Voices Unlocked
🎙️Voices Unlocked Podcast
Breaking Silence. Breaking Stigma
Supporting youth with incarcerated parents
You are more than your story✨
Episodes
26 episodes
Voices Unlocked Ep. 26 | I Kept My Mum's Prison Sentence Secret for 40 Years
Kerry was 11 when her mum went to prison in the 1980s. There was no support and nobody to talk to, so she kept it to herself for most of her life. Two years ago she read a news article about children of prisoners, found Time Matters and kept em...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 25 | A Probation Chief Admits What the System Got Wrong
Rosie joined the probation service in 1986 and retired in 2021 as one of Merseyside's assistant chief officers of probation. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Lorna and Liv sit down with her to talk about what the system got wrong about child...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 24 | The Auntie Who Raised Me When Mum Went to Prison
Hayley was 16 when her older sister Melanie had Liv. From then on, Hayley was the one getting Liv washed and dressed before work, and the one who picked her up from school the day Melanie went to prison. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liv'...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 23 | Growing Up With a Mum in Prison
She was raised in the shadow of her mum's incarceration - and today, she's a mother to two little girls of her own. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Caitlin (sibling #3 in a family whose story you've been following) opens up about a childhoo...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 22 | From Prison Visits to Purpose
In this episode of Voices Unlocked, we sit down with Polly. She opens up about growing up with a mother affected by addiction and imprisonment, being raised largely by her siblings and grandmother, and how a single, painful prison visit reshape...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 21 | Growing Up With a Parent's Addiction
In this deeply personal and educational episode of Voices Unlocked, our host opens up about one of the hardest chapters of her life - growing up with a mother who has struggled with addiction, mental illness, and repeated periods in prison. Alo...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 20 | Surviving a Florida Prison at 17
From a Florida prison documentary to finding peace in Greece — Layla's story will move you.In this episode of Voices Unlocked, we welcome Layla, for the realest, most emotional conversation yet. Layla opens up about growing up with an a...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 19 | Debunking Social Work Myths
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comThe hosts of Voices Unlocked open with a disclaimer that they are not therapists, then welcome special guest Carla, a social worker with lived experience of having a dad in prison and a former place...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 18 | Bubbles & Brick Walls, Time Matters, and Lorna in the Hot Seat
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn this episode of Voices Unlocked, the hosts share a disclaimer about not being therapists and encourage listener self-care, then swap roles to put co-host Dr. Lorna Brooks “in the hot seat.” Lorna...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 17 | Nanny Carol Returns
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comWe welcome back Liv’s Nanny Carol, joking about messages praising Carol’s looks and discussing skincare and sun protection. Carol reflects on the prison visit process, including waiting with other f...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 16 | The Media’s Impact on Children of Incarcerated Parents
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn this episode of Voices Unlocked, we discuss how media and social media coverage can affect children and families when a parent is imprisoned. Liv shares her experience of seeing a video involving...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 15 | Turning Lived Experience Into Change
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn episode 15 of Voices Unlocked, the hosts welcome Abby, who shares how she found Time Matters after her mum went to prison and how she became responsible for supporting her younger sister and gran...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 14 | The Note on the Door
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comEpisode 14 of Voices Unlocked features Janine, a Time Matters board director, sharing how she met Lorna and how her childhood was shaped when her stepdad - who was like a father to her - went to pri...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 13 | Nanny Carol on Family, Prison Visits, and Unconditional Love
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn Episode 13 of Voices Unlocked, Lorna and Liv welcome special guest Nanny Carol and begin with a disclaimer that they are not therapists, sharing lived experiences that may be heavy. Carol and Liv...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 12 | What Helps (and What Doesn’t) When a Parent Is in Prison
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liz and Lorna reflect on the podcast’s growing support before discussing practical “do’s and don’ts” for supporting children with a parent in prison. Liv shares h...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 11 | Release, Probation & Rebuilding Family Life After Prison
In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna discuss what “release” is really like after prison, challenging the idea that it’s simply the end of the journey. Liv shares her experience of her mum coming home, including the surprise of prob...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 10 | Sarah Beresford on Children Impacted by Parental Imprisonment
In this episode of Voices Unlocked Pod, Lorna and Liv welcome Sarah Beresford OBE, reflecting on how their connection began and Sarah’s journey from Scottish secondary school teacher into work supporting children affected by parental imprisonme...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 9 | Dr Ben Rakes on INCCIP Global Support for Children With Incarcerated Parents
In this Voices Unlocked episode, we welcome Dr. Ben Rakes, who shares his current role teaching academic skills at University Campus Oldham and reflects on decades of work supporting young people affected by the criminal justice system. The con...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 8 | International Stories and Unexpected Connections
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comLorna and Liv return for Episode 8 of Voices Unlocked with a disclaimer that they’re not therapists and the stories are based on lived experience. They discuss international travel and speaking at c...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 7 | Navigating Life as a Parent with an Ex-Partner in Prison
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn episode seven of Voices Unlocked, hosts Lorna and Liv welcome their first guest, Lindsay, a parent whose children have been involved with Time Matters for four years since their dad was imprisone...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 6 | Aaron’s Story, Finding Support, and the International Child Peace Prize
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comLorna and Liv welcome guest Aaron, whom they have known since he was a child through Time Matters, and reflect on his early confidence in support groups and media work, including a BBC News intervie...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 5 | Film Festival Adventures & Parental Incarceration Stories
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode 5 of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna share their whirlwind trip to the USA after their short drama film That Girl, about a girl growing up with a mother in prison, was selected for th...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 4 | School, Stigma & Support When a Parent Is in Prison
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn episode four of Voices Unlocked, Lorna and Liv discuss what school can feel like for a young person with a parent in prison, including stigma, gossip, exclusion, and the difference between matern...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 3 | Prison Visits, Contact & Saying Goodbye
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn episode three of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna discuss prison visits and contact for children with a parent in prison, stressing that they are not therapists and encouraging listener self-care. ...
Voices Unlocked Ep. 2 | Finding Out a Parent Is in Prison, Grief, and the Power of Support Groups
Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.comIn episode two of Voices Unlocked, the hosts remind listeners they are not therapists and encourage self-care during emotional conversations. They reflect on how their long friendship shaped their l...