The Returning Citizen

S3 E1 - From Trauma to Triumph: Robert Gardner's Journey from Prison to Prosperity

Jacob Evan Smith speaks with entrepreneur Robert Gardner about childhood trauma, the terrible decision that landed him in prison for 22.5 years, and his long and winding path to self-discovery and forgiveness while incarcerated. Today, Robert owns a growing trucking business and courageously shares his story to inspire others, including a recent invitation to address students at Princeton University. Summarizing Robert’s advice for those transitioning out of prison: Stay resilient. Stay proactive. Develop a vision for yourself. Know that prison doesn't define who you are. Follow the 5 P’s to Success: Persistent Practice Prevents Poor Performance. We all possess value. Stay the course! Recorded January 27, 2024 at APX Studios in Royal Oak, MI Theme Music: Matthew Greenberg

S2 E6 - House of Life Pittsburgh: The Power of Restorative Justice

What would happen if ex-offenders, law enforcement, and legal professionals joined forces, using restorative justice to fight against over-incarceration and high recidivism rates? Meet House of Life Pittsburgh, a group doing just that with their innovative prisoner reentry program. Central to their mission, the organization is led by a group of passionate returning citizens, which allows them to capitalize on the strengths of those that have already achieved success upon reentering society. In this episode, we speak with Ricky Lee Olds, Executive Director for House of Life Pittsburgh, who spent 40 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, and Lou Gentile, a member of the Executive Committee and former Director of The Bureau of Narcotics for Pennsylvania who spent more than 27 years in law enforcement. Ricky and Lou dive into their unlikely relationship, the inspiration behind House of Life, and their ambitious vision looking forward.

S2 E5 - Drug Crime & Addiction: One Man's Path to Success

Ed Kressy has come a long way since his days as a struggling meth addict, losing everything as he bounced in and out of jail. Through a long and winding journey, he was finally able to overcome his addiction, turn his life around, and fulfill his childhood dream of publishing a book (link below). Today, in addition to his writing, Ed is a speaker and volunteer whose work serves addicts and people with criminal histories. Tragically, Ed's story is far from unique. Roughly 1 in 5 incarcerated people is locked up for a drug offense, with ~450,000 incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses at any given time (see: prisonpolicy.org). In this episode, we dig into: - Ed's story about overcoming addiction - What he hopes to accomplish with his new book ("My Addiction & Recovery") - Tackling misconceptions around addiction - The power of entrepreneurship to empower returning citizens - Recommendations for those suffering from addiction today Visit https://www.thereturningcitizen.org/ for more info

S2 E4 - Voting Rights for Returning Citizens (ACLU & Nation Outside)

When we think about criminal justice reform, voting is an essential piece of the puzzle. But for folks who have spent time in prison... it’s complicated. Your voting rights are often stripped while incarcerated, and in certain situations, this disenfranchisement can be permanent. In this episode, we explore this issue in detail to make sure returning citizens and criminal justice allies know their rights leading into this upcoming election season and beyond. More details at https://www.thereturningcitizen.org/

S2 E3 - Here to Help Foundation: Enabling Self-Sufficiency

When folks transition out of prison, there are many obstacles ahead--finding a job, securing housing, conquering stigma, and so much more. For the past 13 years, The Here to Help Foundation has provided direct support to Detroit area residents facing emergencies. In this episode, we focus mainly on their newest initiative “Returning Hope to Returning Citizens,” which offers a wide range of support services to folks as they return from prison into the community. A summary of programs and links can be found at http://thereturningcitizen.org