate others, and Lead with Values.

Links and Resources

Comeback Snacks Website: https://comebacksnacks.com/

Emily’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emz.obrien

Comeback Snacks Website: https://www.instagram.com/comebacksnacks

Emily’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-o-brien-b628a4132/

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