Eldra Jackson III spent a large part of his life as a convict in the US prison system. Inside prison, he encountered a circle of men who led him to overcome his darkness and find healing. He is now the Co-Executive Director of that organization, called Inside Circle. This work was covered in the documentary called The Work.
Join me in learning about Eldra’s life story – how he went from serving 24 years of a life prison sentence in California to becoming a successful businessman whose mission is to help heal and mentor other men for whom all hope is lost.
In this episode we discuss:
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The prison industrial complex in the United States.
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Eldra’s life journey and what led him to serving a life sentence.
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Why Eldra made many decisions from a place of trauma.
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How childhood trauma can affect your nervous system and behavior later in life.
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What is a “good convict”?
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The common mindset among incarcerated people.
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The difference between prison and rehab
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What retirement looks like for a prisoner.
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How Eldra turned his life around and transformed his mindset.
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The importance of looking inward to heal.
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How Eldra got introduced to Inside Circle while in prison.
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Therapy circles in prison.
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Changing the way we view and treat hurt people.
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Why systems only exist because we allow them to.
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How to create change in the prison system.
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Why countries need to learn from each other once they’ve developed solutions to societal problems.
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What’s next for Inside Circle?
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How trauma survivors can redirect their energy to good things in the world.
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Inside Circle’s mission.
Eldra’s Links:
Eldra’s TedTalk
(How I Unlearned Dangerous Lessons About Masculinity)
The Work Documentary
(note: you will have to pay for this documentary, but it is VERY worth it)
How to get involved: Inside Circle’s Website