Prison Mindfulness

In this episode, Lama Justin von Bujdoss talks with Vita Pires about his experiences working as a chaplain for the New York City Department of Corrections. 

• Shadow sides of working in prisons
• Limitations of mindfulness work for highly traumatized populations (the incarcerated and correctional staff)
• How to do this work in a culturally sensitive and authentic manner

JUSTIN VON BUJDOSS Lama Justin von Bujdoss is an American...

In this episode, Gabriella Savelli talks with Fleet Maull about her work with the International Association for Human Values. 

• The International Association of Human Values (IAHV) program-reducing offender recidivism
• The impact of secular breath-work on prisoners and prison staff
• Actualizing networks of programs with different modalities for positive systemic change

GABRIELLA SAVELLI Ms Savelli became Director of the IAH...

In this episode, Jared Seide talks with John MacAdams about his work as the Executive Director for the Center for Council. 

• What Council looks like inside prisons
• How Council embodies mindfulness and supports compassion
• Benefits of learning presence, resisting distraction, and speaking/listening from the heart

JARED SEIDE Jared Seide is author of the book, “Where Compassion Begins: Foundational Practices to Enhance Mindf...

In this episode, Rebecca Foster talks with Vita Pires, about her experiences bringing PMI's Path of Freedom training into prisons. 

• Training “Inside” apprentices (facilitator training for incarcerated men & women)
• Integrating laughter, movement & play into the classroom
• The transformative power of social meditation “Inside”

REBECCA J FOSTER Rebecca Foster is a meditation teacher, conscious dance facilitator, and Hatha (tr...

In this episode, Kalen McAllister speaks with Fleet Maull about Laughing Bear Bakery, and the resources and opportunities it gives those who are formerly incarcerated. 

• Starting “The Laughing Bear Bakery” business focused on employing ex-prisoners on parole (https://laughingbearbakery.org/)
• The barriers and rewards to starting a business of this nature
• Active ways to build self-worth and dignity of parolees in transition

...

In this episode, Roshi Fleet Maull talks with John MacAdams about his time incarcerated and the creation of the Prison Mindfulness Institute (Prison Dharma Network).

• Origins of Prison Dharma Network
• The only real choice; "Practice like my hair was on fire"
• Unending opportunities to serve the world on the outside

FLEET MAULL Fleet Maull, PhD is an author, meditation teacher, mindset coach, social entrepreneur and peacemak...

In this episode, Venerable De Hong talks with Vita Pires about his work with the Engaged Buddhist Alliance, providing programs in facilities and through correspondence courses. 

• How Buddhist Psychology supports Insight Development & Trauma Healing
• Working with those serving life (or LWOP) sentences
• Developing correspondence curriculums

VENERABLE DE HONG Ven. De Hong has taught Buddhist Psychology and Mindfulness Meditati...

In this episode, Marshall Lane talks with Fleet Maull on his experiences with addiction and incarceration and his life post-incarceration, focusing on his work with Tiffany's Recovery Inc. 

• The complexities of recovering from addiction in prison and the role meditation can play
• Taking responsibility and shifting self-blame/shame from the past to create a better future for self and all human beings
• TRI Recovery- helping to coord...

In this episode, Carmen Alonso talks with John MacAdams about her experiences facilitating PMI's Path of Freedom program. 

• Connecting incarcerated folks with the outside community through each group taking PMI’s Path of Freedom course and writing to each other
• Working in supermax and maximum security environments
• Cultivating humility and patience as qualities necessary for effective service

CARMEN ALONSO Carmen Alonso is...

In this episode, Gail Jackson speaks with  Sandy Inkster about her experiences working as a probation and parole officer, and her work with drumming and sound immersion. 

• Mindfulness Inside: Point of view of a parole/probation officer/certified mindfulness teacher
• Drumming, gongs and sound immersion: how it helps ground both prisoners and those working in prisons
• Creating immersive environments for those traumatized by racial v...

In this episode, Dave Smith talks with Vita Pires, about his work in prisons and recovery groups. 

• What is the Secular Path of Dharma?
• Prison work as service work.
• Training in mindfulness-based emotional intelligence in prisons and recovery groups.

DAVID M SMITH Dave Smith is an internationally recognized Buddhist meditation teacher, addiction treatment specialist, and published author. His background is rooted in the In...

In this episode, Michael Yellow Bird speaks with Fleet Maull about his experiences working with indigenous youth, and his research focused on "Neurodecolonization".  

• The systemic impacts of Colonization and abolishing indigenous sacred meditative practices
• “Neurodecolonization” The conceptual mindfulness framework and healing trauma in incarcerated, indigenous groups
• Building cognitive resilience in indigenous yo...

In this episode, Leslie Booker speaks with cohost Julie Paquette about her time working with incarcerated youth.

• “What do we do about it?” The inspiration to truly see the unseen
• The process of developing trust
• “The function of freedom is to free someone else"

LESLIE BOOKER Booker is a Buddhist Meditation Teacher, Writer and Lover of Liberation. She shared the practices of yoga and mindfulness with children who had been ...

In this episode, Michal Warshavsky speaks with Vita Pires, about her work bringing mindfulness practices to Israeli prisons and rehab centers through "The Quiet Within".

• Working within a deeply divided society with Israeli/Palestinian prisoners
• Developing paths for more prisoners to be actively involved in class presentations
• The power of a bi-lingual meditation book to be an anchor for change

MICHAL WARSH...

In this episode, Kim Grose Moore speaks with John MacAdams about her work as executive director of the GRIP Training Institute. 

• Leaving prison before you get out: A year of deep transformation
• The power of accountability and forgiveness for those sentenced to custody (and for all of us)
• Maintaining program integrity, consistency and impact while scaling-up mindfulness-based programs in prison

KIM GROSE MOO...

In this episode, Dr. Sam Himelstein speaks with Fleet Maull about his work with the Center for Adolescent Studies and his experiences with incarcerated youth.

• The impact of having positive and supportive role models for incarcerated youth
• The pros and cons of tech programs and apps for mindfulness
• Authenticity and predictability as a foundation for trauma-informed mindfulness
• Teaching from a space of presence, str...

In this episode, Robina Courtin speaks with Vita Pires, about her correspondence work with prisoners and her experiences with the Liberation Prison Project.

• Knowing the nature of the mind: the path of dharma inside
• The power of learning dharma through the mail with a prison pen pal
• “You could sit through a month of fiction films and not come across a character half as interesting as Robina Courtin”- Jake Wilson, U...

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Michael Christie speaks with John MacAdams about his experiences starting as a volunteer and then as an employed chaplain and supervisor working for the Connecticut Department of Corrections. 

• Moving from volunteer to full-time professional in prison
• How each volunteer’s self-awareness is essential to being impactful in prison
• Th...

In this episode, Venerable Thubten Chodron speaks with Fleet Maull about her work with Sravasti Abbey and her experiences providing resources and support for incarcerated individuals.

• The transformative nature of compassion when working with incarcerated individuals
• The importance of diversity in the Buddhist teaching groups offered to prisoners.
• Offering incarcerated individuals tools/skills before release to ease the transi...