While We Were Away

In this episode, Rick talks shop about prison politics, policies, and justice. He explores an ostracized childhood full of art and culture, and what it means to him to have raised himself out of childhood while inside, He shows us the anxiety of reentry and strategies that can help in becoming: your own therapist, your own parent, your own best self. His advice to others? Be like water.

In this episode, Scary discusses the small, strange privileges of returning home, from attending a funeral to being able to lock a door. He builds an argument for his zen mentality, pointing out that there is little in the world outside that is as upsetting as life inside prison. Finally, he grapples with some of his own behavioral patterns and wonders whether, at the age of 63, some things are worth changing.

In this episode, AyLaina describes the miracle of her family, past and present, and gives advice on how to hold down and advance in a job. She journeys through the multiple roles she has held as a woman, mother, daredevil, poet, wife, and formerly incarcerated person. Each has come with particular stigmas, and their intersection is not always easy to navigate, but AyLaina shows us how to honor all parts of yourself in order to find peace.

In this episode, Kevin’s ambition and positive outlook shines. He talks about his lowest points, experiencing homelessness and working four jobs in a strange city. These experiences strongly informed Kevin’s entrepreneurial spirit. He walks us through his upbringing, from his fraught relationship with his parents to his struggles with ADD. Cycling in and out of jail was tough, but Kevin provides insight into goal setting and Buddhist practices that can help turn your life around.

Content warning: this episode contains stories of abuse.

Content warning: this episode contains mention of rape.

In this episode, Alan shares his love for art with his Anishinaabe community. He describes his various encounters with the police since coming home, and talks about the joys of tinkering with his new house. A master of all trades, Alan weaves his time inside, the native community, children, his dog and the police together through the lens of a budding artist and a love for tattoos.

In this episode, Romando discusses what it means to be somebody, inside and outside the walls. He advises those coming home and their families to communicate clearly about their needs. He tells us the story of his arrest as a veteran suffering from PTSD, and his decision to cut off his addictions while incarcerated. Maltreatment in the prison has caused Romando partial blindness since coming home, but he talks about leaning on his newfound faith in Islam to find community and hope.

In this episode, Toni talks to women and survivors everywhere. She shares what she has learned about trauma and informed practices of healing and dealing with triggers. She advises fellow survivors on how to focus on themselves and speaks directly to her daughter, discussing who she wants to be as a mother and the hope she sees for her family.

In this episode, Jonathan wrestles with the notion of “telling”–whether to reveal his past, and the effects of that on his present relationships. He speaks of his dogged persistence in getting to where he is today, from saving money by riding a bike to teaching himself coding from textbooks. Through all this shines his gratitude and enthusiasm for the challenge of his new career.