Life After Prison

Today’s guest has a story like no other. Growing up in the 70s, facing racism and rejection, he soon became involved in organised crime and serving years inside. 

After decades trapped in a cycle of crime and prison, everything changed during his final sentence, when a theatre company cast him in a production that would completely transform the direction of his life.  

Now 20 years on, he’s remain...

On this episode of Life After Prison, we explore a story that doesn’t follow a straight line — because real change rarely does. 

Donell, a successful contractor & former prisoner, shares the highs, setbacks, and hard truths of life after release, while Jeffrey, a prison coach, reflects on the turning point that changed his own path and led him to work with young people in custody. 

The...

Today’s guest is the definition of transformation. At the age of 11 he was groomed into county lines, by 12 he was regularly carrying firearms and by 15 he’d already seen the inside of a prison cell. The following years were a mix of serving time as a teenager, along with physical and mental trauma.

Once labelled a criminal, he’s now recognised as a survivor of child criminal exploitation and modern slavery, be...

Today on Life After Prison, we’re joined by filmmaker Daisy-May Hudson.  

In 2013, Daisy-May was living in a hostel with her mum and sister — a reality she didn’t fully recognise as homelessness at the time.  

At that young age she decided to pick up a camera and document it, a decision that would change everything. Her story went viral, leading to her docume...

A few series back we looked at some of the comments that people had left on our social media. We responded to comments tackling the stigma of having been to prison and cleared up a few myths about what life is really like inside. Those episodes were interesting to say the least! Today we’re going for it again, responding to the comments from our conversations with a few guests last series.

This podcast ...

This week's guests is someone whose football journey has been anything but ordinary. From coming through the ranks at Arsenal FC, one of the most prestigious academies in the country—to playing across England and abroad, our guest today has built a career that many young players dream of. Known for his strength, technical ability, and versatility on the pitch, he was once seen as one of the brightest prospects of hi...

At the end of last year the Labour government introduced the Courts and Tribunals Bill. In this bill, the government are proposing to reduce the use of juries and have some criminal cases decided by a judge alone. Some very big changes. This week we unpack key parts of this bill, and look at the implications it will have IF it is passed. 

The Lammy Review - https://www.gov.u...

This week we’re joined by Glodi Wabelua. From a young age he struggled to fit in at school and soon found himself deep into a life of crime. The years that followed were a mix of prison sentences and life threatening injuries. Each experience leaving its mark and shaping who he was. 

In 2019, he stood trial in a landmark case, as the first person in the UK to be convicted of hu...

This week we’re joined by Nick Hadris. Nick’s story is one of resilience, reflection, and using personal experience to help others move forward. 

After spending time in prison, Nick faced the challenge of rebuilding his life and finding a new direction. Since then, he’s worked tremendously hard to turn that experience into something positive - supporting others who are coming through t...

This week we’re joined by Rhia a mother, a widow, and a woman who has transformed deep adversity into a driving force for change. In the aftermath of her partners death, her life took a turn, and she would soon become involved in drug activities, resulting in a 2-year prison sentence. Having personally experienced the justice system from both sides, she now dedicates her time to helping women rise beyond trauma and ...

This week we are joined by author and poet Will Pendray. His debut poetry collection Overgrown contains extracts from throughout his sentence, where he would use poetry to work through the things he was dealing with. Whilst serving his sentence, Will began studying at Open University and would go on to complete an MA in Creative Writing. He now uses poetry to inspire change, returning to prisons and communities to share his work an...

This week we’re joined by speaker and author Charlie-Sam Newman, whose mission is simple, ‘To help people unlock their true potential’. From a very young age Charlie had experienced traumas that would shape her adolescence. After seeking safety at a women’s refuge at the age of 3, years would follow where safety and stability were rare, and violence and abuse were often close by. Following years within the c...

Today on the couch, we’re joined by someone whose story goes beyond music. A respected voice in UK rap for over 20 years, he’s starred in Top Boy and worked with Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen. He’s been through the criminal justice system and come out the other side, using his voice to reflect, rebuild, and speak the truth. Since returning, his consistency and talent have earned him the 2025 MOBO Award for ...

Today’s episode is a bit different – because we’re inside HMP Brixton, recording in front of a live audience of the men who live here. And we’re joined by the Governor of Brixton herself. Usually, we hear stories from people with lived experience, but today we’re exploring things from the other side: why she wanted this role, what it was like stepping into Brixton, and what day-to-day life lo...

Complete our 2025 Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/smJxoWJhr66qKG4Q7

We’d love to hear from you! Every year, we ask the Life After Prison audience to complete a short survey. Your answers help us understand what’s working, what we can improve, and they also help us show our funders the real impact of the show. It only takes a few minutes and your feedback really does make a difference.

Today, we’re joined ...

Complete our 2025 Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/smJxoWJhr66qKG4Q7

We’d love to hear from you! Every year, we ask the Life After Prison audience to complete a short survey. Your answers help us understand what’s working, what we can improve, and they also help us show our funders the real impact of the show. It only takes a few minutes and your feedback really does make a difference.

Today, we’re joined ...

Complete our 2025 Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/smJxoWJhr66qKG4Q7

We’d love to hear from you! Every year, we ask the Life After Prison audience to complete a short survey. Your answers help us understand what’s working, what we can improve, and they also help us show our funders the real impact of the show. It only takes a few minutes and your feedback really does make a difference.

Today, we’re joined ...

Complete our 2025 Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/smJxoWJhr66qKG4Q7

We’d love to hear from you! Every year, we ask the Life After Prison audience to complete a short survey. Your answers help us understand what’s working, what we can improve, and they also help us show our funders the real impact of the show. It only takes a few minutes and your feedback really does make a difference.

In this brand new series, ...

Complete our 2025 Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/smJxoWJhr66qKG4Q7

We’d love to hear from you! Every year, we ask the Life After Prison audience to complete a short survey. Your answers help us understand what’s working, what we can improve, and they also help us show our funders the real impact of the show. It only takes a few minutes and your feedback really does make a difference.

In this brand new series, ...