Seeds of Change - A Nation Outside Podcast

In Episode 12 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, host Camron Colts speaks with Char Goolsby of L&R Hospitality about the importance of safe, stable and dignified housing for people returning home from incarceration.

After receiving calls from people who needed an address before they could be released, Char and her husband converted their real estate holdings into shared-living communities. Their goal is to provide more than a place...

What happens when someone returns home after nearly four decades, to a world of smartphones, online applications, Cash App, Google, passwords, scams, and technology that didn’t exist when they went inside?

In Episode 11 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, Cam and T-Mac sit down with Jeffrey and Ceci to talk about digital literacy and reentry.

Jeffrey spent 39½ years incarcerated. When he returned home, even answering a smartphone c...

After approximately 30 years of incarceration, Lavar Perkins has been home for just one week.In this deeply personal conversation with host Tamir Bell, Lavar talks about what a second chance actually means when you've spent decades behind bars.He reflects on coming home, adjusting to freedom, navigating the restrictions that still follow incarceration, taking responsibility for the harm he caused, forgiving himself, and becoming a ...

What happens when formerly incarcerated people are given the opportunity to lead, advocate and create solutions for their own communities?

In this episode of Seeds of Change, Cam and T-Mac sit down with Nation Outside leadership to discuss the organization’s history, its impact across Michigan and the importance of supporting work led by people directly affected by the criminal legal system.

The conversation takes us inside Nat...

What Grace Leaves Behind premieres in Los Angeles at the Represent Justice Ambassador Showcase, join us for an intimate conversation with Nation Outside Executive Director Cecilia Zavala.

In this special episode, Cecilia shares the inspiration behind her short documentary, the personal experiences that shaped it, and why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform how people understand incarceration, healing,...

In Episode 6 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, host Cam sits down with Christine “Christy” Harris for an honest conversation about returning home after serving 22 years of incarceration.

Christine shares the challenges of rebuilding her relationship with her daughter, navigating employment with a conviction, catching up with technology, accepting accountability, and learning to forgive herself. She also discusses her visio...

What happens to children and families when a parent is incarcerated?

In this episode, Cam sits down with Rachel, Ceci, and Jay for a personal conversation about growing up with parents in jail or prison, visiting loved ones behind glass, navigating foster care, surviving uncertainty, rebuilding relationships, and learning to see parents as whole people.

This conversation is about more than incarceration. It is about family, grief, re...

In this episode of Nation Outside’s Seeds of Change podcast, Cam and T-Mac sit down with Jerry to talk about coming home after 22 years incarcerated, the barriers he faced, and how peer-led reentry support helped him rebuild.

Jerry shares how Nation Outside and his navigator Charles supported him with basic needs, transportation, job applications, technology, family reunification, and encouragement.

His story is a powerful rem...

What does it mean to become a mother while incarcerated?

In this powerful episode of Seeds of Change, TA Gildy shares her experience giving birth while in prison, being separated from her baby, and navigating a system that too often strips people of basic dignity.

Her story reminds us: people who are incarcerated are still people. Parents. Mothers. Fathers. Loved ones. Community members.

We cannot continue to dehumanize people behind ...

Episode 2 of Nation Outside: Seeds of Change features hosts Cam and Tamir speaking with Hakim Crampton, government relations liaison for Citizens for Prison Reform and founder of the Academic Mentoring and Education Network.

Hakim shares his journey from incarceration to advocacy, explaining how he began organizing, mentoring, consulting, and building programs while still inside prison. He reflects on discovering his value through l...

In this debut episode, Tamir and Camron sit down to explore the story behind Nation Outside, how the organization was founded, and the work they do to support returning citizens across Michigan.

From peer-led support and advocacy to leadership development, employment, housing, and community engagement, Nation Outside is helping create pathways for people impacted by the justice system to thrive.

This episode lays the foundation for t...