Four years ago this week, we launched Life After Prison after people in prison across England and Wales told us they wanted the support National Prison Radio had provided throughout their sentences to continue after release.
So, we made a podcast to pick up the baton at the prison gates. And boy has it run fast since.
Hosted by Zak and Jules, Life After Prison has reached thousands of people in prison, thousands more after release, family members, friends, people working in the system and millions more online. All while filling its pockets with trophies, medals and, most recently, billboards in Leicester Square.
Across hundreds of episodes and 200+ guests, we’ve shared support, hope, community and so much proof that there really is life after prison.
And this year, we even took to the stage at London Podcast Festival. A pretty important moment for our not so little podcast.
© Kings Place, Viktor Erik Emanuel
This felt important because Zak, Jules and Life After Prison were up there sharing a stage (literally) with the top pod dogs. Because it showed that we haven’t just arrived on the podcast scene, we’ve cemented our place in it.
It felt important because we were in a room with the people who helped carve out our success, and people we’ve helped carve out their own. From prison leavers to prison psychologists, all big listeners of LAP.
And most of all, it felt important because we filled a room with powerful lived experience voices. Because space and time had been made for people with experience of prison.
Life After Prison was made by prison leavers, for prison leavers. But over the last four years, we’ve seen its impact stretch much further, helping families, friends, professionals and people who have never experienced prison better understand the realities and challenges of life after release.
And that matters. Because changing what life after prison looks like isn’t just about supporting people leaving prison. It’s about changing how the rest of us understand and support them, too.
Taking our place at London Podcast Festival showed us, and everyone else, that there’s a space for people with experience of prison at the table. And that’s a great thing.
Happy 4th birthday, Life After Prison! 🎈
A massive thank you to everyone who’s tuned in, trusted us with their experiences, shared their knowledge, worked their magic behind the scenes and helped make the podcast what it is today. We’re nowhere near done yet.
🎧 Listen to Life After Prison, including our special episode recorded live at London Podcast Festival, wherever you get your podcasts.
