Life After Prison

Cellmate To CEO | Carlotta 16.07.2026 38min

Tony Supreme is back with a brand new series of Cellmate to CEO. Tony is the CEO of Soul Surge Wellness & Soul Surge and has lived experience of the criminal justice system himself. In this inspirational series, he talks to other CEOs, leaders and changemakers about their transition from prison to leadership.In this episode, Tony talks to Carlotta Allum, founder of Stretch, a charity supporting people affected by prison, homelessness, addiction and social exclusion through creativity, digital skills and storytelling. Carlotta is also a qualified teacher, researcher, PhD student and recently elected Green Party councillor.Carlotta shares the extraordinary journey that took her from a detention centre in Los Angeles, where she believed she was facing a ten-year prison sentence, to becoming a charity founder, researcher and elected public representative. She reflects on rebuilding her life after prison, the barriers of living with a criminal record, why lived experience matters, and how storytelling can help people rewrite their futures.Useful organisations: Stretch - Supporting people affected by prison, homelessness, addiction and social exclusion through creativity, culture and digital inclusion.Unlock - Information and advice for people with criminal records, including disclosure, employment and DBS checks.Nacro - Support with employment, housing, education and resettlement after prison.Contact us: If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us. 💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok 📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio ✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cellmate To CEO | Gethin 09.07.2026 47min

Tony Supreme is back with a brand new series of Cellmate to CEO. Tony is the CEO of Soul Surge Wellness & Soul Surge and has lived experience of the criminal justice system himself. In this inspirational series, he talks to CEOs, leaders and changemakers about their journey from prison to leadership.In this episode, Tony speaks to Gethin Jones, founder of Unlocking Potential, a training and consultancy organisation working with prisons, probation services and justice organisations across the UK and beyond. He's also leading The Cost of Justice, a campaign challenging public perceptions of prison and rehabilitation.Gethin shares the experiences that shaped his life, from growing up in care and becoming caught in addiction, to receiving 56 offences, 18 convictions and spending eight years in prison. Now, more than 20 years into his own recovery, he's spent his career supporting others, shaping services and influencing change.. Along the way, he reflects on the people who believed in him, the lessons he learned, and how he went from being trapped by the system to helping transform it.Useful organisations: Unlocking Potential- Gethin's organisation, delivering leadership development, training and consultancy across the justice system.Nacro – Support with employment, housing and resettlement after prison.The Care Leaver Covenant & Care Leavers' Association- Information and support for adults with care experience.Change Grow Live (CGL) & The Forward Trust- Support for anyone affected by drugs or alcohol.Contact us: If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us. 💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok 📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio ✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF 🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your Environment Shapes Who You Become - Jordan Young 02.07.2026 55min

Today’s guest on Life After Prison is Jordan Young. Growing up in East London, Jordan found himself chasing money from a young age, a path that eventually led to a prison sentence at just 20 years old.   Since then, he’s gone on to build successful businesses, work with major names in the music and film industries, and is passionate about helping others see that the skills they already have can be used to create a different future. Useful Organisations: Untapped - Combine fitness coaching with entrepreneurship training for disadvantaged and justice-involved young people.  The Kings Trust Enterprise Program - Offers business training, mentoring, and start-up support for young people aged 18–30, including those with criminal records. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legacy Chats Sits Down With Life After Prison 25.06.2026 52min

Today on Life After Prison, Zak is joined by Rory Newton, host of Legacy Chats. Raised in Luton and shaped by early loss and instability, Rory found himself caught between two worlds — trying to move forward while still tied to his past. In his early twenties, that led him down a path he’d tried to avoid, resulting in a prison sentence for intent to supply Class A drugs. But this conversation isn’t about the crime — it’s about what came after. From prison to rebuilding, setbacks, fatherhood, and finding purpose, Rory is now using his story to challenge others to take accountability and build a better legacy. Organisations: Spark2Life - Committed to preventing youth offending and promoting emotional wellbeing in children and young adults (11–30 years old), particularly those facing exclusion, exploitation, or criminal justice involvement. https://spark2life.co.uk/  XO Bikes (London) - Trains and employ ex-offenders as bicycle mechanics, providing prison-based training and post-release work opportunities to reduce reoffending and support community reintegration. https://xobikes.com/ Samaritans - Provides free, confidential emotional support to anyone who is struggling to cope, experiencing distress, or having thoughts of suicide.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Addiction Consumed Years of My Life - Tim Haigh 18.06.2026 1t 9min

This week on Life After Prison, Jules is joined by Tim Haigh.Growing up around poverty, instability and trauma, he found himself caught up in crime from a young age. As a teenager, he was sentenced to nearly ten years in prison, and after his release became trapped in a cycle of addiction, offending and destructive choices that affected every part of his life. He lost friends, spent years battling heroin addiction, and reached a point where he knew something had to change. Instead of becoming another statistic, he made the decision to rebuild. Today, he’s been clean for more than two decades, works with young people, prisons and communities, and has written a book called The Leopard That Changed His Spots, sharing the lessons from a journey that took him from prison and addiction to a life of purpose. Organisations: Lived Experience Speakers - Uses real-life stories and lived experience to educate, inspire, and empower young people, helping them make positive choices and avoid crime, gangs, and exploitation. The organisation delivers workshops in schools, prisons, colleges, and community settings, focusing on prevention, rehabilitation, and personal development.  Switchback - Support young men leaving prison to build stable, meaningful lives through intensive one-to-one mentoring, employment support, and personal development.  Aspire2Change – They work with young people and adults at risk of offending or reoffending, offering mentoring, education, and skills training. Their focus is on building confidence, resilience, and opportunities to support positive life choices and reduce involvement in crime. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Not For Acting, I'd Be Serving A Life Sentence - Frank Skully 11.06.2026 52min

Today’s guest has a story like no other. Growing up in the 70s, facing racism and rejection, he soon became involved in organised crime and serving years inside.  After decades trapped in a cycle of crime and prison, everything changed during his final sentence, when a theatre company cast him in a production that would completely transform the direction of his life.   Now 20 years on, he’s remained crime free, using creativity, storytelling, and lived experience to inspire others and encourage change both inside and outside the prison system. OrginsationsSynegry Theatre - work with people affected by the criminal justice system, using theatre and the arts to support rehabilitation, build skills, and create pathways into education and employment. They delivers workshops, training, and professional productions both in prisons and in the community. Prison reform trust ‘Building Futures program’ - supporting people serving long prison sentences by giving them a voice in shaping prison policy and rehabilitation. The project focuses on leadership, hope, self-advocacy, and preparing people for life beyond prison. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You Must Meet People Where They Are, To Help Them Grow - Donell & Jeffrey 21.05.2026 51min

On this episode of Life After Prison, we explore a story that doesn’t follow a straight line — because real change rarely does. Donell, a successful contractor & former prisoner, shares the highs, setbacks, and hard truths of life after release, while Jeffrey, a prison coach, reflects on the turning point that changed his own path and led him to work with young people in custody. The two met at Cookham Wood, where honest, in-depth coaching built a powerful connection — one that was tested by setbacks, including a return to prison and homelessness. They reflect on what changed the second time around, and why some people break the cycle while others don’t. This episode of Life After Prison accompanies the launch of a short film from Spark Inside focused on Donell's remarkable journey.Watch here: https://www.sparkinside.org/news/donells-story-how-coaching-unlocked-his-hero-within-5This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.Useful Organisations: Kings Trust – support young people to get into work, education, or training, especially those facing disadvantages or barriers like unemployment or a history with the justice system. Offering mentoring, courses, and funding to help build confidence and create new opportunities. Spark Inside - deliver coaching programmes in prisons, helping young people develop confidence, emotional intelligence, and a sense of purpose. Their work focuses on supporting long-term personal change and better outcomes after release. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Being Labelled The Devil to Delivering Hope - Sosa Henkoma 14.05.2026 1t 8min

Today’s guest is the definition of transformation. At the age of 11 he was groomed into county lines, by 12 he was regularly carrying firearms and by 15 he’d already seen the inside of a prison cell. The following years were a mix of serving time as a teenager, along with physical and mental trauma.Once labelled a criminal, he’s now recognised as a survivor of child criminal exploitation and modern slavery, becoming one of the voices leading the change. You can find him speaking in Parliament, contributing at the United Nations, and influencing national policy on exploitation and justice.Useful Organisations:Open University - offers flexible, distance learning courses that can be studied in prison or after release, helping people continue their education and build new career paths.Mind - provide advice, support, and services for people experiencing mental health challenges. It offers helplines, local services, and resources to help individuals understand their mental health and access the right support.Unique Talent - Our mission is to break the cycle of offending, gang involvement, and serious youth violence by providing mentorship, education, and life-changing opportunities.https://uniquetalent.org.uk/Human Trafficking Foundation - Bring together statutory and non-statutory organisations working to tackle human trafficking and modern slavery, sharing knowledge to support informed and effective action.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BAFTA Breakthrough Star Talks Healing Through Film - Daisy-May Hudson 07.05.2026 1t 4min

Today on Life After Prison, we’re joined by filmmaker Daisy-May Hudson.  In 2013, Daisy-May was living in a hostel with her mum and sister — a reality she didn’t fully recognise as homelessness at the time.  At that young age she decided to pick up a camera and document it, a decision that would change everything. Her story went viral, leading to her documentary Halfway, which she crowdfunded and took to cinemas.  Now a BAFTA Breakthrough talent, her work — including feature film Lollipop — focuses on storytelling, healing, and lived experience, particularly around prison and homelessness. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.Organisations: Clean Break - Support women affected by the criminal justice system through training and performance, helping them build confidence and pathways into creative industries. Reclaim The Frame - Directly support women into film through development programmes, training, and showcasing work by women directors. Daddyless Daughters - support girls and young women who have been affected by family breakdown, abuse and adversity across London between the age of 14 - 30 years old. Supporting them to go on to build and sustain healthy relationships and lifestyles in aid of preventing criminal and sexual exploitation. Birth Companions – Provides support for pregnant women and mothers in prison, including help with resettlement and parenting.Petition for the Holloway Centre - https://levelup.movement-action.org/p/islington-council-finish-holloway-womens-centreDaisy-May's first feature film Lollipop - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002pvjyContact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Responding To More Comments On Social Media 30.04.2026 40min

A few series back we looked at some of the comments that people had left on our social media. We responded to comments tackling the stigma of having been to prison and cleared up a few myths about what life is really like inside. Those episodes were interesting to say the least! Today we’re going for it again, responding to the comments from our conversations with a few guests last series.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.Useful Organisations Refuge (National) – Offers emergency accommodation and support for women escaping domestic abuse.  Abianda (London) – Supports young women affected by gangs through tailored mentorship and advocacy. Radical Recruit - Help people with barriers to work secure employment and regain control of their futures. Aiding them access to fair opportunities and meaningful work. Disclosure Calculator - https://unlock.org.uk/disclosure-calculator/The Orphan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5VYaTepAQA Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Football Career Isn't Over Yet - Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 23.04.2026 55min

This week's guests is someone whose football journey has been anything but ordinary. From coming through the ranks at Arsenal FC, one of the most prestigious academies in the country—to playing across England and abroad, our guest today has built a career that many young players dream of. Known for his strength, technical ability, and versatility on the pitch, he was once seen as one of the brightest prospects of his generation. Representing England at youth level and sharing dressing rooms with some of the game’s biggest names. However, behind the headlines and highlights, there’s a deeper story that goes far beyond football. This is a conversation about resilience, reflection, and redefining purpose.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Useful Organisations: 3 pillars project - Mentor and support people in custody and after release, helping them build discipline, confidence, and pathways into education and employment.  Key 4 Life - Work with young men at risk of reoffending, using sport and mentoring to develop life skills, improve wellbeing, and support them into work and a more stable future. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour Government Want To Remove Juries? 16.04.2026 35min

At the end of last year the Labour government introduced the Courts and Tribunals Bill. In this bill, the government are proposing to reduce the use of juries and have some criminal cases decided by a judge alone. Some very big changes. This week we unpack key parts of this bill, and look at the implications it will have IF it is passed. The Lammy Review - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/lammy-reviewPrison Reform Trust - Works to create a fairer and more effective criminal justice system, focusing on improving conditions in prisons and reducing unnecessary imprisonment. They conducts research, influences policy, and advocates for reforms that support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They Labelled Me A Human Trafficker - Glodi Wabelua 09.04.2026 52min

This week we’re joined by Glodi Wabelua. From a young age he struggled to fit in at school and soon found himself deep into a life of crime. The years that followed were a mix of prison sentences and life threatening injuries. Each experience leaving its mark and shaping who he was.  In 2019, he stood trial in a landmark case, as the first person in the UK to be convicted of human trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act.  Today he uses his story to educate and mentor young people, to avoid the paths that he walked and change the narratives placed on them. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Useful Organisations New Horizon Youth Centre is a London-based charity supporting young people aged 16–24 who are experiencing homelessness or unsafe housing. It provides advice, advocacy, mental health support and practical services to help young people move towards stability and independence. The Ben Kinsella Trust (London)– Works on preventing youth violence and supporting those at risk of gang involvement. XO Bikes (London) - Trains and employ bicycle mechanics, providing prison-based training and post-release work opportunities to reduce reoffending and support community reintegration. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prison Helped Me Escape My Chaos - Nick Hadris 02.04.2026 48min

This week we’re joined by Nick Hadris. Nick’s story is one of resilience, reflection, and using personal experience to help others move forward. After spending time in prison, Nick faced the challenge of rebuilding his life and finding a new direction. Since then, he’s worked tremendously hard to turn that experience into something positive - supporting others who are coming through the system and trying to rebuild their own lives. More recently, Nick completed a 250 mile bike ride fundraiser inspired by the memory of a close friend, raising awareness and showing the power of community and purpose after prison. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Organisations RAW Talent programme - A programme by COOK Trading Ltd that supports people facing barriers to employment, including those leaving prison, into paid work. It focuses on potential over experience, offering training, support and pathways into permanent jobs. Speak to your probation officer or support worker to receive a referral.www.cookfood.netBounce Back – trains people in trades like painting, decorating, scaffolding, and helps them into work after release. Spark2Life (London) – Offers mentoring and workshops to help young people and adults make positive life changes, often led by individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Mind (UK-wide) – Provides support and advice for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. https://www.mind.org.uk/ Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Losing My Partner Left Me In A Hole - Rhia Canady 26.03.2026 50min

This week we’re joined by Rhia a mother, a widow, and a woman who has transformed deep adversity into a driving force for change. In the aftermath of her partners death, her life took a turn, and she would soon become involved in drug activities, resulting in a 2-year prison sentence. Having personally experienced the justice system from both sides, she now dedicates her time to helping women rise beyond trauma and rebuild their lives through her organisation Fly Girl Foundation. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Organisations:Fly Girl Foundation - Empower women and girls affected by trauma and the criminal justice system. Creating safe spaces, mentoring and creative programmes to support healing, confidence and positive life change Daddyless Daughters - Support girls and young women who have been affected by family breakdown, abuse and adversity across London between the age of 14 - 30 years old. The Triangle Trust - Fund small and medium-sized organisations working within the criminal justice system. Focusing particularly on projects that support people with convictions — including women and young people — to reduce reoffending and improve rehabilitation outcomes. Working Chance (National) – Helps women with convictions get back into employment. The Shannon Trust - Helps people in prison and after release to improve reading and communication skills through peer-led learning. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I Went To My Dad's Funeral In Handcuffs | Will Pendray 19.03.2026 41min

This week we are joined by author and poet Will Pendray. His debut poetry collection Overgrown contains extracts from throughout his sentence, where he would use poetry to work through the things he was dealing with. Whilst serving his sentence, Will began studying at Open University and would go on to complete an MA in Creative Writing. He now uses poetry to inspire change, returning to prisons and communities to share his work and story. Useful Organisations Safe Ground – Use storytelling, creative writing, and the arts in prisons to help people reflect, build identity, and support rehabilitation.  Clean Break – They use theatre, writing, and storytelling to empower women affected by the criminal justice system, helping them express their experiences and build new opportunities. Longford trust - Supports people with convictions to access higher education while in prison and after release. Provides scholarships, mentoring, and employability support to help individuals build brighter futures and reduce reoffending. National literacy trust - a UK charity dedicated to improving reading, writing, speaking and listening skills among children and young people. It works with schools, communities and businesses to tackle literacy inequality and help disadvantaged pupils reach their full potential. Unbarred Press - an independent UK publisher that showcases writing and artwork created by people in prison and after release. It provides a platform for underrepresented voices, helping writers gain recognition, confidence and opportunities beyond the criminal justice system. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Domestic Abuse Haunted My Childhood - Charlie 26.02.2026 48min

This week we’re joined by speaker and author Charlie-Sam Newman, whose mission is simple, ‘To help people unlock their true potential’. From a very young age Charlie had experienced traumas that would shape her adolescence. After seeking safety at a women’s refuge at the age of 3, years would follow where safety and stability were rare, and violence and abuse were often close by. Following years within the care system, she would find herself at the centre of a drugs conspiracy, facing a possible 14-year prison sentence. But a lot has changed since then and today she no longer lives in silence, using her story to inspire, mentor and empower others to unlock their true potential.Useful organisations: Radical Recruit - Help people with barriers to work secure employment and regain control of their futures. Aiding them access to fair opportunities and meaningful work.  Create Future Opportunities – they support people on their rehabilitation journey and run fantastic activity hubs where community is built and futures can take shape.  Support to Soar  Focused on empowering individuals and organisations to reach their true potential. We create change that lasts by opening doors for those who’ve been overlooked and building inclusive teams that drive business growth and social good. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MOBO Award Winner Reflects On Prison and Future Plans - Scorcher 19.02.2026 50min

Today on the couch, we’re joined by someone whose story goes beyond music. A respected voice in UK rap for over 20 years, he’s starred in Top Boy and worked with Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen. He’s been through the criminal justice system and come out the other side, using his voice to reflect, rebuild, and speak the truth. Since returning, his consistency and talent have earned him the 2025 MOBO Award for Best Grime Act. This conversation isn’t just about bars or fame – it’s about accountability, growth, and what life really looks like after prison.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Useful organisations: Changing Tunes – Uses the power of music‑making to support people in prison, young offenders and those post‑release. Key 4 Life – Work with young people at risk of offending or reoffending, using education, mentoring, and employment support to help them build positive futures.Contact us:  If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.  💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok  📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio  ✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF  🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prison Governor Answers All Live From HMP Brixton 12.02.2026 56min

Today’s episode is a bit different – because we’re inside HMP Brixton, recording in front of a live audience of the men who live here. And we’re joined by the Governor of Brixton herself. Usually, we hear stories from people with lived experience, but today we’re exploring things from the other side: why she wanted this role, what it was like stepping into Brixton, and what day-to-day life looks like as a governor. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Contact us:  If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.  💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok  📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio  ✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF  🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I Went To Prison At 40 & Came Out A New Woman - Karen 05.02.2026 47min

Complete our 2025 Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/smJxoWJhr66qKG4Q7We’d love to hear from you! Every year, we ask the Life After Prison audience to complete a short survey. Your answers help us understand what’s working, what we can improve, and they also help us show our funders the real impact of the show. It only takes a few minutes and your feedback really does make a difference.Today, we’re joined by Karen Howell-Ball – a lived-experience speaker whose journey is one of real transformation. After serving time at Askham Grange Prison, Karen rebuilt her life from the ground up. She’s now using her experiences of abuse, trauma and criminal exploitation to help others break free from those same cycles. In this episode, we’ll hear how Karen turned her pain into purpose, what life after prison looked like for her, and how she’s now empowering young people and women to find hope and success beyond the justice system.This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Useful organisations:Advance – Support for women affected by the criminal justice system, domestic abuse, and trauma. They run women’s centres across London and help with housing, employment, and wellbeing. https://www.advancecharity.org.uk Women in Prison – Advocacy and support for women in the justice system. They focus on helping women rebuild their lives after release and campaign for reform. https://www.womeninprison.org.uk Refuge – The UK’s largest domestic abuse organisation offering safe accommodation, a 24-hour helpline, and online support. https://www.refuge.org.uk Contact us:If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok📧 Email: podcasts@prison.radio✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.