How Do You Survive Solitary Confinement?

From Simple Questions Podcast by Dylan Carnahan

February 3, 2026 · 1h 38m · Episode 56

About this episode

Leon Benson shares his experience of surviving 12 years in solitary confinement after a wrongful conviction and discusses the psychological toll and his eventual exoneration.

Episode 56: How Do You Survive Solitary Confinement? – features Leon Benson, who shares his journey from wrongful conviction and 10 consecutive years in solitary confinement to eventual exoneration. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation between Dylan Carnahan and Leon Benson, the Director of the Solitary Justice Project, who was wrongfully convicted and spent 12 years in solitary confinement. Listen as Leon shares his story of being wrongfully incarcerated, what it was like surviving years inside for a crime he did not commit, and the psychological toll of losing time, freedom, and identity. In this episode we discuss: 00:30 – Introducing Leon Benson 01:34 – Wrongful arrest and murder conviction 03:47 – Eyewitness misidentification and flawed evidence 07:13 – 60-year sentence, entering prison young 19:23 – False accusation, sent to solitary 20:53 – Solitary confinement conditions and isolation 23:29 – Personal loss, appeals denied, breaking point 33:13 – Indefinite isolation, “existential purgatory” 37:21 – Finding meaning through philosophy, mindset 42:49 – Turning isolation into mental survival 59:24 – Advocacy, growth, release…

People in this episode

Host: Dylan Carnahan

Guest: Leon Benson

Topics covered

solitary confinement
wrongful conviction
psychological impact
exoneration
advocacy
mental wellness

Keywords

solitary confinement
wrongful conviction
exoneration
psychological toll
mental survival
advocacy
prison program

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Solitary Justice Project