01. I Wrote This to Inspire

Female Announcer: Just so you know, this episode includes a brief description of gun violence — and has mentions of drug use, psychiatric disorders, and child abuse. And in the second half of the episode, there’s a couple swear words.

—

Guard: Walk on through. 

[Sounds of a security checkpoint and beeping scanner]

Guard: All right.

Speech Thomas (to guard): Thank you.

Speech [VO]: When I first walked into the Richmond City Jail, and through the metal detector…I was nervous.

I remember coming out on the other side, and seeing the sterile white walls and the cement.

Hearing the clanging metal doors, as they locked behind me.

Cues that I was losing more and more of my freedom and control.

[Music: An upbeat hip-hop music fades in (“Current Mood” by Gregory David)]

Speech: At any given time, there are nearly two million people locked behind bars in the United States. It’s the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world.

As a result, over six hundred thousand people are released from prison and over nine million are released from local jails every single year.

Many of them have a substance use disorder. Most of them face huge barriers to rebuilding their lives after incarceration. But they get little to no support.

And so, our incarceration system has created a re-entry crisis. Nearly half of all people who finish serving their time end up back inside.

[Music: Upbeat hip-hop music fades away under VO]

[Sound of men gathering in jail, door closing]

I’ve been invited to the Richmond City Jail by a re-entry program called REAL.

R-E-A-L. That stands for “Recovery From Everyday Addictive Lifestyles.”

Now, REAL’s goal is to help incarcerated people stay sober while working on themselves with a supportive community, and make a plan for how to stay free after they’ve left the jail.

And part of this program is a music studio. That’s how I found my way into this gray, concrete room, filled with men in blue jumpsuits.

[Sound of men in the jail applauding]

Speech (to men): What’s up brothers, how y’all doing?

My name is Speech, and I’m from the hip-hop crew Arrested Development. We call our music “life music,” which means that we appreciate this journey of life.

And we wanted to come here and see how we can get immersed into it all, and help out.

[Music: Relaxed techno music fades in]

Speech [VO]: I’m here to help these men record an album. It’s a therapeutic thing. They’re unpacking a whole lot that’s in their hearts to be able to tell their own stories.

In my experience, making music together, singing and rapping for each other? Is the most powerful way to open up conversations, build understanding, and envision a new way forward.

[Music: Relaxed techno music fades away under VO]

[Sound of applause returns and ends]

Speech (to men): So if y’all don’t mind, I’d like to do a little something for you. Is that cool?

[Speech sings verses from the Arrested Development song, “Tennessee”]

Lord, I’ve really been real stressed,

down and out, losing ground 

Although I am Black and proud

problems got me pessimistic 

Brothers and sisters keep messing up

Why does it have to be so darn tough?

I don’t know where I can go 

to let these ghosts out of my skull 

Take me to another place

Take me to another land

Make me forget all that hurts me

Let me understand your plan

[Music: Theme music plays, consisting of a choir of men snapping and humming with a hip-hop beat underneath their voices]

Speech [VO]: From Narratively and VPM: This is Track Change.

And I’m Speech Thomas – a musician, and part of the hip-hop collective Arrested Development.

Garland Carr (singing): Concrete barriers, cold and gray

Speech: On this podcast, we’re going to introduce you to four individuals in the REAL program. Songwriters, singers, and rappers I got to work with over the course of two weeks.

Garland: Good Lord, carry my soul away

Speech: Some of these men were already longtime musicians. Others were amateurs.

All of them struggled with addiction. And were open to sharing about their lives with me.

So as we make music, I’ll also learn more about them; what brought them to this point, as they try to break free of the cycle that’s trapped them.

Garland: Rage and pain, bearing down on me

Been so long since I’ve been free

[Music: Humming and snapping beats fades away]

Speech: I want to kick things off with Teddy Jackson. 

Teddy Jackson (rapping in studio): Just cause I’m Black and my skin not like you,

when I was walk past, don’t jump like I’mma bite you,

just trying to open up the door for you, ‘cause I got manners,

I’m a man, understand that’s spiteful… 

[Music: Rapping fades under VO]

Speech: From the moment I heard him spitting rhymes, I knew that his rawness, his ability to translate what he’s been through into rhyme, was once-in-a-lifetime. Teddy, in my opinion, could be the Tupac of his generation.

But before we worked together, I wanted to know more about the world he grew up in.

[Sound of sirens in background]

Teddy: We in North Richmond, Jackson Ward. Born and raised here.

Right now we headed to First and Federal Street. Gilpin Court housing projects. I think this is the, the point where my life really took a turn for the worst.

Speech: It’s been four days since Teddy was released from prison. He’s back in his old neighborhood, but it’s not a place where he feels at home anymore.

Teddy: A lot of the people that I used to run these projects with, gone.

I feel like a ghost looking down, at somewhere where I used to be.

Speech: Teddy hasn’t been back here for over three years. But the memories are still fresh.

Teddy: Yeah, I was just wild. Into robberies, home invasions, selling drugs…I even pimped for a while…

We used to sit in that field, right there, and sell drugs. I was about maybe 15 years old.

Speech: Selling drugs led to doing drugs. Until…

Teddy: I couldn’t sell drugs no more because I did them all. So I’ll just sit and let you sell them, and then come take everything.

At one time, it was, “Either give it to me or give it to God, and God don’t want it.”

Speech: For Teddy, it feels like he’s been pushed back into the neighborhood where he first got wrapped up in a life of drug use and violence.

Teddy: Used to be a bench over there. I was sitting on it one time, waiting on this guy to bring me some weed out the building.

Speech: Looking over at the bench, Teddy recalls another man, who was sitting there next to him. 

Teddy: And, uh…a white Bonneville pulled up.

A guy got out with a big long revolver and shot him in his head. And I’ll never forget feeling blood just splatter on my face.

And I couldn’t hear because my ears were ringing. And the guy just had the gun to my head, and he was, I guess he was mumbling, “Did I see anything?”

Of course, “No.”

Speech: And he remembers walking back to West Duval Street with his dad, covered in blood. 

Teddy: My daddy told me I had to make a decision then. Either you was going to be a wolf or a sheep.

And if I was going to be a sheep, clean myself up, and go stay with my mama. Or if I’m going to be a wolf, lick the blood off and stay with him.

—

[Music: A melancholy piano tune with a beat fades in (“A World Above the Clouds” by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist)]

[Sound of a door squeaking open]

Guard: Good morning.

Teddy: Good morning. How are you doing?

Guard: How are you — all right. How can I help you today?

Speech: Teddy heads back to Richmond City Jail, where he was held before his prison sentence. This time, it’s by choice.

Teddy: I’m here to see Sarah. Dr. Scarbrough. 

Guard: Okay. You have anything in your pockets? Cell phones, cigarettes, keys, lighters?

Teddy: Yeah.

[Sound of Teddy handing his possessions over and walking through a metal detector]

Guard: Alright, turn around for me…

[Sound of a beep and a door opening]

Speech: In the hallway there’s a blonde woman named Sarah, wearing a white blouse and khakis. And she’s waiting for him.

Sarah Scarbrough (to Teddy): Is it like, is it surreal that this is happening? Like you’re in the jail as a guest, as a civilian?

Teddy: It’s, it’s… it’s strange. It’s strange…

Speech: “Sarah” is Doctor Sarah Scarbrough, the hands-on director of the REAL program. 

Sarah started REAL in 2013 with Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody, Jr. — who came from the same neighborhoods that a lot of these guys in the program have come from.

Since then, Sarah’s been the one to run things. 

She’s created a day-by-day, week-by-week rehabilitation course. And she helps people find transitional housing when they get out.

Because this is jail.

Meaning that, some of these men will be sentenced and sent to prison, while others still have a shot at freedom.

Sarah believes that even in such an isolating place, people with substance use disorders, they  still have the power to change the trajectory of their lives.

So she invites them to join the REAL program, to offer them some structure, some space to find themselves.

Sarah: …to make sure that they have that transformation that they need, so they don’t get out and continue to do the same thing, thus, leading back to incarceration.

[Music: A melancholy piano tune with a beat fades out]

Speech: She’s hoping Teddy will be one of their success stories. 

Sarah: Seeing him for the first time in civilian clothes and coming back as a person and just being able to sit down and enjoy a meal with him, it’s incredible. And it’s a constant reminder that people can change if they want it.

Speech: Like a mom, Sarah calls Teddy only by his full name, Tennyson. 

And like a mom, she remembers his early days in the program proudly.

Sarah: He looked me in the eye and promised me, “I’m going to make you proud. I’m going to do the right thing.”

But unfortunately, something that I cannot control happened, and that was that he was shipped to prison.

I stayed in touch with him, and then he got out on Thursday and then called me Friday.

Three days later, here he is.

[Music: A plaintive melody on keyboard with a soft, slow beat (“Entropy” by Gregory David)]

Speech: Sarah says that seeing Teddy is good motivation for the other guys here.

But now that he’s free, he’s also on his own.

He’s not in the REAL program anymore. So on the outside, he doesn’t have this kind of support system.

That’s why Sarah’s trying to help Teddy, on top of her normal workday, and she says he’s very much at risk.

Sarah: First of all, he is, um, disassociating himself from a gang, um, which is extremely risky, in and of itself.

Speech: He still struggles with addiction.

Sarah: And then, unfortunately, when you are on the street and want to do right, it’s almost a competition to see who can be the first guy to get you high.

That, coupled with not having a job, not having his own place to live, having no money… 

And to stay strong and continue to have the mindset to overcome that?

That’s extremely difficult.

Speech: Even Sarah, who’s seen it all — relapses, recidivism, dedicated REAL program all-stars who suddenly disappeared — she wants to believe in Teddy.

Sarah: If he slipped up, it would be shocking because of how much of a desire he wants to change…

[Music: Plaintive melody ends]

…but he wouldn’t be the first person to slip up, because it’s tough. 

—

[Sound of a studio door opening]

Teddy: What’s goin’ on, Speech?

Speech (to Teddy): How are you?

Teddy: Amazing, man.

[Sound of the two men slapping hands and getting seated]

Speech [VO]: In a City Jail classroom with blue plastic chairs, Teddy and I meet face to face.

Teddy: I can’t believe I’m sitting in a room with you. I was watching you on “Yo! MTV Raps.”

Speech (to Teddy): Ah, hahahaha! Yeah, man.

Teddy: For real. 

Speech [VO]: As a producer, I look for things that I know make a great hip-hop artist.

I’m looking for authenticity, I’m looking for feeling, passion, I’m looking for… do these stories resonate? And Teddy checks all three boxes.

Speech (to Teddy): I definitely wanna do some recording today. Y’know what I mean?

Teddy: Yeah. I’m lookin’ forward to that.

Speech: You got any ideas? 

Teddy: Yeah. I got an idea for a song called “Inspire.”

Speech [VO]: You know, his stories are very gritty. Very detailed. And his sensibilities are very on point with what so many people in the streets are feeling.

Teddy (rapping): I wrote this to inspire

if you tired of the lying

and the bias and the violence

got to stand on top of that giant

like King David and Goliath

for the fellas that can’t get hired

ever since Obama left the White House

seems like the White House done got Whiter…

Speech: We’re recording in a raw, makeshift studio, with a sound booth and engineering table crammed up against each wall.

There’s this constant awareness that we’re inside a jail. I still hear the clanking and the clanging of the doors and the gates, and there’s no sense of inspiration from this space.

But right now, Teddy is bringing the inspiration with him.

Teddy: Let’s see how it sound. 

Speech (to Teddy): Okay, cool.

Teddy: Cause I don’t want it to sound too thick.

Speech: Uh-uh. Right.

Teddy: And then I don’t want it to sound too airy, either. I want it to be a solid —

Speech: Right, okay, cool, so we’ll just feel that out.

Speech [VO]: Because he has experience, he understands the lingo of studio work, and he’s coming in at a level of a recording professional.

Teddy: Alright, I’m ready.

Speech (to Teddy): Okay, here we go. One, two, three —

[Music: A slightly dreamy beat led by keyboard (“Inspire” by Teddy Jackson and Philip Ezeimo)]

Teddy (rapping): Just cause I’m Black and my skin not like you,

when I was walk past, don’t jump like I’mma bite you,

just trying to open up the door for you, ‘cause I got manners,

I’m a man, understand that’s spiteful

We ain’t never asked you to come this country

Took us from our own land, called us monkeys,

changed our language, whipped us bloody

Them type scars can’t fix with no money

Speech [VO]: “Inspire” is about… a young man who’s in Hell.

And he realizes this hell can still be a source of light. 

Teddy: …now I know God watch over me, over me, over me, yeah…

Speech: From our conversations, I’ve learned that Teddy is a spiritual man.

He reads the Bible; he’s well versed in that.

I could tell that music was partly therapy for him, but it was also a mission. There was this sense of urgency to get his music out there.

Almost like a prophet.

Teddy: (singing the chorus how he imagines it)

This is my pain, my glory…

Inspire me…

God save me, and this my story…

Speech (to Teddy): Nice.

Teddy: “Inspire me” — You gotta hear the beat. Once you hear the beat, you gonna hear the, the, the…

Speech: Right, the vibe, the whole thing, it sort of connects, okay. 

Teddy: Yeah, ‘cause I’m like — if you told me to sing in any octave, it’s gonna be just the way it is.

Speech: Right, exactly. (Laughs heartily)

Teddy: (Starts clapping his hands while repeating the chorus)

God save me, and this my story…

Speech: Yeah, yeah. Do you hear children singing it? Or how do you —

Teddy: See that’s what I — 

Speech: I hear children.

Teddy: I heard children too!

Speech: You know, I feel like that’s the thing. Like, a chorus of children?!

[Sounds of Speech and Teddy clapping hands with each other in celebration]

Speech: Y’know what I’m saying, dog?!

Teddy: Yeaaaaaaaah. Awwwwwww yeah!

Speech: Awww, that would be crazy! That would be crazy! Oh my God…

[Music: Instrumental layers of “Inspire” fade away]

—

[Sounds of hip-hop music playing outdoors in the background]

Speech [VO]: It’s Mother’s Day, and Teddy and his family are throwing a barbeque for the occasion. There’s a lot of people here…

Teddy: Brother-in-law! What’s happenin’ man?

Speech: …sitting around on plastic lawn chairs, and grandma’s dancing around with a baby.

Teddy: This what it is, man. My family, man. How are you doing, man, Happy Mother’s Day.

Speech: There’s even a two-person DJ crew set up with folding tables, blasting the P.A.

It’s a celebration. But, Teddy is feeling less than festive. 

For the past month, looking for a job has been hard. 

Even filling out an application is challenging for Teddy.

Teddy: I’m frustrated, um, because things are not moving as fast as I want them to move.

Actually, when I did the application, when it came up to job history, um, I don’t have one.

So it was kind of like my work history is sketchy.

Um, and then the gaps in between employment because of my incarceration, it’s kind of like, what do I put when I get to those — what, do I lie? 

Do I make up something? Okay, if I make up something and they ask me, am I going to remember it?

Speech: The party’s still in full force when Teddy sees a guest he recognizes.

Teddy goes over to his mom, Loretta, to point him out.

Teddy (to Loretta): You know the guy who brought me into the gang? You know, his brother’s back there.

Loretta Jackson-Simmons: That brought you into the gang?

Teddy: Yeah.

Speech: The brother of the guy who recruited Teddy into his gang is here, at the party. Teddy’s worried that things could get ugly.

Teddy: Yeah, so it’s kinda like, I see the fight.

Loretta: Yeah, but there are certain things that you can do, yourself, to remove yourself from some of that. Like removing that tattoo.

Speech: Loretta points to her forehead, indicating the tattoo that Teddy has stamped on his own. It’s a Star of David, a symbol from his old gang.

Teddy: This is how real it is. If he was to see me, uh, getting this removed, it could possibly spiral into something else.

Loretta: Okay, but as far as you trying to change your life…

There are going to be obstacles, but you can overcome that. Look at the obstacles you’ve overcome. You’re still here.

Teddy: Yeah. Yeah.

Loretta: This is the first Mother’s Day that I’ve shared with you and Erica together in…what, maybe eight years?

Teddy: I thought it was five. But that’s even worse. I’m sorry baby. I’m sorry.

[Sounds of Teddy hugging Loretta]

Loretta: Yeah… Don’t let it happen anymore.

Teddy: I’m sorry baby.

Loretta: Make what you’ve been through count.

Speech: As Teddy apologizes for missing so many Mother’s Days, Loretta shows him the same kind of patience she’s had for decades.

Loretta: He’s been in psychiatric facilities, maybe eight, nine times. When he was, maybe like nine, he was suicidal and homicidal, at nine…

The doctor told me that Tennyson can manipulate me without me even knowing that he’s doing it, until after he’s done it.

Speech: When she took Teddy and his sister to therapy, they started opening up.

Loretta: In one of the counseling sessions, it came out that their father was abusing them. And I had no knowledge.

Speech: Loretta says he was also the one who introduced Teddy to selling and doing drugs. 

So Loretta kicked him out. But she couldn’t kick out the part of Teddy’s dad that lived deep inside of him.

Loretta: It’s so hard. I think that’s been… (sighs) the most challenging thing I’ve ever had to deal with, because…

You know the good that’s in a person that you love. And this other person, you don’t know… 

[Music: A soft, melancholy guitar melody and haunting flute (“Fountainhead” by Osoku)]

…who they really are, what they’re capable of. 

Um, I’ve had like fear of safety because I didn’t know what drug he was using. If it was some drug that had taken him out of his mind and harm us because he wanted money… It, it hurts.

So I know he has greatness in him, but he also has… demons in him, too.

[Music: A soft beat appears under the haunting music, then music fades away]

—

[Sounds of a jail door opening]

Speech: Back at the Richmond City Jail, waiting to start our next session, Teddy and I are standing in the hallway, when a man he served time with walks by. Teddy calls him Uncle L.

He’s crying. He’s a mess.

Uncle L: Fucked up, man! Ain’t nobody helpin’ me, man.

Speech [VO]: Uncle L tells Teddy he was released free.

…But on the outside, after three decades in prison, he found it impossible to get a job.

Uncle L: Everything they taught us in that fuckin’ re-entry was a fuckin’ lie, man. I followed up on all that shit, man.

I put in application after application after application.

And that shit stressed me the fuck out. I started getting high. (Sniffs)

Speech: Now he’s back in on a drug charge.

There’s nothing Teddy can really say. So he pulls Uncle L into a hug. 

Teddy: Look, come here, homie.

Uncle L: That shit hurt me. 

[Sounds of Teddy and Uncle L embracing]

Teddy: I’mma see you, man.

Uncle L: That shit hurt man.

[Sounds of Uncle L walking away from Teddy]

Teddy: Oh, I love you, bro, man. I’m gonna try to come see you before I leave. Know what I mean? Take your time over here.

Speech (to Teddy): (Whispers) Damn… Damn! That’s crazy!

Teddy (to Speech): I was in prison with him. He just did 32 years straight. 

Speech [VO]: I’m watching this man one hundred percent broken. He’s wiping his eyes on his sleeve… and I am seeing a thievery of this man’s life.

This brother’s been behind bars already, for thirty years — thirty years!

And if it’s this easy for him to get thrown right back into jail, if he’s facing so many barriers to making his way on the outside, then how could anyone expect him to succeed?

Teddy: He came home, and that’s… 

Speech (to Teddy): (Whispers) Man…

Teddy: …that’s how real it is. 

Speech [VO]: Teddy…being face to face with Uncle L, he sees himself in this situation as well. He sees so many people in it…

[Sounds of the jail fade out]

…And I think he feels like this system, to one extent or another… has set people up to fail.

—

[Music: Soft, slightly dreamy beat from “Inspire” plays in the distance]

Speech (to Teddy): Here it go! One, two!

Teddy (rapping): Just cause I’m Black and my skin not like you,

when I was walk past, don’t jump like I’mma bite you

just trying to open up the door for you, ‘cause I got manners…

[Music: Roaring, fuzzy bass guitar and thunderous beat drop (“Inspire” by Teddy Jackson)]

…I’m a man, understand that’s spiteful

We ain’t never asked you to come this country

Took us from our own land, called us monkeys,

changed our language, whipped us bloody

Them type scars can’t fix with no money

Time never wasted, mind elevated

Raised in the 80s, coulda went crazy, but

God showed favor, you soul, He could save it,

Baby with a baby, you can still make it

Child support, WIC, EBT

Raise their kids on BET

Stack their paychecks week to week now

Ain’t no gunshots when they sleepin’

I know God watch over me, over me, over me,

yeah…

Teddy (to Speech): I didn’t start storytelling until I realized I had a story. 

Up until this point in my life, the only thing I did good – well, that I did a lot of – was wrong. And now I realize I got a gift.

So it, it kind of fuels me, um…that maybe somebody may hear the song and it may inspire them, to at least look at life different.

Speech [VO]: Anyone who meets Teddy, who connects with his rhymes — they hear a chance for salvation. 

Teddy, to me, represents the guy that understands the struggle, and yet, he hasn’t been a hundred percent jaded by the darkness. 

He sees there’s a way out, and now he’s at a place in his life where he has this faith, to try to overcome.

And the question is… Is he going to be able to walk on water?

[Music: Instrumentals from “Inspire” end]

—

[Sounds of the flint on a lighter sparking twice]

Speech: At dusk, Teddy sits outside the projects, smoking a cigarette. The streetlights form a halo around his head. 

[Sounds of a toddler’s voice squeal playfully]

Teddy (to Azani): Hey Muffin.

Speech: He’s watching over his girlfriend’s toddler, Azani, as she plays on the lawn, giggling. In all the anxiety of the past month, it’s a rare moment of calm.

Teddy (to Speech): Oh, just the breeze, just feeling the breeze, enjoying the breeze. Thinking about when I was in prison, looking out the window, wishing I could feel it. It’s just peaceful. 

You know, to hear kids laughing and playing.

You know, to hear life.

(To Azani) Hey baby…(Laughs robustly)

[Sounds of outside fade away]

—

[Sounds of Sarah in her car begin. Her phone dials and rings as she places a call on speaker phone]

Speech [VO]: About a month later…Sarah Scarbrough returns a call from Teddy’s mom.

Teddy’s been missing for a couple of days.

Loretta: Hello?

Sarah: Hey Loretta. It’s Sarah. How you doing? 

Loretta: I’m hanging in here. 

Sarah: So what do you think is going on? 

Loretta: I just… I don’t know. He went out and he got… I think he got high.

Sarah: Yeah. Yeah.

Loretta: This is just bewildering to me, because I know that, without a doubt, he was genuinely happy. He was genuinely excited. And I just don’t know what the trigger was! I’m just at a loss.

Sarah: I would not give up calling him, because you never know when he might pick up, you know? 

Loretta: Okay. And if I can reach him, what do I say? 

Sarah: Ask him what he is willing to do. Don’t tell him what to do, but ask him, “What are you willing to do? Are you willing to get help?”

Loretta: Yeah. Okay. Thank you so much there. I feel better just talking with you today. 

Sarah: Oh, good… I’m so sorry that you’re having to deal with this, but I’m willing to help in any way that I can.

Loretta: Okay, and I really appreciate it. Thank you again.

Sarah: Okay, you’re welcome. Talk to you soon. Okay —

Loretta: Bye.

[The call ends]

Sarah: If that’s not the definition of the disease of addiction, I don’t know what is.

[Sounds of Sarah’s car fade away]

—

Children’s Choir (singing): Whoaaaaaaaa…Oooooohhhhh…

[Music: Full mix of “Inspire” returns]

Teddy (rapping): To the gangbanger that’s crippin

To the young black girl that’s stripping 

but she’s stripping for tuition

don’t pass judgment, uplift ‘em

single mother got evicted

had a cashier job at Wendy’s

now she four bedroom house living

kept her faith in her ambition

you can be Muslim or Christian

it don’t make a difference

join your hands and lift em

because God don’t like division 

see the vision, feed the children

cause to raise em take a village

educate em bout the system

that’s designed to keep imprisoned

we done healin…

Children’s Choir: This is my pain, my glory

Teddy (speaking): I wrote this to inspire. I pray that it do.

Children’s Choir: Inspire me — God save me, this my story

Teddy: I pray that it do. I pray that it do.

Children’s Choir: Inspire me

[Music ends]

Speech [VO]: We’ll catch up with Teddy later this season.

To hear the rest of his story, subscribe to Track Change on your podcast app.

Coming up on the next episode: Garland.

[Music: Acoustic guitar plays a rugged country progression (“Freedom Wind” by Garland Carr)]

Garland (singing): I gotta feel you on my face

You gotta blow me out of this place

I know I’m getting stronger, and I can’t wait much longer

I ain’t got no time to waste…

Freedom wind

Blow me away

I don’t feel so free today…

Speech: Garland has the talent and the charisma to be a country music star. He’s also got a devoted girlfriend who’s stuck by him.

But with his court date coming up, will the judge and jury see how much Garland’s trying to grow, and change?

Or will they see just another “offender,” and decide he doesn’t deserve the chance?

[Music: “Freedom Wind” ends]

—

[Music: Upbeat, high-energy hip-hop beat (“What” by Aldous Young)]

Speech: Track Change is made by Narratively and VPM, and distributed by the NPR network.

This season was produced by Liz Mak, James Boo, Nidhi Shastri, and Noah Rosenberg.

Fact check by Sara Herschander. Audio mix by Sound Sanctuary, and theme music by Garland Carr and Renzo Gorrio.

Special thanks to Teddy, Loretta, and Sarah for sharing part of their lives with the world.

This season was adapted from original footage from the documentary film 16 Bars, with support from the filmmakers at Resonant Pictures. You can watch the film at 16barsthefilm.com.

Songs from the 16 Bars Original Motion Picture Soundtrack are used with permission from the copyright holders. Teddy’s song, “Inspire,” courtesy of Eric Michels.

If you want to hear the complete song, check out trackchange.vpm.org.

This podcast was originated by our Consulting Producer, Sammy Dane. Sam Bathrick was also a Consulting Producer.

Our Executive Producers are Noah Rosenberg, Joe Lamont, and me, Speech Thomas.

Our Producers from VPM are Meg Lindholm and Gavin Wright. VPM’s Chief Content Officer is Steve Humble.

To learn more about the work that REAL is doing to help formerly incarcerated people stay free in Virginia, visit reallifeprogram.org.

See y’all next time.

[Music: Upbeat hip-hop beat ends]