George Ryan's legacy is built largely on being the Illinois Governor who halted prison executions. The son of a pharmacist, Ryan grew up in Kankakee County where he launched one of the most storied and complicated political careers in Illinois history

In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin revisit a conversation we had with Illinois' 39th governor on May 2nd 2021. Mr. Ryan died May 2, 2025, at age 91. You'll hear Lissa & Thom's personal reflections on former Governor Ryan. Plus, Mr. Ryan shares what drove him to write the book Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped the Death Penalty in Illinois.