Prison Mindfulness

Join us as we meet Alex Senegal, an Enneagram Nine who shares how the Enneagram supported his journey from survival to transformation—and how he now uses it to guide and uplift others.   Alex Senegal is a program manager at the Destiny Reentry Center in San Jose, California, and a dedicated leader in reentry, recovery, and personal transformation. After spending 26 years in and out of the Californ...

Episode Highlights: 35 Years of Prison Dharma – Gary Allen shares his decades-long experience bringing Buddhist teachings to incarcerated individuals. •Correspondence-Based Dharma – The power of personal letters and structured courses in reaching prisoners. •Anger & Patience – Why teachings from Shantideva on patience and anger are essential in prison. •Challenges of Prison Work – From adminis...

In this episode, Susan Shannon, a seasoned Buddhist practitioner, and chaplain, shares her journey of transformative prison ministry, including her work as a Buddhist chaplain on death row at San Quentin. She discusses her adaptable teaching approach, focusing on universal Buddhist principles like the Four Noble Truths and dependent arising, which foster deep transformation among incarcerated indi...

From the Teaching Mindfulness Summit April 24.  Meditation, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Mindfulness and self-compassion teaching methods. Trust, intuition, and teaching wisdom. Christopher Germer, Ph. D., is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. He co-developed the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program with Kristin Neff in 2010 and they wro...

In this episode, Chia-Ti Chiu talks with Vita Pires about her work with Lineage Project.  Embodying a trauma-conscious and resilience-based methodology Unpacking privilege, biases, and blind spots The evolution of the Lineage Project CHIA-TI CHIU (she/her) Chia-Ti has been working with the Lineage Project since 2009. As a senior teacher, she shares embodied awareness practices with youth in detent...

In this episode, John MacAdams talks with Garth Smelser about his experiences working with both incarcerated individuals as a chaplain and as a mindfulness trainer for corrections professionals.  Stepping into the alien environment of custody Relating to inmates, relating to security staff What’s important about training corrections professionals JOHN MACADAMS John MacAdams, CMT-P, is an IMTA cert...

In this episode, Martine Batchelor talks with Vita Pires about her experiences working with those in prisons and teaching Secular Buddhism. Developing the path of secular Buddhism Practices for fear and anxiety Working with those who have resistance to meditation and/or (seemingly) don't care about the consequences of actions MARTINE BATCHELOR Martine Batchelor was a Buddhist nun in Korea for ten...

In this episode, Matthew Hahn talks with cohost John MacAdams about his experiences with mindfulness while incarcerated and his work post-incarceration as a facilitator for Mindful Prisons.  The value of creating safe spaces What happens after volunteers leave the facility Full circle, returning to Folsom Prison to teach the Dharma MATTHEW HAHN Matthew is a member of the Boundless Freedom Project...

In this episode, Richard Shankman talks with Vita Pires about his experiences teaching meditation in California prisons in the 1970s and how that has influenced his work to date. Early days (1970s) of contemplative programs in California Prisons Working with Youth (mindful schools) Importance of humility and ‘not knowing’ mindset when working with others with completely different life conditions R...

In this episode, Jonah M. David talks with John MacAdams about his experiences volunteering and facilitating creative arts workshops in men's and women's prisons.  Creative Arts programming; Giving a voice to the unseen The challenges of long-term artistic collaborations with inmates Personal growth from the wisdom found inside the walls JONAH M. DAVID Jonah facilitates mediation and mindfulness w...

In this episode, Trime Persinger speaks with John MacAdams about her work as a prison chaplain with the Oregon Department of Corrections.  Seeing Yourself and Loving Well in prison work. Stable, Caring Presence: providing environments where practice can flourish behind bars. Mindful Communication: the program, how it started, and what happened when the pandemic hit. TRIME PERSINGER Trime has pract...

In this episode, Bill Brown talks with Vita Pires, about his work with the Prison Yoga Project. The harm punitive incarceration causes for the incarcerated, staff, and families. Working with the body to discharge unresolved trauma Yoga as a tool for tapping into embodied wisdom BILL BROWN, C-IAYT, Bill is the Executive Director of Prison Yoga Project, a non-profit organization that seeks to create...

In this episode, Micah Anderson speaks with Fleet Maull about his experiences working with incarcerated youth through the Mind Body Awareness Project.  3 steps for creating safety while facilitating training/workshops Barriers to using a curriculum with traumatized youth Importance of partnerships for sustainable support for youth parolees MICAH DAVIS ANDERSON Born in Connecticut, Micah spent seve...

In this episode, Liz Richardson talks with Fleet Maull about her new play, Unconfined. Her play, based on a real-life story of an incarcerated prisoner’s contemplative journey while in prison and on death row Drawing parallels between this prisoner’s experience and her voluntary, 3-year confinement at Gampo Abbey retreat Contemplating beliefs of whether people who are incarcerated really can chang...

In this episode, Lama Justin von Bujdoss talks with Vita Pires about his experiences working as a chaplain for the New York City Department of Corrections.  Shadow sides of working in prisons Limitations of mindfulness work for highly traumatized populations (the incarcerated and correctional staff) How to do this work in a culturally sensitive and authentic manner JUSTIN VON BUJDOSS Lama Justin v...

In this episode, Gabriella Savelli talks with Fleet Maull about her work with the International Association for Human Values.  The International Association of Human Values (IAHV) program-reducing offender recidivism The impact of secular breath-work on prisoners and prison staff Actualizing networks of programs with different modalities for positive systemic change GABRIELLA SAVELLI Ms Savelli be...

In this episode, Jared Seide talks with John MacAdams about his work as the Executive Director for the Center for Council.  What Council looks like inside prisons How Council embodies mindfulness and supports compassion Benefits of learning presence, resisting distraction, and speaking/listening from the heart JARED SEIDE Jared Seide is author of the book, “Where Compassion Begins: Foundational Pr...

In this episode, Rebecca Foster talks with Vita Pires, about her experiences bringing PMI's Path of Freedom training into prisons.  Training “Inside” apprentices (facilitator training for incarcerated men & women) Integrating laughter, movement & play into the classroom The transformative power of social meditation “Inside” REBECCA J FOSTER Rebecca Foster is a meditation teacher, conscious dance f...

In this episode, Kalen McAllister speaks with Fleet Maull about Laughing Bear Bakery, and the resources and opportunities it gives those who are formerly incarcerated.  Starting “The Laughing Bear Bakery” business focused on employing ex-prisoners on parole ( https://laughingbearbakery.org/ ) The barriers and rewards to starting a business of this nature Active ways to build self-worth and dignity...

In this episode, Roshi Fleet Maull talks with John MacAdams about his time incarcerated and the creation of the Prison Mindfulness Institute (Prison Dharma Network). Origins of Prison Dharma Network The only real choice; "Practice like my hair was on fire" Unending opportunities to serve the world on the outside FLEET MAULL Fleet Maull, PhD is an author, meditation teacher, mindset coach, social e...

In this episode, Venerable De Hong talks with Vita Pires about his work with the Engaged Buddhist Alliance, providing programs in facilities and through correspondence courses.  How Buddhist Psychology supports Insight Development & Trauma Healing Working with those serving life (or LWOP) sentences Developing correspondence curriculums VENERABLE DE HONG Ven. De Hong has taught Buddhist Psychology...

In this episode, Marshall Lane talks with Fleet Maull on his experiences with addiction and incarceration and his life post-incarceration, focusing on his work with Tiffany's Recovery Inc.  The complexities of recovering from addiction in prison and the role meditation can play Taking responsibility and shifting self-blame/shame from the past to create a better future for self and all human beings...

In this episode, Carmen Alonso talks with John MacAdams about her experiences facilitating PMI's Path of Freedom program.  Connecting incarcerated folks with the outside community through each group taking PMI’s Path of Freedom course and writing to each other Working in supermax and maximum security environments Cultivating humility and patience as qualities necessary for effective service CARMEN...

In this episode, Gail Jackson speaks with  Sandy Inkster about her experiences working as a probation and parole officer, and her work with drumming and sound immersion.  Mindfulness Inside: Point of view of a parole/probation officer/certified mindfulness teacher Drumming, gongs and sound immersion: how it helps ground both prisoners and those working in prisons Creating immersive environments fo...

In this episode, Dave Smith talks with Vita Pires, about his work in prisons and recovery groups.  What is the Secular Path of Dharma? Prison work as service work. Training in mindfulness-based emotional intelligence in prisons and recovery groups. DAVID M SMITH Dave Smith is an internationally recognized Buddhist meditation teacher, addiction treatment specialist, and published author. His backgr...