Prison Mindfulness

Ep.22 Death-Row, a Contemplative Journey through Another’s Eyes with Liz Richardson

In this episode, Liz Richardson talks with Fleet Maull about her new play, Unconfined.
Her play, based on a real-life story of an incarcerated prisoner’s contemplative journey while in prison and on death row
Drawing parallels between this prisoner’s experience and her voluntary, 3-year confinement at Gampo Abbey retreat
Contemplating beliefs of whether people who are incarcerated really can change
LIZ RICHARDSON – PLAYWRIGHT / ACTRESS Liz has had a lifelong career as an actress and writer. A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), she has performed in major theatre, film, television and radio productions in England, Canada and the US. She has played leading parts in London’s West End, the Bristol Old Vic, the Neptune Theatre in Halifax, the Shaw Festival in Ontario and Canadian Stage in Toronto. As well, she has been involved in script development for many new plays in Britain and Canada. Liz’s first solo show, Going On, which she wrote and performed, began with readings in California in 2012 and went on to successful runs in Mexico, Vancouver, Connecticut and Halifax, where it was presented in 2015 by KAZAN Co-Op as part of the show Stacey and Liz at the Waiting Room. Contact: lizrich108@gmail.com elizabeth-richardson.com
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org

Ep.21 Shadow Sides of Working in Prisons with Lama Justin von Bujdoss

In this episode, Lama Justin von Bujdoss talks with Vita Pires about his experiences working as a chaplain for the New York City Department of Corrections. 
Shadow sides of working in prisons
Limitations of mindfulness work for highly traumatized populations (the incarcerated and correctional staff)
How to do this work in a culturally sensitive and authentic manner
JUSTIN VON BUJDOSS Lama Justin von Bujdoss is an American vajrayana Buddhist teacher, writer, and the is a co-founder of Bhumisparsha an experimental Buddhist sangha along with Lama Rod Owens. He is the author of Modern Tantric Buddhism: Authenticity and Embodiment in Dharma Practice published by North Atlantic Books, and a contributor to Buddhism and Whiteness: Critical Reflections published by Lexington Books. From 2016 until December 2021 Justin served as the Executive Director of Chaplaincy and Staff Wellness for the NYC Department of Correction where he also served as Head Chaplain supervising over 30 chaplains and guiding wellness programming for staff. Justin was ordained as a repa, a lay tantric yogin in the tradition of Milarepa, by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, and has presented on Buddhist practice at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, University of Chicago, Wellesley, Columbia University, and has been a visiting instructor at Union Theological Seminary.
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org

Ep.20 Creating Positive Systemic Change Together with Gabriella Savelli

In this episode, Gabriella Savelli talks with Fleet Maull about her work with the International Association for Human Values. 
The International Association of Human Values (IAHV) program-reducing offender recidivism
The impact of secular breath-work on prisoners and prison staff
Actualizing networks of programs with different modalities for positive systemic change
GABRIELLA SAVELLI Ms Savelli became Director of the IAHV Prison Program (Stress Management & Rehabilitation Training) in 2009. She is a prison silence course pioneer, and has taught IAHV courses to thousands nationwide, as well as internationally. In 2016, she won the Washington DC DOC “Making a Difference” George Strawn Award, and in 2018 Gabriella became the International Coordinator. She served on the Board of SELA Red Cross, and is a graduate of the Office of Victim’s Assistance Leadership Program. Prior to working with IAHV, Gabriella graduated Magna Cum Laude from Edinboro University, and served as a Public Welfare caseworker for 10 years.
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org
 

Ep.19 Way of Council on the Inside with Jared Seide

In this episode, Jared Seide talks with John MacAdams about his work as the Executive Director for the Center for Council. 
What Council looks like inside prisons
How Council embodies mindfulness and supports compassion
Benefits of learning presence, resisting distraction, and speaking/listening from the heart
JARED SEIDE Jared Seide is author of the book, “Where Compassion Begins: Foundational Practices to Enhance Mindfulness, Attention and Listening from the Heart.” He is the founder and Executive Director of Center for Council, a nonprofit organization that trains groups and individuals to promote wellness and resiliency, to foster compassion and to build community. Jared has developed and shepherded Council for Insight, Compassion & Resilience, an award-winning transformational insight and accountability-oriented rehabilitation program for incarcerated populations, as well as programs to promote health, relationality and compassion amongst law enforcement officers; to address burnout and dysregulation amongst physicians and nurses; to help build positive organizational culture within public and private companies; as well as other mindfulness and council-based programs to support and resource impacted communities and emerging leaders. He has led trainings and retreats focusing on compassion, reconciliation and community-building throughout the U.S., as well as in Poland, Rwanda, France, Colombia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Ep.18 Training “Inside” Apprentices with Rebecca J Foster

In this episode, Rebecca Foster talks with Vita Pires, about her experiences bringing PMI's Path of Freedom training into prisons. 
Training “Inside” apprentices (facilitator training for incarcerated men & women)
Integrating laughter, movement & play into the classroom
The transformative power of social meditation “Inside”
REBECCA J FOSTER Rebecca Foster is a meditation teacher, conscious dance facilitator, and Hatha (traditional) & hasya (laughter) yoga instructor. She presently serves as a lead facilitator and mentor for the Prison Mindfulness Institute and offers courses in Mindfulness-Based Emotional Intelligence in the Men’s & Women’s Medium Security Correctional Facilities in Rhode Island. Over the last 15 years, Rebecca has taught a unique blend of mindfulness, movement, laughter, and play in diverse settings ranging from yoga studios to hospitals, prisons to universities, and pre-schools to nursing homes. She has also lived and worked in Africa, Asia and Latin America and currently resides in Providence.
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org
 

Ep.17 Building Self-Worth During Transition with Kalen McAllister

In this episode, Kalen McAllister speaks with Fleet Maull about Laughing Bear Bakery, and the resources and opportunities it gives those who are formerly incarcerated. 
Starting “The Laughing Bear Bakery” business focused on employing ex-prisoners on parole (https://laughingbearbakery.org/)
The barriers and rewards to starting a business of this nature
Active ways to build self-worth and dignity of parolees in transition
KALEN MCALLISTER Kalen McAllister is a Soto Zen Buddhist Priest, Dharma Transmitted 2012, former Prison Chaplain and volunteer, founder of Laughing Bear Bakery - a bakery that only hires ex-offenders
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org

Ep.16 Dharma in Hell with Fleet Maull

In this episode, Roshi Fleet Maull talks with John MacAdams about his time incarcerated and the creation of the Prison Mindfulness Institute (Prison Dharma Network).
Origins of Prison Dharma Network
The only real choice; "Practice like my hair was on fire"
Unending opportunities to serve the world on the outside
FLEET MAULL Fleet Maull, PhD is an author, meditation teacher, mindset coach, social entrepreneur and peacemaker who works at the intersection of personal and social transformation. He founded Prison Mindfulness Institute and National Prison Hospice Association, catalyzing two national movements, while serving a 14-year mandatory-minimum federal drug sentence, 1985 to 1999. He also founded the transformational education platform Heart Mind Institute and co-founded the Engaged Mindfulness Institute where he trains trauma-informed mindfulness teachers who work with individuals and communities impacted by trauma and marginalization. He has served on the leadership team for the annual Auschwitz-Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreat for more than 20 years. He co-founded the Rwanda Bearing Witness Retreat and has trained genocide survivors as volunteer trauma para-counselors working in villages throughout Rwanda. He is a Roshi (Zen master/senior teacher) in the Zen Peacemaker Community, a senior Dharma teacher in the Shambhala-Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and leads meditation retreats worldwide. He developed Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness or NSM, a deeply embodied, neuroscience and trauma-informed approach to mindfulness & awareness meditation practice that facilitates self-healing, self-regulation, and awakening. He founded both the Global Resilience Summit and the Global First Responder Resilience Summit and co-founded The Best Year of Your Life, SummitPalooza, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Global Summit, and The Self-Care Summit. Dr. Maull is the author of Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Live Your Highest Purpose and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good; Dharma in Hell: The Prison Writings of Fleet Maull, and the Resilient C.O.: Mindfulness-Based Wellness & Resiliency for Corrections Professionals.
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org
 

Ep.15 Transforming Trauma through Buddhist Psychology with Venerable De Hong

In this episode, Venerable De Hong talks with Vita Pires about his work with the Engaged Buddhist Alliance, providing programs in facilities and through correspondence courses. 
How Buddhist Psychology supports Insight Development & Trauma Healing
Working with those serving life (or LWOP) sentences
Developing correspondence curriculums
VENERABLE DE HONG Ven. De Hong has taught Buddhist Psychology and Mindfulness Meditation in several state prisons in Southern California since 2013. He has also corresponded with incarcerated individuals in other California state prisons and other states offering correspondence courses on Buddhist teachings and meditation. He has been ordained in the Chinese and Vietnamese Traditions since 2006 and the Theravada Tradition since 2014. He taught Buddhist Psychology and Buddhist Counseling at the University of the West since 2016 and has retired this year to focus on his practice and prison ministry.
To Learn More About the Prison Mindfulness Institute, please visit www.prisonmindfulness.org