Ex Gang Member Turned Pastor Meets The Man Changed His Life | #054
Ex Gang Member Turned Pastor Meets The Man Changed His Life | #054  
Podcast: Unlearned Wisdom by Johnny Chang
Published On: Mon Mar 23 2026
Description: Mark Laita, the creator of Soft White Underbelly, sits down with me to reveal why he dumped $3.5 million of his own money into interviewing people on America's most dangerous streets, and the dark parenting truths he learned along the way. In this full-circle reunion, the self-proclaimed anti-religious photographer explains his uncanny ability to spot a liar in seconds, and how he accidentally built the exact platform that led me back to God and launched my preaching career. Make God a daily habit in your life! Join the waitlist to my app: https://getcothdaily.com/ 🎙️ Watch/Listen to Unlearned Wisdom on every platform: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/unlearnedwisdom⁠ Sign up for FREE Daily Devotional Emails here:  ⁠https://coreoftheheart.com/pages/dailydevotions⁠ 🤝 WE'RE HIRING A-players at Core of the Heart!   Apply here: ⁠https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/coreoftheheart⁠ We have open roles in Content and Media, Digital Marketing, and Live Events Production. In just 1.5 years, God has grown this community to over 3 million people worldwide. We are building a global movement to help people walk closer with Him every day. We’re looking for people with proven excellence, high standards, and a heart for the mission. If you’re an A-player who wants your work to matter for eternity and be a part of a fast-paced team, we’d love to meet you. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:06:27 How he chooses what to publish 00:13:19 Starting YouTube and early growth 00:18:53 Investing money into interviews 00:28:36 Addiction and recovery patterns 00:35:16 Safety risks and street realities 00:39:33 Are there interviews you couldn’t release? 00:43:01 How do these stories affect you? 00:49:16 What’s your mindset and lifestyle? 00:55:04 How did you find the Whitakers? 01:09:57 What makes a great interview? 01:13:28 What interviews stand out most? 01:22:55 What’s the purpose behind your work? 01:36:33 How do you view society today? 01:44:06 Advice for thinking independently 01:49:35 What makes a good parent? 01:57:04 Should people have children? 02:02:16 Closing thoughts and reflections 🎥 Watch my documentary, 'Faith On Death Row': ⁠https://youtu.be/-KgMmqN79kg?si=hpLBvqxbI-jGmLFn⁠ 📲 a new COTH app is COMING SOON. Text 'APP' to 323-613-3577 to get on the wait list!!!! This will be your daily guide to help you get closer to God If you are a church, or know a direct representative who wants to host 500-2000 local people, please fill out this form: ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeP7uLdy0r8pvcwvli--9TIBWpUI5ac6wCaY1TzogbpnIC4-Q/viewform?usp=header⁠⁠ 🧢 Core of the Heart merchandise now available: ⁠https://coreoftheheart.com/collections/all⁠ 🤖 We just launched Gospel Bot! Check out details here: ⁠https://gray-dosa-37b.notion.site/Gospel-Bot-A-I-2564380db0c380ec8cd5c79be2bb0370⁠ ✂️ Join Clipping Class: ⁠https://discord.com/invite/coth⁠ 👾 Join my free Discord to submit your question for a future episode: ⁠https://discord.com/invite/coth⁠ 🐉 Follow Johnny Chang everywhere: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/johnnychang⁠ 🎧 Access Johnny's Mainstage discussions: ⁠https://linktr.ee/johnnychang⁠ 🫶 Donate to support our Core of the Heart ministries: ⁠⁠https://coreoftheheart.com/pages/donate⁠ 💙 For those that want to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible & get closer with God, to unlock true peace and happiness: ⁠⁠https://coreoftheheart.com/⁠ 🕊️ Start your Free 7-Day Trial or use code WISDOM for 50% off your first month.⁠ Core of the Heart is our digital community to support you in getting closer to the true Gospel. Membership includes: Weekly Bible Class with Minister Johnny, hundreds of hours of livestream content, sermons, Q&A's and resources to help you understand the Bible faster. Sign up instructions: ⁠⁠⁠https://shorturl.at/ZuAFD⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices