Rules, Redemption, and Real Talk: Prison Realities and Creative Resilience (Ep. 229)

Tonight’s two-hour live show brings you two powerful stories and perspectives. from the Asylum Studios in Eagle Pass, Texas.

In hour one, I sat down with Jack Straw—former police captain turned federal inmate who rebuilt his life as a brewer and creator of the YouTube channel “Fed Joints to Beer Joints.” Jack opened up about the realities of life on both sides of the justice system: why discretion and humanity matter in policing, how subjective enforcement shapes outcomes, and the harsh, highly organized realities of prison culture—far from Hollywood myths. He shared how he survived his lowest point, became a jailhouse lawyer, and now channels hard-won perspective into writing, music, and Prison Break Brewery. It’s a raw, candid conversation about accountability, conscience, and finding purpose after failure.

In hour two, Finnish-Canadian author, book coach, and podcaster Lisa Kovala joined me to talk craft, courage, and heritage. We explored her historical mystery “Like Water for Weary Souls,” set in 1930s Northern Ontario, and how Finnish sisu—inward grit and persistence—fuels creative work. Lisa discussed shaping her father’s Nazi camp survival memoir with care and honesty, the balance between research and storytelling, and practical advice for writers: build fundamentals, read widely, start before you feel ready, and persist. We also dug into AI’s role, authentic voice, and why the writing life is about process over outcomes. A thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation for readers, writers, and anyone chasing meaningful work.

Guests:
Jack Straw
https://jacks-lrc.com/

Lissa Kovala
https://lissakovalabookcoach.com

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Special thanks to:

Executive Producer Wayne Rankin
Executive Producer Rosanna Rankin
Executive Producer Carolina Jimenez
Executive Producer Marisa Lee
Executive Producer Angela Wetuski

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