Life on the Outside

Life on the Outside is a podcast that shares stories about returning to society after decades of incarceration. For many, the process of reentry is complex and they navigate society that is in many ways very different from the one they left decades earlier.

It Was All A Dream 06/19/2022

It Was All A Dream Jesse remembers being the holding tank in his dress outs, waiting to be released from prison after 11 years of incarceration. He was black pants, a white tee-shirt and Vans. Some guys parole in suits, he says, but that didn't feel like his style. When he finally stepped out of the bus, tons of people were waiting to greet him. Thirty-something people were holding up signs for Jesse to welcome him home. It's been a few months now and in this episode, Jesse reflects on his release and travels back to the moment he heard what his sentence would be. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/23476043

LOLA PART I 11/03/2021

LOLA PART I Diane spent 27 years in a men's prison, as a woman. Now she is out and finding her way in a world that is much different than the one she left behind nearly three decades earlier. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/21044381

Moral Compass Part II 10/13/2021

Moral Compass Part II Duncan's journey continues down a long and winding road through the California prison system. How did he get there? And what did he do to get out? Listen here. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/20806433

Moral Compass Part I 10/04/2021

Moral Compass Part I Duncan was on the run for 4 years before he was finally caught. After being convicted to life in prison, without parole, Duncan decided to get on a path to change his life. Why did he run for so long? And is he still running from something? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/20705549

The Journey Part II 06/08/2021

The Journey Part II Xanar continues recounting his journey through the California prison system. His commitment to change led to his freedom, but as Xanar explains it, he was free long before he was let out of prison. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/19404260

The Journey 05/14/2021

The Journey Xanar was party of a party crew in South Los Angeles in the 1990s. They through underground parties with the hottest DJs and a swag and style that was unmatched. But things took a turn when Xanar found himself guilty of murder and facing the death penalty. Xanar is out of prison today, after entering the system at 19 years old and returning 23 years later. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/19108886

Girl Next Door 04/23/2021

Girl Next Door Lisa James served over 20 years in prison for murder. From the time she went in, to the day she got out, Lisa vowed to do better and be better. But will coming home derail her? Will she be able to navigate complex family relationships and establish herself as the transformed person she became in prison? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/18841898

Sanctuary Part II 04/13/2021

Sanctuary Part II Lewis makes it home from prison after 43 years. But what toll has that amount of time taken on his psyche? Now that he's out, Lewis has a plan that involves real estate, a road trip, and visiting the cemetery where his kids were laid to rest. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/18710576

Sanctuary 04/01/2021

Sanctuary In this episode we hear from Lewis Richard, also known as Lew or Uncle Lew. After 43 years in prison Lew was released on January 12th, 2021. He thought he was ready...but how does one prepare for freedom after more than four decades behind bars? Let's find out. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/18562175

Love Never Dies Part II 03/08/2021

Love Never Dies Part II Candace Wilson married Taewon Wilson while he was still incarcerated and serving life without the possibility of parole. Months after he was commuted by Governor Jerry Brown, Taewon walked out of prison a free man. But will their marriage survive reentry? How do they navigate each other's presence in the free world? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/18226109

Love Never Dies 02/23/2021

Love Never Dies Candace met Taewon when they were fifteen years old and just a couple of kids navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. They dated for a bit, on and off, then Taewon got caught up in a crime that sent him to prison with a life without the possibility of parole sentence, which meant he would probably die in prison. This is the story of how Taewon and Candace reconnected, found love, got married, and are now fighting for his freedom. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/18062951

Call Me by My Name 02/12/2021

Call Me by My Name Shone went to prison at age 19 and served 22 years at a women's prison in California. As the years ticked by Shone started "counting bricks," wondering if she'd ever go home. She started going to self-help courses and turning her life around behind bars. But would it be enough? After 22 years, Shone walked out of prison a free woman with a powerful story to tell. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/17920373

Soledad Part II 01/25/2021

Soledad Part II The year is 1999 and Richard is lying on the top bunk in his prison cell and nearing death. He has just overdosed on heroin and praying to god not to die. When he makes it through the night, Richard decides he is going to stay sober for the rest of his life. That was the last night he ever did drugs. Richard starts writing letters of amends, taking college courses, and preparing for the parole board. After a violent crime and a life of drug use will he be found suitable for parole? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/17683694

Soledad Part I 01/16/2021

Soledad Part I Richard fell deep into a life of addiction, leading him to doing burglaries to support his addiction. In 1998 at age 20 Richard was charged with attempted murder and sentenced of life in prison. Finally, 21 months ago he was released. There was a day Richard thought he would die in prison. But now he's free. What has life on the outside been like for him? How does he navigate the free world? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/17573261

Man Down 12/28/2020

Man Down In this KCRW piece reported by "Life on the Outside" producer Lucy Copp, the question is asked: Who gets to go home early from prison when there's a global pandemic? It's complicated and every state seems to handle it differently. But one things for sure, letting out 'lifers' continues to be a contentious and politically fraught. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/17349545

Magical Day 12/10/2020

Magical Day Michelle got out of prison 9 years ago but her struggles are still a slippery slope. She talks about her reentry challenges, fighting fires, and how forgiveness is the key to freedom. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/17137034

Measure of Good 11/25/2020

Measure of Good Allen Burnett was sentenced to life without the possibility parole as a young kid. Decades later, his sentence was commuted and he found himself at the gates of the prison head home. His journey was tumultuous, trying, and triumphant. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/16957445

Time Capsule Baby Part II 11/10/2020

Time Capsule Baby Part II Find out what happened the night of the "incident" that would sent Crystal to prison for 23 years. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/16757579

Time Capsule Baby (Part I) 10/29/2020

Time Capsule Baby (Part I) Crystal served a long sentence for murder done in self-defense. Her journey takes twists and turns and we learn that a conviction and a charge are sometimes far from the truth. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/16604417

48,000 10/15/2020

48,000 There are 48,000 documented barriers to reentry when someone gets out of prison. In Episode 30, Jon shares his experience returning home after receiving six life sentences, practically a death sentence. How will he navigate these barriers? Which ones will be the hardest to face? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/16417634

A Message from Life on the Outside 09/23/2020

A Message from Life on the Outside We're taking the month of September to take a breath, collect ourselves, and gather more interviews. We'll be back in October! /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/16130306

Beloved Part II 08/29/2020

Beloved Part II We pick up where Patrick left off, lying on the floor of his prison cell... /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/15803021

OUTBREAK 08/06/2020

OUTBREAK This episode addresses the Covid epidemic inside of California prisons. If you want to help please visit restorecal.org or antirecidivism.org. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/15508325

LOCKDOWN 07/29/2020

LOCKDOWN Kenneth, Kanaka, and Jarret talk about what a lockdown is like in prison. Why does a facility go on lockdown? And how long before the confinement lifts? All three storytellers are out now, but their experiences in prison while serving life sentences are as tangible as the present moment. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/15398438

Beloved 07/14/2020

Beloved Patrick went to prison with an 8-year sentence, but while he was in he found himself in a situation with another prisoner that would result in a life crime. Over 30 years later, Patrick got out and his beloved wife, Donna Lee, was at the gates to meet him. This is his story. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/15203750

Ray and Abel 07/01/2020

Ray and Abel This episode was recorded at Calipatria State Prison. It is the first episode of Life on the Outside recorded on the inside. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/15036899

I Want to See the World 06/16/2020

I Want to See the World Richard Cruz was sentenced at 16 years old to life in prison. After 30 plus years, he's finally home. The best things about freedom include his dog Coco, traveling, and getting to know his family. His journey to arrive at this place is long and arduous, requiring both resilience and surrender to make it through a system stacked against him. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/14846699

The Hardest Presence 05/22/2020

The Hardest Presence In this episode, hosts Kenneth Hartman and Lucy Copp share the space and pass the mic to Alia Hartman, Ken's daughter. Her perspective of LWOP is that of a daughter who grew up visiting her father in prison visiting rooms across the state of California. Now that her father is home, Alia is navigating new territory and learning that embracing the physical presence of her father is both joyful and challenging. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/14531915

The Gardener 05/01/2020

The Gardener Upon Daniel's release from prison he felt numb. What was he supposed to feel? Joy? Overwhelming gratitude that so many others feel? Or perhaps he'd have the sensory experience of a child setting foot in Disney World for the first time? But it was all absent for Daniel. As his reentry unfolded, Daniel struggled to find his footing, falling into similar patterns that led to his arrest in the first place. Could he make it out here? Time would tell, and soon, he'd thrive. /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/14228834

Waters Gone By 04/21/2020

Waters Gone By Joey Davidson went to prison at 14 years old with a life sentence. At age 17, he stepped onto one of the worst, most dangerous prison yards in the state of California. The prison was Calipatria State Prison. It took years for Joey to find is way. But through faith and divine intervention Joey was able to sidestep many instances of violence and in some cases, death. He's out today, attending Divinity school and living in North Caroline with his wife and new baby. Do the horrors of his past still haunt him? /episode/index/show/lotopodcast/id/14082593

Life on the Outside

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