Life After Prison

While The Sit Down is taking a short break, we bring you Touch Road, a brand-new mini-series about life after release from prison. Three people tell their stories of life after walking through the gate. In episode one we hear all about how they prepare for release, and how it feels to step out of jail for the first time once their sentence is over.   If you have recently been released from prison,...

The friends you make in prison can help you to survive your sentence, and achieve success when you get out. This week we Sit Down with Nigel and Rony, two of Zak’s friends that he made during his time in prison. All three credit their success in rebuilding their lives on the outside, to the people they’ve surrounded themselves with since their release. Here they talk about changing their mindset p...

Before going inside, Ali never thought he’d end up working in radio. But, after taking an interest in National Prison Radio, he eventually started working for the station while inside. Now, Ali works as a producer and presenter for NPR but on the outside. Here he talks about how his listeners shape his show, what he’s learned since joining the station and what he gets out of having a creative job....

While in prison, Darren Murinas took a cooking class where he was encouraged to be a peer mentor, and upon release his passion for helping others using his lived experience grew. Eventually Darren founded Expert Citizens CIC, an organisation that puts lived experience at its core to help improve services using the expertise of those who’ve been there. This podcast is also available as a video – ju...

Software engineer Josh Rolland didn’t know how to code before he went inside. Now, he’s the co-founder of CodeAtt, a Not For Profit Organisation that teaches coding to prison leavers and young people at risk of crime and helps them get jobs. Here he talks to Zak and Jules about the challenges of growing up with ADHD, how he went from doing an accounting degree to spending time inside, and what he...

Nequela Whittaker once aspired to be South London’s biggest drug dealer. Today she’s a youth worker, author and mentor who is passionate about working with young people and, as she puts it, being “part of the solution”. She shares her story about how she got involved in crime, ended up in a Scottish prison and what made her want to leave her old lifestyle behind. This podcast is also available as...

Author, workshop facilitator and father Rich Jones sits down with Zak and Jules to talk about the impact that his time inside had on his sons and what he’s done to work on that relationship. As an ex-soldier, Rich also shares his experience about readjusting to life after prison vs life after the army and tells us about the work he does with veterans in prison. This podcast is also available as a...

Usually on The Sit Down, we speak to someone who has been inside themselves or is close to someone who has. This episode is a little bit different, as we sit down with the outgoing Chief Probation Officer Sonia Flynn. The CPO is responsible for 18,000 probation workers across England and Wales – a role that Sonia has held since 2017. Here she reflects on her time on the role, answers questions abo...

We’re back with series 2 of The Sit Down! And what better way to kick off than with poet, author, radio host and workshop facilitator, Lady Unchained. Here she talks to us about how her poetry kept her out of trouble while inside, breaking down the stereotype of being an “ex-offender” and what advice she’d give to people just getting out. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Lif...

The Sit Down is back with Series 2 next week on Thursday 26th January. 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. 💬 DM us: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and Twitter 📧 Email us: podcasts@prison.radio ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London...

Building your confidence up again when you've spent time inside can be tough: Whether it’s navigating social situations, knowing what to say in a job interview, or feeling like people are judging you for your conviction. In this episode Zak and Jules break it down with some help from other people who've been behind the door. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison...

Continuing or starting education after leaving prison can be a challenge. Here, Scott from the Shannon Trust explains the importance of education, what the challenges might be, and what options are out there. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Organisations mentioned:  Shannon Trust Read Easy National Careers Service National Careers Service Hotli...

Today’s Sit Down features Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, hosts of the massive US podcast Ear Hustle. Ear Hustle started inside San Quentin Prison while Earlonne was still serving his sentence and it documents life inside the prison, something no other podcast has done before. Since coming out, Earlonne continues to make the show with Nigel, as well as campaigning for prison reform. Here, we hear t...

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. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Organisations mentioned:  How to register with a GP surgery If you have problems...

Luke McCarthy and his guitar Bailey join Zak and Jules to talk about how his upbringing and the expectations of others shaped his life and time inside. Luke opens up about how music became his comfort in prison and how it connected him to the charity, The Irene Taylor Trust. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Useful organisations: Irene Taylor Tru...

Clean Slate is an organisation that helps people with their finances. Emma, their head of programmes, joins Zak and Jules, to explain how to open a bank account, how Universal Credit works and signpost to lots of useful organisations and resources that can help you manage your money. Our sister podcast  Money Mondays is presented by Zak with Emma from Clean Slate and features loads of episodes wit...

After entering the criminal justice system as a young person in care, Aliyah found herself in a cycle of crime. After seeing other young women caught up in the system, she decided to set up Daddyless Daughters, a non-profit that supports girls and young women across London who may have complex needs. Here, she talks to Zak and Jules about her story, and about what she believes still needs to chang...

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 strugg...

Chris Lynam is a poet, writer and public speaker who currently works at The Archer Project. Prior to this, Chris was embroiled in a life of addiction and criminality, originally in Ireland and then in the UK. Here, Chris shares the story of what led him to prison, his road to recovery, and how life has been since getting out. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Priso...

Jon from Humankind joins Zak and Jules to discuss the challenges around continuing, or starting, your Recovery journey after prison. We discuss the importance of reaching out for help and that it's never too late to do so. Jon tells Zak and Jules about the importance of carrying naloxone and also explains how volunteering can help you with staying on track with your recovery. This podcast is also...

In this episode we are joined by CEO, radio producer, presenter and DJ Anthony Olanipekun who left prison and founded music platform Soul Surge. Tony opens up about his life before, during and after prison, touching on how he is dealing with past trauma through therapy and describing the journey of starting his life again after release. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life...

In this episode, Jules and Zak are joined by Lizzy Jewell from Working Chance to talk about finding a job after being in prison. They discuss employers’ changing attitudes towards people with convictions and the importance of having a backup plan while you look for your dream job. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Organisations mentioned:  Workin...

Tassie joins Zak and Jules to talk about her journey through the Criminal Justice System, from entering as a YO and becoming homeless at a young age, Tassie reflects on the life that she fell into and how she got out of it. Since coming out, Tassie has set up her own business helping to support care leavers in custody and gained a university degree. She now works for HMPPS as Reducing Re-offending...

In this episode, Jules and Zak are joined by Heidi Trott from Shelter to discuss the housing options available if you've recently left prison. We hear from Marcel, who found it difficult to get social housing when he first came out. Heidi tells Zak and Jules where people can go to find support and does some myth-busting around what it means to have ‘priority need’ status or a local connection. Thi...

In this episode Zak and Jules are joined by Tracy, who has two sons serving life sentences and Hilda, who is Zak’s mum. In a fascinating and emotional episode, Tracy and Hilda talk about how it felt when their sons received their sentences, and how to stay strong when you have a loved one inside. This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube. Useful organisat...