Season 2 of With(in)
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Eps 23: Through the Fire - A Parting Conversation with Dean Williams
Our visionary leader Mr. Dean Williams announced his departure as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Correction on November 9, 2022, after four years of impassioned service to thousand of incarcerated people, CDOC staff and our larger Colorado community. The following day, after his announcement, he joined the With(in) team in-person, and virtually, at the new Beacon at Skyline: A Correction Community for a final, closing interview with our team. In Episode 23 of WIth(in), "Through the Fire", we reflect with Mr. Williams on his four years of leadership and service to CDOC, and on his profound impact on us, and on so many others.
Mr. Williams, "thank you" will never do it justice. Your commitment to the good, hard work over the past four years, and the years before that that led you to us, has opened new realities and altered so many lives for the better -- all because you answered your calling. From our very first episode of With(in) -- "The Shift" in Summer 2019 -- to this episode -- "Through the Fire" in Winter 2022 (3 1/2 years later) -- know that you have shifted the ground. You have shifted lives. You have shifted the paradigm. You have shifted what is possible. We are forever grateful and forever honored to have served with you, and to continue our work onward.
Eps 22: The Broken Gavel
In episode 22 of With(in), Co-hosts Denise Presson and Andrew Draper ponder the question of sentencing laws, how do we give justice to the victims and also hold space for the humanity of the perpetrators of those crimes with the same hands? Their discussion lands on the fact that cookie-cutter laws only take into account the crime, and not the reason behind the crime, or even the will of those who have been harmed. With(in) Producer Terry W. Mosley Jr. gets to spend some time with John Sherman, a formerly incarcerated man who spent 34 years in prison for murder, and who tells us that he will spend the rest of his life building a legacy for the man who lost his life at his hands. Finally, Dr. Ashley Hamilton, Executive Producer for With(in) and Executive Director of the University of Denver Prison Arts Initiative speaks with Kristin Nelson, Director of The Powell project, and a Harvard Law School graduate. Kristin speaks with conviction about current sentencing laws, some of the history of sentencing laws in our country and specifically about life without parole.
Eps 21: Pattycake to Prison
In episode 21 of With(in) -- Pattycake to Prison -- we explore what we are calling the pipeline to prison, specifically unpacking the correlation between juvenile detention and adult imprisonment. Ashley Ratliff, a public defense attorney specializing in children at risk of adult prosecution, speaks with Co-host Andrew Draper about the traumatic effects of the juvenile system and the need to intervene by creating holistic criminal and juvenile defense processes. Andrew continues by sitting down with Tenaro Banks, a 33 year old incarcerated man who was imprisoned at the age of 15. He talks about the realization that he never got a chance to know who he was, who he wanted to be before coming to prison and that while he is removed from society, life is all connected and he is a part of that life form. Denise Presson, Co-host of With(in) spends time with Andrew pushing forward the question if children can make complex and “forever” choices about their identity , or even understand the impact of those choices without the time to properly develop and mature.
Episode 20: Still a Citizen
In the 20th episode of With(in) -- Still a Citizen -- co-hosts Denise Presson and Andrew Draper explore what it means to be both a felon and an American citizen. First, Denise interviews Denver Women’s Correctional Facility resident Tiffany McCoy about her inspiration for creating better policy within the Colorado Department of Corrections and using your power as a citizen to make change, no matter where you’re at. Next up, Denise and With(in) music producer Travis Barnes discuss the relationship between community and our government, what it means to be a citizen as an incarcerated person and his journey trying to propose legislation to affect societal change from prison. Andrew also speaks with Colorado State Senator Pete Lee about his intended change to the felony murder law, his views on redemption and the voting rights of convicted felons and people who are released from prison. Denise and Andrew exchange perspectives, acknowledging the civic responsibility we all have as U.S. citizens to heal the harm that has been caused.
Episode 19: The Stone Catcher — A Conversation with Bryan Stevenson
Episode 19 of With(in) -- The Stone Catcher -- is a very special episode! In The Stone Catcher we witness a conversation between social justice advocate, lawyer, and author Bryan Stevenson and our incarcerated With(in) and DU Prison Arts Initiative team. Our team is thrilled to have been able to speak to Mr. Stevenson, the author of the best selling "Just Mercy" and founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative. This very moving, complex and special episode is a conversation with Denise Presson (With(in) Co-Host, incarcerated at Denver Womens), Trevor Jones (DU PAI Group Leader and member of the Juveniles Convicted as Adults Program, incarcerated at Four Mile) and Mr. Stevenson. This powerful conversation delves into how we as a country invest in imprisonment creating a crisis of injustice and inequality, and how there is no path to progress that avoids uncomfortable or inconvenient conversations and actions. Mr. Stevenson describes his journey advocating for basic decency and justice, and proclaims that affirming the humanity and dignity of those that have lost their way is the conduit to overcome our nations ills. Additionally, co-hosts Andrew Draper and Denise Presson discuss the complex ideas revealed in the interview with Mr. Stevenson and how no one should be thrown away, calling for a further conversation to be held about the impact of mass incarceration on our society as a whole.
Episode 18: Vital Diagnosis
Episode 18 of With(in) -- Vital Diagnosis -- dives into the intricacies of recognizing and treating mental health issues inside of prison. Associate Producer Sarah Berry and With(in) Co-Host Denise Presson interview Mental Health Supervisor for Denver Women’s Correctional facility Ms. Abeyta. They discuss the disparity between the percentage of women versus men seeking help, correctional fatigue and the importance of “filling your cup.” William Davenport, incarcerated in Sterling Correctional Facility, speaks with segment host Brett Phillips about growing up experiencing his mother’s mental health issues, and his passion for his role as a Mental Health Peer Assistant, a program created by the Colorado Department of Corrections to provide low-level interventions for incarcerated folks in their time of need. Then, With(in) Music Producer Travis Barnes and Co-Host Denise Presson have a round-table conversation with CDOC staff members; Licensed Professional Councilor Lindsay Wolf and Licensed Social Worker Courtney Sheldon. In it, they disclose the idea that everyone who enters prison, staff or incarcerated, is walking around with trauma, and yet most people don’t even know what trauma actually is. Co-hosts Andrew Draper and Denise Presson explore the thought that the stigma of mental health struggles creates complicated spaces in which we tend to judge rather than to offer care.
Episode 17: Same Planet, Different Worlds
In Episode 17 of With(in) -- Same Planet, Different Worlds -- we delve into the ways people look at the world and how our own preconceived paradigms shape that perception, especially when it comes to race, privilege and economic disparity. With(in) Music Producer Travis Barnes (incarcerated at Denver Reception Diagnostic Center) explains why, in the effort to transform yourself, what you have seen is not always as important as what you discover. Next, we interview people from all races, genders and walks of life, asking them what shaped their world, a hard question with hard answers. They share about family, faith and violence, health, humanity and the stigmas of race, the power of hate versus the value of choice. Co-hosts Andrew Draper (incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility) and Denise Presson (incarcerated at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility) discuss our one-size-fits-all society, and how our differences make us uniquely amazing, fusing us into a tapestry of culture and heritage. Finally, Executive Producer Dr. Ashley Hamilton and Travis Barnes deliberate on change, the factors involved in creating that change, and the dynamics necessary to see humanity in someone else’s world in a system created to keep us separated.
Episode 16: The Great Bridge
In Episode 16 of With(in) -- The Great Bridge -- we traverse the idea of bridging our differences, and what it will take to make real change in our country. Associate Producer Sean Marshall (incarcerated at Denver Regional Diagnostic Center) and Segment Host Brett Phillips (incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility) delve into what it means to have empathy for people with a disparate point of view, and the roadblocks to creating understanding. Sean continues by speaking with Kevin James (incarcerated at Buena Vista Correctional Facility) on his life’s journey, and how he has been affected by his surprising revelation that he is a Blue Lives Matter proponent. Dr. Ashley Hamilton, Executive Producer, talks with Executive Director, CDOC Dean Williams who laments the fact that race has never been reconciled in this country and his efforts to resolve that fact. Then Co-Host Andrew Draper (incarcerated in Sterling Correctional Facility) has a fascinating conversation with Colorado Department of Corrections Deputy Director Andre Stancil about the difficulties of being a black man in law enforcement, and his drive to make real and lasting change within the Department of Corrections through the G.R.A.A.C.E. Alliance. Co-Host Denise Presson (incarcerated in Denver Woman’s Correctional Facility) reminds us that now that we know, we can not ever unknown it, and exhorts us to do something to create change, to not just “sit there.”
Episode 15: The Great Divide
Episode 15 of With(in) journeys into today’s social climate, as Associate Producer Sean Marshall (incarcerated at Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center) opens by laying down a framework describing the facts about the origination of two seemingly polarizing organizations: Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. Sean then interviews Cyrus Clarkson, a captain in the Colorado Department of Corrections. In it, we discover that our differences are outweighed by our shared humanity, and the power of treating people not in the way we want to be treated, but in the way they want to be treated. Next, Segment Host Brett Phillips (incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility) talks with Leandra Bumpass (incarcerated at Denver Womens), where she depicts her childhood as preparing her to be a strong black woman, and her deep desire to see the world as a place where we can exhale. Co-Hosts Andrew Draper and Denise Presson explain the blurring of the mythos in America of who are villains and who are heroes. They extol the virtues of curiosity and conversation as a way forward for our country, during this moment of deep divide.
Episode 14: The Horrific Gift of Covid
In episode 14 of With(in) segment host Matthew LaBonte (incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility) chats with Professor Wayne Gilbert about coping with the painful dance between solitude and engagement in the claustrophobic new world of "lockdown" that the pandemic has created. Then, Denver Women’s Correctional Facility Sergeant Dejoire Cooper speaks with Associate Producer Sarah Berry about the unique opportunities that arise out of the added stressors of Covid-19 lockdowns, and the realization that she missed the daily personal interactions with her incarcerated workers. Co-host Andrew Draper sits with Nurse Susan who describes the epiphany she experienced around the social and professional barriers of nursing in prison, and her discovery of the rich humanity in those she serves. Finally, our co-hosts, Denise Presson and Andrew Draper, have an intimate conversation about the concept of legacy in prison, stemming from their thoughts while Denise was sick with Covid and Andrew was isolated due to an outbreak
Episode 13: The Way Back
In the first episode of Season 2 of With(in), 13: "The Way Back", we begin by sharing a bit about our team's journey over the past two years, creating Season 2 of With(in)-- virtually -- during the Covid19 pandemic, across three prisons in the Colorado Department of Corrections. We then share glimpses of the Season to come in a trailer of the upcoming episodes, introducing an incredible lineup of interviews to come. Then, incarcerated co-hosts Denise Presson and Andrew Draper delve into their personal lives over the last two years. Andrew speaks about grappling with the hard subjects from Season One, his illness and subsequent diagnosis. Denise describes the weight of her responsibility as a voice for incarcerated women, and maintaining the incredible trust that has been placed upon her as a co-host of With(in). Finally, With(in) Producer Terry W. Mosley Jr. gets a chance to sit down with Colorado Department of Corrections’ Executive Director Dean Williams. Mr. Williams talks about his anticipation of entering Season One as well as his takeaways from it. He continues with his excitement about the direction for Season Two, and his continued hope to humanize prisons. In an exciting shift, all recording, producing and mastery of Season 2 of With(in) was done inside of prison. For more on With(in)and the team -- including art, poetry and music from inside -- continue to explore thisiswithin.com