About Me

My name is Rustin Pangburn, and my life is a testament to what’s possible when a person refuses to be defined by their past. My journey didn’t start with success or opportunity. It started with a federal prison sentence, rock bottom moments, and a decision that would change everything: I refused to go back.

When I stepped out of federal prison in 2010 after serving 60 months, I had nothing but gray sweatpants, a white t-shirt, and a determination that came from the deepest part of my soul. No money. No family nearby. No safety net. No promise that the world would give me a second chance. But I made a choice — to rebuild my life from the ground up, one step at a time.

I arrived in a new town where nobody knew my name. I took whatever work I could get. I walked, then rode a bus, then pedaled a bicycle through rain, snow, and self-doubt until I could afford my first car. I worked jobs that barely paid the bills, but each one carried me further from the man I used to be. Every day I asked myself the question that became my compass: Why Not?

Why not do better?
Why not break the cycle?
Why not refuse to be another statistic?
Why not create a life I could be proud of?

That mindset didn’t just help me survive — it transformed me.

Today, I am a motivational speaker and an advocate for justice reform, second chances, and re-entry support. I share my lived experience at conferences, universities, and with professionals who want to understand the challenges of re-entry and the power of lived experience. My story is not about glorifying the past — it’s about showing people what is possible when resilience meets opportunity, and when a person decides their future matters more than their mistakes.

I use my voice to shed light on the realities of re-entry: the barriers, the stigma, the pain, and the strength it takes to start over when the world expects you to fail. I speak to those who feel unseen, unheard, or written off, and to those who play a role in opening new doors for individuals returning home.

My message is simple: You are not your number. You are not your charge. You are a person — and you are worth fighting for.

Why Not? became more than a question. It became a movement. It became Why Not Mindset — a nonprofit dedicated to helping men and women rebuild their lives and discover the potential they never knew they had.

My journey is far from over. I’m still learning, still growing, still pushing forward. But every step I take is proof that transformation is real, redemption is possible, and anyone — no matter their past — can rise.

This is my story. And if you’re reading this, maybe it’s the beginning of yours too.

Why Not Be The Change #Together