From Rock Bottom to Real Legacy: One Dad's Raw Journey of Redemption, Faith, and Building Something That Lasts
Dec 16, 2025
Hey brother,
You're up early again, aren't you? Coffee in hand, kids still asleep, scrolling through feeds or staring at the ceiling wondering how to level up—how to be the man your family needs, the father your kids deserve, and still build something that gives you breathing room down the road.
I get it. I've been there. And that's exactly why this conversation with Levi Henson hit me so hard.
Levi is just like you and me: a dad in his 30s, grinding in the trades (finishing basements in Utah), married nine years, raising a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. But his story starts in a much darker place—drugs, bad decisions, multiple prison stints. Yet today he's a rock-solid man of faith, a devoted husband and father, and quietly building wealth in a corner of crypto most people still sleep on (Constellation Network / $DAG).
We talked for over 40 minutes, and every part of it felt like a gut punch of hope. If you're looking to level up—as a man, as a dad, as a provider—this is the kind of story you need in your arsenal.
Let me walk you through the big pieces, then I'll pull out the exact actions you can take starting today.
The Valley: When Everything Falls Apart
Levi didn't sugarcoat it. Before he met his wife, life was chaos. Heavy drugs, crime, years behind bars. He grew up with parents who split early, and as a kid he carried real anger toward God. "I thought all the bad stuff in my life was His fault," he told me.
Sound familiar? Maybe your valley looks different—no prison time, but divorce, addiction, depression, financial holes, or just the slow grind of feeling like you're failing your family. The details change, but the feeling is the same: lost, angry, alone.
Levi's turning point wasn't some dramatic movie moment. It was a quiet act of persistence from a man who would later become his father-in-law. While Levi was locked up, this guy—newly called to a church leadership role—showed up for a prison visit. No agenda. Just showed up. Kept showing up for years. When Levi got out and relapsed, the man still showed up.
That's the kind of steady presence we need—and the kind we need to become.
The Climb: Rebuilding on Rock Instead of Sand
Fast forward: Levi cleans up, starts going to church, meets and marries this man's daughter (wild, right?). They buy a modest house in Utah, have kids, and he gets steady work in construction.
But the stories that wrecked me were the little "God winks" along the way:
- They discover part of their house was built in 1900 by Levi's own great-great-grandfather.
- Their daughter is born on March 25th—same birthday as Levi's late dad and his wife's mom.
- As a toddler, she calls her grandma "Maka"—the exact same mispronunciation Levi's wife used as a kid.
Levi's takeaway: If you're looking for signs that God still loves you—no matter what you've done—you'll find them.
Brother, if you're in a season where faith feels distant or fake, Levi's proof that redemption is real. And it's not about being perfect tomorrow; it's about turning toward Him today.
The Fire: What Actually Keeps Him Going
When I asked Levi what drives him every single day, his answer was immediate:
"My family. My faith. I want to make my wife's life comfortable, give my kids opportunities—but still let them struggle enough to grow. At the end of the day, relationships are all that matter. Especially your relationship with Christ."
He went on: "If you get closer to Christ, everything else in your life gets closer to you."
That's not fluffy church talk. That's battle-tested wisdom from a man who lost everything and got it back better.
The Smart Money Move: Crypto as a Long-Term Dad Play
Levi got into crypto in 2021—right after the peak, like most of us. Started with XYO (that old phone mining app), made some early wins with Doge, then found Constellation ($DAG).
Why $DAG specifically? He saw something different: real utility, Department of Defense partnerships, Air Force research mentions, a focus on secure data rather than hype. "You can't judge it with a meme coin lens," he said. "Things take time to build."
Today he delegates most of his $DAG for staking rewards, provides liquidity on Paka Swap, and stays active in the community (tweeting, supporting builders, earning small side rewards). He's not chasing 100x moonshots—he's compounding quietly while living his life.
His mindset is pure dad strategy: conviction over greed, patience over FOMO, community over solo gambling.
Your Action Plan: Concrete Steps to Level Up Starting Today
Alright, enough inspiration. You want actionable. Here's what you can take from Levi and run with—broken down into the three pillars he lives by: Faith, Family, Wealth.
1. Rebuild (or Deepen) Your Faith
- Start small and consistent: Find a solid, Bible-believing church and just show up this Sunday. Sit in the back if you want. Levi didn't transform overnight—one prison visit, one church service at a time.
- Pray honestly: Levi's challenge: Kneel down tonight and ask God to show you He loves you. Be raw. Tell Him the anger, the doubt, the guilt. Then watch for signs.
- Read one chapter a day: Start with the book of John. Ten minutes before bed. No pressure to "feel" anything—just plant the seed.
- Serve someone: Text a buddy who's struggling and offer to listen. Or show up for someone like Levi's father-in-law did. Persistence in showing up changes lives—yours included.
2. Show Up Better for Your Family
- Be fully present: Put the phone down for 30 undistracted minutes with your kids tonight. Sit on the floor. Let them lead. Levi does this with his four-year-old even when "she doesn't make a lot of sense."
- Date your wife intentionally: Plan one low-cost date this week—walk, coffee, whatever. Tell her one thing you admire about her as a mom.
- Talk legacy early: Share family stories with your kids. Levi cherishes the house/history connection—create those moments for your family.
- Lead by example: Let them see you pray, work hard, admit mistakes. Your actions will speak louder than any lecture.
3. Build Wealth That Compounds Quietly
- Educate yourself first: Spend 30 minutes today on YouTube or X learning the basics of blockchain. Levi started with zero knowledge—you can too.
- Start small in $DAG (or whatever you research): Open an account on Kraken or Coinbase. Buy $50–$100 worth of $DAG just to get skin in the game. Then bridge to mainnet and delegate stake on the DAG Explorer (simple interface).
- Join a community: Follow Levi (@henson_levi) and the $DAG crowd on X. Interact with the Upsider bot for fun rewards. Community keeps you convicted when markets dip.
- Protect future gains: Check out Digital Ascension Group (Jake Claver/Max Avery content). Learn about LLCs, trusts, tax strategy now—so when wins come, you're ready.
- Track with TA basics: Follow TheGreatMatsby on X for simple chart education. You don't need to be an expert—just enough to enter/exit smarter.
Final Word, Dad to Dad
Levi's closing diamond advice to his kids (and to himself)?
"They have a Heavenly Father who loves them more than I do. He knows them better than I do."
If you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders tonight—believing you have to be perfect, have it all figured out—hear this: You don't. Hand it over. Start turning toward Him. Show up for your people. Plant seeds that compound.
You're not alone in this. Levi proves it. I feel it. And thousands of other dads are grinding right beside you.
Take one step today. Then tomorrow, take another.
You've got this—because He's got you.
— Ryan
P.S. The full interview on YouTube Below. Search "Dad Ledger Levi Henson" or check the link in my X bio. Watch it with your wife. It'll hit different.