The Locked up Living Podcast: Surviving and thriving in prisons and other challenging environments Podcasters David Jones & Dr Naomi Murphy

Summary 2024 is a general election year in the UK and David and Naomi wanted to have a conversation about the criminal justice system because the topic receives so little attention elsewhere. However the topic is so wide and complex that we found that we could only begin and hope to return to the subject again. The conversation explores the ethical considerations around imprisonment and the need for more investment in the prison service. The speakers discuss their experiences working in prisons and the challenges they faced. They highlight the importance of addressing trauma and providing a supportive environment for rehabilitation. They also discuss the limitations and flaws of the current prison system, including the lack of resources and support for released prisoners. The conversation raises questions about the effectiveness and ethics of imprisonment as a form of punishment.

In this extraordinary conversation Ian Foxley, a retired army lieutenant colonel and founder of Parrhesia, shares his experience as a whistleblower in the Airbus corruption scandal. He discovered wrongdoing while working as a program director for an Airbus subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. He found irregularities in the budget, questionable projects, and secret payments to subcontractors. When he reported his findings to the MOD, he faced threats and had to escape the country. He later provided evidence to the MOD Fraud Squad and the Serious Fraud Office, leading to a criminal investigation into Airbus. Airbus was fined €3.6 billion, and GPT, the subsidiary, pleaded guilty to corruption. Ian Foxley discusses the aftermath of blowing the whistle on corruption in defense procurement, including the legal proceedings and trials that took place. He emphasizes the need to hold government departments accountable for their involvement in corruption and calls for transparency and personal accountability. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by whistleblowers, including the impact on their careers and personal lives. Foxley shares his own experiences and highlights the importance of a strong support network. He concludes by discussing the work of Parrhesia, an organization he founded to advocate for whistleblower protection and contribute to policy changes.
https://www.parrhesia.org.uk/
(Parrhesia is an Ancient Greek term meaning “to speak freely” implying not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at great personal risk.)
Keywordswhistleblower, Airbus, corruption, Saudi Arabia, budget, subcontractors, threats, escape, evidence, investigation, fine, guilty plea, whistleblowing, corruption, defense procurement, accountability, government departments, trials, support network, Parheesia

In this extraordinary conversation Ian Foxley, a retired army lieutenant colonel and founder of Parrhesia, shares his experience as a whistleblower in the Airbus corruption scandal. He discovered wrongdoing while working as a program director for an Airbus subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. He found irregularities in the budget, questionable projects, and secret payments to subcontractors. When he reported his findings to the MOD, he faced threats and had to escape the country. He later provided evidence to the MOD Fraud Squad and the Serious Fraud Office, leading to a criminal investigation into Airbus. Airbus was fined €3.6 billion, and GPT, the subsidiary, pleaded guilty to corruption. Ian Foxley discusses the aftermath of blowing the whistle on corruption in defense procurement, including the legal proceedings and trials that took place. He emphasizes the need to hold government departments accountable for their involvement in corruption and calls for transparency and personal accountability. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by whistleblowers, including the impact on their careers and personal lives. Foxley shares his own experiences and highlights the importance of a strong support network. He concludes by discussing the work of Parrhesia, an organization he founded to advocate for whistleblower protection and contribute to policy changes.
https://www.parrhesia.org.uk/
(Parrhesia is an Ancient Greek term meaning “to speak freely” implying not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at great personal risk.)
Keywordswhistleblower, Airbus, corruption, Saudi Arabia, budget, subcontractors, threats, escape, evidence, investigation, fine, guilty plea, whistleblowing, corruption, defense procurement, accountability, government departments, trials, support network, Parheesia

Robert Verkaik, author and journalist, discusses his passionate interest in social inequality and the impact of poverty on communities. He shares his personal experiences and observations that have shaped his interest in the subject. The conversation also touches on the difference between being rich and being wealthy, the ethics of wealth, the impact of the austerity agenda, and the portrayal of poverty in the media. Robert suggests solutions such as tax reform, a universal basic income, and addressing the issues surrounding private education. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Robert's latest book, 'The Traitor of Arnhem', and the lingering effects of World War II on Russia's political culture.
Bio

Robert is an author and journalist specialising in security and social mobility. His journalism appears in the Guardian, Independent, i newspaper, Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Times. 
Robert was the home affairs editor and law editor at The Independent, where he worked for 12 years. After leaving the Independent he joined the Mail on Sunday as security editor.
Since the 9.11 attacks on America, he has covered the 'war on terror' and has visited the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay and interviewed victims of torture in Syria.  He has also headed media campaigns against ‘secret justice’ and in support of greater press freedoms. More recently he has been writing about the causes of extremism and social immobility. 
His reporting has been long-listed for both the Orwell Prize and the Paul Foot Awards. He was a runner-up in the specialist journalist category at the 2013 National Press Awards.  He is also a non-practising qualified barrister called to the Bar in 2007.
 
Robert is the author of six books: The Traitor of Arnhem (2024); The Traitor of Colditz (2022); Why You Won't Get Rich, how capitalism broke its contract with hard work (2021); Defiant: The Untold Story of the Battle of Britain (2020); Jihadi John: The Making of a Terrorist (2016) and Posh Boys: How English Public Schools Ruin Britain (2018) His reporting has been long-listed for both the Orwell Prize and the Paul Foot Awards. He was a runner-up in the specialist journalist category at the 2013 National Press Awards.
His latest book is The Traitor of Arnhem which demonstrates why Putin is threatening the West today.

Robert Verkaik, author and journalist, discusses his passionate interest in social inequality and the impact of poverty on communities. He shares his personal experiences and observations that have shaped his interest in the subject. The conversation also touches on the difference between being rich and being wealthy, the ethics of wealth, the impact of the austerity agenda, and the portrayal of poverty in the media. Robert suggests solutions such as tax reform, a universal basic income, and addressing the issues surrounding private education. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Robert's latest book, 'The Traitor of Arnhem', and the lingering effects of World War II on Russia's political culture.
Bio

Robert is an author and journalist specialising in security and social mobility. His journalism appears in the Guardian, Independent, i newspaper, Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Times. 
Robert was the home affairs editor and law editor at The Independent, where he worked for 12 years. After leaving the Independent he joined the Mail on Sunday as security editor.
Since the 9.11 attacks on America, he has covered the 'war on terror' and has visited the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay and interviewed victims of torture in Syria.  He has also headed media campaigns against ‘secret justice’ and in support of greater press freedoms. More recently he has been writing about the causes of extremism and social immobility. 
His reporting has been long-listed for both the Orwell Prize and the Paul Foot Awards. He was a runner-up in the specialist journalist category at the 2013 National Press Awards.  He is also a non-practising qualified barrister called to the Bar in 2007.
 
Robert is the author of six books: The Traitor of Arnhem (2024); The Traitor of Colditz (2022); Why You Won't Get Rich, how capitalism broke its contract with hard work (2021); Defiant: The Untold Story of the Battle of Britain (2020); Jihadi John: The Making of a Terrorist (2016) and Posh Boys: How English Public Schools Ruin Britain (2018) His reporting has been long-listed for both the Orwell Prize and the Paul Foot Awards. He was a runner-up in the specialist journalist category at the 2013 National Press Awards.
His latest book is The Traitor of Arnhem which demonstrates why Putin is threatening the West today.

 

Rosie’s husband was convicted of sexual abuse involving contact offences committed against adolescent boys many years previously. He served 5 years in prison and has recently been released. They had been married for over 40 years when he was arrested. Rosie has stood by him as she sees he is much more than his offences; she also recognises that he has done a huge amount of good in his life which cannot be forgotten. What she has learned on this prison journey and the people who has met have made her rethink so much about herself, society and our criminal justice system.  
 
In this podcast episode, Rosie shares her personal experiences and offers advice for individuals who have been through traumatic situations. She emphasizes the importance of being careful with triggers, such as music, and suggests having phone numbers of supportive people or helplines readily available. Rosie also highlights the significance of having a plan and being kind to oneself, especially during difficult times like evenings and weekends. She encourages taking one moment at a time and finding beauty in the small things around us. Rosie discusses the challenges of maintaining relationships in the face of trauma and suggests the need for more support to help relationships survive. She also mentions the importance of acceptance and not running away from one's problems. The conversation touches on the lack of support and information available to individuals in similar situations and the need for better resources. Overall, Rosie's story is powerful and offers insights into resilience and self-care in the face of adversity.