The Prison Podcast
The Prison Podcast gives voice to survivors of violent crimes and the individuals convicted of those crimes, uncovering powerful stories that are often excluded from public discourse. Hosted by Diane Kahn, Executive Director of Humans of San Quentin, the podcast focuses on the transformative process of Victim Offender Dialogue—a facilitated meeting in a prison setting where survivors of harm meet face-to-face with those responsible for it. This process allows both sides to share their experiences, ask and answer difficult questions, and explore the potential for understanding and healing. In each episode, we delve into the intimate, often challenging dynamics of these dialogues, offering an unfiltered look at the complexities of harm, accountability, and reconciliation. The conversations are raw and transformative, as participants navigate difficult emotions, confront their pasts, and ultimately experience profound personal and communal growth. Unlike traditional true crime media, The Prison Podcast prioritizes reconciliation, personal agency, and the human side of justice. It’s a platform for empathy and understanding, designed to challenge assumptions and inspire meaningful change. A heartfelt thank-you to the Ahimsa Collective, whose vision and support have been essential in bringing this podcast to life. From programs like People First Reentry to Healing Pathways, their commitment to restorative justice and community healing is woven through every episode. To learn more about Victim Offender Dialogue, please visit their website at https://www.ahimsacollective.net/vods. Finally, we’re proud to feature Hands of Stone, the podcast’s cover art, created by Jorge—an artist whose personal journey aligns deeply with our themes of resilience and transformation. Music by Jacob Bloomfield-Misrach. About Humans of San Quentin We are a humanitarian non-profit sharing the lives of people inside prison with the outside world. Our mission is to collect real stories shared by incarcerated people in order to bring awareness and build connections. Our aim is to give voice to the unheard. We aspire to educate and build compassion by sharing the lives of humans living behind bars. Our work is a reminder of our shared humanity. Through first-person narrative storytelling, we present personal stories which break down stereotypes and humanize people living behind bars. Employing presently and previously incarcerated people whenever possible, HoSQ engages everyone – both inside and outside of prison – with educational opportunities for growth, healing and creating lasting societal change. We invite you to visit our website at https://humansofsanquentin.org/ to learn more about our work. If you feel inspired, we welcome your support through a donation to further our efforts in promoting positive rehabilitation within prisons and fostering a deeper public understanding of this transformative process.
Episodes
This week features a special bonus episode of The Prison Podcast! We sit down with Jorge, an incarcerated artist from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, whose powerful artwork graces our show. During his time in prison, Jorge not only discovered his passion for art but also learned to read and write so he could read his mother’s heartfelt letters. This journey of self-education unlocked new opportunities for personal growth and hea...
In this episode, Martina from the Ahimsa Collective takes us into the often misunderstood world of Victim-Offender Dialogue. With deep empathy and insight, she explores the traumatic experiences that shape both survivors and offenders. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing is possible through compassionate listening and understanding, rather than through punishment. Drawing on years of experience, Martina shares with us how...
This week, Diane sits down with Tristan, who shares his journey of confronting the childhood trauma he endured. At a young age, Tristan made the difficult decision to speak out, leading to his cousin’s arrest. His cousin's actions, which had affected not only Tristan but others as well, eventually led to his imprisonment.
Tristan's path to healing also included a challenging step: a victim-offender dialogue with the cousi...
In this episode, Steven opens up about his tumultuous past — growing up on welfare, surviving through drug dealing, and enduring the lasting effects of domestic violence. He reflects on how his life spiraled into addiction and the long, painful journey toward self-awareness and healing. Steven also shares a poignant memory of a chance encounter with Floyd, Michele’s husband, and the profound consequences that followed, culminating ...
This week’s episode shares Michele’s remarkable journey. After losing her husband during a burglary, her grief hardened into anger toward the man responsible. This anger overshadowed her ability to reflect on her husband’s own challenges, including his temper and tendency to escalate conflict.
Over time, Michele came to a painful yet liberating realization: her husband’s actions had likely contributed to the tragic events...
Today, we’re speaking with Alan, the person responsible for the tragic death of Emily, whose story we discussed in last week's episode. While intoxicated, Alan struck Emily, leading to her death. In that episode, we heard from Emily’s mother, Elle, who shared her deeply moving journey of grief and healing. Both Elle and Alan participated in the Victim-Offender Dialogue program.
In this episode, we’ll hear directly from Alan, wh...
This week’s episode features Elle, a mother who shows us the profound beauty of carrying grief with grace. She faced the devastating loss of her daughter, Emily, in a tragic accident caused by a drunk driver in Los Angeles.
Over time, Elle's journey moved from grief and anger to a place of healing, ultimately leading her to meet with Alan, the driver who took her daughter from her. Together, they participated in a Victim-Offend...
Today’s guest is Christopher, who served 25 years in various California prisons as part of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. During his time in prison, he acted as Jane’s surrogate in their Victim-Offender Dialogue.
In this context, a surrogate is someone convicted of a similar crime, though not the perpetrator of the offense against the specific victim. The surrogate’s role is to help bridge the gap, allowing the vi...
Today, we have a remarkable guest joining us: Jane, who has an incredibly powerful story to share. As a survivor of rape, Jane has faced unimaginable trauma, yet her journey of healing and empowerment is truly inspiring.
In this episode, Jane opens up about her experience participating in a Victim-Offender Dialogue with a surrogate offender—someone who committed a similar crime but was not the individual who harmed her. T...
In the last episode, Melissa shared the heartbreaking story of losing her father, killed by Matthew in 1993 when he was just 22 years old. Now, after 30 years of incarceration, Matthew opens up about his experience, offering a powerful example of trauma, growth, and reconciliation even in the most unimaginable circumstances.
Since his conviction, Matthew has participated in a rare victim-offender dialogue with Melissa. Th...
In this powerful first episode, The Prison Podcast dives into the gripping and emotional journey of Melissa, a woman grappling with loss, forgiveness, and love after the tragic death of her father during a family gathering. As she reflects on the profound impact of that day, Melissa opens up about the complex emotions that followed and the healing power of letting go.
This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some li...
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