Joey Berardi has been home for three weeks after serving seven years — and he’s honest about something most people don’t expect: getting out isn’t the finish line. It’s a whole new fight.
In this episode, Joey and James talk about what life after prison actually feels like: being on high alert in public, struggling with technology and daily routines, and living with the constant fear that one mistake or one glitch could send you back. Joey opens up about addiction, what prison is like now compared to the past, and how Suboxone, synthetic drugs, and the culture inside have changed everything.
They also talk about the rare kind of support that can make recovery possible — including the woman who stood by Joey for seven years — and why work, structure, and community might be the difference between repeating the cycle and finally building a life that sticks.
This isn’t a glorified “war story.” It’s a real conversation about consequences, growth, and what it takes to stay free — mentally and physically — after you’ve done hard time.
