How do you survive seven years in solitary confinement? The gift of literacy is what saved Shaka Senghor. Reading, journaling, academic study, and writing books was a way to structure and survive an inhumane, mentally toxic environment. And after 19 years in total behind bars, he was finally able to apply that gift and create employment for himself as a writer and organizational leader upon rejoining society.
Shaka joined Tyler to discuss his book Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison, what it was like to return to society not knowing the difference between the internet and a Word document, entrepreneurialism and humor in prison, the unexpected challenges formerly incarcerated people face upon release, his ideas for helping Detroit, what he connects with in Eastern philosophy, how he’s celebrating the upcoming anniversary of his tenth year of freedom, and more.
Follow Shaka on Twitter
Follow Tyler on Twitter
More CWT goodness:
Philip Ball on the Interplay of Science, Society, and the Quest for Understanding
Nate Silver on Risk-takers, Politicians, and Poker Players
Paul Bloom on the Psychology of Children, and the Morality of Empathy and Disgust
Alan Taylor on Revolutionary Ironies and the Continental Civil War
Brian Winter on Brazil, Argentina, and the Future of Latin America
Joseph Stiglitz on Pioneering Economic Theories, Policy Challenges, and His Intellectual Legacy
Velina Tchakarova on China, Russia, and the Future of Geopolitics
Michael Nielsen on Collaboration, Quantum Computing, and Civilization's Fragility
Benjamin Moser on the Dutch Masters, Brazil, and Cultural Icons
Coleman Hughes on Colorblindness, Jazz, and Identity
Peter Thiel on Political Theology
Jonathan Haidt on Adjusting to Smartphones and Social Media
Fareed Zakaria on the Age of Revolutions, the Power of Ideas, and the Rewards of Intellectual Curiosity
Marilynne Robinson on Biblical Interpretation, Calvinist Thought, and Religion in America
Marc Andreessen on AI and Dynamism
Marc Rowan on Financial Market Evolution and University Governance
Masaaki Suzuki on Interpreting Bach
Ami Vitale on Photojournalism and Wildlife Conservation
Rebecca F. Kuang on National Literatures, Book Publishing, and History in Fiction
Patrick McKenzie on Navigating Complex Systems
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Positive Thinking Mind
In the Great Khan’s Tent
Visualize Meditations
The Mel Robbins Podcast
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast