WORTH MORE

“When I was young, my mother would forget to pick me up from school.”

Lincoln Lynch's story begins with childhood disadvantage, homelessness and a life shaped by addiction, incarceration and a justice system that repeatedly failed to provide a pathway forward.

He ran away from home at 12. He didn't begin working until he was 39.

And he still remembers the first time he earned what he calls “honest money” — being paid to collect used hand towels.

In this first episode of WORTH MORE, we sit down with Lincoln to explore his journey through the justice system, the dignity of meaningful work, and what it takes to rebuild a life when society can make assumptions about who you are.

It's a conversation about responsibility, opportunity, resilience and the importance of seeing people for more than their past.

Since our conversation, Lincoln has continued to share his lived experience to advocate for justice reform, including raising the age of criminal responsibility. He is part way through a Bachelor of Psychological Science and has bought his own home.

Lincoln's story challenges us to ask a simple question:

What are we missing when we make it harder for formerly incarcerated people to earn honest money?

Recorded in April 2025 and published with the permission of Lincoln. WORTH MORE is an independent podcast presented by Cercle.

About Cercle

Cercle is a multi-award-winning, Australian certified social enterprise, reuse platform helping workplaces, venues and events replace single-use packaging with technology-enabled reusable systems. Through Australian innovation, integrated logistics and commercial washing infrastructure, Cercle makes reuse easier to adopt, measurable and scalable. Contact [email protected].