They Survived Prison. Can They Survive Freedom?

They Survived Prison. Can They Survive Freedom?

From The Dr. Phil Podcast by Dr. Phil McGraw

June 9, 2026 · 44 min · Episode 755

About this episode

Dr. Phil interviews John Kinsel and Dusty Turner, two men who survived wrongful imprisonment and now face the challenges of reintegrating into society.

Between them, John Kinsel and Dusty Turner lost 59 years. John went in on a child's testimony that the child herself recanted under oath in open court ...and still sat in that Louisiana prison for 19 more years while the system looked the other way. Dusty went in because his swim buddy committed a murder, blamed him for it, and then confessed on tape in 2002. A judge declared Dusty innocent in 2008. The state appealed two days later. Tonight, for the first time, Dr. Phil talks directly to John... the prison never allowed it before. And he follows up with Dusty, who walked out in March and was back behind bars six weeks later on a parole violation he says was an honest mistake. These two men missed 9/11, iPhones, social media, streaming ...nearly everything that defines modern life. What they're finding out now is that surviving the system was only half the battle. Jason Flom is back, too because this fight doesn't end at the prison gate. This episode is brought to you by; The You Can Do It Foundation supports meaningful media that reflects faith, family, personal responsibility, and freedom. Partnering with industry leaders, we create content that resonates and inspires…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Phil, Dr. Phil McGraw

Guests: John Kinsel, Dusty Turner

Topics covered

  • prison reform
  • innocence
  • life after prison
  • justice system
  • personal stories

Keywords

  • wrongful conviction
  • prison
  • freedom
  • reentry
  • justice

Sponsors

The You Can Do It Foundation, TempraMed

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