In Episode 6 of Free World, you’ll meet ARC Member Blanca Ruiz-Thompson and hear her story of overcoming the cycles of violence and incarceration that has plagued so many families. Blanca’s resilience and dedication to choosing love over violence and refusing to be distracted from her blessings, has made her into the incredible wife, mother, and advocate she is today. In the Free World Blanca’s heart is with supporting and uplifting the children of incarcerated parents through organizing “Let’s Kick it With the Kids” and her own non-profit Brianna’s Closet. Brianna’s Closet provides Mom’s in need with blankets, beanies, and clothes for their children and surprise birthday parties for the children of incarcerated parents.

Episode 4 of Free World features the incomparable Rep. Tarra Simmons, the first formerly incarcerated state legislator in Washington state history. Rep. Simmons is an elected official, a lawyer, an advocate, a mother, and the Executive Director of the Civil Survival Project. In this episode, she details her incredible journey to the Washington state legislature to our hosts Norma and Shone. You’ll hear how her time in prison and immediately following shaped her future, how she is a force for generational change, and about the things we don’t always talk about for women in reentry.

In Episode 3 of Free World, you’ll hear our very first guest Dolores Canales share her story of resilience through her journey on both sides of the walls. Dolores will guide you through the barriers that she navigated as she helped those inside and continues to advocate for the women and men that she feels so passionately about. You’ll hear about the challenges she faced, turning herself into custody, and finding shared strength with a young boy who taught her to enjoy the ride.

An ARC member, Dolores Canales is the Community Outreach Director for The Bail Project. Previously a Soros Justice Fellow, Dolores is the co-founder of California Families Against Solitary Confinement and worked as a youth coordinator for the Orangewood Children’s Foundation. She is the founder of Family UnIty Network and serves on the board of National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. Dolores brings a wealth of leadership experience in organizing with those personally affected by incarceration, drawing from her own experiences as well as having a family member who is incarcerated. She currently serves as The Director for the National Network of Solitary Survivors and Families project and advocates to end the use of solitary confinement.

In Episode 2 of Free World, you’ll learn from Norma and Shone about their journey before prison and what it was like not knowing if they’d ever come home. Norma will share what it was like to have such a young son while incarcerated and our two hosts will discuss their pathway to freedom. Plus, you’ll hear about the hilarious and unusual parts about reentering society after so much time away.

In the debut episode of FREE WORLD, you’ll jump right in with our hosts Norma and Shone as they take you through some of their first days in prison, the dehumanization within our prison system, and the stigmas of coming home. There will be some laughs, too, especially as it concerns the creation of the 210 freeway. Together, Norma and Shone have experienced 40 years of incarceration but are home and free, thriving.

In this introduction, you'll hear from our hosts Norma and Shone about what to expect in the debut season of Free World, a podcast presented by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. 

FREE WORLD is a podcast about women reconstructing their lives after incarceration. In this series we hear stories from women and non-binary individuals about the ways prison tears at the bonds of family, the triumphs of resilient human beings, and what’s it like to put a life back together in freedom.