Eldra Jackson was serving life in New Folsom prison and in and out of the prison system for almost 30 years. This is his journey of rehabilitation, extreme ownership, self work and intense growth.Key themes of the episode:The desire to be respected and feared in prisonHow he had an image of strength as a mask to fearThe choices and impact that solitary confinement had on his lifeWhy men need permission to feel and explore themselvesThe importance of rites of passage and ritualsThe origin story of Inside CircleReleasing negative energy as a source of healingHow men can access their deeper truths and why it takes strengthWhat the parole process looks like when getting release from prisonWhat he's doing to ensure he doesn't pass down his trauma to the next generation

This was an amazing episode and I'm so thankful to Eldra for speaking with me. Again, I am willing to pay for 10 people to watch the documentary by The Inside Circle called "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iddt4sVZTvIandab_channel=YouTubeMovies (The Work)". You can find it on YouTube, Amazon Prime and I believe a few other options. It only costs $5 to rent but it will provide so much more depth as to the context and importance of the work that Eldra went through and facilitated in prison. Make sure to https://www.instagram.com/inside__circle/ (follow them on Instagram).About Eldra: Eldra is a writer and sought after public speaker on the topics of at-risk youth advocacy, effective criminal justice rehabilitation and turning around ‘toxic’ masculinity, Eldra brings clarity of purpose, mission focus, and inspiration to his role at Inside Circle. He was an inmate at New Folsom Prison when he found Inside Circle and began the inner personal journey that eventually led to his release in 2014 and his current leadership role. A living example of successful rehabilitation and re-entry, Eldra has dedicated his free time on the outside to serving at-risk youth, and acting as a facilitator, trainer, and mentor. As always, feel free to follow me on Instagram @theimperfectpod or shoot me an email at [email protected]