Life on the Outside

We're taking the month of September to take a breath, collect ourselves, and gather more interviews. We'll be back in October! 

We pick up where Patrick left off, lying on the floor of his prison cell...

This episode addresses the Covid epidemic inside of California prisons. If you want to help please visit restorecal.org or antirecidivism.org. 

Kenneth, Kanaka, and Jarret talk about what a lockdown is like in prison. Why does a facility go on lockdown? And how long before the confinement lifts? All three storytellers are out now, but their …

Patrick went to prison with an 8-year sentence, but while he was in he found himself in a situation with another prisoner that would result in a life crime. Over 30 years later, Patrick got out and h…

This episode was recorded at Calipatria State Prison. It is the first episode of Life on the Outside recorded on the inside. 

Richard Cruz was sentenced at 16 years old to life in prison. After 30 plus years, he's finally home. The best things about freedom include his dog Coco, traveling, and getting to know his family. Hi…

In this episode, hosts Kenneth Hartman and Lucy Copp share the space and pass the mic to Alia Hartman, Ken's daughter. Her perspective of LWOP is that of a daughter who grew up visiting her father in…

Upon Daniel's release from prison he felt numb. What was he supposed to feel? Joy? Overwhelming gratitude that so many others feel? Or perhaps he'd have the sensory experience of a child setting foot…

Joey Davidson went to prison at 14 years old with a life sentence. At age 17, he stepped onto one of the worst, most dangerous prison yards in the state of California. The prison was Calipatria State…

When Anthony got out he walked up to a tree and gave it a huge hug. He remembered trees from his childhood but for fifteen years he barely saw any at all. When he got out, he made it his business to …

Anthony McDuffie was seventeen years old when he went into the prison system. Today, he's in his mid-thirties and reflecting on his personal journey from gang-banging in the streets, to politicking i…

After nearly three decades in the California prison system, Tobias is versed in faith practices and traditions that span Islam to the Occult. He has looked down the barrel of a gun and chosen love ev…

Tobias Tubbs believes in joy as resistance. He believes in love as the way forward, and he embodies this in the darkest of places and in the worst of times. He grew up with revolutionary parents at t…

At age 19 Christian was charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Narrowly sidestepping the death penalty, Christian had little hope of ever getting out.…

Maria Kanaka Luna got locked up in 1995, went to county jail, then hit the penitentiary in 1996 and 23 years later she was released. Freedom didn't settle in right away for Maria. She was picked up b…

Johnathan was sober, but he was still struggling, trying to play two sides. When he went through AA, step 7 struck him. It talks about how in the midst of our addiction we make decisions based on com…

After 31 years in prison Thomas Eirls was exhausted and had made up his mind. Even with a life-sentence, he decided that he could only give five more years of his life to the system. He chose five ye…

Kenneth E. Hartman served 38 years in the California prison system having been convicted to 'Life without the possibility of parole' back in the 1970s. He shares stories from his time at the notoriou…