Leslie has served more time in prison than anyone ever interviewed on Ear Hustle: over half a century, for a crime committed when she was 19. Four times, the parole board has deemed her fit for release. Each time, California’s governor denied i

Bonus

Introducing: Ideas from the Trenches: The Resilience of Incarcerated Women

Jun 21st, 2021 55m 8s

Ideas with Nahlah Ayed is a deep-dive into contemporary thought and intellectual history. No topic is off-limits. In this episode, you’ll hear from PhD student Rachel Fayter who was incarcerated for more than three years. She draws from her exp

Episode 9: Legacy

Jun 14th, 2021 30m 14s

Prison isn’t just painful for the person sent away. Rosemary left four children behind when she was locked up. She sits down with her two oldest twins for a difficult conversation about what her incarceration and absence was like for them. They

Episode 8 : Surviving the Hole

Jun 7th, 2021 24m 51s

The hole, the shoe, segregation. Whatever you call it, many human rights advocates consider solitary confinement a form of torture. Rosemary recounts her experience in solitary – what she describes as the most difficult moments of her life, and

Episode 7: The After Times, Part 2

May 31st, 2021 38m 54s

Hard reality begins to set in for Diana as her home life starts to crumble. Mary’s hopes for freedom are derailed by her struggles with addiction.For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/life-jolt-tra

Episode 6: The After Times, Part 1

May 24th, 2021 38m 25s

Surviving a prison sentence is only half the battle. Getting out - and staying out - can be just as tough. Emily was a successful entrepreneur before she became a drug mule. Now that she’s out, she’s ready to start over with a new prison-inspir

Episode 5: Inside and Indigenous

May 17th, 2021 44m 1s

Indigenous people account for five percent of Canada’s population, yet Indigenous inmates make up 30 percent of the country’s federal prison system. For Indigenous women, the number jumps up 42%. We share the stories of Chance and Alison, whose

Episode 4: Parenting from the Pen

May 10th, 2021 43m 20s

Prison can be especially difficult for mothers. They struggle with separation and guilt as their kids are raised by grandparents, partners, exes or worse - by strangers. Melissa was staring down a three-year sentence with a baby only weeks away

Episode 3: The Loop

May 3rd, 2021 32m 20s

For repeat offenders like Mary, the criminal justice system can feel like a never-ending loop. It’s a cycle of crime and incarceration rooted in poverty, addiction and trauma. Mary learns how prison can feel inevitable when small mistakes carry

Episode 2: Welcome to Grand Valley

Apr 26th, 2021 43m 24s

Grand Valley Institution is the federal penitentiary for women in Ontario, and it’s where first time prisoners Diana and Emily will serve their time. It’s where they learn the ropes of prison life and begin personal reckonings about the paths a

Episode 1: The Before Times

Apr 26th, 2021 35m 12s

The road to prison begins with a period of uncertainty and dread – the time between arrest and sentencing. It’s before your day in court, before you've been convicted or acquitted. First time prisoner Diana learns that if you’re lucky you get b

Trailer

Introducing: Life Jolt

Apr 1st, 2021 2m 16s

Life Jolt — prison slang for a life sentence — brings you the lives of women navigating Canada’s correctional system. Host Rosemary Green, who spent five years in prison herself, guides us through tough issues like solitary confinement, parenti