Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Smith.
Hi Nicholas, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Of course. My story is one of transformation, and it’s still unfolding.
I grew up in Vernal, Utah, in an environment that wasn’t what most people would call a childhood. By the time I was 13, I had already been introduced to methamphetamine—by my own mom, no less. From that point on, my life spiraled. Addiction took over, and by 22, I was already serving time in prison, following the same destructive path my mom had walked.
My home was chaotic—more of a trap house than a safe space. My father was deported when I was eight, and my six brothers eventually left to live with relatives. That left me stuck in a cycle of addiction and crime that seemed inescapable. Every arrest brought harsher sentences, from 30 days to six months, and each time I promised myself things would change. But it never did.
The turning point came when I was arrested in front of my 12-year-old son. As the police took me away, I saw him quietly take his siblings by the hand and lead them upstairs. No tears, no questions—just calm acceptance. In that moment, it hit me: my son was more of a man at 12 than I had ever been. I knew something had to change.
I found my way to **The Other Side Academy** while sitting in jail, listening to someone complain about how hard it was. “They work you to the bone,” he said. “They hold you accountable for everything.” For me, that sounded like salvation. I called the academy, spoke with Dave Durocher, and a week later, I walked through their doors.
The Other Side Academy saved my life. It was tough—brutal, even. But it was exactly what I needed. Radical accountability, peer correction, and real honesty helped me face myself for the first time. I embraced it 100%, working my way from entry-level jobs to eventually managing the IT department across multiple businesses. I learned how to lead, how to take responsibility, and most importantly, how to be a father again.
Fast forward to today, and I’m the General Manager of **The Other Side Donuts**, a social enterprise where we provide jobs to people overcoming homelessness and incarceration. We don’t just make donuts—we create second chances. Every donut we sell represents someone rewriting their story, just like I did. We have a retail shop, a food truck, and a food trailer, and every day, I get to lead a team of amazing people who remind me of where I came from and where I’m going.
That’s my story in a nutshell—a journey from addiction to leadership, fueled by hard lessons and the belief that no one is beyond redemption.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been far from a smooth road. Honestly, it’s been full of potholes, wrong turns, and moments where I barely hung on. But those struggles are what shaped me.
The biggest battle was breaking free from the cycle of addiction and the mentality that came with it. When you’ve spent most of your life in survival mode, it’s hard to believe there’s another way. I spent 15 years addicted to meth, in and out of jail, and every time I got out, I’d convince myself things would be different. Within months, I’d be back to the same destructive behavior.
The hardest moments weren’t even the jail cells or the arrests—they were the times I failed my kids. Standing in handcuffs and watching my son lead his siblings upstairs without a word, without tears, hit me like nothing else ever had. That kind of shame sticks with you. It forced me to ask myself: *Is this how I want them to remember me?*
Once I got to The Other Side Academy, the struggle didn’t magically disappear. If anything, it got tougher. I had to unlearn years of bad habits and face some hard truths about who I was. There were moments I wanted to quit. The accountability at TOSA is real. You can’t hide, and you can’t make excuses. People pull you up on every mistake, not out of judgment, but because they care enough to make you better. That was new for me—tough love mixed with genuine support.
Another challenge was rebuilding trust with my kids. Trust isn’t given; it’s earned, and I had broken it too many times to count. I had to show up consistently, keep my word, and prove that I was different—day after day, year after year.
Then there’s the challenge of stepping into leadership at The Other Side Donuts. Running a business is no joke, especially when your team is made up of people facing the same struggles I’ve overcome. I love it, but every day brings new lessons in patience, problem-solving, and staying true to our mission.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But it’s been worth every bump in the road. Those struggles are why I am who I am today. Every hard moment taught me something and brought me closer to the person—and leader—I always wanted to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At The Other Side Donuts, we do so much more than make donuts—we build second chances. As the General Manager, I lead a team of people who are rewriting their stories, just like I did. We’re a social enterprise that offers job opportunities to individuals overcoming homelessness and incarceration. My job is to help these team members learn work skills, develop accountability, and grow into the people they were always meant to be.
My day-to-day responsibilities range from overseeing retail and wholesale operations to managing customer experience, ensuring the quality of our donuts, and building partnerships with local businesses. We run a retail shop, a food truck, and a food trailer, so there’s never a dull moment. I’m responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly, but the most important part of my role is mentorship.
I specialize in transformational leadership—taking people who have been written off by society and helping them build confidence, skills, and a new future. I draw from my own experience to guide them through the tough moments. I’m not just a manager—I’m a mentor, and that’s something I take seriously.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proudest of the people I get to work with every day. Watching someone come in with no confidence and no idea what they’re capable of, and then seeing them transform into a leader—that’s what keeps me going. We’ve created a culture of radical accountability and real love, where we call each other out, lift each other up, and celebrate each other’s wins. That’s rare in any workplace, and it’s the heart of what we do.
I’m also incredibly proud of the impact we have on the community. Every donut we sell helps support our mission and provides someone with a second chance. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing that every day we’re helping people rewrite their stories.
What Sets Us Apart
The Other Side Donuts isn’t your average donut shop. It’s not just about the product—it’s about the people. Most of the team members you meet behind the counter were once living on the streets or struggling to find their footing after incarceration. Now, they’re part of a business that teaches them how to lead, how to take ownership, and how to build a better future.
What sets me apart personally is that I’ve lived the life many of our employees are trying to leave behind. I understand their struggles because I’ve been there. I’ve walked that road, and I know how hard it is to climb out. That experience gives me a unique ability to connect with my team on a deeper level and help them believe in their potential.
At the end of the day, I’m not just running a donut shop—I’m helping people transform their lives, one donut at a time. That’s what makes this work so special.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck—both good and bad—has shaped my life in big ways. Early on, it felt like bad luck dominated. I didn’t choose to grow up in chaos or be introduced to meth at 13. My environment seemed like fate, but in truth, my choices played a role too.
Good luck showed up when I found The Other Side Academy at just the right time. It gave me the second chance I needed, with mentors who refused to give up on me. That was a gift.
In business, luck comes in timing and opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to lead The Other Side Donuts at a time when the community supports our mission. But luck only gets you so far—what matters is how you respond. Even bad luck can push you toward something better if you let it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.theothersidedonuts.com/
- Instagram: @theothersidedonuts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theothersidedonuts
©Michael Brandy
©Michael Brandy
