From Prison to Purpose: Ryan Shipley on Reentry Done Right
From Kroc Pod by University of San Diego's Kroc School of Peace Studies
January 5, 2026 · 34 min · Season 7 · Episode 44
About this episode
Ryan Shipley shares his journey from incarceration to becoming a leader in social justice and discusses the challenges of reentry for system-impacted individuals.
We kick of Season 7 of the Kroc Pod with a blockbuster -- in this episode, Kroc School Alumni Ryan Shipley shares his transformative journey from incarceration to becoming a leader in social justice through the Sisu Freedom Foundation. Shipley, the winner of the 2025 Necla Tschirgi Civic Engagement Award, discusses the challenges faced by system-impacted individuals during reentry, the importance of education in reducing recidivism, and the need for community support. Ryan emphasizes the significance of lived experience in leadership roles and advocates for a shift in language to better represent those affected by the justice system. He also outlines future plans for the Sisu Foundation and offers advice for young people looking to create change in their communities. Links: https://www.sisufreedom.org/ https://www.sandiego.edu/torero-urban-scholars/ https://thephoenix.org/app Follow Us: https:http://www.instagram.com/krocschool/ Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/school/krocschool/posts/? feedView=all Reach Out: krocpod@gmail.com
People in this episode
Guest: Ryan Shipley
Topics covered
- reentry
- social justice
- education
- recidivism
- community support
- leadership
- transformative journeys
Keywords
- incarceration
- social justice
- reentry
- education
- recidivism
- community support
- leadership
- Sisu Freedom Foundation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Sisu Freedom Foundation, Kroc School of Peace Studies, Necla Tschirgi Civic Engagement Award, Torero Urban Scholars, The Phoenix, Kroc School
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