Life After Prison

In this episode, Zak and Jules chat through the challenges that come with leaving your old life behind after you’ve been in prison.    Zak and Jules discuss the strategies they have employed both while inside and on the outside to make sure they keep away from their old lives. They also hear from listeners who share some thoughtful advice on this topic and they share some inspiring words that they...

In this episode Jules chats to Michelle, a real force to be reckoned with. Michelle is a huge advocate for people with lived experience of prison working within the criminal justice system, as she knows first hand how powerful that is, and how the right support can go a long way. Michelle experienced a lot of trauma as a child and has dealt with a lot of heartache over the years, which resulted in...

Kieron Bryan is an author, entrepreneur and former prisoner.   In this episode, Kieron tells Zak and Jules how while serving a long prison sentence he discovered his passion for books, and read over 250 behind the door.  He also shares how he used the skills he learned while in jail to set up multiple businesses, write a chess book for kids called ‘The Pawn Who Wants To Be Queen’, and how he has k...

In this episode Jules chats to Milan. Milan works as a careers advisor, alongside studying for a degree in criminology. She’s a self confessed ‘geek’, which is something she found out about herself while serving 8 years of a 16 year sentence in prison. Milan talks to Jules about the different obstacles she dealt with in prison, including the death of a loved one, and what it was like being release...

In this episode Zak and Jules discuss prison visits. They share their memories of visits they had while they were serving sentences, and talk about what they learned from people still inside about the things they like best about visits. They also talk about the prison walk of shame; what happens when someone ghosts you on a visit.  In part 2, Zak and Jules share more of their personal memories of...

In this episode Jules talks to somebody who is working hard to make prisons more supportive places for people with autism. Kirsty has an autism diagnosis herself, and after many years of struggling to find the right support, and having spent time in prison herself, knows what needs to change. She is now using her voice to make changes in the criminal justice system for people who are neurodiverse....

In this episode, Zak and Jules sit down with former Prison Officer, Alex South to discuss her time working in some of the UKs most notorious prisons including HMPs Whitemoor, Wormwood Scrubs and Belmarsh.   Alex tells Zak and Jules about the main reasons she wanted to become a prison officer, and talks about the characters she met and the conditions she saw in the prisons she worked in.   Alex als...

In this episode Jules talks to successful business woman, Tracy Mackness, who’s had a huge transformation from a self-proclaimed ‘Essex Bad Girl’ to a pig farmer.    Tracy runs the Giggly Pig Company, and has around 600 pigs, (as well as 18 dogs and 2 chickens!). Tracy first came into contact with pigs when serving a 10 year prison sentence. One of the over 50 courses Tracy took inside was pig hus...

In this episode, Zak and Jules talk about their experience of having their life on hold when they were in prison.   They discuss how they felt they were playing catch up in some areas of life while they were inside, and hear from listeners who share their own reflections.   Zak and Jules spend some time talking about some of the things they learnt from that time away including how to manage their...

In this episode Jules chats to Lilly about her incredible journey. After being abandoned as a child, spending two decades in abusive relationships, losing her children to the care system and spending nearly 4 years in prison, Lilly couldn’t be any more content with how her life is now. She works tirelessly to help other women going through the criminal justice system live the kind of life she is n...

In this episode, Zak and Jules meet the film maker and host of the A Bit of A Stretch Podcast, Chris Atkins who was sentenced to 5 years for Tax Evasion. Chris talks to Zak and Jules about being on bail for 4 and a half years before he was sentenced and the struggles he faced in prison being separated from his young son. Chris also opens up to Zak and Jules about his experience of white privilege...

In this episode Jules meets Sunnie, a Prisons and Community Support Worker for ID Essence. Sunnie and Jules find many similarities between their own stories. They talk about the lead up to Sunnie being sent to prison, what she did to fill her time inside, and how it was being released from prison as a young woman, after going in as a teenager.    Sunnie talks about her passions, what motivates her...

In this episode, Zak and Jules hear from listeners about the judgement they have faced because they have a family member in prison.   They also talk about how long they would wait before telling a potential partner they have been to jail, and the shame and judgement attached to having a sentence. Later, Zak and Jules spend some time discussing ways to deal with the judgement that comes from co-wor...

  The Spark is a brand new strand of Life After Prison, where Jules speaks to women who have been through the CJS about The Spark they found which set them on a path of transformation and change. In this episode Jules meets the actor, Jennifer Joseph. Jen talks about some of the work she’s proudest of, such as the Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy, and Kae Tempest’s Paradise. They also chat about some of...

Zak and Jules catch up with comedian, Nabil Abdulrashid as he drops in to the studio in the midst of his Purple Pill tour. Nabil chats to Zak and Jules about arriving from Nigera and landing in one of London’s most notorious estates, how he ended up in jail and what he did to pass the time while he was there.    He also talks about his comedy career, how his early love for comedy got reignited in...

When you first get out of jail, managing your finances can be tricky, even opening a bank account can be difficult. Clean Slate is an organisation that helps people with their finances. In this episode, Emma, their head of programmes, joins Zak and Jules, to explain how to set up a bank account, how Universal Credit works and signposts to lots of useful organisations and resources that can help yo...

Zak and Jules are continuing to chew over the massive subject of relationships when one or other of the people involved are in prison. In this episode they focus on how it feels when you’re inside but the person you love is on the out.   Useful Organisations: Prison Phone Limited https://www.prisonphone.co.uk/  Sussex Prisoners Families – https://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/   Partners of P...

This week on Life After Prison we’re throwing it back to a really important episode about building your confidence up again when you've been inside. Whether it’s navigating social situations, knowing what to say in a job interview, or feeling like people are judging you for your conviction, it can be really tough to get your confidence back after spending time in jail. In this episode Zak and Jule...

In this episode, Zak and Jules sit down with Ian Thomas to talk about his experience of the care system, and his journey from care to addiction, prison and recovery. In the first part of this incredible conversation, Ian shares the story of how he was first arrested aged 10.5, and talks about how his addiction began.  If you’re struggling with your mental health and you need support today, you can...

This week we're throwing it back to a really useful episode about managing your health once you have left prison. Kate Morrissey from NHS England joins us to explain how to register with a GP, talk about the NHS Reconnect service and how to access it and provides information about where else you can go for support for different healthcare needs.  Organisations mentioned: How to register with a GP...

Zak and Jules hear from listeners who have partners in prison and talk about how tricky it can be when your loved one is behind the door.    This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.   Useful organisations:  Sussex Prisoners Families – https://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/   Partners of Prisoners https://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/   PACT https:...

In this episode, Jules and Zak are joined by Wendy Robinson from CALM to talk about taking care of your mental health after you leave prison. We talk about how challenging it is when you first come out, and how reality can be different to what you expected. Wendy talks about how normal it is to struggle with your mental health after prison and the different ways you can get help. If you’re struggl...

Steve Gallant was serving a life sentence for murder when he made headlines for tackling a terrorist on London Bridge. In part one of their conversation with Steve, Zak and Jules hear all about the events that happened on that dramatic day on London Bridge in 2019, and how it led to Steve receiving the Queen’s gallantry medal for bravery. They also ask Steve how he dealt with receiving a life sent...

Continuing or starting education after leaving prison can be a challenge. Here, Scott from the Shannon Trust chats to Zak and Jules about the importance of education, what the challenges might be when you leave prison, and what options are out there after jail.  Organisations mentioned: Shannon Trust –  https://www.shannontrust.org.uk/ Read Easy –  https://readeasy.org.uk/ National Careers Service...

Zak and Jules answer all your burning questions about prison and beyond. They tackle questions about what they would change about the prison system, and also break down the subject of what they spent time in prison for themselves. Zak and Jules also get stuck into some jail based dilemmas that people have shared with them from behind the prison door.  Later we hear about the dilemmas Zak and Jules...