The Hustler Files with Lisa Reilly - Stories That Challenge What You Thought You Knew

Northwestern Massachusetts District Attorney David Sullivan is always up for a powerful conversation that challenges conventional ideas of justice, and what it truly means to serve a community. From traditional prosecution to innovative restorative justice practices, Sullivan shares how his office is working to balance accountability with opportunity, giving both victims and offenders, a voice in the process. Rooted in a model that dates back threethousand years, restorative justice shifts the focus from punishment to repairing harm, creating space for dialogue, responsibility, and transformation. Through real-life examples and candid insights, this conversation offers a rare look inside the evolving role of a modern District Attorney and the systems working to create lasting change. This episode is a reminder that justice isn't always about punishment. Sometimes, it's about understanding, accountability, and the possibility of a different outcome.

In Part 2 of the conversation with the Seattle Clemency Project, we are joined by Brooke Kaufman, Director of Communications and Author, at the SCP, and client Grady Mitchell. In a deeply personal look at what clemency truly means, not just in policy, but in people's lives, Grady shares his journey of transformation, purpose, and paying forward the hope he was given. It was his hope that helped him face unimaginable personal challenges with unwavering strength, during his 37-year incarceration. This episode goes beyond the legal process, revealing the human impact of second chances in a system where parole does not exist. Through stories of resilience, advocacy, and belief in human potential, this conversation is just another reminder that redemption isn't just possible, it's lived, every day.

In Part 1 of a two-part conversation, we sit down with leaders from an organization working at the intersection of justice, advocacy, and second chances. The Seattle Clemency Project is a lifeline for so many incarcerated individuals who may have been eligible for parole, if the State of Washington had a parole system. Musa Abul-Mateen, Executive Director of SCP, and a formerly incarcerated individual, and Jennifer Smith, Co-Founder and Development Director of SCP explore the shared humanity behind the system, challenging assumptions and the critical work being done to support individuals navigating complex legal and personal journeys. With honesty and insight, this conversation underscores a powerful truth: we are more alike than we are different. It's a reminder that real impact happens when compassion, accountability, and opportunity come together.

From surviving abuse, instability, and homelessness to building a national nonprofit to helpfoster children, this is the powerful journey of Rob Scheer, founder of the organization Comfort Cases. After experiencing firsthand the harsh realities of the foster care system where children often carry their belongings in trash bags, Rob turned his story into a movement focused on restoring dignity, comfort, and a sense of worth to kids in crisis. In this conversation, Rob shares the deeper challenges within foster care, including trauma, invisibility, and the long-term impact on children who age out of the system. Rob also reflects on resilience, personal responsibility, and the moment he chose a different path, one that now impacts hundreds of thousands of lives across the country. With 700 children in the United States entering foster care EVERYDAY, Rob is truly compassion in action, seeing what others overlook, and proving how one person's lived experience can spark meaningful, systemic change.

From a felony to the CEO of a Global foundation, Michelle Cirocco knows firsthand that second chances work, because she lived it. After serving time in prison, Michelle rebuilt her life by taking a job at a call center, inside a local correctional facility. Today, she leads the Televerde Foundation, helping incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women gain workforce credentials, employment, and long-term success. With over 5,000 women served and a recidivism rate that is under 2%, Televerde's model is transforming reentry outcomes and economic impact across states like Arizona and Indiana. In a powerful and heartfelt conversation, Michelle talks about leadership, the stigma of having a felony, workforce development, her 'Cinderellas', her pet peeves, why failure is not the end, and that it's okay to say the F word.

Tore Price was serving time behind the wall, in Michigan, when he learned about the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program being taught by the University of Michigan. According to Tore, there were 1,000 incarcerated individuals who rushed to sign up for the weekly class with students from the University. With only 15 slots available lady luck was definitely on Tores side. When asking him to describe the Inside-Out Program, his words were short and sweet, intellectual espresso. For Tore, this was the launching pad that propelled him to not only continue to educate himself but also be an advocate for other incarcerated individuals. Having served his ten-year sentence, Tore is now a training coach and special program coordinator for the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. Proof that education is a tool for resistance, dignity, and collective liberation.

While prisons in the United States offer a variety of educational pursuits, it only took a brief conversation between a college educator and an incarcerated individual for the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program to be born. Four decades later, the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is still going strong, thanks to Founder, Lori Pompa. Lori's vision to bring her students, from Temple University to interface with incarcerated individuals, in a unique classroom setting, behind the wall, was not only a leap of faith but ahead of its time. In Lori's own words, "It is a class, though not an ordinary one. In this class roles are intermingled; everyone is the teacher, and everyone is the learner." Staying in step with her college classes timeline and curriculum, this powerful education model changed the narrative for all. Once a week for an entire college semester, students around the world arrive at local prisons and sit in Lori's now famous circle of curriculum, compassion, and collaboration. All these years later, this innovative model continues to foster dialogue and understanding between incarcerated individuals and college students while continuing to grow organically. Today more than 1600 college/university professors, along with other educators, and 15 countries around the globe, teach Inside-Out courses.

Dan Sheridan and Ashley Anderson are both PhDs and licensed behavior analysts, but don't let their titles fool you; their work at Auburn University is no desk job. In partnership with the Alabama Department of Youth Services, Dan and Ashley headup a team of undergraduate students, graduate clinicians, and full-time staff who provide support for juvenile offenders within a local secure residential facility. Listen in as they share their insights on the intersection of research, education, and lived experience, and how these elements can create transformative outcomes for young people at critical turning points in their lives. The conversation highlights the importance of behavior analysis in reducing recidivism and addresses the root causes of crime, emphasizing the necessity for community involvement in supporting youth reintegration.

Welcome to Season 4! Wanda Bertram from the Prison Policy Initiative stops by to discuss the latest insights and highlights on current incarceration rates, parole, juvenile justice, and how women incarcerated in the U.S. compare to other states and countries . While the statistics are alarming when reading the 'whole pie' research that the Prison Policy Initiative is known for, the truth of the criminal justice system in America is hard to ignore. Today's conversation on detention centers, youth confinement, and incarcerated women invokes the sad reality that systemic issues continue to contribute to mass incarceration in the U.S. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that highlights the continued need for reform and increased compassion within the criminal justice system.

Leadership was always in the cards for Kristin Kline. Despite being incarcerated, it only took one coach in an Arizona women's prison to encourage Kristin that she had leadership qualities and wasn't a gangster. Finding faith in herself, she launched a workout program for the women in her prison section and took to the prison yard to improve the mental health and healing of her podmates. In this episode, Kristin discusses her transformative journey from incarcerated leadership to entrepreneurial empowerment. Kristin shares her experiences of resilience, the importance of addressing trauma, and her dedication to helping women rewrite their stories through fitness and community support, both behind and beyond the wall, with her fitness organization CONVICTED Comeback. Tune in to discover how one person's comeback can inspire a movement for change and hope.

Anthony Ray Hinton was 29 years old when falsely accused of multiple murders. With no money to hire an attorney and up against a criminal justice system that accused him based on the color of his skin and a false ballistics test, he spent 30 years on death row, only feet away from the execution chamber at Holman State Prison in Alabama. In this emotional episode, Ray shares his harrowing journey through the criminal justice system, the injustices he faced, and the resilience he cultivated during his time in prison. His story is one of hope, forgiveness, and the unwavering support of his Mother and best friend, Lester. Tune in to hear about Ray's fight for freedom, his experiences on death row, and the lessons he learned about love and justice.

This episode explores the transformative journey of Brett Thomas, who at 18 years old was sentenced to an excessive prison term for a crime he personally did not commit. Brett is joined by Beth Henderson, Pro Bono Director at Microsoft, and they share the powerful story of how the Seattle Clemency Project helped Brett connect with Beth and her team to navigate the complexities of the Washington State legal system to achieve his release. Tune in to discover how the impact of compassion, Brett's resilience, and the fight for justice in the face of overwhelming odds became a winning combination.

Radha Natarajan is the Executive Director of the New England Innocence Project, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In this episode, Radha shares her journey into the world of wrongful convictions and the challenges faced by those, behind the wall, fighting for justice. Radha also shares her and her team's hard-fought battle to free Edward Wright, a man who spent 41 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Listen in to learn how the New England Innocence Project takes on innocence cases, the remarkable work to exonerate innocent individuals, stay within the complexities of the criminal justice system, and always keep alive the importance of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Nothing is more heartwarming as the Holiday's approach than to re-feature a montage of stories of resilience, community, and the transformative power of giving. In this newly arranged episode, we delve into the inspiring initiatives from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office's gardening program, the impactful work of the East Hampton Community Center, and the innovative food service programs at the Maine Department of Corrections. These stories highlight how individuals and organizations are making a difference in the lives of those in need, proving that compassion and community spirit can flourish even in challenging circumstances.

Sheriff Jillian Myers of Grafton County, New Hampshire, isn't just the first and youngest female High Sheriff ever elected in her hometown, but she's also a wife and mama to her three little girls. While a career in law enforcement wasn't on her radar till college, Sheriff Myers says she couldn't see herself doing anything else. Her commitment to the communities and people within her rural county, the staff under her watch, and her collaborative efforts with other law enforcement agencies have made an undeniable impact since her taking office in January of 2025. As one of only two female Sheriffs in New Hampshire and one of 50 Nationwide, this episode is a testament to courage, leadership, and commitment to making a difference, because age is really just a number.

When three women, a Warden, an Attorney turned Social Justice advocate, and a Filmmaker all cross paths at a maximum security prison for women in Bedford Hills, NY, anything is possible. The synergy they embody drives ground-breaking change for the innovative work taking place at the Bedford Hills Correctional Center. From filmmaker Jenifer McShane, whose documentary Mothers of Bedford explored the transformative power of empathy and family structure at the Bedford Hills Children's Center, to advocate Barbara "Bobby" Blanchard, who dedicated her career to helping incarcerated mothers maintain their bonds with their children, and lest we forget, there's former Warden Elaine Lord, who championed the innovative programs for women at Bedford Hills and set a new bar for success. This episode highlights the importance of compassion, connection, and second chances, so join us for a montage of these incredible women, their legacies, and the impact they've made in the lives of many. Full episodes of each are available wherever you get your podcasts.

In this montage episode, join us on a reflective journey as we share three of our favorite author interviews from the last few years. With highlights from discussions with notable and famous legal figures, Stephen Bright and James Kwak, who delve into the systemic failures of justice in the criminal courts, to Sarah Burns, a documentarian and author, who recounts the harrowing story of the Central Park Five. Additionally, we hear from Laura Love Hardin, whose memoir and Oprah Book Club pick reveals her transformative journey through addiction and incarceration. We hope you enjoy a piece of each of these compelling narratives that challenge the perceptions of justice and resilience. Full episodes of each are available wherever you get your podcasts.

Meet Ivy Scott, a community engagement reporter for The Marshall Project. Ivy currently covers community-driven investigative and public service journalism about the criminal justice system in St.Louis and the state of Missouri. So what is The Marshall Project? Named after civil rights advocate Thurgood Marshall, The Marshall Project is a national nonprofit news organization that seeks to elevate criminal justice issues and spark a conversation about reform. Ivy Scott is one such seasoned reporter, and in this episode she shares her insights on the complexities of the American justice system and the importance of uncovering stories that demand change and give a voice to the unheard. This conversation is a powerful reminder that true stories can change how we see each other and inspire a collective push for justice.

"We could write this book together. We couldn't have written it apart." Those are the words of Dr. Kevin Wright, Director of the Center for Correctional Solutions at Arizona State University, discussing his co-authorship of the groundbreaking book, Imprisoned Minds: Lost Boys, Trapped Men, and Solutions from Within the Prison. But this co-authorship wasn't a typical collaboration, because the originator of the theory behind the 'imprisoned mind' is Erik Maloney, an incarcerated man serving a life sentence in an Arizona State Prison. Dr. Wright and Erik met through the ASU Inside-Out Exchange Program, a global initiative that brings together college students and incarcerated individuals to participate in a credit-bearing college course behind the wall. It was here that Erik presented his imprisoned mind theory, taken from in-depth interviews with other incarcerated men, to Dr. Wright and asked if he would provide the academic framework and scholarly expertise to bring Erik's book vision to life. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that challenges perceptions and emphasizes the power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of justice.

Elaine Lord may have been the youngest woman to become a Warden in the State of New York, but even before her appointment at Bedford Hills Correctional, she was on a mission to improve the incarcerated programs within the New York prison walls. Before her retirement, Elaine dedicated 20 years to Bedford Hills, providing women behind bars a second chance. Her inspiring stories of the Children’s Center at Bedford Hills and her mission to keep incarcerated Mothers connected to their children were only a part of the vital work required to change lives within the prison system. Join us as we explore the complexities of justice, compassion, and the importance of human connection in corrections, a legacy that Elaine Lord can be proud of.