What if empathy begins when we stop asking, “What’s wrong with this person?” and start asking, “What happened to them?”

In this powerful Part 1 conversation, Jenny and Kristine sit down with licensed clinical social worker Amanda Feldman, who works inside a men’s maximum security prison counseling individuals navigating trauma, addiction, and healing. Amanda shares what drew her to this deeply challenging work, the humanity she sees behind prison walls, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences on adult behavior.

One of the most moving moments of the episode centers around Amanda’s decision to spend an entire weekend confined to her bathroom in an effort to better understand the isolation and limitations her clients experience every day. Through this eye-opening experience, she reflects on empathy, emotional safety, resilience, and the importance of looking beneath the surface of people’s actions and choices.

Together, the conversation explores how early wounds shape behavior, why curiosity creates connection, and what parents, educators, and all of us can do to build more compassion in our everyday lives.

This episode is a reminder that every adult was once a child—and that empathy has the power to change the way we see one another.

Poem - Cause I Ain't Got a Pencil by Joshua T. Dickerson

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Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

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