You don’t meet many people like Eldra Jackson III.
A man who once lived behind the walls of New Folsom Prison, Eldra doesn’t just talk about transformation—he embodies it.
What began as a sentence meant to contain him became the very soil where his healing took root.
Inside a maximum-security yard, Eldra sat in his first men’s circle. He showed up with walls, but walked out with something deeper: truth, vulnerability, and the terrifying freedom of being fully seen. That journey led him out of prison—and into purpose.
Today, Eldra is the Co-Executive Director of Inside Circle, a writer, mentor, and public speaker whose TED Talk on healing and masculinity has impacted thousands around the world. His work is a lifeline for at-risk youth, incarcerated men, and anyone ready to stop performing and start healing.
In this episode of The Brave Wrk Room to Grow Podcast, Eldra and I talk about:
Why emotional honesty is the foundation of true masculinity
How systems break men—and how circles can begin to rebuild them
What it means to lead from love instead of fear
This isn’t just a story of rehabilitation. It’s a call to all of us to stop pretending, go deeper, and lead from the heart.
To learn more or support the work, visit insidecircle.org.