Defending the Defenseless with Alexander McLean - Episode 75

In this powerful episode, Eldra Jackson III welcomes Alexander McLean, founder of Justice Defenders, an organization transforming lives by training prisoners and prison officers to become paralegals and lawyers. Alexander shares his incredible journey, from washing and advocating for abandoned patients in Uganda as a teenager to building a movement dedicated to ensuring every accused person has the opportunity to tell their story before being punished. With stories of resilience, transformation, and radical trust, Alexander reveals how Justice Defenders is empowering unlikely allies in Uganda, Kenya, and beyond to bring dignity, justice, and hope where it’s needed most. Tune in to hear about his vision of justice, the lessons learned from working in prisons, and the importance of community in the endless work of creating a more just world. Learn more about Justice Defenders at justicedefenders.org

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the Inside Circle podcast with your host Eldra Jackson III. Eldra spent over a decade unlearning dangerous lessons about masculinity and finding freedom while serving 24 years in prison. In conversation with leaders from all walks of life who have overcome some of lifes’ greatest challenges, The Inside Circle podcast aims to broaden our concept of personal transformation, ‘men’s work’, and what it means to ‘lead change from within’. Beyond the manufactured constructs of race, class, gender, and even criminal history, this deep dive exposes the heart of our shared humanity, revealing prison as an intensely personal state of mind that can be transcended at any time. Eldra is the Co-Executive Director of Inside Circle, a non-profit organization that supports justice involved people in transforming their lives. Featured in the documentary The Work while he was still incarcerated at New Folsom prison, Eldra’s TEDTalk about his personal journey received over 1.2 million views. The Inside Circle Podcast - where your truth will set you free. Learn more at www.insidecircle.org.