Self-Identities
Conversations with Convicted Women
Self-Identities:
Conversations with Convicted Women
SERIES TWO
Opportunities, for incarcerated women serving life and life without parole, permitted to speak “freely” through a Podcast lens inside a maximum/medium security facility is a rarity. Furthermore, it is a collaborative, rigorous, and often exhaustive process for all concerned. It takes authenticity, commitment, tenacity, and patience. Women, who show interest, meet as a group to discuss the podcast, specifically their contribution. This includes being comfortable to choose and openly discuss their childhood, teenage years through to adulthood; now serving life. There is no pressure for any woman to participate. They have free will to accept or decline. Some women I know, others I meet for the first time. The conversations focus on “their life, not their crime.” There are no scripts, or rehearsals beforehand, although some women bring notes. However, I have found that their notes are quickly discarded, to genuinely engage. Women discuss sensitive topics and remind me that they are more than their crime. The women open themselves to vulnerability, something I am conscious of and courteously acknowledge. Listening to their conversations we are reminded of similar incarceration and sentencing terminology. However, from country to country, serving “life” can represent differing sentencing lengths and incarceration experiences for women. Therefore I close with what one woman incarcerated for murder in Dublin Ireland, commented after watching “Until We Have Faces: Women Serving Life.” Her words should resonate with many. “I thought we had it bad, but at least we get to go home. Those women in America, many don’t!”
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2025 PODCAST TEASER
Conversations with Convicted Women
Self-Identities:
SERIES ONE
Opportunities, for incarcerated women serving life and life without parole, permitted to speak “freely” through a Podcast lens inside a maximum/medium security facility is a rarity. Furthermore, it is a collaborative, rigorous, and often exhaustive process for all concerned. It takes authenticity, commitment, tenacity, and patience. Women, who show interest, meet as a group to discuss the podcast, specifically their contribution. This includes being comfortable to choose and openly discuss their childhood, teenage years through to adulthood; now serving life. There is no pressure for any woman to participate. They have free will to accept or decline. Some women I know, others I meet for the first time. The conversations focus on “their life, not their crime.” There are no scripts, or rehearsals beforehand, although some women bring notes. However, I have found that their notes are quickly discarded, to genuinely engage. Women discuss sensitive topics and remind me that they are more than their crime. The women open themselves to vulnerability, something I am conscious of and courteously acknowledge. Listening to their conversations we are reminded of similar incarceration and sentencing terminology. However, from country to country, serving “life” can represent differing sentencing lengths and incarceration experiences for women. Therefore I close with what one woman incarcerated for murder in Dublin Ireland, commented after watching “Until We Have Faces: Women Serving Life.” Her words should resonate with many. “I thought we had it bad, but at least we get to go home. Those women in America, many don’t!”
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About the Director & Co-Producer
Aaron J. Nutter works as a multidisciplinary artist, focusing in the areas of photography, film, and music with a background in podcasting. His current film project “Transient” is a full-length feature Science Fiction thriller that deals with the subjects of loss and grief. AJ has worked on a variety of musical projects including an ambient album that was inspired by the works of Alfred Hitchcock. His documentary photography focuses on rural coal communities. AJ earned his BFA in Photography from PCA&D and his Associate Degree in Video Production from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. He currently lives and works in Harrisburg Pennsylvania in the United States.
Guest Appearances
True Crime Conversations: Why Women Kill And The Lives They Live Behind Bars
with Mamamia
Women are responsible for only 10 per cent of homicides in Australia, Canada, England, and the US, and because it’s such a small sample size not much research has been done into the motives and behaviours that drive female killers. Dr. Kathryn M. Whiteley, a feminist criminologist, has been researching women who kill for over 20 years. She’s spoken to more than a hundred women behind bars, many of whom are serving life sentences with no chance of parole. Dr. Whiteley’s focus is on telling their stories and understanding their experiences and perspectives in their own words.
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with Julian Morgans
What It Was Like: Inside the Life of the Pizza Bomber
In 2003, a pizza deliveryman robbed a Pennsylvania bank with a bomb locked to his neck—a heist that ended in tragedy when the bomb exploded. The mastermind? Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, later sentenced to life in prison. In this episode, we hear from criminologist who befriended Marjorie behind bars and uncovers how and why this "evil genius" orchestrated such a bizarre crime.
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Evolving Prisons: Working with Women Who Kill
with Kaigan Carrie
Dr. Kathryn Whiteley has interviewed hundreds of women who've killed and are serving life or life without parole sentences in America, Australia and Ireland. She shares some stories that have stuck with her, how some of the women feel about their crimes and helps to humanise them by giving them a voice to share their life stories.
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Resolute: Zero Tolerance
for Domestice Abuse
Understanding Women Convicted
Of Violent Crimes
In this episode, Deborah interviews Dr. Kathryn Whiteley, a criminologist who has dedicated over 20 years to studying and interacting with women who have committed violent crimes. Dr. Whiteley discusses her unique role as an educator and researcher focusing on women in maximum and medium security prisons. She reveals insights into the backgrounds of these women, including the prevalence of abuse and trauma, and highlights the importance of giving them a platform to share their stories. Tune in as she discusses her experiences in the United States, Australia, and Ireland, and touches on the complex dynamics of domestic abuse, coercive control, and the criminal justice system.
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with Carrie Bower
Lets Get Visible
Dr. Kate is a Feminist Criminologist & Associate Professor, who specialises in women who are serving long or life sentences. Dr Kate is also a documentary and podcast producer. In this episode we talk about women who are ageing in prison. We do not discuss their violent crimes and focus on ageing for women who are serving sentences into later life.
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with Caroline Saul
Dangerous Liaisons
With extensive research conducted in three countries and within maximum-security prisons, brings a unique perspective to this conversation as we discuss the lives of women during incarceration We’d like to remind you that this episode contains discussions that may be triggering, particularly as we touch on sensitive topics such as Stalking, violence and murder. Kathryn’s touches on her documentary “Until We Have Faces” that explores the spiritual and corporeal identities of women serving life sentences in a United States maximum security prison. Women tell their personal stories as they reflect upon their humanity, their past and incarceration.
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