Solitary Confinement: The Dark Reality of Reform Schools
Sickboy
CBC
4.8 • 524 Ratings
🗓️ 22 October 2024
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Solitary confinement isn't just a punishment; for some, it's a childhood reality. In this episode, author Lisa Moore discusses her powerful collaboration with Jack Whalen on Invisible Prisons, a book that reveals the traumatic experiences of children in reform schools, focusing on Jack's harrowing story of isolation. The conversation explores the systemic issues of child abuse, the deep psychological impact of solitary confinement, and the pivotal role of love and family in healing. Lisa reflects on the transformative power of empathy in storytelling and her personal journey through the writing process.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What's the connection between being an astronaut and being a novelist? I hadn't really thought about it |
| 0:06.8 | until I talked to the astronaut-turned-writer Chris Hadfield about his new thriller, Final Orbit. |
| 0:13.5 | Every week on the podcast bookends, I sit down with today's best authors for candid conversations |
| 0:18.8 | about their writing, inspirations, and lives. |
| 0:22.8 | You'll get to see the world through the eyes of your favorite writers, and they might even |
| 0:26.6 | take you to outer space too. Bookends with Matea Roach is available now wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:34.3 | This is a CBC podcast. |
| 0:42.3 | Music This is a CBC podcast. Hey, folks, this week on the podcast, we sit down with acclaimed author, Lisa Moore. |
| 0:50.4 | Her books have been finalists for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, CBC Canada Reeds, |
| 0:56.7 | the Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, the Scotia Bank Giller Prize, and the Man Booker Prize, |
| 1:02.8 | among many other honors and accolades and prizes. |
| 1:06.9 | Lisa's latest book is a very powerful collaboration with a man named Jack Whalen, and it is titled Invisible Prisons. |
| 1:16.3 | The story dives deep into the harrowing experiences of children in reform schools, particularly Jack's very traumatic time in solitary confinement. |
| 1:31.8 | Lisa opens up about the systemic failures that perpetuate child abuse, the crushing psychological toll of isolation, and the healing powers of love and family. |
| 1:41.8 | It's a beautiful conversation that highlights the importance of empathy and shared |
| 1:46.4 | storytelling and, of course, the ongoing fight for justice. I feel like you're really going to |
| 1:52.5 | love this one. Brian and I just had an absolutely lovely time speaking with Lisa. And folks, |
| 1:58.7 | listen, as always, our mission is to change the way that the world |
| 2:01.8 | thinks about illness, trauma, and healing. And that takes a collective effort. So if you're listening |
| 2:08.5 | to this right now, be sure to follow the podcast on whatever podcast app you're listening to or over |
| 2:13.9 | on YouTube. And of course, share this episode with a friend because every voice matters. |
| 2:20.2 | And we want to keep that conversation going. |
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