The Inside Circle Podcast with Eldra Jackson III

The work of our corrections officers is often difficult and dehumanizing. The prison system perpetuates harm on both sides of the bars and Stephen Walker, a corrections officer for over 30 years - most notably in facilities for incarcerated youth - is passionate about changing that for everyone impacted by incarceration and abuse. He is not proud of the role he played in the system before turning his life around and working to become a deeply kind and compassionate person. Now, he shares his hard-earned wisdom and technical expertise to improve systems and situations for as many people as he can, making that kind of change possible for more people.

Entrepreneur, author and speaker, Cheryl Armstrong, is ready to inspire others with her story of perseverance and personal transformation. Incarcerated as a teenager, she spent almost twenty years in prison. After years of bitter darkness, she started to focus on what she could actually change and made incredible progress - both in her outlook on life and on how she used her time. She earned a master’s degree while in prison and now, as a returned citizen, she’s committed to using her lived experience to serve others. Enjoy this one, folks - Cheryl’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious!

Jarrell Daniels is passionate about changing the narrative of the criminal justice system to ensure that justice and democracy are applied equally to all. Tried as an adult when he was 17, Jarrell was released after serving a six year sentence. Today, as Founder of Justice Ambassadors Youth Council - an interactive social-emotional program for disadvantaged youth - he brings policymakers together with community members and academics to develop strategies and best practices for effective community-centered interventions.  Listen in as Jarrell opens up about his vision and the challenges and joys of his journey.  For more from Jarrell, catch his TED Talk covering the factors that led to his incarceration and his innovative approach to collaborative education between the system and the system-impacted: https://www.ted.com/talks/jarrell_daniels_what_prosecutors_and_incarcerated_people_can_learn_from_each_other

Luis Manzanares spent 15 years in prison and eventually, after witnessing and participating in so much violence, something finally shifted inside him and he realized that he needed to change. Luis had long believed in the righteousness of his gang and what it stood for but through long, unglamorous years on the inside, he came to understand that there were other things that really mattered to him, people who truly cared about him and who he could live for. In this conversation, Luis tells his story of darkness and loss and how he came out the other side. Luis is now running an inspiring YouTube channel called “A Prisoner’s Awakening,” spreading his message that there is so much good to live for and believe in outside of gangs, violence, and anger. With love, humanity, grace, and humor, Luis is now living free and sharing what inspires him.

Raymond Garcia spent 20 years in prison. Since his release, he’s become a vital part of Inside Circle, facilitating circles and participating in groups as part of his unfolding reintegration on the outside. In this special in-person interview, Raymond talks about how he found Inside Circle, the impact that sitting in healing circles has had on his life, and what he hopes to bring to others as a facilitator. Tune in to enjoy Raymond's beautiful understated wisdom that offers a guiding light to anyone seeking to change and deepen their understanding of themselves.

Revealing how the work of Inside Circle extends far beyond prison walls, retiree Jessica Coronado shares how she found Inside Circle and in doing so, tapped into a deep well of support while battling stage 4 cancer. Full of life and hope, this conversation is incredibly inspiring. Don’t miss Jessica’s hard won pearls of wisdom and the opportunity to witness how individuals who have healed themselves and built lives free of the justice system can make a profound and positive impact on the communities they return to - one circle at a time.

Cartis Wilcox and Eldra Jackson III met while serving life sentences in prison. Both are free now and have incredible stories to share. Join them for a wild ride as Cartis details his journey through darkness, strife, and grief to find himself and reflects on his most important lessons this side of transformation.

Join host, Eldra Jackson III, as he sits down with Dr. Curly Moloney to learn how she and her team developed The Cambridge Code, the first digital tool capable of reading and interpreting the mind’s subconscious behavior. With incredible potential to support folks who might have trouble accessing therapy or other psychological support, the Cambridge Code is a powerful new tool for looking at your own mind. In today’s conversation, learn about what’s going on during your most difficult moments and hear all about how the subconscious mind drives your actions, how to find resilience and how to make empowered choices.

Samuel Nathaniel Brown and Jamilia Land are an inspiring duo. Sam was in prison for 24 years, and he got out 16 days before this interview. But his grace and insights in the midst of this transition are matched only by the extraordinary wisdom and strength of his wife, Jamilia.  Collaborating with deep faith and commitment to the work and their community, they are working on both legislation and programs to improve experiences, education, and outcomes for system-impacted people.

Alvin Hall is an incredible historian and producer who documents the history of Black people in America through books, films, podcasts, and television - he’s also a deeply warm and empathetic person. Sharing his favorite wisdom drawn from life, his family and deep study of finance, he’ll pull you in to this practical, heartfelt, and fascinating conversation! And please, don’t forget to check out Alvin’s work at https://alvinhall.com/, you won’t regret it.