B2B marketing strategy grows ever more complex, with marketers needing to understand strategy, marketing technology, e-commerce, customer success, and more. This show covers it all, from a Business-to-Business perspective. From the creators and host of the award-winning The Agile Brand with Greg KihlstrΓΆm podcast, comes B2B Agilityβ’, a podcast focused on how B2B marketers and the brands they represent become category leaders and drive optimal results for the business and their customers. The show looks at B2B success in a variety of ways, all with a focus on the intersection of sales, marketing & technology.
STORYTELLING THAT'S RESHAPING THE NARRATIVES AND STIGMAS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE REALITY OF LIFE BEHIND AND BEYOND THE WALL, THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO BRINGING POSITIVE CHANGE, AND THE INSPIRING VOICES AND STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE HUSTLING TO PROVE THAT FAILURE ISNβT FINAL. UNLOCK THE FUTURE, REWRITE YOUR STORY.
STORYTELLING THAT'S RESHAPING THE NARRATIVES AND STIGMAS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE REALITY OF LIFE BEHIND AND BEYOND THE WALL, THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO BRINGING POSITIVE CHANGE, AND THE INSPIRING VOICES AND STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE HUSTLING TO PROVE THAT FAILURE ISNβT FINAL. UNLOCK THE FUTURE, REWRITE YOUR STORY.
Lara Love Hardin is a NY Times best-selling author, including a 2024 Oprah Book Club pick, a 5-time NY Times bestselling collaborative author, a literary agent, a Mother, and a prison reform advocate. Sheβs also a former addict and justice-involved individual. Laraβs memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing, is the transformational story of her life, her experiences with the criminal justice system, and the stigma surrounding addiction. While her story contains notes of "Wild", "Orange is the New Black", and "Catch Me If You Can", it is the power of storytelling that offered her a means of healing and forgiveness, because as she says, "I want to do what's true to me".β¦
In Episode 117, Sheriff Brad Burkhart inspired us with his commitment to help those justice-impacted individuals under his watch return to their communities with a new lease on life. In this episode, we return to Hancock County, Indiana, to meet jail navigator Crystal Petty and former jail resident Danielle Brashear as they discuss the innovative programs implemented at the Hancock County Jail, from education and rehabilitation to reducing recidivism, AND saving Hancock County millions of dollars! Danielle also shares her powerful story of overcoming addiction, regaining her son, and finding her purpose. Her transparency highlights the importance of support systems and community involvement in fostering change, and Danielle is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for redemption.,β¦
From a small-town upbringing, working in construction, to leading the Albany County Sheriff's Office, in New York State, Sheriff Craig Apple has placed a strong emphasis on programs that have drastically reduced recidivism and received statewide and national recognition. From his day-to-day watch of 748 employees and 800-900 incarcerated individuals, he has built programs that will last long after his time as Sheriff. His triumphs include a Heroin Addiction Recovery Program, a Soldier On program for Veterans, an Inmate Fire Training program and an Inmate Work Force Program, still to him, one of his greatest legacies is a housing area, within the jail, but separate from the incarcerated individuals, that assist the local homeless population. This innovative homeless improvement program, initiated after COVID-19, has given hope and a new lease on life to so many who once walked the streets of Albany.β¦
Drawing from his upbringing on an Indiana farm, Sheriff Brad Burkhartβs philosophy is grounded in the idea of βplanting seeds of hope and opportunityβ for those incarcerated individuals under his watch in Hancock County. With over 38 years of experience in law enforcement, Sheriff Burkhart shares his journey and has seen firsthand that in corrections, there is a need to prepare the ground for individuals to grow and thrive, just like the seeds he planted as a young farm boy. One such preparation is the utilization of the Orijin tablets, which provide incarcerated individuals access to educational resources and vocational training, thus fostering hope and opportunity. It is the transformative power of the tablet initiative, along with other programs behind the wall, that is creating a positive impact and reducing recidivism in the Hancock County community.β¦
There arenβt many people who can transition from incarceration for a white-collar crime to CEO of an established educational nonprofit, but then again, Jeff Abramowitz is unlike most people youβll ever meet. As CEO of the critically acclaimed Petey Green Program, Jeff discusses the transformative power of education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, a firsthand experience he gained when going from a successful trial lawyer to incarceration for a white collar crime. It was that experience, behind the wall, that shaped his commitment, upon his release, to helping others overcome the challenges of reentry into society. Tune in to hear Jeff talk about the importance of understanding choices, the impact of educational programs, and how to break the cycle of poverty and incarceration.β¦
In Franklin County, Massachusetts, Sheriff Lori Streeter may be the newest female Sheriff in Massachusetts. She joins Sheriff Donna Buckley of Barnstable County as one of two female Sheriffs across the Commonwealth, but Sheriff Streeter is also the first female Sheriff to be appointed, in her County by the Governor. (She takes over for Sheriff Donelan, who retired early.) With over 35 years of experience in the Franklin County Sheriff's office, Sheriff Streeter shares her climb up the proverbial ladder, from correctional officer to Sheriff, her passion for the job, the challenges she faced during her appointment to Sheriff, and her vision for the future of the office. Listen in to hear her talk about the importance of community relationships, the innovative programs for incarcerated individuals that she will continue to support and grow, and the significance of having women in leadership roles within law enforcement.β¦
Upon driving into the State of Maine there is a sign that reads, βWELCOME TO MAINE, THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BEβ. For thirty-eight years, Kevin Joyce, the current Sheriff of Cumberland County, Maine, has made it his mission to ensure that his county, which includes the city of Portland, Maine, lives up to its state motto. While the State of Maine, in general, is considered rural, Cumberland County is a blend of cities, towns, and the second-largest and deepest lake in the state. This combination offers its own unique challenges and responsibilities for Sheriff Joyce and his law enforcement team. From the intricacies of managing a large jail population, to the impact of mental health and substance use on the Maine justice system, and the importance of community engagement, Sheriff Joyce is still as passionate about his mission and the people under his watch, both outside and behind the wall, as he was thirty-eight years ago.β¦
In another milestone episode, retired prison Chaplain Peg Newman shares an insightful and heartfelt look inside her life journey at the intersection of faith, spirituality, and the criminal justice system. From her early work with AIDS patients to providing spiritual guidance to incarcerated individuals with life sentences or facing death and dying, her stories offer profound reflections from a compassionate vantage point. Peg highlights the importance of community, connection, and the human spirit despite the most challenging of circumstances, and the gifts that she unexpectedly received when placing her faith in front of her fear.β¦
In Episode 108, Attorney Charlie Weiss shared the wrongful conviction and exoneration of Josh Kezer, a man who spent sixteen years in prison for a murder he didnβt commit. That interview led to a compelling conversation with former Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter. Rick shares his harrowing experience of discovering the body of Mischelle Lawless in 1992 and the subsequent investigation by a previous Sheriff, which led to the wrongful conviction of Josh Kezer. Rick discusses the complexities of the case, his journey through law enforcement that led him to serve three terms in Scott County, and the emotional weight of reopening a case, as now Sheriff, that haunted him for decades. Listen in as we unpack the intricacies of justice, the impact of personal history, and the relentless pursuit of truth.β¦
In part 2 of this gripping story, former Sheriff Rick Walter dives deeper into the complex and haunting case of murder victim Mischelle Lawless. After years of investigation and a wrongful conviction, Rick shares his journey of reopening the case, the obstacles he faced, and the truth he uncovered. This episode also delves into the themes of justice, perseverance, and the impact of systemic failures in the criminal justice system. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that challenges the narratives surrounding crime, redemption, and an unsolved case, 32 years later.β¦
In this milestone episode, The Hustler Files welcomes, for the first time, a Department of Corrections (prison) Commissioner. Randall Liberty is the head of the Department of Corrections in Maine, overseeing eight prison/correctional facilities. With over 43 years of experience in law enforcement, Commissioner Liberty shares his transformative journey from visiting his father in prison at the age of six to leading the most progressive corrections model in the US. Discover how he is reshaping the prison system by focusing on rehabilitation, education, and community reintegration, all while reducing violence and promoting dignity within the correctional environment. His innovative approaches such as salad bars from the prison gardens, a Christmas tree farm that returns the trees to local Vets and their families, and remote work opportunities, with fair market pay for residents of his prisons, plus the importance of treating residents with respect, is a testament to the power of change in the criminal justice system. Because when Liberty is your last name, your lifeβs mission is clear.β¦
Laurence Colletti is a seasoned podcast producer, writer, and attorney. For over a decade, heβs brought to light the stories and critical issues surrounding prison reform and wrongful convictions while hosting the Legal Talk Network Podcast, and producing the For The Innocent Podcast. In this episode of The Hustler Files, Laurence shares his journey into podcasting, the emotional stories behind some of those who were wrongfully accused, and the impactful work that must continue to bring these narratives to light.β¦
"The future isn't about what you do. It's about what you're forβ. Charlie Weiss never thought heβd become an attorney, but a chance meeting with a man of the cloth led him to a scholarship at Notre Dame Law School and a storied career fighting for the rights of those who are wronged. From his early days in law to his impactful pro bono work, Charlie shares inspiring stories of those wrongfully convicted individuals and why, at age 83, he continues his relentless pursuit of justice for those who are innocent and living behind bars.β¦
To date, 99 incarcerated men have participated in the Nurturing Fathers program at the Hampshire County Jail and itβs nothing short of transformative. Incarcerated fathers seeking to reconnect with their children attend this 13-week program, behind the wall, to help them become better fathers. Listen as Sheriff Patrick Cahillane shares insights on the program's success since its inception in 2017, including the remarkable graduation rates and positive participant feedback. Also joining in is Steven Pascal from the Children's Trust of Boston. Both the Sheriff and Steven share the importance of prevention in child welfare and the collaborative efforts aimed at reducing recidivism through fatherhood engagement. Tune in to discover how kindness, humility, and love can reshape lives and strengthen family bonds.β¦
What started as a gym is now a community where people belong together. In this space, surrounded by weight machines, free weights, and mats, they are valued as equals, and those with lived experience are listened to as the experts. As April marks Fair Chance Hiring Month, guests Caz Walcott, Director of Inclusive Hiring at the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), and Jon Feinman, Founder of Inner City Weightlifting share the transformative power of inclusive hiring practices and the importance of creating opportunities for justice-impacted individuals. Cazβs journey and the mission of RBIJ, emphasize their three pillars: reforming justice systems, restoring communities, and reframing narratives around second-chance hiring. Jon recounts his experiences founding Inner City Weightlifting and highlights the community-building aspect that transcends traditional fitness programs. Together, they explore the nuances of their work, the challenges they face, and the profound impact of fostering connections between diverse groups. Tune in to discover how both organizations are reshaping perceptions and creating pathways to success for those often overlooked by society.β¦
With over two decades of experience, reporter Katie Johnston shares her journey from reporting on arts and entertainment to focusing on work and income inequality, specifically with incarcerated and justice-involved populations. Katieβs dedication to offering a voice to those who donβt have one is the driving force behind her writing. In this episode, Katie discusses her recent article highlighting the challenges and triumphs of individuals navigating reentry into society, including innovative programs in Maine that allow incarcerated individuals to work remotely from their jail cell and earn substantially more than the average worker in the US. Katie delves into the nuances of storytelling in journalism, the importance of giving a voice to marginalized communities, and the evolving landscape of criminal justice reform. It is and will continue to be the power of storytelling that offers hope to those striving for a second chance.β¦
To be in the wrong place at the wrong time cost William Allen 28 years behind bars for an unintended crime. William shares his tumultuous journey from his early days of family dysfunction, the guilt he carried from a childhood accident, and the pivotal moments that led him into a life of crime. He candidly recounts the fateful robbery that resulted in a tragic death and how he found himself facing life without parole. As he navigated the harsh realities of prison life, William discovered his passion for barbering and the importance of community support. After years of advocacy and a campaign for commutation, he emerged from incarceration with a renewed purpose. Now a leader in Second Chance Justice, William is dedicated to reforming the reentry system and helping others avoid the struggles he faced. Join us as we explore themes of redemption, responsibility, and the power of second chances in this heartfelt episode.β¦
In this powerful episode Miguel Vazquez engages in a heartfelt conversation about his journey from the streets of Brooklyn to an 18-year prison sentence. His story is nothing short of transformative. Miguel opens up about his challenging upbringing in a single-parent household, the loss of his mother, and the choices that led him down a path of crime and incarceration. His candid reflections reveal the harsh realities of life behind bars, the struggles with gang affiliation, and the profound impact of isolation on his mental health. After serving nearly two decades, Miguel faced the daunting task of reintegrating into a world that had moved on without him. With only $647 to his name, he shares the challenges of navigating life post-incarceration, still Miguelβs story is also one of hope, redemption, and the importance of building bridges for others who will follow in his footsteps.β¦
At Baker Industries, an organization dedicated to providing fair chance hiring for marginalized communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, their mission is centered around four simple but powerful words. EMPLOY those who have the most difficulty in getting and holding jobs. TEACH the work ethic through real work experience. ACT as a transition step toward gaining and maintaining outside employment. HELP those who are both able and unable to move on to reach their highest level of achievement. Founded by Charlie and Weezie Baker in 1980, Baker Industries has evolved from a small garage operation into a thriving social enterprise that empowers individuals with disabilities, returning citizens, and those in recovery from addiction or homelessness. Join us as we speak with Nick Watson, the president of Baker Industries, and Nate Bunday, a graduate of their program who recently transitioned back into the workforce after 29 years of incarceration. Together, they share insights on the importance of second chances, the challenges faced by those re-entering society, and the vital role of community support in fostering success. Discover how Baker Industries is reshaping lives and breaking down barriers to employment, proving that everyone deserves a chance to thrive.β¦
IF YOU'RE JUST FINDING OUR PODCAST, THE HUSTLER FILES, WELCOME! WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU LISTEN IN! THIS IS OUR THIRD SEASON AND WE'VE GOT OVER 100 EPISODES, SO FAR, FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM. WE KNOW IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING WHEN YOU COME ACROSS A NEW SHOW. OUR EPISODES ARE CREATED WITH THE MISSION TO BREAK STIGMAS, RESHAPE NARRATIVES, AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, ADVOCATES, AND CHANGE-MAKERS. EACH WEEK WE OFFER POWERFUL STORYTELLING AND CANDID INTERVIEWS THAT BRING HUMANITY TO ISSUES OFTEN OVERLOOKED. IF YOU CARE OR ARE EVEN A BIT INTERESTED ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ADDICTION RECOVERY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, FAIR-CHANCE EMPLOYMENT, AND PRISON REFORM, THEN YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PODCAST.β¦
Every incarcerated person knows the exact date and time of their parole hearing, even if itβs years in the future. For Chan Park, his first parole hearing took place after 13 years, 8 months of incarceration. His rejection by the Parole Board because he hadnβt served enough time. That was the first of what would be three more parole hearings over the next 20 years, four in total. All ended in rejection. One can only wonder how Chan kept his hopes alive. Despite his well-laid out parole plans, his exemplary prison record, his many certifications in a variety of vocational trainings, nothing would circumvent the three-hour interrogations by the Parole Board and their decisions administered in only 30 minutes. Chan would not be released. Yet, Chan stays hopeful. He continues to tweak his parole plan and contribute to the progressiveness of San Quentin, sitting on one of the newly formed, internal Advisory Councils created by Governor Newsom. At the end of the day, no matter what, he says, βwhen youβve served 3 or 4 or 5 decades, sometimes the only person you have left to talk to is God, and that goes a long wayβ. Chan is scheduled for his next parole hearing in May 2026. He is hopeful he can reschedule it to sometime this year, in 2025.β¦
In March of 2023, Governor Newsom of California announced that the infamous San Quentin State Prison would have its name changed to the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Since the mid-1800s San Quentin has housed some of the most notorious criminals, but times are changing and that includes the use of tablet technology for the incarcerated population. California, like Massachusetts and other states offers free calling on the tablets but texting is still a feature that the incarcerated population must pay for. Because of tablet telecommunications, we can speak with Chan Park directly from his cell inside San Quentin in this milestone episode. Chan has served a total of 32 years in the California corrections system, with this last decade at San Quentin. Chanβs transparency and honesty about his past, his incarceration at the age of 26, his evolution to take responsibility for his actions, and under the new rehabilitation moniker be more involved in helping create change for his San Quentin community, is inspiring. Tune-in for Episode #101 when we continue our conversation with Chan and learn about his bid for parole.β¦
Some prison reform advocacy organizations call their mission, pillars. Some, key initiatives, and in the case of the advocacy organization, The Sentencing Project, are strategic priorities. But at The Sentencing Project, they take their mission one step further and bring a unique value to their prison reform work, as a bridge organization. For Kara Gotsch, Executive Director, uniting their work on the ground, (state-level organizations) with the overarching policy changes at the National Level (legislatively), The Sentencing Project creates a holistic approach to advancing change within their three strategic priorities; extreme sentencing, voting rights, and youth justice reforms. In 2023 as part of their mission to roll back extreme sentencing, they launched their Second Look Network to provide direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences. Bridges connecting people to move the prison reform needle.β¦
Gabrielle Perry was one of the lucky ones. Her birth mother was incarcerated when giving birth to Gabrielle. She engaged the aid of a friend who found a family to adopt Gabrielle, site unseen. Her parents were older, settled and without children and as she tells it, her beloved father Thurman Perry, answered the call to raise her as his own. Gabrielleβs life was as normal as could be until as a teenager she lost her beloved father, her mother became disabled, she learned she was adopted, and met her birth mother on her deathbed. Despite Gabrielleβs grit and dedication to her adoptive mother, survival eventually took her down the justice-impacted path. It was during that time in jail that Gabrielle says she found a peacefulness away from the stress of her life. She also found a level of kindness, especially from the Judge who finally heard her case. Gabrielle was once again one of the lucky ones, and over the years has achieved so much. Her greatest joy now is honoring her birth mother and the man who raised her, as she provides direct assistance and resources to system-impacted women and girls.β¦
There are a little over 3,000 Sheriffsβ in the United States. Of that number only 60 are women. Sheriff Donna Buckley of Barnstable County, Massachusetts,(also better known as Cape Cod) is the first female in the Countyβs 331-year history to hold this office. Sheriff Buckley will tell you that running for Sheriff in 2022 was not on her bucket list, but still, she saw an opportunity to use her forty year background as an Attorney in Criminal Law and Government to build a new path forward for the incarcerated population at the Barnstable jail. As the Sheriff herself states, βthere is no script to being Sheriffβ, but in her role, she believes it is her solemn responsibility to those incarcerated, their families, and the community to provide pathways to a better tomorrow. Sheriff Buckleyβs jail houses both men and women but one of her priorities is to cut down the generational incarceration, especially with the women who are under her watch. In a recent survey, the number of her incarcerated women with children, was as she stated, βunsettlingβ. Her 95 incarcerated women, many victims themselves, equated to 103 children.β¦
In the movie E.T., the alien builds a way to communicate with his planet. Inside the jails and prisons in the US, communication between an incarcerated individual and their family and friends, was for many decades, strictly by mail but technology waits for no one. Today, many behind the wall have access to tablets, kiosks, and wall-mounted phones, with tablets being the most popular. Of course, not ALL incarcerated people have access to tablets, and for many, there is a hefty charge, not just for calls but also for SMS Texting. In recent years, States like California and Massachusetts have eliminated charging those incarcerated for their calls, but text messaging is still a pretty penny. The two largest telecom companies providing the tablets and kiosks are funded by private equity investors, people who see the usage from behind the wall as a recession-proof model. Whether the incarcerated population pays out of their commissary account, or in some cases the State pays for the calls, communication from inside has become a billion-dollar industry. In those States where the calls have become βfreeβ, the States negotiate a contract with the jail or prison and then cover the costs of the phone and video calls, just not the texts. While the FCC has placed regulatory action to bring the costs down, it is still mostly low-income people who are providing the funds to stay in touch with their incarcerated loved ones.β¦
According to the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice or, in short, RBIJ, everyone is entitled to respect, equality, fairness, and dignity under the law. It is this mission that drives Maha Jweied and her team to work with companies and bring solutions that promote public safety, deliver justice, and strengthen communities. But RBIJ doesnβt stop there. They are dedicated to changing the legal structures and systems that have been used to harm Black and Brown communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere around the globe. From the Clean Slate legislation, currently passed in twelve states, to the most recent Clean Slate legislation submitted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty, with 450+ executives from around the world, Maha Jweied and her team are speaking up and stepping up to create a more humane approach to the justice system.β¦
The title of this episode is aptly named for guest Aron Roy. Like many justice-impacted individuals, Aron's journey means digging down deep to find the grit to transform and not return to their past life. But Aron also has the courage to share what sent him to prison for almost a decade and the transformation that took place during those years. Aronβs story is semi-unique in that he entered prison with a Bachelorβs Degree. As Aron fully admits, he was a functioning addict, until he wasnβt. His experience in the California prison system is eye-opening to hear about, but even more so was his realization that his future job prospects would be, at best, minimal. Aronβs βah-haβ moment was profound, and a guiding light on his road to reentry.β¦
As Joe Biden started winding down his Presidency, and Donald Trump started accelerating his, Joe Biden took advantage, like all Presidents, to commute 37 men sitting on death row. These commutations reduce their sentences from the death penalty to life without parole. These 37 (out of 40) are in federal prisons vs. the thousands that sit on death row, in the State prison systems and can only be commuted by the individual state Governors. The 3 men who did not receive commutations and will stay on death row are those involved with terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Trump has never been quiet about his support of the death penalty and his call to expand federal executions, once he takes office for the 2nd time. It was during his last presidency that he restarted federal executions, after a 20-year pause, and 13 were executed. Since 1973 at least 200 people in the United States who were convicted and sentenced to the death penalty have been exonerated! If you want more information on the Death Penalty, visit the Death Penalty Information Center.β¦
Throughout this 2nd full season, one of the go-to themes has been to chat with various Sheriffs about their jails and the communities they have watch over. In case youβre not aware, there are approximately 3100 Sheriffsβ across the United States and a similar amount of jails. Also if youβre not aware, the various tiers of incarceration are Jail, State/Private, & Federal. While each Sheriff runs his or her jail slightly differently, they all answer to their communities, the people who elected them. Note: This is not the case in the State and Federal carceral system. In this, Episode #92, and the last episode of 2024, we revisit both Sheriff Nick Cocchi of Hampden County, Massachusetts, and Sheriff Patrick Cahillane of Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Both are avid supporters of The Hustler Files show, but more importantly, innovative and forward-thinking when it comes to not only rehabilitating their jail population but doing the right thing for their fellow citizens. Episode #93 will be the first episode of 2025!β¦
In April of 2023, Episode #11, we first chatted with Economist and Author Jeff Korzenik. His book, Untapped Talent, had been recently released, and we were excited to hear about how a well-known, National U.S. Economist, became involved in the fair chance hiring movement. Since then, Jeff has been crisscrossing the U.S. making a case for hiring justice-impacted individuals, one speaking engagement at a time. From well-known business schools such as MIT and Wharton to large-scale organizations such as Goodwill, Jeff brings factual and concerning information about the current state of the labor shortage. He also shares the compelling stories of employers and employees who have succeeded in the fair chance hiring model. As Jeff says, βthe structural labor shortage is an βall hands on deckβ problem with no single solutionβ, and as such, he will continue to spread theβ¦
In Episode 89 we became acquainted with Sheriff Karl Leonard of Chesterfield County, Virginia. We circled back with the Sheriff to meet his Behavioral and Mental Health Division Director, Kerri Rhodes. Kerri is no stranger to the tragedy of addiction, and in looking for a way to heal herself, she found a pathway at the Sheriffβs HARP program by helping incarcerated individuals with addictions and introducing a coping and healing mechanism called Trauma Tapping. According to Kerri, Trauma Tapping is based on acupuncture and works with the 12 energy meridians in the body. As a clinician, Kerri is the first to admit that she was highly skeptical of how Trauma Tapping could help people to break free from long-standing addiction, and emotional and psychological barriers. With training and consistent effort, Kerri started to see the positive results of this untraditional treatment not just with the incarcerated individuals, but even the correction officers and other members of the Sheriffsβ staff. Standing by their, βwe do crazyβ mantra, Kerri launched a series of Trauma Tapping videos for Tik Tok Tuesdays. It wasnβt long before these videos garnered millions more views, but also attracted the attention of Bunnie, wife of country music artist, Jelly Roll. Once Jelly Roll started following the Trauma Tapping videos that were posted, weekly, millions more opted in to watch this unique and evidence-based treatment. In 2023 Jelly Roll made his first in-person visit to the Chesterfield County jail, asking to βmeet the tapping ladyβ. He returned again in the Fall of 2024, while touring, and made a one-of-a-kind grand gesture, that impacted more than the men behind the wall.β¦
You have to love a person who has spent 43 years in a career and when asked βWhen are you retiringβ their response is, βWhen I donβt have anything else to learnβ. Sheriff Karl Leonard of Chesterfield, Virginia, is that person. For his entire career, heβs been a public servant; from a military career to the Chesterfield Police Department to the Pentagon and now the Sheriff of Chesterfield County, and despite all heβs experienced, he continues to understand the human condition and find ways to be progressive to help those under his watch. His transparency in taking over the Sheriffβs office is refreshing, as heβs the first to admit that there was no Sheriff's instruction book. When his jail was inundated, daily, with locals, addicted to Heroin he trusted his instincts and felt that a higher power was guiding him. This led to the creation of the HARP program, a peer mentor-run program that over the last eight years has successfully helped 3500 people, overcome not just Heroin but other drug or alcohol addictions. As Sheriff Leonard says, βThereβs a lot of good people behind bars, and there are bad people too, that deserve to spend their lives there, but thatβs a small percentage of incarcerated people, and when you learn about (the good people) and their life and the challenges they grew up in, since birth, these are good people with bad circumstances presented to themβ¦ββ¦
Sadly domestic violence is a 365-day-a-year issue, but the more survivors step forward, ask for help, and share their stories, the more aware society becomes of this ongoing epidemic. Liz Dineen, CEO of the Western Massachusetts YWCA, has been one of many organizations across the country to take up the protection sword to help women and men, of domestic violence. In conjunction with the Hampden County Sheriffβs Office, a recent media campaign drew hundreds of calls and walk-ins, to her YWCA facility. Every story of domestic violence is unacceptable, and many survivors wish to keep their stories secret out of fear of retaliation, but also out of embarrassment and shame. This was the case with Stephanie of Idaho. Her story is one of beatings, kidnapping, starvation, broken bones, and being stabbed repeatedly with a chisel, to within a literal fraction of her femoral artery. Stephanieβs story is chilling, but her bravery in sharing her abuse is to be applauded! For 13 1/2 years she has rebuilt her life while her abuser has been serving a 15-year prison sentence. But despite her new lease on life, and a 100-year protection order from the courts, Stephanie is terrified of what might lie ahead. PLEASE NOTE THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SOME GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS.β¦
Over the last couple of decades, tech companies and tech-minded entrepreneurs have been developing various ways to assist incarcerated and justice-involved individuals with job training both behind the wall and upon returning to the community. Checkr, a California-based background tech company, has been leading the charge for more employers, like those they work with, to become more socially responsible in the fair chance hiring movement by bridging the gap between employers, needing employees, and justice-involved individuals learning a trade and earning a living wage. To that means, Checkr has launched CATALYST, a 12-month, 2,000 hours, apprenticeship program to offer justice-involved individuals with real-life learning, in a variety of career pathways, and that includes a formal credential from the US Department of Labor, upon completion of their apprenticeship. CATALYST was piloted, in-house, at Checkr for a full year, before launching the roll-out with a handful of employers who believe in this valuable, often-overlooked talent pool. Checkr has committed o$1M over the next two years to expand CATALYST, and Christina Louie Dyer, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility has been tapped to oversee this life-changing initiative.β¦
When you leave jail, there isn't much you take with you, so to receive a backpack filled with shampoo, conditioner, socks, female hygiene items, snacks, water, and other items can feel, as one formerly incarcerated individual, like Christmas. Most ideas to help less fortunate, others, have the commonality of being hatched at a kitchen table, and LOVE In A Backpack is no different. When St. Johnβs Episcopal Church member, Susan Toddβs daughter, Nell, was assessing the needs of those leaving incarceration, a backpack filled with necessary items and a personalized letter of encouragement, seemed to fill the bill. Since its inception, LOVE In A Backpack has supplied over 600 backpacks to incarcerated women, leaving jail, in Western Massachusetts. According to Jenny Wildermuth, Outreach Coordinator at St. Johnβs, there is ALWAYS a need for more backpacks and backpack-filling events. They also encourage other churches and congregations across the US to replicate their mission of LOVE and HOPE.β¦
Here in 2024, the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution still states; βNeither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdictionβ. This year, on the California ballot, was Proposition 6, a βyesβ vote would amend the California Constitution and prohibit the state from punishing incarcerated individuals with involuntary work assignments AND from disciplining those who refuse to work. Prop 6 didnβt pass and so slave labor may continue within the California prison system. Nicolas Tirado, of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, spent 11 years in various California prisons, working at jobs that would have no transferrable skills, back in the community, and making $.86 a day, PRE tax and restitution. His recent online op-ed, in Teen Vogue, was an eye opening article about ending βmodern-day slaveryβ and well worth the read.β¦
Unfortunately, the cycle of domestic abuse can be handed down, from generation to generation, and it is an inheritance that can prove deadly. Such was the case for Kelly Savage-Rodriguez. Kelly grew up in an abusive family, and her mother was constantly, in the criminal justice system. Kelly herself was in a domestic violence situation when sadly she lost her 4 year old son, at the hands of her then-husband. While Kellyβs husband was sentenced to LWOP - Life Without Parole, Kelly herself was charged, at the time, with the California failure to protect law. Kelly served 23 years behind the wall and she also lost her baby daughter to her ex-husbands family. But Kelly wasnβt going to quit fighting for her release, and in November of 2018 had her LWOP sentence commuted by then-California Governor Brown. Through all of Kellyβs pain, she used her time in prison to not only improve herself but help others, including taking on a role with the California Coalition of Women Prisoners, as a Drop LWOP Coordinator. Kelly is still in that role today, but fortunately outside the wall.β¦
On September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Attorney Alex Van Dyke, of famed legal firm, Kline & Specter, along with 67 million viewers tuned in to watch the Presidential debate between Vice President, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump. What transpired that evening, would once again put the former Central Park Five, now known as the Exonerated Five, back in the spotlight. That night at the podium, Donald Trump relayed false information, stating that the Exonerated Five plead guilty to the assault and rape of the jogger and that she, in-fact, died of her injuries. Neither of these statements are true. In 1989, these five men, then teenagers, were arrested for the rape and assault of that woman. All five pled not guilty, yet were sentenced to years in prison. The victim of this infamous attack suffered horrific injuries, but she did survive. In 2002, with more conclusive DNA evidence, and a confession from the actual rapist, these five men were exonerated and their charges vacated. Fast forward 35 years, and the Exonerated Five have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump. Listen in as we open this episode with a preamble from Attorney Bill Newman and then, Attorney Alex Van Dyke, from the Exonerated Fivesβ legal team, joins us for a first look at this new civil lawsuit against Donald Trump.β¦
Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County, Idaho, will tell you itβs humbling to be a Sheriff that's responsible for a jurisdiction that encompasses 602 square miles, with a population of close to 250,000, but then again, Sheriff Donahue is no ordinary Sheriff. Sheriff Kieran Donahueβs career reads like an adventure novel and maybe thatβs because itβs been just that. From an Alaskan Fish & Game Warden, to a scuba diver on the Exxon Valdez, to working undercover on the Federal Task Force, heβll also tell you that his career has been undeniably directed by God. As Sheriff Donahue prepares to take on a fourth term for Canyon County, heβs been privileged to also hold his current role as President of the National Sheriffsβ Association, oh and letβs not forget that heβs also a subject matter expert on the Mexican Cartels, their relationship with China, the Northern and Southern borders, and the people and drugs that are being smuggled into the United States, on a daily basis.β¦
We all know the pink ribbon that signifies support for Breast Cancer. But did you know thereβs another color ribbon thatβs just as significant? Itβs the purple ribbon of Domestic Violence. In 2012, in Nampa, Idaho, Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County approached his wife, Jeanie, and suggested they launch an organization to raise funds for those affected by domestic violence. In his line of work, Sheriff Donahue had encountered both women and men in the throes of intimate partnership violence and he wanted to be a changemaker. Having grown up as a fourth-generation cattleman, Sheriff Donahue was raised with the cowboy codes that included the saying, βman upβ, meaning, be man enough to deal with a difficult situation. Thus the Man Up Crusade was born. EVERY day in the U.S., 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are the victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Man Up Crusade partners with local community events such as rodeos, and fairs to promote safe and healthy relationships through education, advocacy, and funding. Currently, Man Up Crusade has a presence in 18 States and is also supported by the Western States Sheriffsβ Association.β¦
This episode continues some additional, and important storylines we explored during our recent visit behind the wall in Episode 79. Coincidentally, it also touched upon a recent Op-Ed article on BostonGlobe.com from Professor Susan Sered, a criminal justice specialist who wrote, βincarcerated women are being held in overly restrictive environments despite evidence that women pose little security risk, compared to their male counterparts.β Based on what we heard and saw behind the wall, that article and ensuing soundbites we recorded, and now share in this episode created an interesting conversation that included The Hustler Files Producer Jess Tyler. Of the six women we met, 1 was awaiting trial for an alleged murder, 1 for assault with a dangerous weapon, and 1 for carjacking and robbery. The other 3 were sentenced; one for manslaughter (defending herself), one for multiple DUIs, and one for βbeing in the wrong placeβ. To sit and chat with them, you could close your eyes and be anywhere but behind the wall. The sad common denominator between them was abusive childhoods, no parents or lack of parental boundaries, drugs, alcohol and/or mental health challenges. So the question to be asked is; Are these women as much the victims as they are the criminals?β¦
Behind the wall in Chicopee Massachusetts, there are 150 women serving time. If youβre sentenced, you wear green prison garb. If youβre waiting to be sentenced then youβre wearing orange. The Womenβs Western Mass Regional Correctional Center is under the watch of the Hampden County Sheriff, Nick Cocchi, and thus, considered a jail. Just donβt make the mistake of calling it a prison. Prisons are either run by the state, the feds, or private industry. Upon arriving at the jail, submitting to our CORI reports, and being escorted through the many sliding metal doors, we are ushered into a classroom where there are six incarcerated women sitting around a table and signing release forms for their interview. Assistant Superintendent, Colleen Stocks, who runs the jail, graciously hosted us and allowed us to chat with Maggie, Vanessa, Brenda, Auntie, Keys, and Jay. Listen in as these women open up about life behind the wall, the daily challenges of incarceration, and what they would tell their younger selves.β¦
This episode is the second of a two-parter featuring Eva Hamilton, MBE, CEO and Founder of the very successful re-entry program, Key4Life. There was still so much to cover, including a very revealing conversation with Aaron White, a Senior Case Worker on the Key4Life program and a formerly incarcerated individual. If youβre wondering about Evaβs Key4Life blended program, well itβs seven steps and involves Equine Therapy, Behavioral Support, Music Therapy, Non-physical Football and Boxing, an introduction to Mentors, Mock interviews, and a Final Action Plan but thereβs so much more to learn about Eva Hamilton, MBE with her 39 years in impacting the incarceral system.β¦
Eva Hamilton, MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), is nothing short of a whirling dervish when it comes to seeing a challenge and then creating a solution. For 38 years, Eva has worked with some of the U.K.βs most marginalized groups. From her organization, Business Action on Homelessness to the program Seeing is Believing, a collaboration with HRH The Prince of Wales (now King Charles), Eva believes everyone deserves another chance. Her current crime prevention charity Key4Life offers what she refers to as βblendedβ Seven Step program to rehabilitate young men in prison or at risk of going to prison and reduce the cycle of crime. Since its inception after the 2011 London riots, Key4Life has impacted over 1000 offenders and run 39 programs with more than 150 UK companies.β¦
Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.