The Last Mile Radio

In this crossover episode, we present a segment from SiriusXM 45's "Sway In The Morning", in which Sway Calloway reflects on his emotional visit to the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, sharing firsthand stories about the humanity, intelligence, and potential of incarcerated individuals. The conversation explores how rehabilitation programs focused on education, skilled trades, entrepreneurship,...

Prison environments shape human behavior in profound ways. Years spent in conditions defined by stress, isolation, surveillance, and constant vigilance affect the body, the mind, and the ability to relate to other people. Yet after that experience, society expects people to return home prepared to build relationships, regulate emotions, hold jobs, and reintegrate into their communities. This episo...

Prison is designed to be a fundamentally abnormal experience—one that removes autonomy, suppresses individuality, and restructures daily life around control and compliance. Yet at the end of that experience, we expect people to return to society as self-directed individuals capable of making decisions, building relationships, holding jobs, and forming identities beyond incarceration. This episode...

Episode Outline:  (00:00:00) Tara Trask introduces Gio Hernandez Romero and his wrongful conviction case. (00:03:17) Growing up in Los Angeles and his family background. (00:08:39) How police label young people as gang members. (00:14:19) Being tried as an adult and facing a 50-years-to-life sentence. (00:16:47) Spending six years in jail before conviction and sentencing. (00:18:00) Adjusting to l...

April Bosworth is a graduate of The Last Mile program and now a Website Specialist at Televerde, where she previously served as a teaching assistant inside of prison helping other incarcerated women learn coding. Michelle Cirocco is the Chief Social Responsibility Officer at Televerde and the Executive Director of the Televerde Foundation, organizations that for nearly 30 years have pioneered empl...

In this interview, Shelley shares her extraordinary journey from growing up in a home shaped by addiction to battling her own struggles with substance abuse, incarceration, and federal charges before finding sobriety and purpose. She recounts the turning point of discovering she was pregnant while incarcerated, her persistence in seeking treatment despite systemic barriers, and the faith-driven mi...

Dr. James JC Cavitt is the Executive Director of Project Rebound at CSU Fullerton, a transformative program supporting justice-impacted students as they reenter academic life and broader society. He was previously a founding student of The Last Mile’s inaugural class at San Quentin State Prison, where he began his remarkable journey from incarceration to academia. Today, Dr. Cavitt holds a Doctora...

This week, Tara visits Homeboy Industries, an organization that helps gang members and formerly incarcerated people transition into productive, independent lives. Hear her captivating conversation with former CEO of Homeboy, Tom Vozzo.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiell...

This week, Frank Cariilo, a formerly incarcerated, and fully exonerated man who was falsely accused and wrongfully convicted, joins Tara to catch up after he ran for public office, and what life is like in the years after returning home.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aie...

This week, Tara interviews members of the San Quentin Trans community, including incarcerated resident Jamie Acosta, corrections officer Mandi Hauwert, and a notable actor and activist David Sea to discuss what life is like for trans people within the prison system.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Bever...

This week, Khalid Cannon joins Tara to chat about his organization Put Me In! that helps give children of incarcerated parents better access to athletics, and all the great developmental benefits that participation in sports provides.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiello...

This week, Tara talks with Zach Skow, founder of Marley's Mutts, about how his dogs saved his life. Hear how he turned his rock-bottom into a purpose that helps both incarcerated people and rescue dogs throughout California.   The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiello at Siriu...

This week, Tara dives into the complex issues associated with the involvement of currently incarcerated people working on the front lines of California's seasonal wild fires. Chief Royal Ramey joins Tara to discuss how fighting fires became his life's calling as through it, he discovered the value of public service. Hear how he is paving the road for formerly incarcerated people to pursue fire fig...

This week, The Last Mile founders, Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti introduce the new host of The Last Mile Radio, Tara Trask!  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiello at Sirius XM. The show is produced by Robert Roche at TLM, with technical production by Greg Sahakian, Jam...

Originally published 2/17/25, civil jury consultant Tara Trask joins Ryan Leaf to tell her story. Hear how her early days of working with Dr. Phil in Texas influenced her career, and how her transformation through sobriety changed her perspective about the criminal justice system.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Re...

Originally published 2/3/25, Nike executive and manager of the Jordan brand, Larry Miller joins host Ryan Leaf to tell his story. Hear about his decision to tell the story of his journey through the criminal justice system prior to his incredibly successful career in sports branding.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris...

This week is the last of our 3 episodes recorded inside California's San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Hear interviews with Lt. Berry, student Raheem, and then classroom facilitator Katy Gilbert and Rusty Bechtold from CalPIA, the California Prison Industry Authority.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Be...

This week, Ryan talks with 3 TLM students in San Quentin about their time inside, and how TLM is helping them find hope for a positive future on the outside.  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiello at Sirius XM. The show is produced by Robert Roche at TLM, with technical pr...

This week is the first of 3 episodes featuring Ryan's interviews within the newly renamed San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in California, where The Last Mile began. In this episode, Ryan chats with new warden Chase Andes about his upbringing, and how every step in his career was leading him to become the progressive warden that he is. Also, Ryan speaks with Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, co-host of t...

(Originally aired January 11th, 2025) This week, Ryan is joined by Chris Fabricant from The Innocence Project. Hear how he and his colleagues are trying to not only reverse wrongful convictions for innocent incarcerated people, but also how they're working to undo the criminal justice system's reliance on junk science on which so many wrongful convictions are based.  The Last Mile Radio is a produ...

This week, Ryan sits down with TLM student turned employee, Timothy "Red" Littlepage to hear his story, from inside out. Hear him with Ryan from inside Putnamville Correctional, and again, with Kevin McKracken ... after he was released from prison!  The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM...

This week, hear 3 separate interviews with students enrolled in TLM's programs inside Indiana's Putnamville Correctional Facility. The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiello at Sirius XM. The show is produced by Robert Roche at TLM, with technical production by Greg Sahakian, J...

This week, JJ Velasquez and Dan Slepian join host Ryan Leaf. Hear JJ tell his story of wrongful conviction and incarceration, how he learned to persevere through unbearable conditions, and where he found salvation and hope before ultimately being released after spending 21 years behind bars.    The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers...

This week, Ryan addresses a group of students enrolled in TLM's programs inside Indiana's Putnamville Correctional Facility. Hear him tell his story and express the importance of redemption and transformation as they approach a new life after they're released.   The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Pa...

This week, members of the Indiana Pacers Corporation join Ryan to discuss their efforts in second-chance hiring of formerly incarcerated people. Hear the story of how hiring a TLM graduate wasn't just a second chance hire, but the right hire for the job.   The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti...