I'm Chris Lyons, and I lead the Cultural Leadership Fund here in Andrescent Horowitz,

a strategic investment vehicle that connects the world's greatest cultural leaders to the best

new technology companies.

This segment of the A16Z podcast was based on an event hosted by the CLF in which we

featured a special early screening of Van Jones' new series, The Redemption Project,

followed by a fireside chat

between Van Jones and Shaka Singor.

The Redemption Project is an eight-part series that looks at victims, families, and a life-altering

crime as they come together to actually meet their offender in hopes of finding personal

healing or peace.

It's a rare glimpse into the U.S. prison system and also

the incredible human potential for redemption through restorative justice. In this episode,

Jones brought together a police officer who was shot and the man who committed the crime

decades earlier when he was only 17 years old. In addition to the conversation between

Van and Chaka, you'll also hear two spoken

word performances. Both artists are formally incarcerated inmates who have contributed to the

Beat Within, an organization and publication that serves over 5,000 youth annually through workshops

operate across California County juvenile halls and encourages literacy, self-expression, healthy, and supportive

relationships with adults from their community.

First off, we'll open up with Kevin Gentry performing his piece, My Heart.

And please note, there is some profanity and mature material in this episode.

For all intents and purposes, this piece, I loosely call it a piece, it's more a letter,

...