#92 - Shaka Senghor: From Prison Cell to MIT Fellow

Watch on YouTube →https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdAQJZzgbPQ

What does it take to transform your life from inside a prison cell? Shaka Senghor spent 19 years in prison, seven in solitary confinement for a murder he committed at 19. Instead of letting it destroy him, he turned his cell into a university, wrote four books, and discovered a purpose that would change everything.

In this raw conversation, Shaka takes us from running away at 14 and being seduced into the drug trade, to the night he pulled the trigger that changed his life forever. He shares what solitary confinement really does to the human mind, the two letters that transformed him (one from his son, another from his victim's godmother offering forgiveness), and the unflinching truth about what's broken in America's criminal justice system. We also discuss his brother's murder in 2021, fatherhood, and the hidden prisons we all carry.

Shaka Senghor is a New York Times bestselling author ("Writing My Wrongs," "How to Be Free"), criminal justice reform advocate, and former fellow at MIT. Since his release in 2010, he's spoken on stages from TED to Oprah's Super Soul Sunday, advised presidents and corporations, and become one of the most powerful voices on redemption and second chances in America.

This conversation challenges everything you think you know about crime, punishment, and whether people can truly change. His message: “Never settle for mediocrity when greatness is available.”

His books include:

• Newest release → How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life's Hidden Prisons
• Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison
• Letters to the Sons of Society

Book Recommendations from Shaka:

• "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen
• "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz
• "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

Organizations Mentioned:

• Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
• Syncopated Ladies (Chloe and Maud Arnold)

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Trailer
00:59 Meet Tim Green
01:35 Introducing Shaka Senor
02:30 The Power to Change Your Life
04:38 The Need for Safety
06:43 The Path from Abuse to the Streets
11:58 The Impact of Gun Violence
15:54 Inside Solitary Confinement
18:59 The Journey of Self-Improvement
21:30 The Road to Redemption
32:46 The Power of Forgiveness
33:26 The Three Miracles and Mentorship
34:03 A Father's Turning Point
34:47 The Power of Writing in Prison
36:37 Feedback and Growth as a Writer
37:59 Exploring Faith and Spirituality
40:57 Conversations with My Sons
44:05 Reforming the Incarceration System
52:20 Personal Reflections and Achievements
59:39 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
01:01:02 Rapid Fire Questions

SPONSORS:
ElevenLabs: Thanks to ElevenLabs (https://elevenlabs.io) for supporting this episode and powering Tim’s voice.

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