Prison to Promise

Craig A. Waleed
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  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

In this podcast, we will delve into the tactics employed by individuals previously incarcerated to prevent their return to prison. Additionally, we will discuss their current endeavors to cultivate lives filled with purpose and meaning.

  1. Waymon Daniels: Built From Within Ep. 130

    1 DAY AGO

    Waymon Daniels: Built From Within Ep. 130

    On this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Waymon Daniels of Rochester, New York, for a conversation about transformation, healing, and the power of finding your voice. Waymon shares insights on overcoming pain, rebuilding from the inside out, and what it means to turn lived experience into purpose, leadership, and service to others.

    39 min
  2. Coming Home with Purpose: Edward “Scottso” Scott on Healing After Incarceration EP. 129

    14 MAY

    Coming Home with Purpose: Edward “Scottso” Scott on Healing After Incarceration EP. 129

    In this powerful episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Edward “Scottso” Scott, a formerly incarcerated man who served nearly 30 years before coming home in 2019. Scottso shares his journey from Brooklyn and North Carolina to prison, to transformation, to faith, to family, and to reentry work. He speaks openly about the emotional and psychological weight many people carry after incarceration, including what he and Dr. Waleed discuss as post-incarceration stress disorder, or PISD. Through his work with Wounded Healers, Scottso is helping create safe spaces, curriculum, and support for returning citizens to heal, rebuild relationships, and truly live after incarceration.

    32 min
  3. More Than a Label: Richie Desersa on Prison, Music, and Personal Change Ep. 128

    7 MAY

    More Than a Label: Richie Desersa on Prison, Music, and Personal Change Ep. 128

    In this episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed speaks with Richie Desersa, currently incarcerated in the South Dakota prison system, about life in prison, his musical journey, and the work of personal change. Their conversation explores mindset, avoiding violence, lessons from solitary confinement, self-belief, legal knowledge, and the struggle to be seen as more than a label.

    43 min
  4. The Struggle Is Real: Recovery, Reentry, and the Power to Transform Ep. 127

    30 APR

    The Struggle Is Real: Recovery, Reentry, and the Power to Transform Ep. 127

    In this episode of Prison to Promise, Craig Waleed sits down with Nicholas Tsiamis for a powerful conversation about recovery, reentry, education, and personal transformation. Nicholas reflects on the impact of recovery programs, recovery housing, mental health awareness, and the role of lived experience in helping people rebuild stability after incarceration. Together, they explore desistance, age-related change, the importance of persistence, and how education and community can become a foundation for long-term success. The conversation also highlights Nicholas’s current outpatient work, educational pursuits, future advocacy goals, and his upcoming documentary, “The Struggle Is Real,” which uses real stories to influence policy, challenge stigma, and encourage others to keep pushing toward change.

    37 min

  5. 9 APR

    The Work Within: From Survival to Self-Restoration Ep. 126

    In this powerful episode of Prison to Promise, Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Erin Parish Mitchell for a deeply reflective and unflinching conversation about transformation, trauma, and the long road from incarceration to purpose. Together, Craig and Erin explore the intersection of personal healing and systemic change. Craig offers insight into how education, emotional intelligence, and intentional self-reflection became critical tools in his journey forward. He also discusses his ongoing advocacy to end long-term solitary confinement and reimagine a justice system rooted in human dignity, rehabilitation, and community restoration. This episode is not only a story of survival—it is a call to action. It invites listeners to confront the realities of incarceration while also recognizing the power of transformation, resilience, and purpose. Listeners will walk away with: A deeper understanding of the lasting impact of solitary confinement Insight into the internal work required for successful reentry A vision for how lived experience can inform meaningful justice reform This is a conversation that challenges, informs, and inspires—reminding us that even in the darkest conditions, transformation is possible.

    52 min

  6. 26 MAR

    Rescued, Not Arrested: Gregory Winbush’s Story Ep. 125

    In this episode of the Prison to Promise Podcast, Dr. Craig Waleed speaks with Gregory Winbush about rebuilding life after incarceration. Gregory shares how family support, mentorship, and personal determination helped him move forward after prison and eventually receive a pardon that restored opportunities and rights. The conversation explores the challenges of reentry, the importance of pro-social support systems, and Gregory’s current work helping others clear their records and find hope beyond their past mistakes.

    38 min
  7. From Prison to Leadership: Shaheedah Ross on Reentry, Second Chances & Building Community Ep. 124

    19 MAR

    From Prison to Leadership: Shaheedah Ross on Reentry, Second Chances & Building Community Ep. 124

    What does it really take to rebuild a life after prison? In this powerful episode of the Prison to Promise Podcast, host Craig Waleed sits down with Charlotte-based community leader and reentry advocate Shaheedah Ross. After spending years incarcerated, Shaheedah Ross emerged determined to transform her experience into purpose. Today, she works to create pathways for justice-impacted individuals seeking opportunity, dignity, and a second chance. In this conversation, Dr. Waleed and Shaheedah discuss: • The reality of rebuilding life after incarceration • The hidden barriers people face during reentry • How lived experience shapes authentic leadership • Why communities must rethink second chances • Turning personal adversity into collective impact This episode is a powerful reminder that people are more than the worst moment of their lives—and that leadership can rise from places society often overlooks. If you believe in second chances, redemption, and community transformation, this conversation is for you. Book Launch: April 4, 2026 at Allegra Wesbrook Library, Charlotte, NC payhip.com/blueprintroyal Amazon (after 4/4/2026)

    37 min

  8. 12 MAR

    From Prison to Purpose: Jesse Crosson on Accountability, Redemption, and Justice Reform Ep.123

    In this episode of the Prison to Promise Podcast, host Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with prison reform advocate and Justice Ambassador Jesse Crosson for a powerful conversation about transformation, accountability, and the long road from incarceration to purpose. Jesse shares his deeply personal story of entering the criminal legal system as a young man and spending years behind bars before experiencing a profound shift in how he understood responsibility, harm, and redemption. Through education, faith, and mentorship, Jesse began rebuilding his life from the inside out. Today, Jesse works to advance criminal justice reform and restorative justice practices across the country. In this conversation, he reflects on the importance of human dignity, the challenges of reentry, and why people closest to the problem are often closest to the solution. This episode explores what it means to confront the past honestly while working to build a future rooted in accountability, healing, and community transformation.

    24 min
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About

In this podcast, we will delve into the tactics employed by individuals previously incarcerated to prevent their return to prison. Additionally, we will discuss their current endeavors to cultivate lives filled with purpose and meaning.

Information

  • Creator
    Craig A. Waleed
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Craig A. Waleed
  • Show Website
    Prison to Promise