Former lifer Rodney opens up about prison violence, trauma, rage, survival and the moment everything changed.From riots, segregation units and violent confrontations with officers… to therapy, rehabilitation and helping others change their lives - this is one of the rawest Hope in Hell conversations yet.In this episode:• Growing up with trauma and anger• Prison violence from both sides of the door• Why “us vs them” culture fuels conflict• The reality of life sentences• Trauma-informed prisons• Why respect mattered more than fear• The moment Rodney decided to change• Why many prisoners are still “children in adult bodies”This isn’t a glamorised crime story. It’s an honest conversation about consequence, accountability, survival and redemption.

If this episode made you think differently about prisons, trauma or rehabilitation, subscribe and join the conversation.

“Stop. Look. Listen.”

That’s the advice Rodney would give his younger self.In Part 2, he describes losing control after his father’s death, serving a life sentence, navigating prison politics, and confronting the reality of the harm he caused.

He also speaks about the moment something shifted - when doing good felt different to being feared.From rowing thousands of miles on a gym machine for charity to studying behind bars, Rodney found purpose where he once sought status.

This episode is honest, reflective and challenging. It asks whether prisons educate in the right way, why young men are groomed into crime, and what it really means to take responsibility.

If you believe change is impossible, listen to this first.

A Curious Matter Production

https://curiousmatter.co.uk

“If you’ve never lived it, it’s hard to explain - but it felt like belonging.”

Rodney’s story isn’t about crime for the sake of it. It’s about what happens when trauma goes unspoken, emotions are buried, and violence becomes a language. In this episode of Hope in Hell, he talks openly about his childhood, the pull of identity and reputation, and how prison life both hardened and eventually reshaped him.

The conversation moves through fear, masculinity and survival, before turning towards responsibility, recovery and the importance of seeing real examples of change within communities. It’s a powerful reminder that people don’t start out wanting to cause harm - but they can end up there when no other path feels visible.

This episode asks difficult questions about punishment, rehabilitation and what society chooses to invest in.

A Curious Matter Production

https://curiousmatter.co.uk

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