Cracked Open in Folsom: Ari Rosen on Freedom Through Feeling - Episode 82

In this episode of the Inside Circle Podcast, host Eldra Jackson III sits down with chef, restaurateur, and Inside Circle facilitator Ari Rosen. Ari shares his journey from growing up in Northern California with loving parents, to navigating bullying, building successful restaurants, and ultimately finding himself burned out and disconnected from his emotions.

A pivotal moment came in 2017, when Ari entered New Folsom Prison for an Inside Circle weekend intensive—an experience that cracked open years of numbness and showed him the beauty and raw humanity that exists even within prison walls.

Today, Ari continues to bring that same work back inside prisons and into his own life as a father, husband, and community leader. With honesty and humility, he speaks about the costs of always "handling everything," the lessons learned from his children, and the transformative power of stepping into vulnerability.

This conversation is an invitation to all who long for connection, safety, and freedom to feel.

Learn more about Inside Circle's work—or make a donation to support their mission at insidecircle.org