The Prison Podcast

Bonus Episode: Hands of Stone

This week features a special bonus episode of The Prison Podcast! We sit down with Jorge, an incarcerated artist from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, whose powerful artwork graces our show. During his time in prison, Jorge not only discovered his passion for art but also learned to read and write so he could read his mother’s heartfelt letters. This journey of self-education unlocked new opportunities for personal growth and healing. Through his art, Jorge has rediscovered his true self and is now on a mission to inspire young people to avoid the same mistakes he made.  Jorge’s story is a testament to the fact that there’s so much more to a person than their past, and we hope this episode encourages you to look beyond mistakes and see the humanity in everyone. This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some listeners. Executive Producer: Diane Kahn Producer: Elaine Ferguson Producer: Emerson Swift Producer: Laura Hardy Editor: Josh Latham Music: Jacob Bloomfield-Misarch Artwork: Jorge Ramirez A special thank you to the Ahimsa Collective and the Mend Collective. Ahimsa focuses on restorative justice, fostering healing and accountability through dialogue between victims and offenders, while Mend supports emotional and psychological healing through community-based initiatives. A heartfelt thanks as well to Martina Lutz Schneider and Miguel Quezada, whose dedication to restorative practices and conflict resolution has been vital in advancing these important efforts.

Episode 10: The Power of Bearing Witness

In this episode, Martina from the Ahimsa Collective takes us into the often misunderstood world of Victim-Offender Dialogue. With deep empathy and insight, she explores the traumatic experiences that shape both survivors and offenders. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing is possible through compassionate listening and understanding, rather than through punishment. Drawing on years of experience, Martina shares with us how she guides individuals through this delicate process, showing us the transformative power of dialogue, healing, and human connection.  Martina also shares valuable insights on how society can better educate the public about this powerful process. As she emphasizes, punishing individuals for their wrongdoings often doesn’t lead to lasting change. Instead, real transformation comes from showing compassion, listening to pain, and supporting the healing journey. This episode isn’t just about Martina’s work, it’s a call to rethink justice and how we approach healing within our communities.  This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some listeners. Executive Producer: Diane Kahn Producer: Elaine Ferguson Producer: Emerson Swift Producer: Laura Hardy Editor: Josh Latham Music: Jacob Bloomfield-Misarch Artwork: Jorge Ramirez A special thank you to the Ahimsa Collective and the Mend Collective. Ahimsa focuses on restorative justice, fostering healing and accountability through dialogue between victims and offenders, while Mend supports emotional and psychological healing through community-based initiatives. A heartfelt thanks as well to Martina Lutz Schneider and Miguel Quezada, whose dedication to restorative practices and conflict resolution has been vital in advancing these important efforts.

Episode 9: Don't You Trust Me?

This week, Diane sits down with Tristan, who shares his journey of confronting the childhood trauma he endured. At a young age, Tristan made the difficult decision to speak out, leading to his cousin’s arrest. His cousin's actions, which had affected not only Tristan but others as well, eventually led to his imprisonment.  Tristan's path to healing also included a challenging step: a victim-offender dialogue with the cousin who had assaulted him. In this conversation, he was able to ask the questions that had haunted him for years, seeking understanding and closure. This is a story of hardship, but also one of strength and resilience in the face of trauma. Tristan’s experience encourages us to reflect on important issues like justice, accountability, and the lasting impact of abuse. This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some listeners. Executive Producer: Diane Kahn Producer: Elaine Ferguson Producer: Emerson Swift Producer: Laura Hardy Editor: Josh Latham Music: Jacob Bloomfield-Misarch Artwork: Jorge Ramirez A special thank you to the Ahimsa Collective and the Mend Collective. Ahimsa focuses on restorative justice, fostering healing and accountability through dialogue between victims and offenders, while Mend supports emotional and psychological healing through community-based initiatives. A heartfelt thanks as well to Martina Lutz Schneider and Miguel Quezada, whose dedication to restorative practices and conflict resolution has been vital in advancing these important efforts.

Episode 8: It Wasn't About The Bike

In this episode, Steven opens up about his tumultuous past — growing up on welfare, surviving through drug dealing, and enduring the lasting effects of domestic violence. He reflects on how his life spiraled into addiction and the long, painful journey toward self-awareness and healing. Steven also shares a poignant memory of a chance encounter with Floyd, Michele’s husband, and the profound consequences that followed, culminating in Floyd’s tragic murder. Nearly 19 years later, Steven participates in a Victim-Offender Dialogue with Michele. This powerful process allows him to share his side of the story and hear the grief and pain that Michele has carried for nearly two decades. Guided by a mentor, Steven embarks on a transformative journey of redemption, finding peace in this deeply healing experience. He reflects on how the dialogue helped lift the weight of his past, offering clarity and restoring his sense of humanity and hope. This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some listeners. Executive Producer: Diane Kahn Producer: Elaine Ferguson Producer: Emerson Swift Producer: Laura Hardy Editor: Josh Latham Music: Jacob Bloomfield-Misarch Artwork: Jorge Ramirez A special thank you to the Ahimsa Collective and the Mend Collective. Ahimsa focuses on restorative justice, fostering healing and accountability through dialogue between victims and offenders, while Mend supports emotional and psychological healing through community-based initiatives. A heartfelt thanks as well to Martina Lutz Schneider and Miguel Quezada, whose dedication to restorative practices and conflict resolution has been vital in advancing these important efforts.

Episode 7: All That Anger

This week’s episode shares Michele’s remarkable journey. After losing her husband during a burglary, her grief hardened into anger toward the man responsible. This anger overshadowed her ability to reflect on her husband’s own challenges, including his temper and tendency to escalate conflict.  Over time, Michele came to a painful yet liberating realization: her husband’s actions had likely contributed to the tragic events of that night. As she processed this truth, her anger began to soften. When Michele finally met Steven, the man who killed her husband, she confronted not only him but also her own pain. This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some listeners. Executive Producer: Diane Kahn Producer: Elaine Ferguson Producer: Emerson Swift Producer: Laura Hardy Editor: Josh Latham Music: Jacob Bloomfield-Misarch Artwork: Jorge Ramirez A special thank you to the Ahimsa Collective and the Mend Collective. Ahimsa focuses on restorative justice, fostering healing and accountability through dialogue between victims and offenders, while Mend supports emotional and psychological healing through community-based initiatives. A heartfelt thanks as well to Martina Lutz Schneider and Miguel Quezada, whose dedication to restorative practices and conflict resolution has been vital in advancing these important efforts.