Finding Hope and Redemption in a Life Sentence with Kenyatta Leal

The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

Srinivas Rao

Society & Culture

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 June 2016

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“My first night in prison was the worst night of my life. I’ll never forget it because it was right around my birthday, a time that you’re supposed to be celebrating and happy. I was on my way to doing a life sentence in prison. It was the most depressing, just worst imaginable experience that one could ever have. I wouldn’t’ wish it upon my worst enemy. I was really desperate. I was so fearful. I was afraid.I was scared. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to make it through it all. It still hadn’t completely sunk in that I was facing a life sentence. I was so overwhelmed with fear and sadness. I felt alone. I felt like I was just trapped. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. You can’t go to mom and dad. Mom and dad can’t help you. The only person that can help you. I’ve faced a lot of scary moments, but that was by far the scariest moment of my life.” – Kenyatta Leal

Former San Quentin Inmate and First Graduate of “The Last Mile”. Kenyatta Leal spent nearly 19 years incarcerated within the California prison system for possession of a firearm under California’s Three Strike Law. Kenyatta continues to serve as an evangelist for The Last Mile and Centerforce.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	My first night in prison was the worst night of my life. I mean, I can never, I'll never forget it because it was a,
0:09.0	it was right around my birthday, a time that you're supposed to be celebrating and being happy and I was
0:15.2	you know on my way to doing a life sentence in prison and it was the most depressing the most just worst
0:27.5	imaginable experience that that one could ever have I wouldn't wish it on my worst
0:31.9	enemy I was really desperate. I was so
0:36.3	fearful I was afraid I was scared I mean I didn't know how I was just gonna be
0:42.1	able to to make it through it all, you know, and it was still, it still hadn't completely sunk in, you know, that, you know, that I was, you know you facing a life sentence I was so overwhelmed with fear and
0:59.4	sadness you know I felt alone. I felt you know like I was just trapped. There was nowhere to run.
1:08.0	There was nowhere to hide. You know you can't go crying to mom and dad or whatever mom and dad can't help you there's nobody that can help you and you really the only person that can help you is you
1:20.0	You know and I just felt
1:39.4	Just like I said overwhelmed with fear and just backed up in a corner basically and just trapped I just I just I just that was a moment in my life that I faced a lot of scary moments but that was by far the scariest moment of my life.
1:43.0	I'm Sreni Rao and this is the unmistakable creative podcast,
1:50.0	where you get a window into the stories and insights of the most innovative and
1:53.6	creative minds who started movements, built thriving businesses, written
1:57.4	best-selling books and created insanely interesting art. For more, check out
2:01.1	our 500 episode archive at unmistakable Creative.com. This is a passenger announcement. You can now book your train on Uber and get 10% back in credits to spend on Uber eats.
2:21.0	So you can order your own fries instead of eating everyone else's.
2:25.0	Trains now on Uber. T's and C's apply. Check the Uber app.
2:31.0	Do you hear that? It might sound like nothing to you, but it's actually the sound of
2:38.6	nuclear, wind and solar energy. At EDF we're busy generating more British zero carbon
2:45.2	electricity than anyone to help keep future energy costs down for everyone
2:49.2	and help cut UK carbon emissions to nothing. Sound good to you? Find out more about our
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Srinivas Rao, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Srinivas Rao and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.