SiriusXM Presents Audio Documentary On Life During And After Prison

SiriusXM

SIRIUSXM will present a new series about a prison program that is changing lives through technology. THE LAST MILE RADIO will begin its six-week run on INSIGHT, channel 121, at 10a (ET), MARCH 11th. SIRIUSXM’s SWAY CALLAWAY will host the audio documentary.

The first episode examines what happens to inmates upon release. Started in 2010 by venture capitalists and tech entrepreneurs CHRIS REDLITZ and BEVERLY PARENTI, THE LAST MILE is a “tech accelerator” inside CALIFORNIA’s SAN QUENTIN prison, teaching inmates computer coding, business skills and, most critically, offers a second chance at life.

Says KENYATTA LEAL in the premiere episode, “If you treat a man as he is, he will remain as he is. But treat a man as he can and should be ... he will become as he can and should be.” He is an alumnus of THE LAST MILE’s first cohort at SAN QUENTIN, and one of the 20 returned citizen graduates, all of whom are currently employed – with zero percent recidivism. His journey from a “hopeless” youth sentenced to 25 years to life for armed robbery, to a student in the program, where he learned about the tech business, entrepreneurship and other invaluable skills, to his subsequent release from SAN QUENTIN and current successful managerial role at a multi-million dollar SAN FRANCISCO tech company, is just one of the many stories shared in this documentary series.

Said REDLITZ, “When we started THE LAST MILE in 2010, we were on a mission to reduce recidivism by teaching skills that will result in gainful employment upon reentry to society. Computer coders are in-demand for jobs in which they will be judged by the quality of their work, not the stigma of their past.” Added PARENTI, “We hope that listening to our program on SIRIUSXM will help change the narrative about the incarcerated and help provide a second chance for those who deserve it.”

SIRIUSXM’s CALLOWAY visited SAN QUENTIN to speak with the inmate students and to capture their stories about their involvement with THE LAST MILE.

Added CALLOWAY, “I recently had the opportunity to experience something unlike anything in my career. I’ve been in show business a long time and done a lot of charitable work. The men I got to know in SAN QUENTIN are truly the forgotten population in our society. Their stories humbled and amazed me, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget our visit and their hope for redemption.”

The idea for THE LAST MILE RADIO originated with DAVID GREENSTEIN, son of SIRIUSXM Pres./Chief Content Officer SCOTT GREENSTEIN, who said, “DAVID heard KENYATTA and CHRIS speak on a podcast and became fascinated by the way THE LAST MILE was solving a problem many AMERICANS deemed unsolvable or not worth solving,” DAVID remains active in the show, and along with CHRIS REDLITZ, was a key contributor to the show’s official website, www.thelastmileradio.org. The site was developed inside SAN QUENTIN by TLMWorks.org.

Said DAVID, “When I first heard about CHRIS and BEVERLY’s work with THE LAST MILE, I knew immediately that their remarkable program would make for riveting storytelling. These are important, eye-opening stories about our criminal justice system and how people can find a new start to life when given the right opportunities and education. These are real-life issues that people need to hear, and I’m thrilled to deliver them to SIRIUSXM subscribers nationwide.”

THE LAST MILE RADIO can be heard on SATURDAYS from 10-11a (ET), and will replay on SUNDAYS at 11a (ET). SIRIUSXM subscribers can hear THE LAST MILE RADIO via SIRIUSXM On Demand, through the SIRIUSXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at www.siriusxm.com/player.

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