From Prison to Advocacy: Stephanie Shepard on Justice and Reform

In this episode, I speak with Stephanie Shepard, Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project. She was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a first-time, nonviolent cannabis offense and now leads the Last Prisoner Project (LPP). Her story—and her advocacy—reveals the human cost of the War on Drugs and the urgent need for restorative justice. Some key takeaways from our conversation include: Stephanie's story: From her 2010 conviction and nine-year sentence to becoming Executive Director of LPP. What LPP does: Freeing cannabis prisoners, record clearance, reentry support, and policy reform. Breaking myths: The legacy of "Just Say No," drug panic politics, and bipartisan failures from Nixon to Clinton. Narrative & policy: How storytelling shifts public perception and drives real legislative change. Where we are now: Cannabis tolerated or legal while people remain imprisoned; opioid crisis reframes priorities. Human impact: Individual cases showing how lives are disrupted—and rebuilt—through LPP's work. Mobilizing advocates: How people affected by incarceration become powerful voices for reform. LPP's current battles: Clemency, resentencing, expungement, and federal reform. Goals ahead: Expanding services, increasing national awareness, and pushing comprehensive drug reform. What everyone should know: Drug policy is political—not scientific—and justice requires empathy and action. I'm so grateful for, and inspired by this conversation. I encourage everyone to listen and share, and get involved: spreading the word and supporting justice for all Americans is an essential act not only for activists, but patriots. Stephanie was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana in 2010. As a first-time, non-violent offender, Stephanie was sentenced to ten years in the Federal Bureau Of Prisons. After serving nine years, she was placed on federal probation for an additional five years. She now serves as Last Prisoner Project's Executive Director and sits on the organization's Board of Directors. She is adamantly advocating for restorative justice for those who have suffered as she has from the criminalization of cannabis. ABOUT STEPHANIE SHEPARD Instagram: @lastprisonerproject @stephy_sheps X: @lastprisonerprj Facebook: facebook.com/lastprisonerproject Website: lastprisonerproject.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/lastprisonerproject ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at seanmurphy.live ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live X: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41