Billy Moore (Surviving the 'Bangkok Hilton' Thai Prison, Overcoming Addiction and Boxing) - Episode 181

Behind The Shield

James Geering

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Fitness

4.9 • 667 Ratings

🗓️ 14 June 2025

⏱️ 94 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

BILLY MOORE was born in Liverpool in 1973. He had a difficult upbringing and struggled with addiction. In 2005, wishing to make a fresh start, Billy relocated to Thailand and entered a period of sobriety. However, he eventually relapsed and was arrested and charged by Thai police and sent to Klong Prem prison, the infamous 'Bangkok Hilton'. Billy witnessed acts of extreme violence and sexual assault.

Eventually he found purpose through taking part in Muay Thai tournaments in jail. Here, he found 'a wall of human community' amongst the elite boxers and regained his sobriety. Ultimately his success as a member of the boxing team at Klong Prem led to his release. Upon release, Billy wrote about his experiences in his book, A Prayer Before Dawn which was later adapted for the screen and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.

Since then, Billy has not only survived cancer, but also gone on to become a powerful advocate of boxing and anti-knife crime initiatives in the Liverpool area. He trains young boxers and appears regularly in the national media.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Behind the Shield podcast. My name's James Gearing and this is episode 181 and I'm so excited
0:06.1	to bring to you my next guest. We've been trying to make this happen for well over a year and we're
0:10.5	finally able to sit down and record this. If you have seen the movie or read the book,
0:15.6	A Prayer Before Dawn, that was Billy's story. So Billy Moore is a fellow Brit. We talk about his early childhood. He found
0:24.6	himself in prison in England, then got out of addiction, got clean, went traveling to Thailand,
0:30.2	and then after another blip, he ended up in prison in Thailand. And that's what the movie and
0:35.5	the book are mainly focusing on and the
0:38.1	nightmarish conditions, how he ultimately ended up fighting Muay Thai in this prison and then how
0:45.0	he was able to get back to the UK. So an incredible life story, some extremely interesting
0:53.0	insight into the effects of early trauma and the grasp of
0:58.4	addiction and where it can send you. But I think a very, very powerful, inspiring story. And I was
1:03.4	so glad that we were able to make it happen. So with that being said, as I always say,
1:07.4	please go to your podcast apps, subscribe to the show, leave feedback. I love
1:11.8	reading the feedback that you guys are leaving. And most importantly, share these incredible stories.
1:17.1	And after that, make sure that you at least see the movie or read the book, a prayer before
1:22.3	dawn. And then when he releases it, Billy's new book will be coming out in a few months,
1:26.3	and I'll make sure to post that as well. So with all that being said, I introduce to it, Billy's new book will be coming out in a few months, and I'll make sure to post that as well.
1:28.3	So with all that being said, I introduce to you, Billy Moore.
1:32.4	Enjoy.
1:54.6	Thank you. Well, Billy, I just want to start by saying thank you so much for coming on the show.
1:57.9	I know that we've been going back and forth for a while now.
2:03.0	And having read the book and knowing your story, this is really, really you know a story I think that people should hear so I want to just say thank you first for for taking the time to
	...

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