The Locked up Living Podcast: Surviving and thriving in prisons and other challenging environments

This extraordinary conversation follows Jeffrey Deskovic, from his teenage years in Westchester County New York State, through his wrongful conviction, 16 years in prison, exoneration, and the long aftermath of rebuilding life on the outside. He also explains how that experience led him to found the Deskovic Foundation for Justice and to work on policy reform and exoneration cases.

Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones guide the discussion through the legal, psychological, and personal impact of coercive interrogation, incarceration, and reintegration.

Checkout the 20 minute documentary, Conviction, on Amazon Prime

https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0T652A1QC6N6Y3K8WSIX2VQW2I

The Deskovic Foundation

https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/

Key topics

Jeffrey’s childhood in Westchester County and how he felt out of place at school.

The murder of his classmate Angela Correa and how Jeffrey became a suspect despite barely knowing her.

The police tactics Jeffrey says led him to make a false confession as a teenager.

The trial, including DNA evidence that did not match him and problems with the defense.

Jeffrey’s 16 years in prison, his efforts to study law, and the friendships that helped him keep going.

His exoneration through later DNA testing and the challenges of rebuilding his life after release.

The ongoing stigma faced by exonerees, even after their innocence is established.

How Jeffrey transformed his experience into advocacy, founded the Deskovic Foundation for Justice, became an attorney, and works to free others and prevent wrongful convictions.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Jeffrey Deskovic’s case

00:43 - Clarifying the timeline of his arrest and conviction

00:57 - Growing up in Westchester

02:33 - The case that led to Jeffrey becoming a suspect

03:29 - Why police focused on Jeffrey

04:56 - The police’s six-week manipulation strategy

05:53 - The lie detector test and isolated transport

07:18 - Hours of questioning

08:45 - The false confession

10:10 - DNA evidence and the trial

11:35 - Problems with the defense

13:03 - Polygraph testimony and missing evidence

14:30 - The conviction

15:19 - Being tried as a 17-year-old

16:27 - Life in prison

17:23 - Studying law and preparing to fight his case

18:20 - Exoneration through DNA testing

19:47 - Supporting one another in prison

21:12 - What helped Jeffrey survive

23:08 - The impact on family relationships

25:12 - The surreal experience of release

26:47 - Therapy and the challenges of reintegration

28:32 - Turning anger into advocacy

29:45 - Compensation and support after release

31:37 - The foundation and Jeffrey’s path to law

33:03 - The foundation’s mission and casework

35:00 - Stigma after exoneration

37:59 - Rebuilding relationships and finding a place in the world

41:16 - Documentaries and raising public awareness

44:23 - Self-care and finding balance

47:18 - Jeffrey’s closing message: wrongful conviction can happen to anyone

This extraordinary conversation follows Jeffrey Deskovic, from his teenage years in Westchester County New York State, through his wrongful conviction, 16 years in prison, exoneration, and the long aftermath of rebuilding life on the outside. He also explains how that experience led him to found the Deskovic Foundation for Justice and to work on policy reform and exoneration cases.

Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones guide the discussion through the legal, psychological, and personal impact of coercive interrogation, incarceration, and reintegration.

Checkout the 20 minute documentary, Conviction, on Amazon Prime

https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0T652A1QC6N6Y3K8WSIX2VQW2I

The Deskovic Foundation

https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/

Key topics

Jeffrey’s childhood in Westchester County and how he felt out of place at school.

The murder of his classmate Angela Correa and how Jeffrey became a suspect despite barely knowing her.

The police tactics Jeffrey says led him to make a false confession as a teenager.

The trial, including DNA evidence that did not match him and problems with the defense.

Jeffrey’s 16 years in prison, his efforts to study law, and the friendships that helped him keep going.

His exoneration through later DNA testing and the challenges of rebuilding his life after release.

The ongoing stigma faced by exonerees, even after their innocence is established.

How Jeffrey transformed his experience into advocacy, founded the Deskovic Foundation for Justice, became an attorney, and works to free others and prevent wrongful convictions.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Jeffrey Deskovic’s case

00:43 - Clarifying the timeline of his arrest and conviction

00:57 - Growing up in Westchester

02:33 - The case that led to Jeffrey becoming a suspect

03:29 - Why police focused on Jeffrey

04:56 - The police’s six-week manipulation strategy

05:53 - The lie detector test and isolated transport

07:18 - Hours of questioning

08:45 - The false confession

10:10 - DNA evidence and the trial

11:35 - Problems with the defense

13:03 - Polygraph testimony and missing evidence

14:30 - The conviction

15:19 - Being tried as a 17-year-old

16:27 - Life in prison

17:23 - Studying law and preparing to fight his case

18:20 - Exoneration through DNA testing

19:47 - Supporting one another in prison

21:12 - What helped Jeffrey survive

23:08 - The impact on family relationships

25:12 - The surreal experience of release

26:47 - Therapy and the challenges of reintegration

28:32 - Turning anger into advocacy

29:45 - Compensation and support after release

31:37 - The foundation and Jeffrey’s path to law

33:03 - The foundation’s mission and casework

35:00 - Stigma after exoneration

37:59 - Rebuilding relationships and finding a place in the world

41:16 - Documentaries and raising public awareness

44:23 - Self-care and finding balance

47:18 - Jeffrey’s closing message: wrongful conviction can happen to anyone

Summary

Sarah Turner is the founder and CEO of CeraThrive, a neurotechnology company that develops red light therapy systems targeting the gut-brain axis.

She formerly worked as a  neuroscientist with degrees in Psychological Sciences and Nutritional Medicine, plus a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Neuroscience.

www.cerathrive.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebelscientist

You can get a 20% discount on the Cera system, just use the code Living20 - at checkout using this link https://www.cerathrive.com/Living

In this episode, Sarah, shares insights on how light therapy, especially near-infrared light, can support brain health, inflammation reduction, and overall well-being. We explore the science behind light structuring water, the impact on neurodegenerative diseases, and practical ways to incorporate light therapy into daily life.

keywordslight therapy, near-infrared, brain health, inflammation, water structuring, neurodegenerative diseases, biohacking, wellness, microbiome, circadian rhythm

key topics

takeaways

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Sarah and her background in neuroscience and biohacking

61:03:10Sarah discusses her transition from pharmaceuticals to light therapy research

2027:43:17The connection between environment, water structuring, and brain health

4277:43:23How light structures water and influences the brain

4999:56:45Development of a consumer-friendly device for light therapy

7138:50:13The science behind red and near-infrared light therapy

9222:10:17The impact of light therapy on inflammation and mitochondrial function

10361:03:39Case study: Light therapy for motor neurone disease

13694:23:55Results of the case study and ongoing research

19249:57:27Safety, side effects, and the body's innate response to light

21305:30:52Addressing light deficiency in modern lifestyles

27222:11:09The microbiome, environment, and mental health

29472:11:18The influence of bacteria on behavior and brain function

31833:18:01Diet, microbiome, and mental health

346666:38:09Improving quality of life through simple interventions

399722:11:46Controlling placebo effects and scientific validation

425833:18:32Light therapy for trauma, nervous system regulation, and sleep

472777:45:19The role of light in stress, environment, and marginalized populations

626388:52:54Future directions: protocols, education, and global health applications

Summary

Sarah Turner is the founder and CEO of CeraThrive, a neurotechnology company that develops red light therapy systems targeting the gut-brain axis.

She formerly worked as a  neuroscientist with degrees in Psychological Sciences and Nutritional Medicine, plus a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Neuroscience.

www.cerathrive.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebelscientist

You can get a 20% discount on the Cera system, just use the code Living20 - at checkout using this link https://www.cerathrive.com/Living

In this episode, Sarah, shares insights on how light therapy, especially near-infrared light, can support brain health, inflammation reduction, and overall well-being. We explore the science behind light structuring water, the impact on neurodegenerative diseases, and practical ways to incorporate light therapy into daily life.

keywordslight therapy, near-infrared, brain health, inflammation, water structuring, neurodegenerative diseases, biohacking, wellness, microbiome, circadian rhythm

key topics

takeaways

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Sarah and her background in neuroscience and biohacking

61:03:10Sarah discusses her transition from pharmaceuticals to light therapy research

2027:43:17The connection between environment, water structuring, and brain health

4277:43:23How light structures water and influences the brain

4999:56:45Development of a consumer-friendly device for light therapy

7138:50:13The science behind red and near-infrared light therapy

9222:10:17The impact of light therapy on inflammation and mitochondrial function

10361:03:39Case study: Light therapy for motor neurone disease

13694:23:55Results of the case study and ongoing research

19249:57:27Safety, side effects, and the body's innate response to light

21305:30:52Addressing light deficiency in modern lifestyles

27222:11:09The microbiome, environment, and mental health

29472:11:18The influence of bacteria on behavior and brain function

31833:18:01Diet, microbiome, and mental health

346666:38:09Improving quality of life through simple interventions

399722:11:46Controlling placebo effects and scientific validation

425833:18:32Light therapy for trauma, nervous system regulation, and sleep

472777:45:19The role of light in stress, environment, and marginalized populations

626388:52:54Future directions: protocols, education, and global health applications

David Jones and Dr Naomi Murphy speak with Ffyona Campbell about her memoir ‘In Black and White’, which recounts the abuse  she experienced as a child at the Sisters of Mercy convent boarding school in Midhurst, and the decades-long process of recovering those memories. The conversation explores her efforts to tell her story, find other survivors, and describes the psychological manipulation she says took place at the school.

This is a difficult but important discussion about trauma, memory, and the search for justice. Ffyona, known for her walks across Africa and the USA, also reflects on the girls who offered her support, her life after recovering memories, and why speaking out matters to her.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B09RG9VKHG

https://www.wildfoodwalks.co.uk/

Key topics

Ffyona discusses In Black and White, her memoir about being a junior boarder at Midhurst from age eight, and why she wrote it.

She describes a memory-recall process that brought back memories of abuse, and the difficulties she says followed when she tried to report it.

The conversation focuses on the “black and white” room, which Ffyona says was altered to confuse and condition children before abuse.

She recounts how changes to the room, courtyard, curtains, and furniture contributed to what she describes as a deliberate system of psychological manipulation.

Ffyona remembers George, an older girl who recognized that the nuns were “messing with our minds,” and whose resistance helped spark rebellion among the girls.

She recalls Grania, who gave her a tiny red crayon, as a rare source of kindness and solidarity.

Ffyona reflects on a painful incident involving her sister and why she no longer blames herself for it.

She discusses why some survivors find the book difficult to read and the challenges she sees in seeking justice without more corroborating testimony.

Ffyona says she has medical evidence of injuries she believes are consistent with abuse, and raises questions about the Sisters of Mercy’s financial records and assets.

She calls for scrutiny of the Sisters of Mercy and a wider network of religious institutions, and says she hopes survivors will know they are not alone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Ffyona Campbell’s memoir and life’s work

02:16 - What In Black and White is about

05:02 - Why she decided to write the book now

06:56 - Writing as a path toward exposing the convent

08:19 - Recovering after homelessness and trauma

10:53 - The strange black and white room

17:19 - How the room was used to torment and confuse children

19:29 - Realizing George understood the abuse too

23:22 - The role of isolation, fear, and the red crayon

31:31 - George, Grania, and the emotional bonds between the girls

34:36 - George forced to fight Sister Catherine

37:14 - Moving into Bracken and new living arrangements

40:07 - Grania’s promise and the burden of memory

42:21 - Trying to tell her parents and being dismissed

47:47 - Why other survivors struggle to read the book

50:41 - Physical evidence and the injuries she says remain

54:13 - Financial concerns and the Sisters of Mercy’s assets

57:00 - How Ffyona believes the convent fit into a wider abuse network

61:14 - Following the money and demanding accountability

62:28 - Why the book matters even without a prosecution

Rodney King (Video); Being Human, Mindfulness, and the Cost of Modern Success

Dr. Rodney King joins David Jones and Dr. Naomi Murphy to trace the arc of a life shaped by poverty, violence, reading, martial arts, and a search for meaning. The conversation moves from embodied mindfulness and leadership to philosophical counselling, chronic illness, and why he is sceptical of the idea that individual effort alone explains success.

In this episode, Rodney shares how surviving Johannesburg’s government housing, homelessness, and an abusive home led him toward martial arts, military service, and eventually doctoral research. We also discuss his book, Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be, and the case for slowing down, breathing, and choosing a more humane way of living.

https://www.coachingphilosophia.org/coach-king

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachrodneyking/

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Rodney King and his journey from Johannesburg to mindfulness research

01:10 - Growing up tough in government housing and learning to survive

02:53 - Why appearing weak was dangerous in his environment

05:28 - The thread connecting martial arts, leadership, and philosophical counselling

06:15 - Homelessness at 17 and finding meaning through reading

07:42 - Military service as a turning point for leadership and self belief

10:03 - Fatherhood, support, and the role of being in his sons’ corner

13:01 - Taking his children back to the area where he grew up

14:35 - His aunt, early mindfulness ideas, and the importance of a champion

17:14 - How Thailand and Muay Thai shaped his understanding of mindfulness

18:37 - Designing PhD research around mindfulness and leadership performance

21:47 - Why martial arts offered a better model for mindfulness under pressure

24:06 - Breath, stress, and a practical drill used with airline cabin crew

28:26 - Short breathing, overload, and the calming effect of the exhale

29:33 - What philosophical counselling is and how it differs from therapy

31:53 - A second PhD on the meaning crisis and philosophical counselling

32:16 - Why Rodney is skeptical of modern success narratives and optimization culture

39:30 - AI advice, accessibility, and why human relationships still matter in therapy

43:05 - Why Rodney stepped back from organizational work

46:04 - The premise of Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be

49:30 - The “walk to nowhere” as a practical antidote to optimization

52:30 - Connection, loneliness, and the loss of community

Notable quotes

“You have always been good enough.”

“The breath tethers you to the present moment.”

“Whatever modernity tells you to do, do the opposite.”

Dr. Rodney King joins David Jones and Dr. Naomi Murphy to trace the arc of a life shaped by poverty, violence, reading, martial arts, and a search for meaning. The conversation moves from embodied mindfulness and leadership to philosophical counselling, chronic illness, and why he is sceptical of the idea that individual effort alone explains success.

In this episode, Rodney shares how surviving Johannesburg’s government housing, homelessness, and an abusive home led him toward martial arts, military service, and eventually doctoral research. We also discuss his book, Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be, and the case for slowing down, breathing, and choosing a more humane way of living.

https://www.coachingphilosophia.org/coach-king

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachrodneyking/

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Rodney King and his journey from Johannesburg to mindfulness research

01:10 - Growing up tough in government housing and learning to survive

02:53 - Why appearing weak was dangerous in his environment

05:28 - The thread connecting martial arts, leadership, and philosophical counselling

06:15 - Homelessness at 17 and finding meaning through reading

07:42 - Military service as a turning point for leadership and self belief

10:03 - Fatherhood, support, and the role of being in his sons’ corner

13:01 - Taking his children back to the area where he grew up

14:35 - His aunt, early mindfulness ideas, and the importance of a champion

17:14 - How Thailand and Muay Thai shaped his understanding of mindfulness

18:37 - Designing PhD research around mindfulness and leadership performance

21:47 - Why martial arts offered a better model for mindfulness under pressure

24:06 - Breath, stress, and a practical drill used with airline cabin crew

28:26 - Short breathing, overload, and the calming effect of the exhale

29:33 - What philosophical counselling is and how it differs from therapy

31:53 - A second PhD on the meaning crisis and philosophical counselling

32:16 - Why Rodney is skeptical of modern success narratives and optimization culture

39:30 - AI advice, accessibility, and why human relationships still matter in therapy

43:05 - Why Rodney stepped back from organizational work

46:04 - The premise of Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be

49:30 - The “walk to nowhere” as a practical antidote to optimization

52:30 - Connection, loneliness, and the loss of community

Notable quotes

“You have always been good enough.”

“The breath tethers you to the present moment.”

“Whatever modernity tells you to do, do the opposite.”

This conversation with clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson, hosted by Dr Naomi Murphy and David Jones, looks at the commercial and cultural drivers of sexual exploitation, and why regulation matters when profit is shaping sexuality online. It also moves into the emotional cost of doing this work, including burnout, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and how to stay grounded when the subject matter is bleak. Dr Hanson explains the work of CEASE and Fully Human, and makes a case for collective action, stronger safeguards for children, and a clearer language for what it means to be human in a rapidly changing digital world.

Key topics

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Dr Elly Hanson

This conversation with clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson, hosted by Dr Naomi Murphy and David Jones, looks at the commercial and cultural drivers of sexual exploitation, and why regulation matters when profit is shaping sexuality online. It also moves into the emotional cost of doing this work, including burnout, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and how to stay grounded when the subject matter is bleak. Dr Hanson explains the work of CEASE and Fully Human, and makes a case for collective action, stronger safeguards for children, and a clearer language for what it means to be human in a rapidly changing digital world.

Key topics

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Dr Elly Hanson

In this interview, Dr Naomi Murphy and David Jones speak with Richard Buckworth about adoption, identity, and the long shadow of unprocessed trauma. Richard shares how his experience as an adoptee shaped his upcoming book, One Voice, and the therapeutic work he now does with family constellations, journey therapy, shamanic healing, and the Enneagram. The conversation explores belonging, self-worth, secrecy, people-pleasing, inherited trauma, and the importance of facing difficult truths with patience and self-awareness.

https://familyconstellationstherapy.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-buckworth-11503966/

Key topics

Timestamps

Introducing Richard Buckworth

Why Richard wrote One Voice

Childhood feelings of not belonging

Emotional shutdown and dissociation

Coping with bullying and avoidance

Adoption, identity, and belonging

Separation at birth and adult mental health

The adoption triad

Understanding adoption at age seven

The confusing story of being “chosen”

Secrecy and having two mothers

What might have changed with earlier awareness

Epigenetics and intergenerational trauma

What family constellation therapy is

Somatic healing and listening to the body

Combining multiple therapeutic modalities

Advice for people disconnected from their roots

“The truth will set you free”

Honesty, family, and the next generation

Notable quotes

“It takes more effort to not feel than to actually feel.”

“The truth will set you free.”

“I was so good at lying to myself.”

Key frameworks

Exploring present issues through family systems and generational patterns.

Releasing emotional blocks and accessing feelings that were shut down.

Exploring ancestral patterns beyond a traditional seven-generation framework.

Understanding motivation, avoidance, and behavioral patterns