In this powerful episode of the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training’s podcast, “Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injury,” host Melaney Grenz welcomes guest Marchell Taylor. Once entrenched in a life of crime beginning in his pre-teen years, Marchell’s story takes a profound turn after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) screening at Denver County Jail in 2016. Through a pilot program led by neuropsychologist and University of Denver professor Dr. Kimberly Gorgens, Marchell received targeted therapies that helped him understand his brain, regulate his behavior, and reclaim his self-worth.

Marchell shares his difficult childhood in Flint, Michigan—his early exposure to alcohol, repeated brain injuries, and the escalating choices that led to incarceration. Facing a lengthy prison sentence, he was identified as having a TBI and was introduced to therapy, grief counseling, and meditation techniques. These interventions became the foundation for his transformation.

Today, Marchell is a partner in Dr. Gorgens’s research and advocacy work. Together, they helped pass a 2021 Colorado law to implement brain injury screenings for individuals in the criminal justice system. Marchell also reconnected with former inmate Corey Shively to co-launch AYBOS Advocacy and the Rebuild Your Mind Challenge—a mental health awareness campaign within justice-involved communities.

We also had the opportunity to speak with his colleagues, Tramel Thomas and Nicki Mitchell, who shared their roles in this meaningful work and emphasized the importance of advocacy, support, and trauma-informed care in justice-impacted communities. Their insight added even more depth to this inspiring conversation.

Now a peer counselor, Marchell continues to thrive, dedicating his life to helping others break cycles of trauma. The episode underscores the importance of understanding the role of TBI in criminal behavior and advocates for nationwide screening and treatment programs.

Marchell’s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of compassion, science, and second chances.