Seeds of Change - A Nation Outside Podcast

Nation Outside
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Hosted by Nation Outside, the Seeds of Change Podcast explores the stories, policies, and people transforming the criminal legal system. Through honest conversations with directly impacted leaders, advocates, policymakers, and community members, we challenge stigma, highlight solutions, and inspire action toward a more just future.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Rick Speck’s Second-Chance Story

    What does a second chance really look like? What happens when changing your life requires more than one opportunity? In Episode 8 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, hosts Cam and Charles Pugh sit down with Nation Outside Deputy Director Rick Speck for an honest conversation about incarceration, trauma, grief, redemption, mental health, and the choices that shape our futures. Rick reflects on returning to the correctional facility where he was incarcerated more than 30 years ago. This time to speak with men preparing for their own futures. He shares how failing to address his underlying trauma contributed to recidivism, and how he eventually committed to becoming the best version of himself. After serving a 15-year sentence, Rick is now approaching 12 years of freedom without a parole violation. The conversation also explores the barriers people continue to face after serving their sentences, including being excluded from opportunities to mentor young people because of past convictions. Rick discusses the tragic loss of his oldest daughter, his decision not to retaliate, and the difficult relationship between accountability, forgiveness, restorative justice, and personal healing. This episode asks us to consider: Are people defined by their worst decisions, or by what they choose to do next? Watch, share, and join the conversation. #SecondChanceMonth #SecondChances #NationOutside #ReturningCitizens #Reentry #RestorativeJustice #MentalHealth #Redemption #JusticeReform Presented by Nation Outside.

  2. 4d ago

    Why Fair-Chance Housing Matters for Returning Citizens

    In Episode 12 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, host Camron Colts speaks with Char Goolsby of L&R Hospitality about the importance of safe, stable and dignified housing for people returning home from incarceration. After receiving calls from people who needed an address before they could be released, Char and her husband converted their real estate holdings into shared-living communities. Their goal is to provide more than a place to stay. They create quality homes where residents are treated with care, respect and the opportunity to rebuild. This conversation explores: • Why stable housing is the foundation for successful reentry • Housing discrimination against people with criminal records • What “true second chances” should mean • The responsibility of fair-chance landlords • How quality housing supports dignity and stability • The communities residents create within shared homes • Why a person’s past should not determine their future Watch the full conversation and tell us: What would a true second chance look like in your community?

  3. Aug 20

    From Prison to Pro - Bridging the Digital Divide

    What happens when someone returns home after nearly four decades, to a world of smartphones, online applications, Cash App, Google, passwords, scams, and technology that didn’t exist when they went inside? In Episode 11 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, Cam and T-Mac sit down with Jeffrey and Ceci to talk about digital literacy and reentry. Jeffrey spent 39½ years incarcerated. When he returned home, even answering a smartphone could be frustrating. Through Nation Outside’s digital literacy program, he began learning how to navigate phones and computers, complete applications online, recognize scams, protect his money, troubleshoot problems, and most importantly become more independent. Ceci also shares how Nation Outside developed its digital literacy curriculum with input from system-impacted people, building lessons from basic computer skills all the way to employment readiness, financial literacy, and emerging technology. This conversation shows why digital access isn't a luxury in reentry. It's part of being able to participate in everyday life. 🌱 Watch, share, and tell us in the comments: What technology skill do you think is most important for someone coming home today? #SeedsOfChangePodcast #NationOutside #DigitalLiteracy #Reentry #ReturningCitizens #DigitalEquity #JusticeImpacted #SecondChances #FromPrisonToPro #Michigan Presented by Nation Outside Hosted by Tamir Bell & Camron Colts Produced by We Are Culture Creators

  4. Aug 14

    Home After 30 Years: What a Second Chance Really Means

    After approximately 30 years of incarceration, Lavar Perkins has been home for just one week.In this deeply personal conversation with host Tamir Bell, Lavar talks about what a second chance actually means when you've spent decades behind bars.He reflects on coming home, adjusting to freedom, navigating the restrictions that still follow incarceration, taking responsibility for the harm he caused, forgiving himself, and becoming a different man.Lavar also takes us back to the moment that changed his direction while incarcerated: looking at himself in the mirror while in segregation and realizing he had to stop blaming circumstances and begin changing his mindset, education, and the people around him.The conversation closes with a challenge to correctional leaders and policymakers: incarceration isn't only about security. The people working inside correctional institutions can have a profound impact on the lives and futures of the people in their custody.What does someone have to do to earn a second chance?Tell us in the comments.Every story is a seed. Every seed can create change.#SeedsOfChangePodcast #NationOutside #SecondChances #Reentry #ReturningCitizens #LivedExperience #JusticeReform #Redemption #Michigan #ReentryMattersPresented by Nation OutsideHosted by Tamir BellProduced by We Are Culture Creators

  5. Aug 6

    Seeds of Change Annual Benefit

    What happens when formerly incarcerated people are given the opportunity to lead, advocate and create solutions for their own communities? In this episode of Seeds of Change, Cam and T-Mac sit down with Nation Outside leadership to discuss the organization’s history, its impact across Michigan and the importance of supporting work led by people directly affected by the criminal legal system. The conversation takes us inside Nation Outside’s third annual Seeds of Change Benefit. Our biggest annual fundraiser and an opportunity to celebrate community, recognize changemakers and invest in the future of reentry and justice reform. This year’s benefit will feature dinner, entertainment, a silent auction, Changemaker Awards and the premiere of “What Grace Leaves Behind.” 📅 Friday, September 25, 2026🚪 Doors open at 5:00 p.m.🎤 Program begins at 6:00 p.m.📍 Taqueria El Rey in Southwest Detroit🎟 Tickets: $50, including dinner, two drinks and free parking. Learn more, purchase tickets or support the event at www.nationoutside.org.

  6. Aug 1

    What Grace Leaves Behind

    What Grace Leaves Behind premieres in Los Angeles at the Represent Justice Ambassador Showcase, join us for an intimate conversation with Nation Outside Executive Director Cecilia Zavala. In this special episode, Cecilia shares the inspiration behind her short documentary, the personal experiences that shaped it, and why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform how people understand incarceration, healing, and second chances. What Grace Leaves Behind asks a powerful question: What happens after punishment ends? This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, the importance of elevating directly impacted voices, and why stories rooted in lived experience have the power to change hearts, minds, and systems.

  7. Jul 31

    Second Chances, Accountability and Forgiving Yourself

    In Episode 6 of the Seeds of Change Podcast, host Cam sits down with Christine “Christy” Harris for an honest conversation about returning home after serving 22 years of incarceration. Christine shares the challenges of rebuilding her relationship with her daughter, navigating employment with a conviction, catching up with technology, accepting accountability, and learning to forgive herself. She also discusses her vision for Storm Solutions—Struggling to Overcome Reentry Mentorship—an organization she is working to establish to help others navigate reentry. This conversation reminds us that freedom is more than being physically released. Reentry also means rebuilding relationships, rediscovering your identity, learning new skills, and giving yourself permission to move forward.

  8. Jul 31

    Incarcerated Parents

    What happens to children and families when a parent is incarcerated? In this episode, Cam sits down with Rachel, Ceci, and Jay for a personal conversation about growing up with parents in jail or prison, visiting loved ones behind glass, navigating foster care, surviving uncertainty, rebuilding relationships, and learning to see parents as whole people. This conversation is about more than incarceration. It is about family, grief, resilience, grace, forgiveness, and the long-term impact the system has on children and loved ones. #IncarceratedParents #Reentry #JusticeImpacted #LivedExperience #FamilySeparation

  9. Jul 31

    Why Peer-Led Reentry Works

    In this episode of Nation Outside’s Seeds of Change podcast, Cam and T-Mac sit down with Jerry to talk about coming home after 22 years incarcerated, the barriers he faced, and how peer-led reentry support helped him rebuild. Jerry shares how Nation Outside and his navigator Charles supported him with basic needs, transportation, job applications, technology, family reunification, and encouragement. His story is a powerful reminder that reentry is not just about coming home — it is about having people who understand, believe in you, and walk alongside you. Watch, share, and subscribe for more real stories from people impacted by incarceration and the work being done to create change. #NationOutside #SeedsOfChangePodcast #Reentry #PeerLedReentry #ReturningCitizens #SecondChances #JusticeImpacted #CriminalJusticeReform #LivedExperience #CommunitySupport #Detroit #Michigan

  10. Jul 29

    Parenting While Incarcerated

    What does it mean to become a mother while incarcerated? In this powerful episode of Seeds of Change, TA Gildy shares her experience giving birth while in prison, being separated from her baby, and navigating a system that too often strips people of basic dignity. Her story reminds us: people who are incarcerated are still people. Parents. Mothers. Fathers. Loved ones. Community members. We cannot continue to dehumanize people behind the walls and expect healing when they come home.

  11. Jul 29

    A Conversation with Hakim Crampton

    Episode 2 of Nation Outside: Seeds of Change features hosts Cam and Tamir speaking with Hakim Crampton, government relations liaison for Citizens for Prison Reform and founder of the Academic Mentoring and Education Network. Hakim shares his journey from incarceration to advocacy, explaining how he began organizing, mentoring, consulting, and building programs while still inside prison. He reflects on discovering his value through leadership, peer-led support, and responsibility to others. The conversation highlights the importance of lived experience in justice reform, the power of peer-led work, and the need for directly impacted people to have access to resources, power, and decision-making. Hakim also discusses current legislative priorities, including visitation rights, clergy visitation, stronger Corrections Ombudsman oversight, family notification protections, and limits on solitary confinement based on the Mandela Rules. The episode closes with Hakim sharing a powerful story from his work mentoring young people: after hearing him speak, a young girl chose to leave a risky situation and go home, avoiding arrest with her friends. For Hakim, that moment showed the real impact of planting seeds in the lives of young people.

  12. Jul 28

    Who Is Nation Outside?

    In this debut episode, Tamir and Camron sit down to explore the story behind Nation Outside, how the organization was founded, and the work they do to support returning citizens across Michigan. From peer-led support and advocacy to leadership development, employment, housing, and community engagement, Nation Outside is helping create pathways for people impacted by the justice system to thrive. This episode lays the foundation for the conversations we'll be having throughout the season as we explore reentry, family, healing, entrepreneurship, policy, second chances, and the power of lived experience. 🌱 Every story is a seed. Every seed can create change. Listen now and follow along for future episodes. #SeedsOfChangePodcast #NationOutside #ReturningCitizens #SecondChances #Reentry #Michigan #CommunityChange #JusticeImpacted #Podcast #StoriesThatMatter

  • 12 Episodes

About

Hosted by Nation Outside, the Seeds of Change Podcast explores the stories, policies, and people transforming the criminal legal system. Through honest conversations with directly impacted leaders, advocates, policymakers, and community members, we challenge stigma, highlight solutions, and inspire action toward a more just future.

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