Our award-winning podcast Life After Prison with Zak and Jules returns for its ninth series. Packed full of fascinating interviews and loads of information to help support people on their journey after release, it continues to break barriers, share stories, and redefine narratives in the criminal justice space.
On Thursday 24th July, presenters Zak and Jules are back for another groundbreaking series, talking to people who have transformed their lives since leaving prison.
In the first episode of series nine Zak and Jules meet Jacob Dunne. At 19, Jacob was sentenced to prison for manslaughter after a one-punch attack that took a man’s life. What followed is a remarkable story of transformation. After meeting the parents of his victim through restorative justice, Jacob went on to earn a first-class honours degree in criminology and has since worked across education, health, criminal justice, and the arts. He is also the co-founder of the CommonGround Justice Project – an initiative engaging voters, victims and communities to build common ground for a safer, fairer justice system. His memoir Right From Wrong was recently adapted – with his creative input – into PUNCH, a critically acclaimed play heading to the West End and Broadway.
Later on in the series Zak and Jules meet Frank Stedman. Frank served nine years in prison due to being involved in one of the UK’s biggest undercover drugs busts. Now, he runs his own scaffolding business and goes into schools to share his story and help young people to make better choices.
This August, Frank is embarking on a fundraising challenge for National Prison Radio. Frank will be walking 200 miles from HMP Styal to HMP Brixton to honour a journey that changed his life, and to raise awareness for the people still walking theirs inside.
A month into Frank’s sentence in 2009, he lost his brother to suicide. He wasn’t allowed to attend his funeral, and instead he was placed in segregation for 10 days. That time broke him, but it also gave him a moment of clarity. He realised he had a choice: give up or walk forward, he chose to walk. This journey represents every hard-fought step since and every person who’s ever had to find strength in the dark. He is doing this for National Prison Radio, to support the voices and lives we keep connected.
We also hear from the cast of the No Behaviour Podcast, Lisa Newman, Isaiah James, Tony Supreme, Kenny Imafidon, Natasha Harris and National Prison Radio’s own Toni and Faye.
“I am very impressed and deeply moved by your programme Life After Prison. It is very encouraging, uplifting, and full of positive energy that has really motivated me. I am really driven to share with inmates on the wing of how much the podcast can do and is doing to inmates lives. The real changes that can be achieved in prison bringing the positive vibes to make a difference within the community. Thank you for the programmes. Your programme has really made a difference to how I perceive things, especially in these tough times we are going through economically, physically and our health and wellbeing. Thank you for your motivation and the encouragement. It’s been really awesome seeing what NPR is doing for inmates.” Listener in HMP Bullingdon
Life After Prison continues to astound with its success. Life After Prison content has recently reached 10 million views on social media channels and 87% of listeners reported increased motivation to make positive changes to their lives.
Last November Zak and Jules were crowned Best Ensemble Cast at the Audio Production Awards, as well as picking up a Bronze award at the British Podcast Awards last September. This is after previously winning Silver for Best Speech Presenters at the UK ARIAS 2024 and being crowned Best New Presenters at the 2023 ARIAS. These awards have proven time and time again just how profound their work to revolutionise the way life can be lived beyond bars truly is.
“Hello Zak and Jules, inspirational people in my eyes and love your podcast. I don’t normally watch or listen to these types of things so to speak, but I can’t lie your show is insightful and very helpful considering I only clicked onto it whilst searching for help in positivity and training prospects to gain things I can use in life on the outside. Well with your shows I’m accomplishing exactly that with thanks to you both and on that note, Jules and Zak you’re forever bigging up companies, helping agencies etc, and thanking them for support and good deeds they do. So, it’s only right you both get the recognition and thanking that you too deserve for the information and explanation in subject matters you provide for watchers/listeners… I was watching part 1 and 2 with Abdul Bangura, and what he has become and achieved and the continuous growth he has had, and hearing some answers in our kind of terminology if you will, really does make that massive, astounding impact compared to lets say a silver spoon fed person that’s never been in a similar walk of life. I’m copying your website into my diary and anyone and every one of the agencies that can help or assist me reach my goals and ambitions to succeed in life. Thank you both again, you helped me in many many ways so continue to do great things, big up yourselves.” Listener in HMP Cardiff
Life After Prison aims to give a voice to people impacted by the criminal justice system. Zak and Jules continue to prove through this podcast that there is life after prison and that transition can be a positive, successful phase in people’s lives.
Life After Prison series nine launches on Thursday 24th July. Life After Prison is available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes and wherever you get your podcasts. Follow and subscribe.
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