Raphael Rowe is an investigative reporter, a BBC correspondent, and the host of Netflix’s “Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons”. At age 20, Raphael was falsely convicted of murder and given a life sentence in prison. He spent 12 years campaigning and fighting for his exoneration, and was released at age 32.

He joined me to tell his story, and talk about racial profiling, police corruption, and what works (and doesn’t work) in the prison systems we use to reform criminals.

In this episode we dive into:

• Caring for our criminals, mentally ill, and addicted populations.
• How Raphael became involved in prison work. 
• How Raphael got convicted for crimes he did not commit.
• The racism embedded in policing and prison systems. 
• Feeding societies’ collective shadows. 
• The good guy vs. bad guy mentality. 
• Understanding nuance and power. 
• How Raphael fought his own prison sentence. 
• The power of the media. 
• Covid restrictions vs. the constriction of prison.
• Raphael’s journey to hosting Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons. 
• What life really is like in prison. 
• How society views the prison system.
• Prison reform. 
• The importance of giving voices to prisoners. 
• Harm reduction and meeting basic human needs in prisons.
• Life-changing therapeutic experiences in prison.
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
• Humanizing criminals.
• The cathartic power of connection and ritual. 
• What elements don’t work in the prison system. 
• Addressing needs of individuals with a humanistic approach. 
• Changing narratives and mindsets of the public to ignite change. 
• Supportive prison staff and educational resources in prison.
• Masculine wounds on personal and societal levels. 
• Facing resistance in rehabilitation. 
• The message behind the Raphael Rowe Foundation. 
• Wounds becoming gifts. 

Raphael’s Links:

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Notorious by Raphael Rowe
• Second Chance Podcast
• Raphael Rowe Foundation