In part two of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper dig deeper with their sister, attorney and mental health advocate Jade Mathis, on what real second chances look like in America. Picking up from their conversation about blocking people “for their own good,” Greg shifts gears to highlight Jade’s work in restorative justice—including her recent expungement fair in Detroit that drew nearly 500 people, most of them Black men hoping to clear their records and rebuild their lives.
Jade walks listeners through nearly a decade of expungement work, from DC to Detroit, explaining how she became known as the “expungement guru,” why she believes in diversion programs and second-chance initiatives, and how she balances public safety with redemption. She breaks down the difference between crimes of necessity and crimes of opportunity, pushes back on the idea that reform is “soft on crime,” and shares a powerful story of a man sentenced to life as a teen who, after decades of growth inside, was finally given a second shot at freedom—with her support.
The conversation then moves into the heart of Jade’s advocacy: mental health. She opens up about living with clinical depression, taking medication, and learning how to “tap out before she burns out.” Jade talks about asking for a sabbatical as a prosecutor before she broke down, giving herself permission to do nothing, moving near the water, trading the gym for long walks and bike rides, and discovering that public speaking and sharing her story are forms of healing. She and Elliott unpack what it means to set boundaries, pivot careers when something no longer serves your spirit, and advocate for yourself even when people might label you “dramatic” or “too much.”
As they close, Jade frames this chapter of her life as a season of restoration—rest, reset, and rebuilding—while still doing the work of clearing records through Project Clean Slate and beyond. Greg and Elliott end the episode teasing part three, where Jade goes even further into her personal journey and their family dynamics.
Featuring:
Jade Mathis, Greg Mathis Jr., Elliott Cooper, Judge Greg Mathis, Trick Trick, Zo, Tonesa Welch, Mary Sheffield, Project Clean Slate, expungement & second-chance programs, restorative justice, juvenile life sentences, depression & mental health advocacy, seasons of rest and restoration.
