Unconfined Conversations with Ryan & Steve — Episode 8: The Company You Keep

In this episode, Ryan and Steve dive deep into one of the most powerful forces shaping a person’s life—the company you keep, both inside and outside of prison. They explore how the people around you influence your mindset, your behavior, and ultimately your future.

This conversation unpacks themes of leadership, influence, mentorship, and teaching, and how each of these plays a role in personal transformation. Whether you’re incarcerated, returning home, or simply navigating life’s challenges, the message is universal:

Your environment shapes you. Your associations guide you. Your future depends on the people you choose to walk with.

Ryan and Steve ask the hard but necessary question:

Do you want to come out of prison better or worse?

The answer starts with who you surround yourself with today.

If you’re ready to grow, evolve, and build a future you’re proud of, this episode is for you.

Surround yourself with your future—not your past.

In this powerful episode of Unconfined Conversations, Steve and Ryan open up about the unwavering support they received from their mothers—support that carried them through life on the outside and the darkest moments on the inside.

They share deeply personal stories about how their moms showed up for them during incarceration: the letters, the visits, the emotional grounding, and the belief that refused to fade even when hope felt distant. Outside of prison, their mothers continued to guide, challenge, and encourage them, helping shape the men they are today.

This conversation is a tribute to resilience, unconditional love, and the quiet strength of mothers who never gave up. It’s an honest, moving reminder that sometimes the difference between falling apart and rising again is the person who stands by you no matter where you are.

In this powerful episode, Ryan and Steve dive into the crucial topic of mental preparation before leaving prison. They explore how building the right mindset can dramatically increase the chances of success on the outside.

💡 Key themes discussed:

• The importance of programming, reading, and mentorship in shaping a new path

• How dreaming and planning for the future can fuel motivation and resilience

• Practical steps to make meaningful changes before release

This conversation sheds light on the tools and strategies that can help individuals transition from incarceration to freedom with confidence and purpose.

👉 Whether you’re directly impacted, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in personal growth, this episode offers valuable insights into transformation and hope

In this episode, Ryan and Steve continue their candid conversation about rehabilitation programs within the system, sharing personal experiences and insights from the inside. They break down the nuts and bolts of individual programs, exploring what each offers to participants and how they can shape lives.

Programs discussed include:

• Prison Fellowship – a faith-based weekend led by Christian volunteers

• Surviving and Thriving – building resilience and hope

• Alternatives to Violence (AVP) – conflict resolution through nonviolent communication

• Anger Resolution – tools for managing emotions constructively

• Vocational Training & Jobs – hands-on skills in welding, carpentry, upholstery, wheelchair repair, kitchen work, and even license plate production

Ryan and Steve dive deep into how these opportunities provide structure, purpose, and pathways toward growth, offering listeners a raw and authentic look at rehabilitation in practice.

In this powerful first installment, Ryan and Steve dive deep into the realities of rehabilitation behind bars.

They explore the range of programming available within the system—from state-sponsored initiatives to religious, educational, and inmate-led efforts—and reflect on how each plays a role in personal transformation.

Through candid storytelling, they share the programs that helped them change, the challenges of staying out after release, and the mindset required to break the cycle of recidivism.

This episode is a raw, insightful look at what it really takes to rebuild from the inside out.

🎙️ Episode 3 – Needed Leadership
Leadership isn’t just about authority—it’s about moral courage, vision, and the power to transform lives. In this episode, Ryan and Steve unpack the deeper dimensions of leadership through the lens of rehabilitation and redemption. They spotlight Warden Burl Cain’s radical transformation of Angola Prison, once known as the bloodiest prison in America, into a place of hope and purpose. Through stories of moral leadership and second chances, this conversation challenges listeners to rethink what true leadership looks like—in institutions, communities, and within ourselves.

Episode 2: Redemption & Missing Statistics
This week on Unconfined Conversation, we get personal. Ryan and Steve open up about their own journeys of redemption—what it took, what it changed, and what still lingers. Along the way, we explore how missing data can erase stories that matter, and why reclaiming your narrative is sometimes the most radical act of all.

Jon Michaels interviews Ryan and Steve, hosts of Unconfined Conversations, about their mission to spotlight stories of incarceration and those who’ve lived through it.