JustUs Speaks Podcast

JustUs Speaks Podcast

JustLeadershipUSA

Episodes 38
Avg. Duration 33m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (3)
Since Dec 2022
Latest Episode Apr 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
29%
Hosting
anchor.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The JustUs Speaks Podcast, presented by JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), amplifies the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals in the U.S. Hosted by JLUSA Policy Analyst Zach Ruppel and JLUSA Leadership Admin Coordinator Lana Mendis, the JustUs Speaks Podcast features interviews with directly impacted people sharing their experience with the criminal justice system, and life upon reentering society. To learn more about JustLeadershipUSA and its mission to amplify the power of people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, visit www.JLUSA.org

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

S3E9 S3 E9 | Ronnie Carrasquillo and Dan Protess Discuss the “In Their Hands” Documentary Airing Nationwide on PBS in April for Second Chance / Fair Chance Month 2026

Apr 03, 2026 40m

The In Their Hands documentary tells the powerful personal story of Ronnie Carrasquillo. Ronnie was only 18 years old when he committed the crime for which he was convicted. It was a shooting of a…

S3E8 S3 E8 | Ashley Furst on Experiencing Imposter Syndrome After Incarceration

Mar 24, 2026 39m

Ashley Furst (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) grew up with a father who worked for Wackenhut (later rebranded The GEO Group), the private prison corporation, believing that people who went to prison…

S3E7 S3 E7 | Paul Rothschild on Transferring Skills from the Corporate World to Social Justice, White Privilege, and Wisdom of the Buddha

Mar 18, 2026 39m

Paul Rothschild (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) talks about taking his skills from 25 years of experience in the corporate world—in technology, business, and healthcare—and transferring them to his…

S3E6 S3 E6 | Crystal Voight on Breaking Barriers for Women in Construction and Helping Others with Reentry

Mar 03, 2026 35m

Crystal Voight (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) grew up in a household of domestic violence, which led her to running away and spending time on the streets, getting involved with drugs, gangs, and…

S3E5 S3 E5 | Marcus Kelley talks about Post-Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) and ending the legal slavery exception in the 13th Amendment

Feb 24, 2026 32m

After spending multiple stretches in solitary confinement as a result of standing for human rights, Marcus Kelley (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) was diagnosed with PTSD and, once freed after nine…

S3E4 S3 E4 | Melissa Ludin on Work/Life Balance in the Current Challenging Political Landscape

Feb 10, 2026 32m

Melissa Ludin (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) talks about balancing her work with the ACLU of Wisconsin and being a partner and mother of four boys—especially during the challenging political…

S3E3 S3 E3 | Kyle Giddings on Discovering His Purpose While in Prison

Feb 04, 2026 38m

Kyle Giddings (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) says it was a conversation with another person while incarcerated that helped him realize how many people believed they were ineligible to vote in…

S3E2 S3 E2 | Tamara Springs: “Sordid Injustice” Author Talks About the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal

Jan 21, 2026 34m

Tamara Cotman Springs (Leading with Conviction™ 2024), author of Sordid Injustice, discusses her journey through 16 months spent mostly in a maximum security prison following her conviction on RICO…

S3E1 S3 E1 | Stanford Professor Keith Humphreys on the Decline in Mass Incarceration in the U.S. and Will It Continue? Or Is It Going Back Up?

Dec 05, 2025 29m

Ronald Simpson-Bey, Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), and Zach Ruppel, Policy Analyst for JLUSA, sat down recently with Stanford Professor Keith…

S2E14 S2 E14 | Ruby Welch and Sheriff Eric Higgins Discuss the “Unlocked” Docuseries on Netflix

Aug 29, 2024 39m

Ruby Welch (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) works with Sheriff Eric Higgins in the Pulaski County, Arkansas, jail system. They sat down with us to discuss the Unlocked: A Jail Experiment docuseries…

S2E13 S2 E13 | Kristy Laschober: “Perfectly Flawed” Author Advocating for Prison Reform in Louisiana

Apr 21, 2024 35m

She spent five years in prison and says she was angry at how women were treated behind the walls. She’s now a fierce advocate for reentry and prison reform in Louisiana. She’s also the author of the…

S2E12 S2 E12 | Ronnie Waters & Felicia Tyson-Waters: A Powerful Husband-Wife Team Fighting for Criminal Justice Reform

Apr 14, 2024 31m

He was sentenced to life without parole as a juvenile and spent 40 years behind bars. She stood by him and fought for his release for all four decades. Now they are a powerhouse husband-wife team…

S2E11 S2 E11 | Jessica Snow: Education, Rehabilitation, Reentry

Apr 07, 2024 26m

As a teacher, she allowed boundaries to become blurred, which led to her incarceration. She lost her career, her home, and was forced to start all over again. Today, she is using those educator…

S2E10 S2 E10 | Thad Bereday: From Federal Fraud Charges to Redemption Radio

Mar 31, 2024 33m

He went to federal prison for financial fraud charges, and it changed his life forever. He has since received a presidential pardon and committed himself to criminal justice reform. He now hosts the…

S2E9 S2 E9 | Simone Price: Helping Others Like Her Become Advocates for Criminal Justice Reform

Mar 24, 2024 34m

She was always interested and engaged in politics and fundraising, but her personal experience with the criminal justice system is what put her on the path that she is on now, helping others like her…

S2E8 S2 E8 | Pauline Rogers: 35-Year Veteran of Criminal Justice Reform in the Deep South

Mar 17, 2024 32m

For 35 years, she has provided housing and other direct and supportive services to those reintegrating into society upon release from incarceration. Well before criminal justice was a “sexy” topic,…

S2E7 S2 E7 | Ladji Ruffin: Braille Transcription and Forensic Peer Mentorship

Mar 10, 2024 32m

After 23 years incarcerated, he took the skill he learned while in prison and started a Braille transcription business as an entrepreneur. He is also a pioneer as the first justice-impacted Forensic…

S2E6 S2 E6 | Emilee Shell: Sober Living for Poor and Formerly Incarcerated Women in Mississippi

Mar 03, 2024 29m

After four times in prison, she went to the sober living facility for women that she is currently the director of now. As a directly impacted speaker for the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign is…

S2E5 S2 E5 | Terry Johnson: From Detroit Streets to Criminal Justice Reformer

Feb 25, 2024 28m

He spent 22 years in prison, living every year like it might be his last. He got released when he was 47, and he’s found a new purpose as a criminal justice reformer in Muskegan, Michigan. Terry…

S2E4 S2 E4 | Candice Bailey: Fighting for Criminal Justice Reform in Colorado

Feb 18, 2024 38m

She was facing 48 years, and miraculously only served three years behind bars. She now serves as a triple state commissioner in Colorado, working on criminal justice reform. Candice Bailey (Leading…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does JustUs Speaks Podcast have?

JustUs Speaks Podcast has published 38 episodes since December 2022, covering topics in Business, Non-Profit.

Is JustUs Speaks Podcast still active?

JustUs Speaks Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 33m.

How do I contact JustUs Speaks Podcast for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for JustUs Speaks Podcast, including email and social media links.

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