Bonus Episode: Hands of Stone

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 healing. Through his art, Jorge has rediscovered his true self and is now on a mission to inspire young people to avoid the same mistakes he made. 

Jorge’s story is a testament to the fact that there’s so much more to a person than their past, and we hope this episode encourages you to look beyond mistakes and see the humanity in everyone.

This content may be sensitive or disturbing to some listeners.

Executive Producer: Diane Kahn
Producer: Elaine Ferguson
Producer: Emerson Swift
Producer: Laura Hardy
Editor: Josh Latham
Music: Jacob Bloomfield-Misarch
Artwork: Jorge Ramirez

A special thank you to the Ahimsa Collective and the Mend Collective. Ahimsa focuses on restorative justice, fostering healing and accountability through dialogue between victims and offenders, while Mend supports emotional and psychological healing through community-based initiatives. A heartfelt thanks as well to Martina Lutz Schneider and Miguel Quezada, whose dedication to restorative practices and conflict resolution has been vital in advancing these important efforts.