Episode 28: Ex-gang member Johnny Chang tells all

2024-11-21

Johnny Chang has become an internet sensation over the last two years, first rising to fame for his appearance on Soft White Underbelly. A former member of the Wah Ching gang in California, Johnny spent the majority of his childhood on the streets. At just 12 years old, he ended up going to jail. After more felony charges, he ended up spending a total of 12 years behind bars, not getting out until he was 25. Almost immediately, Johnny turned back to drugs and crime. But then something miraculous happened. He ended up turning his life around. On Soft White Underbelly, he shared his testimony and he ended up being viewed by 8 million p...

Johnny Chang has become an internet sensation over the last two years, first rising to fame for his appearance on Soft White Underbelly.

A former member of the Wah Ching gang in California, Johnny spent the majority of his childhood on the streets. At just 12 years old, he ended up going to jail. After more felony charges, he ended up spending a total of 12 years behind bars, not getting out until he was 25.

Almost immediately, Johnny turned back to drugs and crime. But then something miraculous happened. He ended up turning his life around. On Soft White Underbelly, he shared his testimony and he ended up being viewed by 8 million people.

In the time since, he’s been featured on a number of major podcasts and shows, including multiple appearances on Jubilee. Back in 2022, he had just a couple hundred followers. But as of this filming, he now has over a million combined between TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and leads a digital community called Core of the Heart.

After you listen to this conversation today, you’ll understand why Johnny has become so influential. His story is remarkable and he has so many rich insights about the human condition that are applicable to you no matter where you’re at in your own journey.

So in this episode, we leave no stone unturned. We dive into his early life, the trauma that happened in his household, and how he found solace in the streets. We discuss what gang life is like, and what he did to get locked up for over 12 years.

We talk about depression, anxiety and the commonality of the struggle between all humans. Finally we talk about faith and spirituality, and what it was that turned Johnny’s life around.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

1:41 - Getting locked up for 10 years

9:09 - Childhood abuse & trauma

19:10 - Joining a gang at 12 years old

24:53 - Going to jail as a 12 year old

36:47 - Realizations in prison

48:11 - Going back to the gang life

52:26 - The robbery that went wrong

56:18 - The conversation that saved Johnny’s life

1:07:07 - Reconciling with his father

1:16:23 - Johnny’s spiritual journey