April Bosworth is a graduate of The Last Mile program and now a Website Specialist at Televerde, where she previously served as a teaching assistant inside of prison helping other incarcerated women learn coding. Michelle Cirocco is the Chief Social Responsibility Officer at Televerde and the Executive Director of the Televerde Foundation, organizations that for nearly 30 years have pioneered employment and reentry models for incarcerated women. Under their leadership, Televerde has grown into a global B2B sales and marketing firm whose clients include Microsoft, Adobe, Dell, and SAP, offering incarcerated women the opportunity to build careers that lead to long-term success after release. Their work has supported thousands of women, resulting in a 95% post-release employment rate and less than 2% recidivism. In this conversation, April shares how she discovered coding through The Last Mile, overcame self-doubt, and built confidence by learning problem-solving and resourcefulness—skills that carried her into a corporate role while still incarcerated. Michelle reflects on her own journey through prison and describes how programs like Televerde and The Last Mile provide not just training but also financial independence, dignity, and a bridge to meaningful careers after release. Together they explore critical issues such as imposter syndrome, the stigma of incarceration, and the transformative power of being able to earn a fair wage behind bars. For those interested in criminal justice reform, this episode offers a compelling look at scalable models that reduce recidivism, break generational cycles of poverty, and prove that second chances create value for individuals, families, and businesses alike—making it essential listening for advocates, employers, and policymakers. Episode Outline: (00:00:00) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds (00:01:20) April’s Journey from The Last Mile to Televerde (00:03:20) Learning Resourcefulness and Problem-Solving in Coding (00:06:00) Building Confidence Through Asking Questions and Making Mistakes (00:07:00) Michelle on the Power of Safe Learning Environments in Prison (00:09:00) The Origins and Growth of the Televerde Model (00:11:30) Proven Success: Employment, Salaries, and Reduced Recidivism (00:13:00) Bridging the Gap Between Incarceration and Reentry (00:14:30) The Role of Loyalty, Gratitude, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (00:16:30) Televerde’s Culture of Belonging and Encouragement (00:17:30) Messages to People Still Incarcerated – Using Time to Transform (00:20:00) Michelle’s Personal Story and Life-Changing Advice from Prison (00:23:00) Explaining Televerde’s Business Model and Client Partnerships (00:26:00) Televerde Foundation, Employment Rates, and Low Recidivism (00:28:00) April on Financial Independence While Incarcerated and Beyond

Shelley Winner is the Founder of Winner’s Circle, a rehabilitative and reentry program designed to empower justice-impacted individuals through mindset training, financial literacy, and sales skills. She was previously a top sales leader at Microsoft, where she rose from an entry-level retail hire to the company’s #1 computer sales rep worldwide, earning the prestigious Gold Club award, an honor achieved by less than 2% of employees. Her advocacy and success directly influenced Microsoft to change its hiring practices, ultimately joining the Second Chance Business Coalition and expanding fair chance hiring across the organization. Today, Winner is a nationally recognized voice for criminal justice reform, using her platform to demonstrate the transformative power of second chances.

Dr. James JC Cavitt is the Executive Director of Project Rebound at CSU Fullerton, a transformative program supporting justice-impacted students as they reenter academic life and broader society. He was previously a founding student of The Last Mile’s inaugural class at San Quentin State Prison, where he began his remarkable journey from incarceration to academia. Today, Dr. Cavitt holds a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy, an accomplished spoken word poet, and a nationally recognized advocate for criminal justice reform. His scholarly work centers on the impacts of incarceration on emotional intimacy post-release—a subject deeply informed by his own life experience.

This week, Tara visits Homeboy Industries, an organization that helps gang members and formerly incarcerated people transition into productive, independent lives. Hear her captivating conversation with former CEO of Homeboy, Tom Vozzo.

This week, Frank Cariilo, a formerly incarcerated, and fully exonerated man who was falsely accused and wrongfully convicted, joins Tara to catch up after he ran for public office, and what life is like in the years after returning home.

This week, Tara interviews members of the San Quentin Trans community, including incarcerated resident Jamie Acosta, corrections officer Mandi Hauwert, and a notable actor and activist David Sea to discuss what life is like for trans people within the prison system.

This week, Khalid Cannon joins Tara to chat about his organization Put Me In! that helps give children of incarcerated parents better access to athletics, and all the great developmental benefits that participation in sports provides.

This week, Tara talks with Zach Skow, founder of Marley's Mutts, about how his dogs saved his life. Hear how he turned his rock-bottom into a purpose that helps both incarcerated people and rescue dogs throughout California.

This week, Tara dives into the complex issues associated with the involvement of currently incarcerated people working on the front lines of California's seasonal wild fires. Chief Royal Ramey joins Tara to discuss how fighting fires became his life's calling as through it, he discovered the value of public service. Hear how he is paving the road for formerly incarcerated people to pursue fire fighting as a career after they are paroled.

This week, The Last Mile founders, Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti introduce the new host of The Last Mile Radio, Tara Trask!

Originally published 2/17/25, civil jury consultant Tara Trask joins Ryan Leaf to tell her story. Hear how her early days of working with Dr. Phil in Texas influenced her career, and how her transformation through sobriety changed her perspective about the criminal justice system.

Originally published 2/3/25, Nike executive and manager of the Jordan brand, Larry Miller joins host Ryan Leaf to tell his story. Hear about his decision to tell the story of his journey through the criminal justice system prior to his incredibly successful career in sports branding.

This week is the last of our 3 episodes recorded inside California's San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Hear interviews with Lt. Berry, student Raheem, and then classroom facilitator Katy Gilbert and Rusty Bechtold from CalPIA, the California Prison Industry Authority.

This week, Ryan talks with 3 TLM students in San Quentin about their time inside, and how TLM is helping them find hope for a positive future on the outside.

This week is the first of 3 episodes featuring Ryan's interviews within the newly renamed San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in California, where The Last Mile began. In this episode, Ryan chats with new warden Chase Andes about his upbringing, and how every step in his career was leading him to become the progressive warden that he is. Also, Ryan speaks with Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, co-host of the massively popular podcast Ear Hustle.

(Originally aired January 11th, 2025) This week, Ryan is joined by Chris Fabricant from The Innocence Project. Hear how he and his colleagues are trying to not only reverse wrongful convictions for innocent incarcerated people, but also how they're working to undo the criminal justice system's reliance on junk science on which so many wrongful convictions are based.

This week, Ryan sits down with TLM student turned employee, Timothy "Red" Littlepage to hear his story, from inside out. Hear him with Ryan from inside Putnamville Correctional, and again, with Kevin McKracken ... after he was released from prison!

This week, hear 3 separate interviews with students enrolled in TLM's programs inside Indiana's Putnamville Correctional Facility.

This week, JJ Velasquez and Dan Slepian join host Ryan Leaf. Hear JJ tell his story of wrongful conviction and incarceration, how he learned to persevere through unbearable conditions, and where he found salvation and hope before ultimately being released after spending 21 years behind bars.

This week, Ryan addresses a group of students enrolled in TLM's programs inside Indiana's Putnamville Correctional Facility. Hear him tell his story and express the importance of redemption and transformation as they approach a new life after they're released.