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The Secret Life of Prisons

Prison Radio Association
Prison Reform
Prison System
Criminal Justice System
Rehabilitation
Keir Starmer
Trauma
UK Prisons
National Prison Radio
Prison Radio Association
Probation Services
General Election
Chris Walters' Journey
Andrew Malkinson
Miscarriages Of Justice
Prison Violence
Labour Government
Conservative Party
Crime and Justice
Labour Party
Sentencing Bill

The Secret Life of Prisons is produced by a charity, the Prison Radio Association. To make a donation please visit prison.radio/donate. The podcast tells the hidden stories from behind bars. Paula Harriott is Chief Executive of Unlock. She spent time in prison and now works to help those who have been to prison to contribute to the debate around crime and justice. Phil Maguire is the Chief Executi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes117Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for The Secret Life of Prisons

Latest Episodes

Drug Recovery Wings are specialist units in prisons that work to help people dealing with addictions as part of their prison sentences.

Ash is no stranger to imprisonment and has lived with addiction since he was a child. But a remarkable encounter ... more

The Longford Lecture is a centrepiece event of the criminal justice sector's year. Run by the Longford Trust, a charity that provides opportunities for study and mentoring for people in prison and detention, it takes place at Church House in Westmins... more

Andy Aitchison has been photographing prisons for more than 20 years. He selects five of his favourite photographs of prisons and talks to us about what we can learn from prisons by keeping our eyes open.

Andy's new book is called Incarcerated and w... more

In the summer of 2023, 17 year-old Charlie Cosser went to an organised house party in a small village in West Sussex and never came home. A fight broke out on the dance floor and Charlie was stabbed. He died later in hospital.

As he was lying on his... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Wayne Hickman
Substance Misuse Officer at HMP Featherstone
Episode: Inside a Drug Recovery Wing | Wayne Hickman and Ash
Dame Rachel De Souza
Children's Commissioner for England
Children's Commissioner
Episode: The Longford Lecture 2025 | Dame Rachel De Souza, Angus Stobie, Jeremy Howe
Angus Stobie
Actor, plays George Grundy in The Archers
BBC Radio 4
Episode: The Longford Lecture 2025 | Dame Rachel De Souza, Angus Stobie, Jeremy Howe
Jeremy Howe
Editor of The Archers since 2018
BBC Radio 4
Episode: The Longford Lecture 2025 | Dame Rachel De Souza, Angus Stobie, Jeremy Howe
Martin Cosser
Founder of Charlie's Promise and father of murder victim Charlie Cosser
Charlie's Promise
Episode: Charlie's Promise | Martin Cosser
Tom Wheatley
Former governor of HMP Wakefield and president of the Prison Governors Association
Prison Governors Association
Episode: The day after the death of Ian Watkins | Tom Wheatley
Isie Potter
Musician who worked with Changing Tunes as a musician in residence at HMP Eastwood Park.
Changing Tunes
Episode: Changing Tunes | Isie Potter and Laura
Shahid Amin
A former student of criminology who studied while serving a sentence, now active in social work.
Episode: What is criminology? | Live from the University of Greenwich | Shahid Amin and Dr Ruth Armstrong
David Breakspear
A peer mentor, advocate, and ambassador for those who've been to prison, studying for a masters in Applied Forensic Psychology.
Episode: Your questions answered | David Breakspear and Dr. Ruth Armstrong

Hosts

Paula Harriott
Co-host and Chief Executive of Unlock, she has experience working with people who have been in prison and aims to help them contribute to discussions about criminal justice.
Phil Maguire
Co-host and Chief Executive of the Prison Radio Association with over twenty years of experience in the prison system.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 184 ratings
  • Excellent insights

    I don’t have a lot of personal experience of prisons, but this podcast really brims with excellent insights and compassion for a group of people commonly despised by society, and those charged with guarding and helping them. However appalling some of their crimes may be - and I don’t deny the suffering of the victims - prisoners are, after all, human beings; and many, perhaps most, have endured extremely painful experiences on their way to prison. This podcast reminds us of the basic humanity... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    seanie227
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • High quality political podcast

    Fantastic podcast, I’ve listened to every episode. Huge respect for Paula Harriott. The humanity that you bring to this content about our criminal justice system is invaluable. Keep up the great work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rvaf
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent podcast! Great topics and professionally delivered.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    bennkr9
    2 years ago
  • Recommend to everyone

    Painfully beautiful

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MDMA matt
    Australia5 years ago
  • Enlightening

    I’m a criminology student and my lecturer recommended this podcast. I feel like this should be listened to by every adult, the understanding and insight it offers is so enlightening and I feel changed as a person. I have always been interested in prison reform but I never understood the extent of the effects of prison life!!

    A perfect podcast, the guests, questions and poet at the end are just so moving!!

    Take a listen, share it with your friends, you won’t regret it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Davisface
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many express appreciation for the inclusive approach, showcasing voices from former inmates and advocates, fostering empathy and understanding.
Critics sometimes mention a perceived bias towards the perspectives of incarcerated individuals, emphasizing the need for a balanced view on crime and punishment.
Listeners praise the podcast for its insightful and informative discussions surrounding prison life and justice reform.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Charlie's Promise | Martin Cosser
Q: How do you alter what you talk about when going into a prison?
In all honesty, I don't massively change my message; I still talk about the devastation caused by knife crime to give them something to think about.
Charlie's Promise | Martin Cosser
Q: What made you want to go into prisons to do it?
To deliver the most powerful education, Martin knew he needed to understand the emotional drivers behind why people pick up knives.
The day after the death of Ian Watkins | Tom Wheatley
Q: Can you explain the impact of violence in prisons on both prisoners and staff?
It creates an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, reminding everyone of the potential risks involved in such settings.
The day after the death of Ian Watkins | Tom Wheatley
Q: What were your immediate thoughts when you heard the news about Ian Watkins' death?
Immediate shock; it reminds both staff and prisoners of the inherent dangers of the environment.
A life sentence | Sarah
Q: What can they learn from your experience? What would you like them to know?
Staff in prisons do not have the correct training. I think training should be mandatory for those dealing with individuals serving life sentences.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Secret Life of Prisons

What is The Secret Life of Prisons about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers a unique perspective on the complexities of the prison system, focusing on personal narratives and the often unseen lives of incarcerated individuals. It features discussions about issues such as rehabilitation, the mental health impacts of incarceration, and the societal perceptions surrounding prison life. Noteworthy is the podcast's commitment to giving a voice to those who have been affected by the criminal justice system, including former inmates and family members, making it an essential listen for anyone interested in social justice, crime reform, and the human aspects of incarceration. Alongside poignant stories, the series frequently includes expert insights, providing both educational and enlightening content.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Secret Life of Prisons?

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How many listeners does The Secret Life of Prisons get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Secret Life of Prisons?

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How many subscribers and views does The Secret Life of Prisons have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Secret Life of Prisons has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Secret Life of Prisons?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Secret Life of Prisons:

1. The Louis Theroux Podcast
2. Shaun Attwoods True Crime Podcast
3. Anything Goes with James English
4. Gangster
5. Charlene: Somebody Knows Something

How many episodes of The Secret Life of Prisons are there?

The Secret Life of Prisons launched 6 years ago and published 117 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Secret Life of Prisons?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Secret Life of Prisons?

Recent guests on The Secret Life of Prisons include:

1. Wayne Hickman
2. Dame Rachel De Souza
3. Angus Stobie
4. Jeremy Howe
5. Martin Cosser
6. Tom Wheatley
7. Isie Potter
8. Shahid Amin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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