Kenny spent over twenty years in prison and has been out of prison since 1997. He is a spiritual teacher and consultant to families and to those who have been out of prison and may be going to jail. He also just finished his soon to be released book, The Last Hustle, chronicling his years as a criminal and how he was transformed while incarcerated. Kenny has one passion and that is sharing the message that “God’s Grace Is Here Now.” Kenny’s spiritual awareness and other spiritual teachers' insights have been published in the book, “The Awakening West”, by John Lumiere-Wins and Lynn Marie Lumiere.
“If there is anything worth serving, it’s this love. If there is anything worth being, it’s this love. If there is anything worth talking about it’s this love. If there is anything of real value it’s this love.” – Kenny Johnson
Kenny's book: The Last Hustle
Kenny's website, "This Sacred Space"
Full interview, edited for readability
Interview Recorded 9/22/2012
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Kenny Johnson
00:04:02 - Preparation for Working with the Incarcerated
00:08:12 - A Conversation About Jail
00:10:25 - The Tipping Point and Disillusionment
00:13:26 - The Miracle of Gangaji and a Productive Life
00:16:31 - Promoting Reading in Jails
00:19:07 - Growth in Prison
00:21:53 - Survival and Retaliation in Prison
00:25:07 - The Cycle of Crime and Second Chances
00:27:03 - Prison Life and Escaping
00:29:12 - The Transition to Pimping
00:30:57 - The Pimping Lifestyle
00:32:32 - The Cycle of Pimping and Drug Addiction
00:34:49 - The Prison Experience
00:36:58 - Smuggling and Spirituality
00:39:32 - Seeking Power and Enlightenment
00:41:59 - Meeting Gangaji Again
00:44:24 - Falling in love with Gangaji
00:47:15 - Recognizing beauty in nature and another human being
00:51:14 - Detox and Alcoholism
00:54:46 - A Moment of Connection with a Friend
00:57:24 - The Power of Presence
01:00:20 - Creating a Sacred Space Near Prisons
01:03:24 - The Depth of Lostness in Maya
01:06:41 - Maya, The Friend of Consciousness
01:09:48 - Giving Back and the Issue with Popcorn Gurus
01:12:33 - A Message of Love and Transformation in Prison
01:15:36 - Experiencing Love through Connection
01:18:24 - A Blazing Inferno
01:20:44 - Contact Information and Future Speaking Engagements
01:23:47 - Update on Cancer Remission