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The Secret Life of Prisons

The Secret Life of Prisons

Prison Radio Association 124 Episodes Feb 2, 2026

The Secret Life of Prisons is a podcast from the Prison Radio Association that uncovers hidden stories from inside prisons. Hosted by Paula Harriott, who spent time in prison and now works with Unlock, and Phil Maguire, who has worked in prisons for two decades, the show explores crime, justice, and the experiences of those affected by imprisonment. The series aims to give insight into life behind bars and the issues surrounding the justice system.

Episodes

Live at Clinks Conference 2026 | Lord James Timpson and Anne Fox
Live at Clinks Conference 2026 | Lord James Timpson and Anne Fox Feb 2, 2026 47:06 As the Sentencing Act 2026 receives royal assent, Phil and Paula take to the stage at Conway Hall in London as part of the Clinks annual conference 2026.Lord James Timpson was Chief Executive of Timpsons, where he pioneered the employment, at scale, of people who have been through the criminal justice system. He was Chair of the Prison Reform Trust before joining government in 2024 as Minister of
Waiting For The Out | Andy West and Ric Renton
Waiting For The Out | Andy West and Ric Renton Dec 29, 2025 31:44 Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. His father and brother spent time behind bars and he wrote a memoir, The Life Inside, about his career in prisons which we featured in an episode back in May 2025. That book has now been adapted for a BBC1 series, Waiting For The Out, which starts in the new year.Ric Renton spent time in three prisons in the north-east of England, including HMP Durham. He i
Christmas Special: Louis Theroux Live at the Radio Festival
Christmas Special: Louis Theroux Live at the Radio Festival Dec 22, 2025 32:34 Every year the radio industry gathers for the Radio Festival in London. The event, run by a wonderful organisation called the Radio Academy, brings together radio professionals from across the country to see the finest broadcasting talent talking about what's happening at the cutting edge of our industry.This year's event was entitled World Of Sound, showcasing the UK as a global leader.Phil was p
Phil's mic drop
Phil's mic drop Dec 19, 2025 46:02 In 2006, Phil Maguire OBE left his job at the BBC to work in prisons. He joined a small group of committed, inspirational people to found a charity, the Prison Radio Association, which went on to transform how we communicate in prisons and set up the world's first national radio station for people in prison.Phil is Chief Executive of the charity. Today, Phil has some news which he wants to share w
How the press reports crime | Beatrice Auty and Charlie Moloney
How the press reports crime | Beatrice Auty and Charlie Moloney Dec 15, 2025 39:51 Beatrice Auty was released from prison last year and has since become a Longford Scholar, pursuing her academic interest in criminology. Before prison, Beatrice visited death row in the US and dreamt of becoming a human rights lawyer. Beatrice's case and trial attracted a good deal of media attention, and since release Beatrice has appeared in the media to talk about her experiences in prison.Char
A gold award-winning episode of The Secret Life of Prisons
A gold award-winning episode of The Secret Life of Prisons Dec 8, 2025 1:00:47 The Audio Production Awards take place every year to honour the very best in radio and podcast production in the UK. They're run by Audio UK, which represents audio producers, and are competed for by the very best in the production and broadcast industries. And this year, The Secret Life of Prisons won GOLD in the Sport category for our episode about the HMP Brixton Half Marathon! So this week we
*The Big Give 2025* | Faye Dunn and Toni Garrigos
*The Big Give 2025* | Faye Dunn and Toni Garrigos Dec 1, 2025 36:53 If you would like to support the Prison Radio Association, visit prison.radio/biggive and your donation will be doubled!Faye Dunn and Toni Garrigos first met each other while serving sentences in HMP Styal. Faye is now the Assistant Producer of this podcast, while Toni is employed in sales. Check out their story.Presenters:Phil Maguire – Chief Executive, Prison Radio AssociationPaula Harriot
Inside a Drug Recovery Wing | Wayne Hickman and Ash
Inside a Drug Recovery Wing | Wayne Hickman and Ash Nov 24, 2025 30:18 Drug Recovery Wings are specialist units in prisons that work to help people dealing with addictions as part of their prison sentences.Ash is no stranger to imprisonment and has lived with addiction since he was a child. But a remarkable encounter transformed his life. He now works for Better Way Recovery, a charity based in Litchfield near Birmingham, as an Integrated Offender Manager Link Worker
The Longford Lecture 2025 | Dame Rachel De Souza, Angus Stobie, Jeremy Howe
The Longford Lecture 2025 | Dame Rachel De Souza, Angus Stobie, Jeremy Howe Nov 17, 2025 56:19 The Longford Lecture is a centrepiece event of the criminal justice sector's year. Run by the Longford Trust, a charity that provides opportunities for study and mentoring for people in prison and detention, it takes place at Church House in Westminster.This year's lecture was a call for the abolition of the imprisonment of children, given by the Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza, who t
The Prison Photographer | Andy Aitchison
The Prison Photographer | Andy Aitchison Nov 10, 2025 36:48 Andy Aitchison has been photographing prisons for more than 20 years. He selects five of his favourite photographs of prisons and talks to us about what we can learn from prisons by keeping our eyes open.Andy's new book is called Incarcerated and will be released soon.You can follow Andy on Instagram here.Presenters:Phil Maguire – Chief Executive, Prison Radio AssociationPaula Harriott –
Charlie's Promise | Martin Cosser
Charlie's Promise | Martin Cosser Nov 3, 2025 24:20 In the summer of 2023, 17 year-old Charlie Cosser went to an organised house party in a small village in West Sussex and never came home. A fight broke out on the dance floor and Charlie was stabbed. He died later in hospital.As he was lying on his hospital bed, Charlie's father Martin Cosser made a promise to Charlie that he would spend the rest of his life educating young people about the danger
A life sentence | Sarah
A life sentence | Sarah Oct 27, 2025 37:31 Sarah was released from prison after spending 16 years behind bars as part of a life sentence. She was released to an approved premises two hours away from her friends and family. She had no ID, no bank account, no job, and the world had completely changed in those 16 years. She received support from Paula and her charity Unlock before and after release.This is Sarah's story.Presenters:Phil Maguir

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