Episode 291: Comeback Snacks – Emily O’Brien

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On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Emily O’Brien – founder and CEO of Comeback Snacks, a gourmet popcorn company she built from behind bars that has since become a symbol of redemption, resilience, and second chances.

Emily’s story begins in an unlikely place: federal prison. At 26, she was arrested at Pearson International Airport after getting swept up in a drug smuggling scheme while traveling abroad, and was sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking. Facing the reality of incarceration, Emily made a decision that would define the rest of her life – she refused to let prison be the end of her story, and instead resolved to turn it into the beginning of something good.

Inside, popcorn became an unexpected catalyst. It was a favorite snack among the women, who got creative with limited ingredients – doctoring it up with everything from powdered cheese to cinnamon and sweetener packets. Somewhere in those shared bags of popcorn, a business idea was born. Using books from the prison library and letters exchanged with mentors on the outside, Emily began building the foundation of Comeback Snacks – even designing logos and building plans by mail with her now business partner, long before she ever popped a bag as a free woman.

But the mission was never just about popcorn. Emily was moved by the women around her – many serving time for non-violent offenses, all searching for a real shot at rebuilding their lives once they got out. She decided that if she was going to build a company, it would also open doors for people facing the steep, often unfair climb back into the workforce after incarceration.

Today, Comeback Snacks is a thriving, mission-driven popcorn brand that partners with organizations supporting reintegration and prison reform, and creates employment opportunities for people with criminal records – proving that a second chance, and a bag of really good popcorn, can change a life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
✨ The arrest that changed the course of Emily’s life, and the decision she made behind bars to turn it into purpose;
✨ How a shared snack among incarcerated women sparked the idea for a business;
✨ Building Comeback Snacks by mail;
✨ Emily’s mission to remove the stigma around having a criminal record;
✨ How Comeback Snacks creates real reintegration opportunities for people leaving incarceration;
✨ Emily’s reflections on identity, redemption, and rebuilding a life on her own terms;
✨ And so much more!

Emily O’Brien is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today!

Connect with Comeback Snacks:
Website: comebacksnacks.com
Instagram: @comebacksnacks
TikTok: @comebacksnacks
Facebook: facebook.com/comebacksnacks

Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls – and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com