Judy Henderson and Jimmy Soni join us for a deeply moving conversation about resilience, forgiveness, and hope in the face of injustice. Judy spent 36 years wrongfully imprisoned, a journey that could have broken most people—but instead, she transformed it into a story of grace, growth, and unwavering strength. Alongside Jimmy, her co-author and champion, they share how hope can be actively created, bitterness overcome, and the power of choosing to be better, not bitter.
Judy’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and thrive despite the darkest circumstances. Together, Judy and Jimmy illuminate the personal practices, family bonds, and daily choices that fueled her fight for freedom and her mission to reform the justice system.
💛 We explore:
• The mantra “Don’t be bitter, be better” — a guide through decades of hardship
• How forgiveness played a role, including reaching out to the prosecutor
• The importance of hope and family presence through 36 years behind bars
• Practical daily choices in prison that shaped resilience and dignity
• Jimmy’s relentless advocacy and “breaking through concrete walls” to tell Judy’s story
• Insights about parenting and nurturing children as “miniature adults”
• What Judy and Jimmy would tell their 20-something selves today
• Plus: A heartfelt passage about finding light in the darkest places
🎧 Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome & introductions with Judy Henderson and Jimmy
4:30 – Judy’s resilience: fueled by anger, love for family, and confronting fear
6:30 – Jimmy on Judy’s physical and mental endurance in prison and beyond
11:26 – Judy on forgiveness and writing a letter to her prosecutor
14:07 – Jimmy explains the mantra “Don’t be bitter, be better”
16:25 – Judy and Jimmy share each other’s superpowers: graciousness & breaking walls
18:20 – The uphill battle to publish the book and Jimmy’s warrior spirit
20:17 – Judy reads a poignant passage about hope, choice, and growth in prison
22:17 – Jimmy on the power of family presence and creating hope during incarceration
24:53 – Judy’s message: find your talents and purpose; create your own happiness
26:37 – What Judy and Jimmy would tell their 20-something selves
29:40 – Parenting insights: treating children with respect and nurturing bonds
31:58 – Closing reflections and gratitude
💬 Memorable Quotes
"Don’t be bitter, be better.""Even in chains, our choices remain our own.""I chose to see the humanity in the guards.""Hope isn’t accidental — it’s something you create.""Your children are just miniature adults; their feelings deserve respect.""That thing you think will break you can be a source of profound strength."
🔑 3 Key Takeaways
1. Resilience is a daily practice. Judy’s story shows how small choices — meditation, education, kindness — build unbreakable strength over time.
2. Forgiveness frees the soul. Choosing understanding over anger helped Judy release bitterness and find peace despite deep injustice.
3. Hope is created, not given. Family love, presence, and intentional actions sustain us in the hardest times — and empower us to create light in darkness.
🌟 More About Judy & Jimmy
Judy Henderson spent 36 years wrongfully incarcerated before finally gaining her freedom and becoming a powerful advocate for justice reform. Jimmy is an author and storyteller who partnered with Judy to share her remarkable journey in their book When the Light Finds Us — a testament to endurance, hope, and transformation.
👉 Get the Book
When the Light Finds Us is available wherever books are sold.
Amazon link for the book: https://www.amazon.com/When-Light-Finds-Us-Transformed-ebook/dp/B0CR93DD34
📬 Connect with Judy & Jimmy
jhenderson0701@gmail.com
judyannhenderson.com
IG: judy.henderson.77312
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