The Locked up Living Podcast: Surviving and thriving in prisons and other challenging environments

 
 
In this important conversation David Jones and Dr Naomi Murphy talk about why so many boys underachieve at school with Mike Bell. And why has so little research been done on this subject?
Mike is a former science teacher, evidence-based teaching trainer, author of Fundamentals of Teaching, founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Men and Boys issues, and lead researcher for the APPG’s 2023 inquiry into boys’ educational underachievement, explains the findings behind his latest book ‘Yes He Can’. He argues that boys’ underachievement is real, widespread, and not inevitable.
(https://www.amazon.co.uk/Closing-Attainment-Boys-Secondary-School/dp/1041242158)
We discuss the data behind the attainment gap, why the problem is most visible in secondary school, and what six British schools did to close the gap without extra resources or special training. Mike also challenges common assumptions about male teachers, toxic masculinity, and the causes of boys’ poor outcomes.
Key topics
Why Yes He Can is built largely from teacher transcripts and school practice, not theory
The size of the attainment gap from school readiness through GCSEs, A levels, and university
Why the gap narrows in primary school but widens again in secondary school
How primary teachers’ close knowledge of pupils creates more individualised support
The consequences of boys’ underachievement, including disengagement, NEET outcomes, and wider social costs
Why some boys become hostile to school when they feel lost, punished, and misunderstood
How school culture can become a place where boys actually want to come
Why the research base is weaker than people assume, despite widespread concern
Why Mike does not see male teacher shortages as the main explanation
Why the schools he studied were effective because they shared intentions, not identical methods
Timestamps (Approx)
00:00 - Technical setup and Mike Bell’s introduction
01:47 - What Yes He Can is about
03:27 - How the APPG inquiry led to the book
06:28 - The attainment gap from primary school to university
09:59 - Why secondary school widens the gap
11:30 - Social consequences of boys switching off
13:42 - Making school a place boys want to come to
15:16 - How school structure affects less able pupils
17:10 - Why boys were once seen as advantaged and girls as disadvantaged
18:57 - How the six schools were found and why primary practice mattered
20:26 - Why the research base on boys’ underachievement is so weak
23:33 - What the six successful schools had in common
24:58 - Why male teachers are not the key solution
26:58 - Why he rejects toxic masculinity as the root cause

In this important conversation David Jones and Dr Naomi Murphy talk about why so many boys underachieve at school with Mike Bell. And why has so little research been done on this subject?
Mike is a former science teacher, evidence-based teaching trainer, author of Fundamentals of Teaching, founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Men and Boys issues, and lead researcher for the APPG’s 2023 inquiry into boys’ educational underachievement, explains the findings behind his latest book ‘Yes He Can’. He argues that boys’ underachievement is real, widespread, and not inevitable.
(https://www.amazon.co.uk/Closing-Attainment-Boys-Secondary-School/dp/1041242158)
We discuss the data behind the attainment gap, why the problem is most visible in secondary school, and what six British schools did to close the gap without extra resources or special training. Mike also challenges common assumptions about male teachers, toxic masculinity, and the causes of boys’ poor outcomes.
Key topics
Why Yes He Can is built largely from teacher transcripts and school practice, not theory
The size of the attainment gap from school readiness through GCSEs, A levels, and university
Why the gap narrows in primary school but widens again in secondary school
How primary teachers’ close knowledge of pupils creates more individualised support
The consequences of boys’ underachievement, including disengagement, NEET outcomes, and wider social costs
Why some boys become hostile to school when they feel lost, punished, and misunderstood
How school culture can become a place where boys actually want to come
Why the research base is weaker than people assume, despite widespread concern
Why Mike does not see male teacher shortages as the main explanation
Why the schools he studied were effective because they shared intentions, not identical methods
Timestamps (Approx)
00:00 - Technical setup and Mike Bell’s introduction
01:47 - What Yes He Can is about
03:27 - How the APPG inquiry led to the book
06:28 - The attainment gap from primary school to university
09:59 - Why secondary school widens the gap
11:30 - Social consequences of boys switching off
13:42 - Making school a place boys want to come to
15:16 - How school structure affects less able pupils
17:10 - Why boys were once seen as advantaged and girls as disadvantaged
18:57 - How the six schools were found and why primary practice mattered
20:26 - Why the research base on boys’ underachievement is so weak
23:33 - What the six successful schools had in common
24:58 - Why male teachers are not the key solution
26:58 - Why he rejects toxic masculinity as the root cause

David Jones and Naomi Murphy meet Kelly Edmondson, healthcare executive, former trauma ICU nurse, board certified grief counsellor, bereaved mother, and founder of Timely Presence. This is a very powerful and moving account as Kelly describes some of the tragic moments that have led to her founding of Timely Presence. Kelly shares how years in high-pressure care shaped her understanding of trauma, resilience, and human connection. She also explains how the death of her son Darius led her to build a milestone-based grief support model that helps people show up meaningfully long after the funeral.
We discuss how grief changes over time, why people often struggle to support the bereaved, and the simple principles Kelly uses to help others stay present without saying the wrong thing. This is a deeply personal conversation about loss, purpose, and turning pain into practical support.
Key topics
Kelly Edmondson’s path from new graduate nurse in trauma ICU and burn care to grief counsellor and founder of Timely Presence
What caring for patients at the edge of life taught her about fragility, resilience, and the value of relationships
Why good clinicians should care deeply, while still maintaining enough emotional protection to keep functioning
The moment a young quadriplegic patient and his children reshaped her sense of purpose in care
How Kelly’s own family life and her son Darius’s death changed the way she saw grief, holidays, and time
Why the holiday season can be especially painful for bereaved families, and how her family uses “reframing the ritual”
The importance of saying a deceased person’s name, telling their stories, and keeping their legacy present
How Timely Presence was born from a Mother’s Day weekend that turned a looming trigger into a meaningful, supported experience
Why grief support is often front loaded around funerals, but the hardest moments usually come later
The three R’s Kelly recommends for supporting someone who is grieving: regulate, respond, remain
Timestamps
00:00 - Kelly Edmondson’s background in trauma care and grief support
01:39 - Entering trauma ICU and learning from life interrupted
04:44 - A young quadriplegic patient and the emotional weight of care
07:28 - Self-care habits that helped her stay grounded
09:48 - Parenthood, Christmas, and seeing grief through a caregiver’s eyes
13:51 - Reframing holiday rituals after the death of her son Darius
16:39 - Why talking about loss matters instead of avoiding it
21:31 - The Mother's Day weekend that inspired Timely Presence
24:58 - How Timely Presence works across the emotional calendar of grief
28:14 - Why people welcome structured grief support for difficult losses
30:56 - Advice for people going through loss and those trying to help
34:49 - The three R’s: regulate, respond, remain
37:46 - Closing reflections on Kelly’s story and legacy

David Jones and Naomi Murphy meet Kelly Edmondson, healthcare executive, former trauma ICU nurse, board certified grief counsellor, bereaved mother, and founder of Timely Presence. This is a very powerful and moving account as Kelly describes some of the tragic moments that have led to her founding of Timely Presence. Kelly shares how years in high-pressure care shaped her understanding of trauma, resilience, and human connection. She also explains how the death of her son Darius led her to build a milestone-based grief support model that helps people show up meaningfully long after the funeral.
We discuss how grief changes over time, why people often struggle to support the bereaved, and the simple principles Kelly uses to help others stay present without saying the wrong thing. This is a deeply personal conversation about loss, purpose, and turning pain into practical support.
Key topics
Kelly Edmondson’s path from new graduate nurse in trauma ICU and burn care to grief counsellor and founder of Timely Presence
What caring for patients at the edge of life taught her about fragility, resilience, and the value of relationships
Why good clinicians should care deeply, while still maintaining enough emotional protection to keep functioning
The moment a young quadriplegic patient and his children reshaped her sense of purpose in care
How Kelly’s own family life and her son Darius’s death changed the way she saw grief, holidays, and time
Why the holiday season can be especially painful for bereaved families, and how her family uses “reframing the ritual”
The importance of saying a deceased person’s name, telling their stories, and keeping their legacy present
How Timely Presence was born from a Mother’s Day weekend that turned a looming trigger into a meaningful, supported experience
Why grief support is often front loaded around funerals, but the hardest moments usually come later
The three R’s Kelly recommends for supporting someone who is grieving: regulate, respond, remain
Timestamps
00:00 - Kelly Edmondson’s background in trauma care and grief support
01:39 - Entering trauma ICU and learning from life interrupted
04:44 - A young quadriplegic patient and the emotional weight of care
07:28 - Self-care habits that helped her stay grounded
09:48 - Parenthood, Christmas, and seeing grief through a caregiver’s eyes
13:51 - Reframing holiday rituals after the death of her son Darius
16:39 - Why talking about loss matters instead of avoiding it
21:31 - The Mother's Day weekend that inspired Timely Presence
24:58 - How Timely Presence works across the emotional calendar of grief
28:14 - Why people welcome structured grief support for difficult losses
30:56 - Advice for people going through loss and those trying to help
34:49 - The three R’s: regulate, respond, remain
37:46 - Closing reflections on Kelly’s story and legacy

Dr Naomi Murphy, David Jones and Dr Pawel Szczesny have a conversation about AI.
This conversation explores how AI is shaping human thinking, decision-making, creativity, and workplace habits. Dr Szczesny, co-founder and CEO of Impersonato, explains why his company builds synthetic personas as “crash test dummies” for AI systems and why he believes AI should be treated more like a tool than a conversational companion.
We also discuss the risks of over-reliance, especially in mental health, the workplace, and personal identity, plus what healthy AI deployment could look like in organizations.
Impersonato — AI psychology company. We build psychologically realistic crash-test dummies.
Key topics
Pawel Szczesny’s background and development.
He describes a career path spanning experimental biology, computational biology, medical research, pharmaceutical research, pro-cognitive supplements, and psychology of AI systems.
Biology taught him humility: theories about complex systems are usually incomplete, and no system works in isolation.
Why Impersonato exists
How AI mirrors users
Why mirroring can become dangerous
Creativity: individual gains, collective loss
Good AI versus bad AI
Jobs, unemployment, and the “mass layoff” narrative
Why fluent AI sounds authoritative
Pawel says people still confuse polished language with expertise.
He warns that AI can produce beautifully written output that is entirely wrong, especially in areas that cannot be externally verified.
The “Claude Boys” phenomenon
Blurred authorship and reduced enjoyment
Who shapes AI systems
Ethics belongs to humans, not the model
How organizations should use AI
How he uses AI personally, he does not use AI outside work.
 
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction to Dr Pawel Szczesny and why synthetic personas matter for AI safety
 
(01:05) From biology to psychology through a series of career pivots
 
(03:58) What Inpersonato does and why AI needs crash test dummies
 
(06:21) Testing therapy-support chatbots and companion systems
 
(07:33) How GPT-3 changed Pawel’s view of chatbot behavior
 
(09:25) Why AI mirrors education level, preferences, and psychology
 
(10:24) When AI reinforcement starts to resemble delusion
 
(12:29) How AI responds to loneliness and paranoia in users
 
(14:32) Career changes and subtle language adoption after heavy AI use
 
(16:44) Individual creativity rises, but collective creativity shrinks
 
(19:15) Why the healthiest AI should not rely on a conversational interface
 
(23:28) Lessons from typists, office assistants, and changing work
 
(24:27) Why mass unemployment is more marketing story than reality
 
(28:55) Why fluent writing is mistaken for expertise
 
(31:51) The “Claude Boys” and reverse cyborg behavior
 
(33:59) How constant AI advice can amplify anxiety
 
(35:00) Blurred authorship and the loss of creative joy
 
(37:49) Identity risk when writing or creating stops feeling rewarding
 
(38:48) Why Claude reflects a narrow entrepreneurial worldview
 
(43:52) Why ethics belongs to humans, not the AI model
 
(49:32) How organizations can build healthier AI habits
 
(53:58) A better internal rollout model: let employees experiment first
 
(56:04) How Pavel uses AI personally and why he takes breaks
 

Dr Naomi Murphy, David Jones and Dr Pawel Szczesny have a conversation about AI.
This conversation explores how AI is shaping human thinking, decision-making, creativity, and workplace habits. Dr Szczesny, co-founder and CEO of Impersonato, explains why his company builds synthetic personas as “crash test dummies” for AI systems and why he believes AI should be treated more like a tool than a conversational companion.
We also discuss the risks of over-reliance, especially in mental health, the workplace, and personal identity, plus what healthy AI deployment could look like in organizations.
Impersonato — AI psychology company. We build psychologically realistic crash-test dummies.
Key topics
Pawel Szczesny’s background and development.
He describes a career path spanning experimental biology, computational biology, medical research, pharmaceutical research, pro-cognitive supplements, and psychology of AI systems.
Biology taught him humility: theories about complex systems are usually incomplete, and no system works in isolation.
Why Impersonato exists
How AI mirrors users
Why mirroring can become dangerous
Creativity: individual gains, collective loss
Good AI versus bad AI
Jobs, unemployment, and the “mass layoff” narrative
Why fluent AI sounds authoritative
Pawel says people still confuse polished language with expertise.
He warns that AI can produce beautifully written output that is entirely wrong, especially in areas that cannot be externally verified.
The “Claude Boys” phenomenon
Blurred authorship and reduced enjoyment
Who shapes AI systems
Ethics belongs to humans, not the model
How organizations should use AI
How he uses AI personally, he does not use AI outside work.
 
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction to Dr Pawel Szczesny and why synthetic personas matter for AI safety
 
(01:05) From biology to psychology through a series of career pivots
 
(03:58) What Inpersonato does and why AI needs crash test dummies
 
(06:21) Testing therapy-support chatbots and companion systems
 
(07:33) How GPT-3 changed Pawel’s view of chatbot behavior
 
(09:25) Why AI mirrors education level, preferences, and psychology
 
(10:24) When AI reinforcement starts to resemble delusion
 
(12:29) How AI responds to loneliness and paranoia in users
 
(14:32) Career changes and subtle language adoption after heavy AI use
 
(16:44) Individual creativity rises, but collective creativity shrinks
 
(19:15) Why the healthiest AI should not rely on a conversational interface
 
(23:28) Lessons from typists, office assistants, and changing work
 
(24:27) Why mass unemployment is more marketing story than reality
 
(28:55) Why fluent writing is mistaken for expertise
 
(31:51) The “Claude Boys” and reverse cyborg behavior
 
(33:59) How constant AI advice can amplify anxiety
 
(35:00) Blurred authorship and the loss of creative joy
 
(37:49) Identity risk when writing or creating stops feeling rewarding
 
(38:48) Why Claude reflects a narrow entrepreneurial worldview
 
(43:52) Why ethics belongs to humans, not the AI model
 
(49:32) How organizations can build healthier AI habits
 
(53:58) A better internal rollout model: let employees experiment first
 
(56:04) How Pavel uses AI personally and why he takes breaks
 

In this conversation with Naomi Murphy and David Jones Neil shares the raw reality of adopting two siblings in 2023 in this heartfelt episode. From navigating the invasive process to managing the emotional rollercoaster, Neil provides honest insights into a journey many find daunting but rarely talk about openly. If you're considering adoption or simply curious about the unseen side of creating a unique family, this episode offers invaluable perspectives.
Key Topics Covered:
Neil’s motivation for writing his book after adopting two siblings
The emotional challenges of the adoption process and post-placement realities
How the system's focus on children can overlook the feelings of adoptive parents
The impact of trauma responses and differentiating normal toddler behavior from trauma signals
Strategies for managing the stress and emotional numbness during early parenting
The significance of the two-week rule for coping with work stress and family challenges
The disparities in emotional experiences between adoptive parents and their attachment journeys
Insights into the training social workers receive and its focus on worst-case scenarios
Neil’s thoughts on the fairness of resource allocation in fertility treatments
The importance of humour and resilience in processing difficult life experiences
Neil’s involvement in organizing a wellbeing festival and his interest in mental health
Timestamps:
00:00 - Neil’s story: from infertility to adoption and writing his book
 
02:17 - Challenges of the adoption process and systemic focus on protecting children
 
05:03 - Why Neil decided to document his journey for others
 
09:32 - The emotional complexity of IVF and the invasive procedures involved
 
12:32 - Feelings of fairness and resource disparity in fertility treatments
 
15:51 - Managing stress: the two-week rule for coping with family and work challenges
 
18:22 - Improving adoption training and system efficiency
 
24:52 - Differentiating trauma responses from normal behaviour in children
 
27:36 - The emotional numbness during initial parenting and its protective role
 
29:52 - How different attachment experiences influence adoptive parents' journeys
 
38:28 - Addressing unspoken gratitude and the myths of family obligations
 
41:28 - The role of humour in Neil’s approach to life’s difficulties
 
43:19 - Decision-making style and embracing uncertainty in challenging situations
 
46:26 - Neil’s journey into being a published author and his involvement in the wellbeing festival
 
48:19 - Final thoughts and key takeaways
Notable Quotes:
"The process is very child focused, but understanding your own feelings is a whole other conversation."
"You have to think of adoption as a long game—it's about forming attachments slowly, not instant bonds."

In this conversation with Naomi Murphy and David Jones Neil shares the raw reality of adopting two siblings in 2023 in this heartfelt episode. From navigating the invasive process to managing the emotional rollercoaster, Neil provides honest insights into a journey many find daunting but rarely talk about openly. If you're considering adoption or simply curious about the unseen side of creating a unique family, this episode offers invaluable perspectives.
Key Topics Covered:
Neil’s motivation for writing his book after adopting two siblings
The emotional challenges of the adoption process and post-placement realities
How the system's focus on children can overlook the feelings of adoptive parents
The impact of trauma responses and differentiating normal toddler behavior from trauma signals
Strategies for managing the stress and emotional numbness during early parenting
The significance of the two-week rule for coping with work stress and family challenges
The disparities in emotional experiences between adoptive parents and their attachment journeys
Insights into the training social workers receive and its focus on worst-case scenarios
Neil’s thoughts on the fairness of resource allocation in fertility treatments
The importance of humour and resilience in processing difficult life experiences
Neil’s involvement in organizing a wellbeing festival and his interest in mental health
Timestamps:
00:00 - Neil’s story: from infertility to adoption and writing his book
 
02:17 - Challenges of the adoption process and systemic focus on protecting children
 
05:03 - Why Neil decided to document his journey for others
 
09:32 - The emotional complexity of IVF and the invasive procedures involved
 
12:32 - Feelings of fairness and resource disparity in fertility treatments
 
15:51 - Managing stress: the two-week rule for coping with family and work challenges
 
18:22 - Improving adoption training and system efficiency
 
24:52 - Differentiating trauma responses from normal behaviour in children
 
27:36 - The emotional numbness during initial parenting and its protective role
 
29:52 - How different attachment experiences influence adoptive parents' journeys
 
38:28 - Addressing unspoken gratitude and the myths of family obligations
 
41:28 - The role of humour in Neil’s approach to life’s difficulties
 
43:19 - Decision-making style and embracing uncertainty in challenging situations
 
46:26 - Neil’s journey into being a published author and his involvement in the wellbeing festival
 
48:19 - Final thoughts and key takeaways
Notable Quotes:
"The process is very child focused, but understanding your own feelings is a whole other conversation."
"You have to think of adoption as a long game—it's about forming attachments slowly, not instant bonds."

In this conversation Naomi Murphy and David Jones explore how systems thinking, internal family systems, and leadership mindset shifts can transform organizations from within. Francisco Baptista shares insights on addressing systemic dysfunction, fostering resilience, and the power of small interventions to create culture change.
In this episode:
The significance of systemic and relational approaches in leadership coaching
How physics and systems thinking reveal organizational dysfunctions missed by psychological lenses
The role of systemic resilience versus individual resilience and how organizations often shift burden onto individuals
Recognizing early warning signs of a culture approaching a breaking point
The importance of naming, making explicit, and working through organizational trauma and ghosts of past events
Practical strategies for leaders to influence culture through small yet impactful interventions
The integration of internal family systems (IFS) and parts work in organizational contexts
How decision-making and responsibility influence resilience and momentum
Protecting personal well-being while delivering tough messages in consultancy
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to systemic coaching and Francisco Baptista's background01:10 - The shift from technical mastery to relational systemic work02:22 - How physics and systems thinking provide unique insights into dysfunction03:49 - Bringing physics into coaching to address organizational culture04:22 - Systemic resilience versus individual resilience and organizational burdening06:49 - How organizations unconsciously set their breaking points through tolerated behaviors07:39 - Recognizing early warning signs of a culture crisis09:25 - The slow process of cultural degradation and importance of naming trauma10:50 - The presence of organizational ghosts and collective trauma12:36 - Dealing with organizational wounds that are hard to talk about13:30 - Distinguishing genuine change from surface-level coping14:12 - The influence of coaching on transformation, not just problem-solving16:18 - The embodied change versus purely intellectual approaches17:36 - How transformative contact challenges AI and enhances human relational qualities18:12 - Strategies to help executives navigate systemic thresholds and internal dilemmas19:58 - Exploring polarity, polarization, and how to shift perspectives21:36 - Recognizing grey ground and parts work in coaching and organizations22:13 - Why internal family systems (IFS) works well both individually and collectively23:37 - Integrating parts and understanding internal managers in organizational contexts25:50 - Addressing the myth of bad parts and collective scapegoating27:19 - Leaders' blind spots: projecting harshness onto the market instead of themselves29:15 - The importance of slack time for organizational learning and innovation30:08 - Differentiating external pressure from internal stress and building boundaries32:36 - Handling organizations that resist change through personal responsibility and decision-making34:22 - Advice for individuals in brutal systems: ownership and decision sovereignty36:00 - Small interventions with the potential for cultural shifts, exemplified by leadership and visibility37:55 - The impact of values like grit on organizational burnout and pace39:07 - Protecting coaches’ well-being while delivering tough truths40:14 - Cultivating purpose, fulfillment, and alignment in coaching practice41:16 - The role of inner walls, transgenerational beliefs, and breaking down barriers42:31 - Overcoming organizational trauma echoes from penal systems to corporate environments42:53 - Final thoughts: systemic work as a pathway to resilience and transformationResources & Links:
Conference of the Birds ;  https://www.franciscobaptista.com/conference
https://ifs-institute.com/

In this conversation Naomi Murphy and David Jones explore how systems thinking, internal family systems, and leadership mindset shifts can transform organizations from within. Francisco Baptista shares insights on addressing systemic dysfunction, fostering resilience, and the power of small interventions to create culture change.
In this episode:
The significance of systemic and relational approaches in leadership coaching
How physics and systems thinking reveal organizational dysfunctions missed by psychological lenses
The role of systemic resilience versus individual resilience and how organizations often shift burden onto individuals
Recognizing early warning signs of a culture approaching a breaking point
The importance of naming, making explicit, and working through organizational trauma and ghosts of past events
Practical strategies for leaders to influence culture through small yet impactful interventions
The integration of internal family systems (IFS) and parts work in organizational contexts
How decision-making and responsibility influence resilience and momentum
Protecting personal well-being while delivering tough messages in consultancy
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to systemic coaching and Francisco Baptista's background01:10 - The shift from technical mastery to relational systemic work02:22 - How physics and systems thinking provide unique insights into dysfunction03:49 - Bringing physics into coaching to address organizational culture04:22 - Systemic resilience versus individual resilience and organizational burdening06:49 - How organizations unconsciously set their breaking points through tolerated behaviors07:39 - Recognizing early warning signs of a culture crisis09:25 - The slow process of cultural degradation and importance of naming trauma10:50 - The presence of organizational ghosts and collective trauma12:36 - Dealing with organizational wounds that are hard to talk about13:30 - Distinguishing genuine change from surface-level coping14:12 - The influence of coaching on transformation, not just problem-solving16:18 - The embodied change versus purely intellectual approaches17:36 - How transformative contact challenges AI and enhances human relational qualities18:12 - Strategies to help executives navigate systemic thresholds and internal dilemmas19:58 - Exploring polarity, polarization, and how to shift perspectives21:36 - Recognizing grey ground and parts work in coaching and organizations22:13 - Why internal family systems (IFS) works well both individually and collectively23:37 - Integrating parts and understanding internal managers in organizational contexts25:50 - Addressing the myth of bad parts and collective scapegoating27:19 - Leaders' blind spots: projecting harshness onto the market instead of themselves29:15 - The importance of slack time for organizational learning and innovation30:08 - Differentiating external pressure from internal stress and building boundaries32:36 - Handling organizations that resist change through personal responsibility and decision-making34:22 - Advice for individuals in brutal systems: ownership and decision sovereignty36:00 - Small interventions with the potential for cultural shifts, exemplified by leadership and visibility37:55 - The impact of values like grit on organizational burnout and pace39:07 - Protecting coaches’ well-being while delivering tough truths40:14 - Cultivating purpose, fulfillment, and alignment in coaching practice41:16 - The role of inner walls, transgenerational beliefs, and breaking down barriers42:31 - Overcoming organizational trauma echoes from penal systems to corporate environments42:53 - Final thoughts: systemic work as a pathway to resilience and transformationResources & Links:
Conference of the Birds ;  https://www.franciscobaptista.com/conference
https://ifs-institute.com/

Rhia Canady (Video); Building Bridges: How Fly Girl Foundation Supports Women Post-Incarceration
In this episode Naomi Murphy and David Jones meet Rhia Canady who shares her powerful journey from incarceration to founding Fly Girl Foundation, highlighting resilience, community support, and the importance of targeted interventions for women with lived experience of the criminal justice system.
https://www.flygirlfoundation.co.uk/
keywords; prison reform, women empowerment, lived experience, social impact, Fly Girl Foundation, rehabilitation, community support
key topics
Rhia Canady’s personal journey through incarceration and trauma
The founding and mission of Fly Girl Foundation
The importance of support systems for women leaving prison
Challenges faced during legal proceedings and reintegration
The role of community and mentorship in recovery and empowerment
Experiences of prison life and the impact of routine and relationships
The significance of early intervention and prevention for at-risk youth
Rhia’s work with Eastwood Park and prison reentry programs
The emotional toll of trauma and coping strategies
The importance of self-care and professional support for social workers and advocates
takeaways
Support networks are crucial for women reentering society after prison
Early intervention can prevent women from entering the criminal justice system
Routine and community connections aid in recovery and reintegration
Self-care and professional support are vital for those working with trauma
Legal battles can be navigated successfully with determination and evidence
Sound Bites
"Prison's awful, but it teaches resilience."
"Routine and community support aid recovery."
"Support networks are crucial for women reentering society."
Chapters
00:00Introduction to Rhia Canady and her background
02:09Rhia’s journey through trauma and incarceration
04:03Reflections on prison life and emotional challenges
05:56Reentry into society and the start of Fly Girl Foundation
07:52The impact of community support and mentorship
09:47Experiences of legal battles and overcoming obstacles
11:54The importance of early prevention and intervention
14:00Supporting women and young girls through education and empowerment
16:02Returning to Eastwood Park and reflections on progress
18:14The emotional toll of trauma and coping mechanisms
19:50The role of physical activity and routine in healing
22:10Supporting women at the moment of release from prison
23:48The significance of community and peer support
26:09Legal challenges and fighting for justice
27:59The importance of self-belief and resilience
29:46The future of Fly Girl Foundation and ongoing projects
32:03Advice for others working in social justice and support
33:52Closing thoughts and message of hope

In this episode Naomi Murphy and David Jones meet Rhia Canady who shares her powerful journey from incarceration to founding Fly Girl Foundation, highlighting resilience, community support, and the importance of targeted interventions for women with lived experience of the criminal justice system.
https://www.flygirlfoundation.co.uk/
keywords; prison reform, women empowerment, lived experience, social impact, Fly Girl Foundation, rehabilitation, community support
key topics
Rhia Canady’s personal journey through incarceration and trauma
The founding and mission of Fly Girl Foundation
The importance of support systems for women leaving prison
Challenges faced during legal proceedings and reintegration
The role of community and mentorship in recovery and empowerment
Experiences of prison life and the impact of routine and relationships
The significance of early intervention and prevention for at-risk youth
Rhia’s work with Eastwood Park and prison reentry programs
The emotional toll of trauma and coping strategies
The importance of self-care and professional support for social workers and advocates
takeaways
Support networks are crucial for women reentering society after prison
Early intervention can prevent women from entering the criminal justice system
Routine and community connections aid in recovery and reintegration
Self-care and professional support are vital for those working with trauma
Legal battles can be navigated successfully with determination and evidence
Sound Bites
"Prison's awful, but it teaches resilience."
"Routine and community support aid recovery."
"Support networks are crucial for women reentering society."
Chapters
00:00Introduction to Rhia Canady and her background
02:09Rhia’s journey through trauma and incarceration
04:03Reflections on prison life and emotional challenges
05:56Reentry into society and the start of Fly Girl Foundation
07:52The impact of community support and mentorship
09:47Experiences of legal battles and overcoming obstacles
11:54The importance of early prevention and intervention
14:00Supporting women and young girls through education and empowerment
16:02Returning to Eastwood Park and reflections on progress
18:14The emotional toll of trauma and coping mechanisms
19:50The role of physical activity and routine in healing
22:10Supporting women at the moment of release from prison
23:48The significance of community and peer support
26:09Legal challenges and fighting for justice
27:59The importance of self-belief and resilience
29:46The future of Fly Girl Foundation and ongoing projects
32:03Advice for others working in social justice and support
33:52Closing thoughts and message of hope

In this fascinating episode, Naomi and David talk with Leon Towers who shares his extraordinary journey from a challenging childhood in foster care to becoming a multifaceted professional, including roles as  a performer, dog behaviourist, and advocate. His story highlights resilience, forgiveness, and finding purpose in helping others, all while navigating complex personal struggles.
Main Topics Covered:
Leon’s early life in foster care and the childhood adversities that shaped him
The impact of childhood trauma on trust, vulnerability, and social relationships
How therapy, self-awareness, and forgiveness foster healing and growth
The significance of purpose: from dreaming of TV stardom to helping people and animals
Transitioning careers: from boy band vocals to dog hydrotherapist and behaviouralist
The lessons dogs teach about human emotion, trauma, and forgiveness
The importance of freedom, boundaries, and letting go of toxic relationships
Insights into resilience, resourcefulness, and making meaningful change
The role of spirituality, kindness, and love in mental and emotional wellbeing
Practical advice for those feeling trapped by their past to find hope and change
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Leon’s background in overcoming adversity01:06 - Childhood in care: stigma and early influences02:04 - How media influenced perceptions of childhood adversity03:03 - Impact on friendships and social environment04:31 - Childhood labels and their emotional weight05:22 - Lessons from difficult childhood: trust and vulnerability05:52 - How childhood experiences shape adult trust and suspicion07:19 - Vulnerability and naive trust: the risks of openness08:47 - Managing social perceptions and approaches to trust09:46 - Dealing with rejection and misunderstanding in social settings10:25 - Healing through rehab and EMDR therapy11:23 - Rediscovering kindness and emotional expression12:50 - Life transitions: from music and entertainment to dog therapy13:09 - Personal spiritual visions and purpose at age 814:38 - Childhood resourcefulness: using imagination as a survival tool16:37 - The accidental journey into dog hydrotherapy18:07 - Learning and qualifications in dog behaviour19:59 - Working with challenging dogs and trust issues21:22 - Making sense of seemingly unrelated career paths22:36 - The impact of negative foster experiences and finding a voice23:34 - Childhood silence and the significance of expression24:33 - Imaginary escapes and how fantasy helped survive trauma26:01 - Forgiveness and emotional detachment as pathways to freedom27:28 - Resourcefulness: focusing on hope and survival28:51 - Letting go of hate and embracing emotional resilience29:19 - Instinctive kindness and natural forgiveness30:19 - The importance of freedom in healing and life choices32:18 - Parallels between human and dog behaviour in trauma response34:13 - Lessons from dogs about emotional health and human behaviour35:12 - Reinventing careers: courage and inevitable fear36:02 - Moving beyond toxicity and the importance of self-belief37:56 - The cyclic nature of life journeys and purpose39:22 - Defining a purposeful life: helping others and spiritual growth40:20 - Following love's guiding principle in decision-making41:04 - Advice for those feeling trapped by their history42:01 - How change begins within: inner transformation as key43:24 - Personal stories of survival and resourcefulness44:50 - Words to younger self: focus on identity, self-belief, and authenticity46:09 - Reflections on growth, change, and staying true to oneself47:07 - Closing notes and gratitude
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-towers-6899791ba/
https://thepowerofdog.com/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fix-Your-Three-Easy-Steps/dp/1788405005

In this fascinating episode, Naomi and David talk with Leon Towers who shares his extraordinary journey from a challenging childhood in foster care to becoming a multifaceted professional, including roles as  a performer, dog behaviourist, and advocate. His story highlights resilience, forgiveness, and finding purpose in helping others, all while navigating complex personal struggles.
Main Topics Covered:
Leon’s early life in foster care and the childhood adversities that shaped him
The impact of childhood trauma on trust, vulnerability, and social relationships
How therapy, self-awareness, and forgiveness foster healing and growth
The significance of purpose: from dreaming of TV stardom to helping people and animals
Transitioning careers: from boy band vocals to dog hydrotherapist and behaviouralist
The lessons dogs teach about human emotion, trauma, and forgiveness
The importance of freedom, boundaries, and letting go of toxic relationships
Insights into resilience, resourcefulness, and making meaningful change
The role of spirituality, kindness, and love in mental and emotional wellbeing
Practical advice for those feeling trapped by their past to find hope and change
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Leon’s background in overcoming adversity01:06 - Childhood in care: stigma and early influences02:04 - How media influenced perceptions of childhood adversity03:03 - Impact on friendships and social environment04:31 - Childhood labels and their emotional weight05:22 - Lessons from difficult childhood: trust and vulnerability05:52 - How childhood experiences shape adult trust and suspicion07:19 - Vulnerability and naive trust: the risks of openness08:47 - Managing social perceptions and approaches to trust09:46 - Dealing with rejection and misunderstanding in social settings10:25 - Healing through rehab and EMDR therapy11:23 - Rediscovering kindness and emotional expression12:50 - Life transitions: from music and entertainment to dog therapy13:09 - Personal spiritual visions and purpose at age 814:38 - Childhood resourcefulness: using imagination as a survival tool16:37 - The accidental journey into dog hydrotherapy18:07 - Learning and qualifications in dog behaviour19:59 - Working with challenging dogs and trust issues21:22 - Making sense of seemingly unrelated career paths22:36 - The impact of negative foster experiences and finding a voice23:34 - Childhood silence and the significance of expression24:33 - Imaginary escapes and how fantasy helped survive trauma26:01 - Forgiveness and emotional detachment as pathways to freedom27:28 - Resourcefulness: focusing on hope and survival28:51 - Letting go of hate and embracing emotional resilience29:19 - Instinctive kindness and natural forgiveness30:19 - The importance of freedom in healing and life choices32:18 - Parallels between human and dog behaviour in trauma response34:13 - Lessons from dogs about emotional health and human behaviour35:12 - Reinventing careers: courage and inevitable fear36:02 - Moving beyond toxicity and the importance of self-belief37:56 - The cyclic nature of life journeys and purpose39:22 - Defining a purposeful life: helping others and spiritual growth40:20 - Following love's guiding principle in decision-making41:04 - Advice for those feeling trapped by their history42:01 - How change begins within: inner transformation as key43:24 - Personal stories of survival and resourcefulness44:50 - Words to younger self: focus on identity, self-belief, and authenticity46:09 - Reflections on growth, change, and staying true to oneself47:07 - Closing notes and gratitude
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-towers-6899791ba/
https://thepowerofdog.com/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fix-Your-Three-Easy-Steps/dp/1788405005

 
 Discover how strength training can revolutionize health, aging, and self-confidence through evidence-based insights from Dr Lynette Ewart. This episode explores the intersection of medicine, coaching, and the psychological power of physical resilience.
In this episode, we discuss:
Lynette's journey from NHS GP to strength coach and health advocate
How strength training can serve as a cornerstone of preventive healthcare
The psychological transformation that comes with building physical strength
The barriers that prevent people from adopting healthier habits
Myths around weight, health, and beauty standards online
The importance of function, capacity, and resilience over appearance
The impact of social media on health perceptions and misinformation
The differences in fitness culture across genders and generations
How to rebuild trust in one’s body after injury or trauma
Strategies for shifting from coping to thriving in health and life
Lynette’s upcoming book on strength as a central pillar of health
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Lynette Ewart and her mission01:14 - Transition from GP to strength coaching02:38 - The magic of weightlifting in health04:13 - Medicine vs coaching: understanding behavior change05:57 - Challenges faced by GPs in motivating patients07:35 - Realities of system constraints on doctors08:57 - The mental health of healthcare professionals10:36 - How social media influences health perceptions12:19 - The risk of early GP retirement and workforce shifts13:54 - The influence of online coaching and misinformation16:16 - Myths about weight and fitness18:22 - The psychological effects of feeling physically strong22:41 - Overcoming body shame through strength24:55 - The importance of functional fitness in aging26:26 - Rebuilding trust in your body after injury30:35 - Self-compassion and managing self-critical voices34:43 - Moving from punishment to restorative activity37:12 - Gender and generational differences in fitness culture39:00 - Shift from appearance to function in health43:50 - The evolving goals around health and confidence44:23 - The psychology of stepping into a new identity50:12 - Moving from coping to thriving in life52:12 - Lynette’s upcoming book on strength and health54:24 - Final thoughts and meeting in October
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-prescription-strength-podcast/id1762298788
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555348196566&locale=en_GB
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lynette-ewart-23323b80/

Discover how strength training can revolutionize health, aging, and self-confidence through evidence-based insights from Dr Lynette Ewart. This episode explores the intersection of medicine, coaching, and the psychological power of physical resilience.
In this episode, we discuss:
Lynette's journey from NHS GP to strength coach and health advocate
How strength training can serve as a cornerstone of preventive healthcare
The psychological transformation that comes with building physical strength
The barriers that prevent people from adopting healthier habits
Myths around weight, health, and beauty standards online
The importance of function, capacity, and resilience over appearance
The impact of social media on health perceptions and misinformation
The differences in fitness culture across genders and generations
How to rebuild trust in one’s body after injury or trauma
Strategies for shifting from coping to thriving in health and life
Lynette’s upcoming book on strength as a central pillar of health
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Lynette Ewart and her mission01:14 - Transition from GP to strength coaching02:38 - The magic of weightlifting in health04:13 - Medicine vs coaching: understanding behavior change05:57 - Challenges faced by GPs in motivating patients07:35 - Realities of system constraints on doctors08:57 - The mental health of healthcare professionals10:36 - How social media influences health perceptions12:19 - The risk of early GP retirement and workforce shifts13:54 - The influence of online coaching and misinformation16:16 - Myths about weight and fitness18:22 - The psychological effects of feeling physically strong22:41 - Overcoming body shame through strength24:55 - The importance of functional fitness in aging26:26 - Rebuilding trust in your body after injury30:35 - Self-compassion and managing self-critical voices34:43 - Moving from punishment to restorative activity37:12 - Gender and generational differences in fitness culture39:00 - Shift from appearance to function in health43:50 - The evolving goals around health and confidence44:23 - The psychology of stepping into a new identity50:12 - Moving from coping to thriving in life52:12 - Lynette’s upcoming book on strength and health54:24 - Final thoughts and meeting in October
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-prescription-strength-podcast/id1762298788
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555348196566&locale=en_GB
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lynette-ewart-23323b80/
 

In an unusual move for us we are re releasing this podcast. The reasons are clear if you read on, Please circulate to all friends and contacts.
Jeffrey Lee remains alive and on death row at Holman Correctional Facility, Alabama, as of 30th June 2026.. Here is the latest update from his legal team received yesterday.
“On the evening of June 11, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a reported 6–3 vote, denied Alabama's emergency request to lift the injunction and block its planned nitrogen-gas execution of Mr. Lee, with Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch noting their dissent.
The denial upheld lower-court rulings that found the nitrogen protocol violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment, effectively sparing Mr. Lee from that specific method.
On June 12, the day after the stay, Attorney General Steve Marshall's office filed in the Alabama Supreme Court a new motion seeking another execution date for Mr. Lee, this time by lethal injection rather than the firing squad he had proposed.
In that filing, state lawyers argued the Department of Corrections "has not been barred from executing Lee, only from executing him by nitrogen hypoxia."
The next procedural step is for Mr. Lee's attorneys to respond to the request at the Alabama Supreme Court, which must authorize any new death warrant.
As of late June, the execution has not been rescheduled, and Mr. Lee remains on death row at Holman Correctional Facility while his clemency request based on the now-abolished judicial override stays pending before Governor Kay Ivey.”
 
Click the links here to sign the petition and phone the state Governor
Life for Jeffery Lee — Learn more about Jeffrey Lee’s story and how to help
https://www.lifeforjefferylee.com/action   PETITION
 
Here is some additional background. It is a difficult read;
The US Supreme Court denied Alabama’s request to execute a man using nitrogen gas late Thursday after two lower court rulings blocked the method and found it violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The state had filed for an emergency order just hours ahead of the execution of Jeffery Lee, 49, scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday local time.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch noted their dissent and would have granted the state’s request to overturn the lower courts.
Lee, who was convicted of murdering two people in a 1998 pawnshop robbery, is effectively spared from being put to death via nitrogen, but the state can still try other methods, and it’s unclear how quickly it would seek viable alternatives.
“Tonight’s ruling is a miscarriage of justice, not for us, but for Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson, who Jeffery Lee brutally and senselessly murdered,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said. “I want their families to know that we will never stop seeking justice for Jimmy and Elaine.”
Jeffery Lee.Alabama Dept. of Corrections
Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement that the state can still reschedule Lee’s execution.
“While I am disappointed the Supreme Court did not allow the state to proceed with Lee’s chosen method of execution, I remain committed to ensuring that justice is ultimately served for his victims,” Ivey said, noting that Lee elected nitrogen over lethal injection in 2018, years before the state had developed a nitrogen protocol.
Last year, Lee filed a legal challenge to the nitrogen protocol, and instead asked to die by firing squad, a method not legal in Alabama.
Whether or not the state could execute Lee, who has been on death row for more than 25 years, by nitrogen gas was the question at the heart of his litigation that came to a head this week.
On Monday, a federal district judge in Alabama initially found the method was constitutional. Lee’s legal team appealed, and the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the opinion, saying nitrogen executions most likely violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and ordered the district court to rule on the feasibility of a firing squad execution.
When both the district and appeals courts ruled in favor of Lee, the state filed an application for an emergency order to the Supreme Court.
The high court has upheld other methods of execution throughout the country, including lethal injection, electrocution and firing squad, but nitrogen gas has been the subject of intense litigation since Alabama became the first state to begin using it in early 2024.
The method of nitrogen hypoxia requires prisoners to breathe in the gas through an industrial-grade mask while they are strapped to a gurney and deprived of oxygen. In its filing to the Supreme Court on Thursday, the state said the method “rapidly causes death,” describing the process as “humane, painless, effective, and reliable.”
Death penalty opponents, however, have criticized it as torturous. The American Thoracic Society also filed a brief in opposition to the state, saying “nitrogen hypoxia executions cause intense, inhumane suffering.”
Witnesses have described the condemned person shaking on the gurney, struggling against restraints and gasping for air. According to media witnesses, it took 30 minutes for Anthony Boyd, who was convicted of helping burn a man alive in 1993, to be declared dead during the last nitrogen execution in October.
The Supreme Court declined to intervene in that case. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a nine-page dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying “firsthand accounts from those executions reveal that nitrogen hypoxia is not at all what it was promised to be.”
“Boyd asks for the barest form of mercy: to die by firing squad, which would kill him in seconds, rather than by a torturous suffocation lasting up to four minutes,” Sotomayor said. “The Constitution would grant him that grace. My colleagues do not. This Court thus turns its back on Boyd and on the Eighth Amendment’s guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment.”
Alabama has executed seven prisoners using nitrogen, while Louisiana has executed one. Alabama’s primary method of execution remains lethal injection, which it last carried out in April 2025, but sourcing the drugs has been difficult in the last several years.
The Rev. Jeff Hood, the spiritual adviser for two of the men who were executed in Alabama with nitrogen gas, reacted to the Supreme Court’s denial Thursday.
“This is the beginning of the end of the most horrific execution method this country has ever devised,” he said.

In an unusual move for us we are re releasing this podcast. The reasons are clear if you read on, Please circulate to all friends and contacts.
Jeffrey Lee remains alive and on death row at Holman Correctional Facility, Alabama, as of 30th June 2026.. Here is the latest update from his legal team received yesterday.
“On the evening of June 11, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a reported 6–3 vote, denied Alabama's emergency request to lift the injunction and block its planned nitrogen-gas execution of Mr. Lee, with Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch noting their dissent.
The denial upheld lower-court rulings that found the nitrogen protocol violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment, effectively sparing Mr. Lee from that specific method.
On June 12, the day after the stay, Attorney General Steve Marshall's office filed in the Alabama Supreme Court a new motion seeking another execution date for Mr. Lee, this time by lethal injection rather than the firing squad he had proposed.
In that filing, state lawyers argued the Department of Corrections "has not been barred from executing Lee, only from executing him by nitrogen hypoxia."
The next procedural step is for Mr. Lee's attorneys to respond to the request at the Alabama Supreme Court, which must authorize any new death warrant.
As of late June, the execution has not been rescheduled, and Mr. Lee remains on death row at Holman Correctional Facility while his clemency request based on the now-abolished judicial override stays pending before Governor Kay Ivey.”
 
Click the links here to sign the petition and phone the state Governor
Life for Jeffery Lee — Learn more about Jeffrey Lee’s story and how to help
https://www.lifeforjefferylee.com/action   PETITION
 
Here is some additional background. It is a difficult read;
The US Supreme Court denied Alabama’s request to execute a man using nitrogen gas late Thursday after two lower court rulings blocked the method and found it violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The state had filed for an emergency order just hours ahead of the execution of Jeffery Lee, 49, scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday local time.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch noted their dissent and would have granted the state’s request to overturn the lower courts.
Lee, who was convicted of murdering two people in a 1998 pawnshop robbery, is effectively spared from being put to death via nitrogen, but the state can still try other methods, and it’s unclear how quickly it would seek viable alternatives.
“Tonight’s ruling is a miscarriage of justice, not for us, but for Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson, who Jeffery Lee brutally and senselessly murdered,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said. “I want their families to know that we will never stop seeking justice for Jimmy and Elaine.”
Jeffery Lee.Alabama Dept. of Corrections
Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement that the state can still reschedule Lee’s execution.
“While I am disappointed the Supreme Court did not allow the state to proceed with Lee’s chosen method of execution, I remain committed to ensuring that justice is ultimately served for his victims,” Ivey said, noting that Lee elected nitrogen over lethal injection in 2018, years before the state had developed a nitrogen protocol.
Last year, Lee filed a legal challenge to the nitrogen protocol, and instead asked to die by firing squad, a method not legal in Alabama.
Whether or not the state could execute Lee, who has been on death row for more than 25 years, by nitrogen gas was the question at the heart of his litigation that came to a head this week.
On Monday, a federal district judge in Alabama initially found the method was constitutional. Lee’s legal team appealed, and the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the opinion, saying nitrogen executions most likely violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and ordered the district court to rule on the feasibility of a firing squad execution.
When both the district and appeals courts ruled in favor of Lee, the state filed an application for an emergency order to the Supreme Court.
The high court has upheld other methods of execution throughout the country, including lethal injection, electrocution and firing squad, but nitrogen gas has been the subject of intense litigation since Alabama became the first state to begin using it in early 2024.
The method of nitrogen hypoxia requires prisoners to breathe in the gas through an industrial-grade mask while they are strapped to a gurney and deprived of oxygen. In its filing to the Supreme Court on Thursday, the state said the method “rapidly causes death,” describing the process as “humane, painless, effective, and reliable.”
Death penalty opponents, however, have criticized it as torturous. The American Thoracic Society also filed a brief in opposition to the state, saying “nitrogen hypoxia executions cause intense, inhumane suffering.”
Witnesses have described the condemned person shaking on the gurney, struggling against restraints and gasping for air. According to media witnesses, it took 30 minutes for Anthony Boyd, who was convicted of helping burn a man alive in 1993, to be declared dead during the last nitrogen execution in October.
The Supreme Court declined to intervene in that case. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a nine-page dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying “firsthand accounts from those executions reveal that nitrogen hypoxia is not at all what it was promised to be.”
“Boyd asks for the barest form of mercy: to die by firing squad, which would kill him in seconds, rather than by a torturous suffocation lasting up to four minutes,” Sotomayor said. “The Constitution would grant him that grace. My colleagues do not. This Court thus turns its back on Boyd and on the Eighth Amendment’s guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment.”
Alabama has executed seven prisoners using nitrogen, while Louisiana has executed one. Alabama’s primary method of execution remains lethal injection, which it last carried out in April 2025, but sourcing the drugs has been difficult in the last several years.
The Rev. Jeff Hood, the spiritual adviser for two of the men who were executed in Alabama with nitrogen gas, reacted to the Supreme Court’s denial Thursday.
“This is the beginning of the end of the most horrific execution method this country has ever devised,” he said.

summary In this episode which is a bit outside of our usual conversations, we meet  Max Schurer who shares his multifaceted relationship with comedy, exploring what makes things funny, the purpose of comedy, and its impact on society and individual well-being. We look at the art of stand-up, societal boundaries, and how comedy can both divide and unite.
keywords comedy, stand-up, societal boundaries, humour, mental health, cultural boundaries, comedy festivals, audience engagement
key topics
What makes people laugh and the subjectivity of humour
The purpose of comedy beyond entertainment
The role of comedy in reflecting and challenging society
Different genres of comedy including stand-up and TV comedy
The relationship between comedy and mental health
Cultural boundaries and societal norms in comedy
The craft of performing and the importance of audience reading
Using comedy for societal healing and community engagement
Sound Bites
"What makes one person laugh can insult another"
"Comedy can challenge society and hold a mirror up"
"Laughter releases chemicals that are good for you"
Chapters approximate
0:00Introduction to Max Schurer's Background
01:00Max's Relationship with Comedy
02:36What Makes People Find Things Funny?
04:54The Purpose of Comedy
06:38Genres and Forms of Comedy
07:07Timelessness of Certain Jokes
09:05Repeating Comedy Acts and Audience Loyalty
10:28Visual Comedy and Persona (Tommy Cooper)
10:57Defining 'Good' Comedy and Cultural Boundaries
12:02Different Forms of Comedy: Stand-up, TV, and Sketches
15:26Comedy's Role in Well-being and Happiness
17:03Offense, Boundaries, and Audience Reactions
19:21Comedy and Audience Expectations
20:56Performance Variability and Audience Reception
23:42The Challenges of Being a Comedian
25:37Mental Health and Comedy
33:14Power Dynamics in Comedy
35:35The Challenge of Being Funny on Demand
38:40Authenticity and Boundaries in Comedy
41:52Societal Boundaries and Evolving Norms
45:39Comedy as a Reflection and a Tool for Society
51:40Max's Work in Promoting Comedy and Well-being

summary In this episode which is a bit outside of our usual conversations, we meet  Max Schurer who shares his multifaceted relationship with comedy, exploring what makes things funny, the purpose of comedy, and its impact on society and individual well-being. We look at the art of stand-up, societal boundaries, and how comedy can both divide and unite.
keywords comedy, stand-up, societal boundaries, humour, mental health, cultural boundaries, comedy festivals, audience engagement
key topics
What makes people laugh and the subjectivity of humour
The purpose of comedy beyond entertainment
The role of comedy in reflecting and challenging society
Different genres of comedy including stand-up and TV comedy
The relationship between comedy and mental health
Cultural boundaries and societal norms in comedy
The craft of performing and the importance of audience reading
Using comedy for societal healing and community engagement
Sound Bites
"What makes one person laugh can insult another"
"Comedy can challenge society and hold a mirror up"
"Laughter releases chemicals that are good for you"
Chapters approximate
0:00Introduction to Max Schurer's Background
01:00Max's Relationship with Comedy
02:36What Makes People Find Things Funny?
04:54The Purpose of Comedy
06:38Genres and Forms of Comedy
07:07Timelessness of Certain Jokes
09:05Repeating Comedy Acts and Audience Loyalty
10:28Visual Comedy and Persona (Tommy Cooper)
10:57Defining 'Good' Comedy and Cultural Boundaries
12:02Different Forms of Comedy: Stand-up, TV, and Sketches
15:26Comedy's Role in Well-being and Happiness
17:03Offense, Boundaries, and Audience Reactions
19:21Comedy and Audience Expectations
20:56Performance Variability and Audience Reception
23:42The Challenges of Being a Comedian
25:37Mental Health and Comedy
33:14Power Dynamics in Comedy
35:35The Challenge of Being Funny on Demand
38:40Authenticity and Boundaries in Comedy
41:52Societal Boundaries and Evolving Norms
45:39Comedy as a Reflection and a Tool for Society
51:40Max's Work in Promoting Comedy and Well-being