Incarceration on the Brain

Incarceration on the Brain explores the complex connections between incarceration, health, and the human experience. Through conversations with experts, advocates, historians, professionals, and people with lived experience, the podcast examines how brain injury, mental health, substance use, poverty, trauma, and systemic barriers intersect with the justice system.

Charged for Their Chains: Incarceration During the Salem Witch Trials 10/22/2026

Charged for Their Chains: Incarceration During the Salem Witch Trials What happened after someone was accused of witchcraft, and who paid the price? In this episode of Incarceration on the Brain, we welcome Rachel Christ-Doane, Director of Education at the Salem Witch Museum, to explore incarceration during the Salem witch trials. For the accused, the journey to the courtroom included imprisonment, which brought harsh conditions, financial burdens, and consequences that continued long after release. At the center of the conversation is Dorothy Good, just four years old when she was accused and jailed along with her mother. Rachel discusses her research into Dorothy’s life and the book she is writing about this often-overlooked youngest victim, as well as how fines and prison room and board charges compounded the misery of the witch trials. Links This episode ends with a note that globally, witch hunts and witchcraft allegations are still happening, often targeting the disabled, elderly, and impoverished. And resulting in horrifying acts of mob justice, including death and maiming. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/43405149

Surviving Pamela Hupp: How Carol McAfee's Intuition Saved Her Life 06/01/2022

Surviving Pamela Hupp: How Carol McAfee's Intuition Saved Her Life Carol McAfee joins us to talk about how her intuition saved her from being murdered by convicted killer Pamela Hupp, the subject of The Thing About Pam starring Rene Zellweger. Join us as we talk about the very human emotions involved in surviving a crime, the experience of survivor’s guilt, finding love and starting over with Russ Faria. Additional Links: Bone Deep by Charles Bosworth Jr. & Joel Schwartz Crime Con 2023 The Innocence Project The Russ Faria Q & A Facebook Page /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/23294870

Miss America Emma Broyles: Rise to the Fame, Advocacy and Disorder 05/12/2022

Miss America Emma Broyles: Rise to the Fame, Advocacy and Disorder Alaskan and Biomedical Sciences Student, Emma Broyles joins us in the studio to talk about her reign as Miss America 2022, her advocacy for those with intellectual disabilities, and her battles with dermatillomaia during the COVID-19 pandemic. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/23085116

The Art of Recovery Part II 05/06/2022

The Art of Recovery Part II We are back in Brandon Lee’s studio for an art healing class just for survivors of brain injury. Join Chad, Michelle, Kiera, and Jessica as they talk about their journey to recover from traumatic brain injury and stroke. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/23031542

Going to the Dogs! Meet Pawsitive Change 04/26/2022

Going to the Dogs! Meet Pawsitive Change Join us for a conversation with Marley’s Mutts founder Zach Skow. Zach talks with Carrie about his Pawsitive Change, a progressive and intensive rehabilitation program which matches death row dogs with inmates inside California State Prisons. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/22919510

Search for Justice 04/18/2022

Search for Justice What happens when you survive a violent crime, but are left with a traumatic brain injury? Jim Ledgewood and retired Cold Case Detective Roger Geisler join Carrie to talk about the aftermath of a random shooting that left Jim Ledgewood shot in the head and left for dead outside a bar in Glendale, Arizona. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/22832534

The Art of Recovery 02/14/2022

The Art of Recovery Join Brandon Lee in the art studio with survivors of brain injury as they talk about the ups, downs, and surprising beauty that happens when healing from trauma, addiction, and injury. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/22120919

It Was Just a Car Accident 02/04/2022

It Was Just a Car Accident How can injuries sustained in a car accident lead to a loving, law abiding family man serving time in prison? Salvador Ruiz’s entire life changed when his father was left with a brain injury after a traffic accident. When his dad was discharged from the hospital, the real work began. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/22018496

What’s Trauma Got to Do With It? 12/08/2021

What’s Trauma Got to Do With It? Jaime Blandino, Ph.D. of the Thrive Center for Psychology joins us to talk about trauma, stress, and the impact it has on our brain. Dr. Blandino is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with individuals recovering from PTSD and complex trauma. She served as a consultant on 60 Days In , an A&E docusceries. It airs Internationally and features citizens who volunteer to be incarcerated as undercover prisoners for 60 days. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/21415187

Locked Up During a Pandemic 09/14/2021

Locked Up During a Pandemic Survival during the COVID pandemic has been all about social distancing and practicing good hygiene. What happens if you can’t do either because you are incarcerated? Join us as we look at being locked up during a global pandemic with Dr. Apryl Alexander, co-author of Sick and Shut In: Incarceration During a Public Health Crisis. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/20465078

Problem Solving Courts 06/03/2021

Problem Solving Courts Problem Solving Courts with Army and Navy Veteran Patrick Ziegert, Peer Support Specialist Jose Castillo, and Abel Moreno, a Specialty Court & Justice System Liaison, who join us to discuss successful reentry into the community and how we can support Veterans in systems designed to serve them. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/19336268

Criminal Justice and TBI 06/02/2021

Criminal Justice and TBI Episode 1: "Criminal Justice and TBI" with Dr. Kim Gorgens, a neuropsychologist at the University of Denver; and Maddie Pontius, a graduate student in forensic psychology at the University of Denver. /episode/index/show/inconthebrain/id/19336172

Incarceration on the Brain

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