Gambling Took Over My Life and Led me To Jail | Ben and Steve
Release Date: 03/28/2024
Life After Prison The Spark: Kirsty B
Life After Prison
In this episode, Jules is in conversation with Kirsty. Kirsty had a tough childhood, and was exposed to drugs and violence from an early age, she was also let down by the people who were supposed to care for her. She went on to battle with her own addictions, and while spending time in prison found a path to recovery. Kirsty now spends her time helping other people coming out of prison to do the same. Useful organisations: Ingeus The Turnaround Project- Women's Work https://www.womens-work.org.uk/projects/the-turn-around-project/ Contact us: If anything you’ve heard in this podcast...
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How Do You Leave Your Old Life Behind After Jail?
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 find helpful in keeping them grounded on their life after prison journey. This podcast is also available as a video – just search on YouTube. Useful...
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Life After Prison The Spark: Michelle
Life After Prison
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 years of addiction. She now does everything she can to help other people make the changes she’s made herself to improve their lives. Useful organisations: First Contact Clinical Neca Junction 42...
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I Changed My Mindset In Jail: Kieron Bryan
Life After Prison
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 kept his mindset on track post release doing his Masters Degree and growing all his businesses. If you're inspired by Kieron's story, and are thinking about starting...
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Life After Prison The Spark: Milan
Life After Prison
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 released after 8 years inside. The full version of this episode can be found wherever you get your podcasts: Useful organisations: Prison Fellowship ID Essence St Giles Trust Contact us: If...
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Did You Ever Get Ghosted On A Prison Visit?
Life After Prison
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 visits and hear from some family members of people in prison about what they love about visiting their people inside, and also what they find difficult. They also break down what...
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Life After Prison The Spark: Kirsty G
Life After Prison
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. Useful organisations: Ingeus, Junction 42, NHS The Samaritans Contact us: If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d...
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A Prison Officer's Story: Alex South
Life After Prison
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 also shares what she thinks needs to be done to improve conditions for staff and prisoners living and working in the UK's prisons, and the importance of positive relationships...
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Life After Prison The Spark: Tracy Mackness
Life After Prison
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 husbandry, and that experience changed her life on a massive scale. The full version of this episode can be found wherever you get your podcasts: ...
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Are You Playing Catch Up With Life After Jail?
Life After Prison
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 money, and also about valuing time and finding patience. This podcast is also available as a video – just search on YouTube. Useful...
info_outlineBen Jones and Steve Girling both spent time in prison as a result of gambling. In part 1 of this interview they talk to Zak and Jules about how their gambling addiction led them to stealing money from their employers and ending up in jail.
Almost a quarter of people in prison have reported having a gambling problem. Ben and Steve present the National Prison Radio show and podcast, Hold or Fold which is about gambling harm and offers advice and guidance to people whose lives have been impacted by gambling. You can listen to Hold or Fold wherever you get your podcasts or find it here.
If you're struggling with debt as a result of gambling there are lots of episodes of our sister podcast Money Mondays that could help. In this episode Zak and Emma get some great advice about how to talk to your creditors if you've got problems with debt.
Life After Prison is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.
Useful organisations:
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Aquarius https://aquarius.org.uk/our-services/adult-services/gambling/
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Gamcare https://www.gamcare.org.uk/
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National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133
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Gamblers Anonymous https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
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Reframe Coaching https://www.reframecoaching.org.uk/
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NHS Gambling Clinics https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/
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Partners of Prisoners https://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/
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Prisoners Families Helpline 0808 808 2003
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National Prison Radio Family and Friends Request Show https://prison.radio/national-prison-radio/#songrequest
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, Twitter and TikTok
📧 Email us: [email protected]
✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF
🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/