Reform begins with a conversation.

At Lock and Key, our mission is to spark real change by amplifying the voices too often silenced. Co-hosted by Anthony Payton, a formerly incarcerated writer and speaker, and Marv Kinnel, a former corrections officer, our podcast brings together two sides of the same locked door — sharing stories of incarceration, redemption, and everything in between.

We’re not just talking about the system. We’re talking to the people who’ve lived it.

Our goal is to break cycles — of misinformation, of generational trauma, of institutional neglect — and rebuild understanding from the inside out. Through honest dialogue, we aim to:

• Inspire at-risk youth to see a future beyond bars

• Educate future corrections officers with firsthand truths

• Support families navigating the pain of incarceration

• Influence policymakers to think beyond punishment and toward possibility

Every episode is a step toward reform — not just of systems, but of hearts, minds, and futures.