When It Clicked – “A Better Way to Treat Kids Who Make Mistakes” with Scott Budnick
Lemonada Media | December 10, 2025
Host: Ana Zamora
Guest: Scott Budnick (Founder, Anti Recidivism Coalition and One Community)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the transformative power of a justice system focused on prevention, healing, and real accountability, particularly for youth. Host Ana Zamora interviews Hollywood producer-turned-justice-reformer Scott Budnick, who shares his journey from the movie business to founding the Anti Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and One Community. The conversation centers on youth justice, why it matters for all of us, and how changing narratives and personal proximity drive true reform.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Scott Budnick’s Personal “Click” Moment

(03:05–11:05)

• Upbringing & Early Exposure:
  Scott describes growing up in a family of service. His first exposure to the criminal justice system came through a college internship on Baywatch, when a producer asked him to evaluate a story about teens sentenced to life for a fatal altercation.
  Quote:
  “That’s when my eyes first opened to the issues of juvenile justice... the felony murder rule, all of these things.” (04:15)

• First Prison Visit:
  A pivotal moment occurred when Scott visited a juvenile hall to guest-teach a creative writing class. He was struck by the experience of seeing a child, no older than 11, shackled and being led by probation officers.
  Quote:
  “That visual was, like, seared into my mind. Young Black kid, 11 years old, shackled head to toe…” (05:27)

• Meeting ‘David’:
  Sitting with “David,” a 15-year-old sentenced to 300 years to life for a crime he did not personally commit, Scott confronts the deep inequity of the justice system and the ways trauma and poverty shape young lives.
  Quote:
  “If this was my kid… with some resources… would probably get probation, not a day in prison… but David… was going to prison for 300 years to life.” (07:27)

• Commitment to Change:
  Scott commits to teaching weekly, igniting his lifelong dedication to justice reform.

2. Redemption and Legislative Impact

(09:29–11:12)

• Changing Lives through Policy:
  Scott’s advocacy led to California’s SB260, which reduced extreme youth sentences—David’s included. David was eventually commuted and now mentors youth in custody.
  Quote:
  “Probably about eight years ago, David was commuted by Governor Brown. Came home and now works as a mentor, going back into the juvenile halls and mentoring the 15-year-olds that are there today.” (10:07)

• The Power of Proximity:
  Scott echoes Bryan Stevenson’s principle that proximity to those impacted by injustice is what makes the issue real and urgent.
  Quote:
  “I think for most people it clicks when you’re face-to-face with a person… and you see somebody’s humanity.” (10:38)

3. The Case for Youth Justice Reform

(11:12–14:40)

• Why Everyone Should Care:
  Scott argues that everyone—regardless of political orientation—can recognize the unique capacity for change among young people. He enumerates ideological and practical reasons: redemption, fiscal responsibility, and public safety.
  Quote:
  “Young people have an unbelievable capacity to change… the ripple effect, the ROI of that is just ridiculous.” (13:50)

4. Power of Storytelling and Building Infrastructure (ARC & One Community)

(15:42–24:47)

• Creating Safe Spaces:
  ARC began with camping retreats for recently released youth, growing rapidly and requiring formal infrastructure.
  Quote:
  “Do you take a 90% pay cut to go do what you love to do? The answer is yes. And the five years at ARC were the best five years of my life, hands down.” (16:22)

• Hollywood Connections:
  Robert Downey Jr. named ARC; Patty Jenkins and Kim Kardashian also supported the mission.
  Quote:
  “Hi Scott, my name is Kim Kardashian West… I want you to be my mentor.” (19:41)

• Media and Narrative:
  Scott realized that shifting public opinion requires emotional storytelling—bringing people inside prisons changes hearts far more than lectures.
  Quote:
  “No matter what they thought before they went in, once they had conversations face to face… 100% of the time, their opinions changed.” (21:35)

• Launching One Community:
  Using storytelling at scale, Scott started One Community, financing impactful films like Just Mercy to reach and educate millions.
  Quote:
  “When I make The Hangover, Warner Brothers spends a hundred million dollars marketing it… you can storytell on like, the craziest scale ever.” (22:25)
  “Just Mercy… is today’s To Kill a Mockingbird for students.” (24:17)

5. Challenging Punitive Narratives & Proposing Real Alternatives

(25:57–30:19)

• Current Policy Backlash:
  Ana and Scott discuss increasing calls to ‘get tough’ on crime, especially with youth, countering that evidence supports alternatives.
  Quote:
  “The American public… are raised to believe there is one intervention... arrest and incarceration. Until we help the public see there are other options... we’ll always revert back.” (26:37)

• What Works:
  Scott emphasizes the unifying theme from thousands of successful stories: consistent adults who care—mentors, teachers, coaches—are the change agents.
  Quote:
  “100% of the time they’re going to talk about a person who believed in them, cared about them, was consistent...” (27:52)

• Effective Alternatives:

  • Restorative justice programs
  • Real mentorship and hands-on support
  • Diverting youth from incarceration, especially from adult or high-risk facilities
  • Wraparound services: housing, therapy, job pipelines, college support
    Quote:
    “We know how to do this. This is not complicated. This is common sense.” (29:33)

• The Importance of Storytelling:
  Solutions should be communicated through compelling stories, not academic lecturing: “Entertain first.” (30:15)

6. Personal Growth & Lessons from Incarcerated Youth

(31:06–33:12)

• Continued Commitment:
  Scott still spends every Saturday with incarcerated youth at juvenile halls, now seeing more hope with reforms.
• What Scott Learned:
  • Active listening and patience are essential
  • Change requires consistency—failure is part of growth
  • Investing time in “the biggest screwup” often yields the greatest turnaround
  • Working with these young people has been as valuable for Scott as for them
    Quote:
    “I tell all these guys, like, I get so much out of this... for me to be grateful and not be tripping on the little things…” (32:34)
    “It’s the greatest win-win of all time.” (32:59)

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On the need for a justice system transformation:
  “I think science backs me up, that young people have an unbelievable capacity to change.” — Scott Budnick (11:47)

• On narrative power:
  “All of these gains are wiped out like this if the media can be used to just make people scared.” — Scott Budnick (22:17)

• On personal motivation:
  “If I’m not being inspired, I’m bored.” — Scott Budnick (18:34)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Scott’s early exposure to justice issues — 03:05–05:12
• First juvenile hall visit and meeting David — 05:12–09:29
• How proximity changes beliefs — 10:38–11:12
• Case for youth justice reform (everyone should care) — 11:45–14:40
• Founding ARC and One Community, Hollywood connections — 15:42–19:41
• Power of storytelling in policy and narrative shift — 21:28–24:47
• Current policy climate, need for better solutions — 25:57–30:17
• Lessons from incarcerated youth — 31:06–33:12

Conclusion

Scott Budnick's journey highlights both the urgency and the possibility of real justice reform for youth—and for society at large. Through close relationships, policy advocacy, and the power of storytelling, he demonstrates how proximity and humanization can break cycles of harm and build opportunities for genuine redemption and public safety. This episode is a call to engage not only intellect, but also empathy and imagination, to create a justice system that works for all.