Life of a Lifer

Latest Episodes:

Life of a Lifer - JC "Wrong to Strong" Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

Taylor speaks to J.C. Almanza of the fitness program Wrong to Strong. J.C. is also a popular YouTuber with over 22 thousand subscribers, telling stories of his life experiences.

J.C. grew up in Southside Chicago becoming involved in gang activity at a young age. He went on to work for the cartel. J.C. ended up spending four years in a Mexican prison. After his release, he went on to continue a life of criminal activity and ended up in and out of prison. It was during one of his times in prison he became involved with a program led by a man that helped him see he wasn't living his life the way he should.

JC changed his life and founded “Wrong to Strong” a fitness program that helps people change both physically and mentally. He is in the works of creating a non-profit for people coming out of prison to help them become physical trainers and mentor them, helping them to live their best possible life.

This is a really cool interview you don’t want to miss. They discuss different topics related to prison and touch base on how important the power of staying positive is.

Life of a Lifer - Brian Dolinar Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

Taylor speaks with Brian Dolinar, Ph.D. an independent, experienced journalist who specializes in mass incarceration, prison, jails, and police brutality. Similar to Taylor, his goal is to give a voice to those currently and formerly incarcerated as well as their families.

Taylor and Brian speak about how the coronavirus is affecting prisons nationwide, restricting visitations and many facilities are in lockdown.

They go on to discuss senate bills that are coming up in Illinois, Brian’s home state, such as releasing the elderly out of prison and reinstating a parole board, and other legislative measures.

This is a very informative and enlightening discussion that touches base on topics that many are simply unaware of. Many people are uninformed of what is going on pertaining to our laws concerning the incarcerated, especially if they are not connected to anyone in the justice system. We feel that if more people are aware, there will be an outpouring of support that can help influence change.

You can learn more about Brian on his website http://briandolinar.com/. We thank him for being on Life of a Lifer, and to all of your for listening and helping us build a community of support for Taylor and those like him who are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, who deserve a second chance at life.

Check out this interview and don’t forget to go to www.lifeofalifer.com to subscribe to our digital newsletter for weekly updates from Designed Conviction and Life of a Lifer as well as links to new podcast episodes.

Life of a Lifer - Dave Dahl Mar 11, 2020

Show notes

Taylor talks to Dave Dahl, the founder of Dave’s Killer Bread. They discuss the healing properties of art. Dave Dahl is an avid art collector. Art helped change his life, just like Taylor is trying to with his business Designed Conviction.

Dave gave served 15 years in prison, when he was released he started working in his family’s bakery again. He introduced a new recipe for organic non-GMO bread, it became an instant hit at the Portland Farmers Market and Dave became quickly successful. He has given back to his past by hiring formerly incarcerated individuals to work in the factory, giving them a chance. It says on the website that:

“These individuals demonstrate the commitment, the passion and the power to learn and grow, becoming some of the company’s most valued and trusted workers, filling positions from entry-level jobs to management positions responsible for hundreds of employees and critical bakery operations.”

Taylor and Dave go on to discuss more background of Dave’s story, his music and his view on Life Sentences without parole. He will also be a speaker at our event on April 17th in Longview, WA at the Columbia Theatre. For more information and to buy tickets check out https://www.designedconviction.com/freetaylorproject,

Listen to the rest of this interview and more on www.lifeofalifer.com

Life of a Lifer - Bryan Bruton Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

Taylor interviews Bryan Brunton, a man who spent 11 years in a Florida prison. Almost three of those years were spent in solitary confinement. If one is not aware of solitary confinement it is when sensory stimulation and social contact are extremely limited for an inmate. The majority of research suggests a wide range of psychological and physiological effects associated with solitary confinement. It is designed as a way to break down a person mentally and most people claim that it changes them, often for the worse, causing a slew of psychological issues such as PTSD.

Bryan was able to overcome these odds and while his stint in solitary confinement did change him, he was able to focus on the positive aspects of this. Bryan used yoga as a way of getting through, mentally and physically.

Afterward, Bryan served the rest of his sentence and was released with nothing and no one to turn to for financial support, he was able to move to California and he began to try to piece his life back together.

Bryan did his best looking for work after being released but because of his felony record he found this extremely difficult, at one on point living off of eating apples, but Bryan persevered and would not give up. Today Bryan owns two businesses and is a YouTuber with over 18k fans, telling his life story and sharing his positivity towards others. Listen to the full podcast to hear more on Bryan’s life and hear him and Taylor discuss the issues we have in our society regarding the prison system.

Check out Bryan’s YouTube channel and learn more about why he was sent to jail and why he was stuck in segregation for two and a half years. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_S8-o7r0W979pS8j_7snPw

Listen to more of Taylor’s amazing interviews at www.lifeofalifer.com

Life of a Lifer - Sara Bennett Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Taylor has an interview with Sara Bennett, a New Yorker who is a former criminal defense lawyer turned professional photographer, the artist behind www.lifeafterlifeinprison.com. Sara photographed several women serving life in prison in a way to humanize them and bring awareness to people that these are real, relatable women which made a mistake that should not define them as a person. This has become her life’s work as she followed up with some of these women throughout the years documenting their reentry progress. Her work has been exhibited in many countries. Most recently she has been showing her exhibit called the bedroom project, which is also featured on her website, www.lifeafterlifeinprison.com, it is a riveting and emotionally moving project, definitely worth checking out.

Taylor and Sara further discuss the issue of mass incarceration, how her work helps spread awareness and what can be done to help improve our society when it comes to these issues.

Listen to the podcast and read the full transcription on www.lifeofalifer.com. Also available on YouTube.

Life of a Lifer - Bryan Gaver Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

Taylor has a discussion with Bryan Gaver who he and his wife had recently hired to film a candlelight vigil that took place on January 20th in Washington state to support those that are serving life without parole, sentenced to die in prison. During this event Bryan was enlightened to facts he was completely unaware of.

Did you know that Washington, like many other states, does not offer prisoners parole? There are no chances offered to those who have been rehabilitated to earn their freedom and become a member of society. Bryan, like many people, was unaware of this fact. Taylor and Bryan discuss how a major problem wrong with our society is that people are simply unaware of these issues, they have no idea that it costs 30-70 thousand per year to house a single inmate across the United States, and it us, the taxpayers that are paying for this.

They go on to elaborate what could possibly change by spreading awareness to the masses and a better way to spend our tax dollars on our prisoners that will approve the prisons, society, and cost taxpayers less and less instead of costs consistently increasing.

Taylor has a documentary in the works that Bryan will be filming, it will help spread awareness in hopes that like Bryan, when people become aware, they will be happy to support reform which will lead to positive changes.

Hear more episodes at www.lifeofalifer.com

Life If A Lifer - Bobby Bostic Feb 09, 2020

Show notes

Today we are talking with Bobby Bostic, a 41-year-old man that was convicted at the age of 16 who is serving a sentence of 241 years in Missouri. He was given a sentence of 241 years by Judge Evelyn Baker, making him eligible for parole when he is 112. Bobby is serving the longest sentence in Missouri given to a juvenile for non-homicide offenses.
Bostic's case attracted considerable media attention in later years, due to changing laws regarding life-sentences for children, and the severity of his sentence. Judge Baker later stated she regretted giving Bobby the sentence, and actively supported his appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, along with Ken Starr, Sally Yates, Donald B. Verrilli Jr. and over 100 current and former judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers. In April 2018, the Supreme Court denied Bostic's appeal. He is incarcerated at Jefferson City Correctional Center.
During his first year in the Department of Corrections, Bobby obtained his G.E.D, since then he has obtained a Paralegal Diploma and has taken Victim Advocate Coursed through Adama State College. He has also completed a course in nonprofit management and grantsmanship. He has established several blueprints for nonprofit organizations for troubled teens and charities. Bobby has also written fifteen books, nine of them are books of poetry and completed over twenty-five rehabilitation classes.

Visit us at www.lifeofalifer.com
You can find more about Bobby in here

www.freebobbybostic.com/

juvenileliferswithoutparolespeaks.org/

www.nbcnews.com/video/retired-mis…997-1187615299796

www.plough.com/en/topics/justice…ice/in-the-garden

Life of a Lifer - Struggle Jennings Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

In this exciting interview Taylor Conley interviews musical artist Struggle Jennings. For those who aren't familiar with Struggle, he is a Nashville born rapper, his music draws inspiration from his grandfather's outlaw sound, Waylon Jennings, and a modern hip-hop, rock and country traditions.
Struggle has been through it, serving time in prison himself, he can relate to those that are incarcerated and exemplifies the type of person who deserves a second chance at life. He has left his life of drug abuse behind him and has turned into a successful artist and family man, with nine children at home he is caring for.
Taylor and Struggle touch base on his family life, what he has been through, where he is now and where he is going. He talks about the time he spent in prison and how he altered his mind set to make his dreams come true.
Listen to the full interview on www.lifeofalifer.com

Life Of A Lifer - Joseph Dole Feb 02, 2020

Show notes

Today we are talking with Joseph Dole. A Man serving a natural life sentence after being convicted of a double murder in 1998, via a theory of accountability (in other words, aiding others who allegedly committed the crime). It was his first felony conviction for crimes he maintains he is innocent of.

Joe is a co-founder of Parole Illinois, an organization dedicated to fighting against the over sentencing and over monitoring of people convicted of crimes, and the abolition of life without parole sentences. He has written two books; as well as been included in several anthologies, including Lockdown Prison Heart, Two Cruel, Not Unusual Enough and Hell Is a Very Small Place: Voices from Solitary Confinement. He also has been published in Prison Legal News, TruthOut, Justice, Power & Resistance, and numerous other places, including academic journals, and has written several legislative proposals.

Mr. Dole wants to bring Illinois a fair, inclusive, and retroactive parole system. By building a grassroots movement and working with legislators to promote parole legislation that is inclusive and that prioritizes rehabilitation and return to full citizenship.

Visit www.lifeofalifer.com

Life of a Lifer - Naim Al-Amin Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

Taylor interviews Na’im Al-amin, a well educated formerly incarcerated man who is the founder of SWAGG Inc. SWAGG INC or Serve Witness And Give Guidance Inspiration Never Ceases is a non-profit that advocates for criminal justice reform, ending mass incarceration, successful re-entry of formerly incarcerated citizens and youth mentorship. SWAGG INC does this by providing access to employment, marketable training, entrepreneurial development, growth and development workshops, and support from our sponsors UPS, Beyond The Conviction, Strategic Work Force Development and Determination Incorporated, as well as MOVE and LOVE organizations, in pursuit of community reciprocity in perpetuity and business led opportunities organizational development.

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