Podcasts: The Hustler Files
The Hustler Files
The Hustler Files – Storytelling That Will Challenge What You Thought You Knew
Join creator and host Lisa Reilly every Saturday morning from 9:32 AM to 10:00 AM, streaming here on WHMP.com, or find us on your favorite podcast platform. Each week, we bring storytelling with grit, purpose, and possibility to break stigmas, reshape narratives, and amplify the voices of justice-involved individuals, advocates, and change-makers. We’ll explore the criminal justice system, addiction recovery, domestic violence, human trafficking, fair-chance employment, and prison reform through powerful storytelling and candid interviews that bring humanity to issues too often overlooked.
Please reach out with questions or comments to thehustlerfiles@outlook.com
The Hustler Files Ep 145
FROM LECTURE HALLS TO BEHIND THE WALL | LIFE, INSIDE OUT
While prisons in the United States offer a variety of educational pursuits, it only took a brief conversation between a college educator and an incarcerated individual for the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program to be born. Four decades later, the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is still going strong, thanks to Founder, Lori Pompa. Lori’s vision to bring her students, from Temple University to interface with incarcerated individuals, in a unique classroom setting, behind the wall, was not only a leap of faith but ahead of its time. In Lori’s own words, “It is a class, though not an ordinary one. In this class roles are intermingled; everyone is the teacher, and everyone is the learner.” Staying in step with her college classes timeline and curriculum, this powerful education model changed the narrative for all. Once a week for an entire college semester, students around the world arrive at local prisons and sit in Lori’s now famous circle of curriculum, compassion, and collaboration. All these years later, this innovative model continues to foster dialogue and understanding between incarcerated individuals and college students while continuing to grow organically. Today more than 1600 college/university professors, along with other educators, and 15 countries around the globe, teach Inside-Out courses.
The Hustler Files Ep 144
GUIDED BY EXPERIENCE + GROUNDED BY SCIENCE = CHANGING OUTCOMES
Dan Sheridan and Ashley Anderson are both PhDs and licensed behavior analysts, but don’t let their titles fool you; their work at Auburn University is no desk job. In partnership with the Alabama Department of Youth Services, Dan and Ashley headup a team of undergraduate students, graduate clinicians, and full-time staff who provide support for juvenile offenders within a local secure residential facility. Listen in as they share their insights on the intersection of research, education, and lived experience, and how these elements can create transformative outcomes for young people at critical turning points in their lives. The conversation highlights the importance of behavior analysis in reducing recidivism and addresses the root causes of crime, emphasizing the necessity for community involvement in supporting youth reintegration.
The Hustler Files Ep 143
THE REALITY IS IN THE NUMBERS
Welcome to Season 4! Wanda Bertram from the Prison Policy Initiative stops by to discuss the latest insights and highlights on current incarceration rates, parole, juvenile justice, and how women incarcerated in the U.S. compare to other states and countries . While the statistics are alarming when reading the ‘whole pie’ research that the Prison Policy Initiative is known for, the truth of the criminal justice system in America is hard to ignore. Today’s conversation on detention centers, youth confinement, and incarcerated women invokes the sad reality that systemic issues continue to contribute to mass incarceration in the U.S. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that highlights the continued need for reform and increased compassion within the criminal justice system.
The Hustler Files Ep 142
GRIT, GRACE & NOT A GANGSTER
Leadership was always in the cards for Kristin Kline. Despite being incarcerated, it only took one coach in an Arizona women’s prison to encourage Kristin that she had leadership qualities and wasn’t a gangster. Finding faith in herself, she launched a workout program for the women in her prison section and took to the prison yard to improve the mental health and healing of her podmates. In this episode, Kristin discusses her transformative journey from incarcerated leadership to entrepreneurial empowerment. Kristin shares her experiences of resilience, the importance of addressing trauma, and her dedication to helping women rewrite their stories through fitness and community support, both behind and beyond the wall, with her fitness organization CONVICTED Comeback. Tune in to discover how one person’s comeback can inspire a movement for change and hope.
The Hustler Files Ep 141
30 YEARS AND 30 FEET FROM DEATH’S DOOR
Anthony Ray Hinton was 29 years old when falsely accused of multiple murders. With no money to hire an attorney and up against a criminal justice system that accused him based on the color of his skin and a false ballistics test, he spent 30 years on death row, only feet away from the execution chamber at Holman State Prison in Alabama. In this emotional episode, Ray shares his harrowing journey through the criminal justice system, the injustices he faced, and the resilience he cultivated during his time in prison. His story is one of hope, forgiveness, and the unwavering support of his Mother and best friend, Lester. Tune in to hear about Ray’s fight for freedom, his experiences on death row, and the lessons he learned about love and justice.
The Hustler Files Ep 140
JUSTICE IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS
This episode explores the transformative journey of Brett Thomas, who at 18 years old was sentenced to an excessive prison term for a crime he personally did not commit. Brett is joined by Beth Henderson, Pro Bono Director at Microsoft, and they share the powerful story of how the Seattle Clemency Project helped Brett connect with Beth and her team to navigate the complexities of the Washington State legal system to achieve his release. Tune in to discover how the impact of compassion, Brett’s resilience, and the fight for justice in the face of overwhelming odds became a winning combination.
The Hustler Files Ep 139
THE POWER OF TRUTH SHALL NOT BE SILENCED
Radha Natarajan is the Executive Director of the New England Innocence Project, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In this episode, Radha shares her journey into the world of wrongful convictions and the challenges faced by those, behind the wall, fighting for justice. Radha also shares her and her team’s hard-fought battle to free Edward Wright, a man who spent 41 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Listen in to learn how the New England Innocence Project takes on innocence cases, the remarkable work to exonerate innocent individuals, stay within the complexities of the criminal justice system, and always keep alive the importance of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Hustler Files Ep 138
STORIES OF (THANKS)GIVING
Nothing is more heartwarming as the Holiday’s approach than to re-feature a montage of stories of resilience, community, and the transformative power of giving. In this newly arranged episode, we delve into the inspiring initiatives from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s gardening program, the impactful work of the East Hampton Community Center, and the innovative food service programs at the Maine Department of Corrections. These stories highlight how individuals and organizations are making a difference in the lives of those in need, proving that compassion and community spirit can flourish even in challenging circumstances.
The Hustler Files Ep 137
FROM SMALL TOWN TO HIGH SHERIFF, AGE IS JUST A NUMBER TO JILLIAN MYERS
Sheriff Jillian Myers of Grafton County, New Hampshire, isn’t just the first and youngest female High Sheriff ever elected in her hometown, but she’s also a wife and mama to her three little girls. While a career in law enforcement wasn’t on her radar till college, Sheriff Myers says she couldn’t see herself doing anything else. Her commitment to the communities and people within her rural county, the staff under her watch, and her collaborative efforts with other law enforcement agencies have made an undeniable impact since her taking office in January of 2025. As one of only two female Sheriffs in New Hampshire and one of 50 Nationwide, this episode is a testament to courage, leadership, and commitment to making a difference, because age is really just a number.
The Hustler Files Ep 136
THREE WOMEN, THREE JOURNEY’S, THREE LEGACIES OF LOVE
When three women, a Warden, an Attorney turned Social Justice advocate, and a Filmmaker all cross paths at a maximum security prison for women in Bedford Hills, NY, anything is possible. The synergy they embody drives ground-breaking change for the innovative work taking place at the Bedford Hills Correctional Center. From filmmaker Jenifer McShane, whose documentary Mothers of Bedford explored the transformative power of empathy and family structure at the Bedford Hills Children’s Center, to advocate Barbara “Bobby” Blanchard, who dedicated her career to helping incarcerated mothers maintain their bonds with their children, and lest we forget, there’s former Warden Elaine Lord, who championed the
innovative programs for women at Bedford Hills and set a new bar for success. This episode highlights the importance of compassion, connection, and second chances, so join us for a montage of these incredible women, their legacies, and the impact they’ve made in the lives of many. Full episodes of each are available wherever you get your podcasts.
