Listen to Diane’s interview with “Silk,” released after 25 years.
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Video Transcript:
Diane: How are you doing? You look great.
Todd: Thank you. I feel good. How’s everything going with you?
Diane: Good! We’ve got lots of exciting stuff happening. How was your holiday?
Todd: It was great. I spent it with my daughters, two of them live back east and flew out here, while the other two from the Bay Area joined us. We all stayed together in a spacious five-bedroom house in Elk Grove for three or four days. It was especially meaningful because it was the first time I had seen my youngest daughter since she was five, and now she’s 31.
Diane: That’s huge! And I bet being out of the county was really nice. You had some good quality time together, right?
Todd: I had a great time. I had four days off, so I made the most of it. Tonight, I’m going to the Kings game, should be fun. The guy who runs one of the AA meetings I go to invited me. I’m just enjoying life.
Diane: I can tell! You have such a big smile on your face. The last time I saw you, you were still in San Quentin, getting ready for your release. When was that? How long have you been out now?
Todd: I’ve been out a little over a year. I was released on September 5th, 2023, so it’s been just over a year now. It went by super quick. I’ve been on my job almost a year now—next month will mark a full year.
Diane: Tell me about your job. What are you doing for work?
Todd: I’m working at Kaiser Hospital in the environmental services department. It’s a great job—full benefits, medical, dental, everything I could ask for. The pay is excellent, it’s union, with 401k and IRA. One of my biggest fears was not knowing what kind of job I’d find or if it would be enough to sustain a decent lifestyle. But everything just fell into place.
Diane: That’s amazing! I have a friend who works for Kaiser and loves it. The benefits are great, and they even pay for him to go back to school.
Todd: I just took a medical terminology course through Kaiser and completed it. They offer a lot of opportunities.
Diane: That’s awesome! Which campus are you at?
Todd: I’m at the Kaiser North campus on Morse Avenue. They’ve got both Kaiser North and Kaiser South here in Sacramento. It’s been a year now, and I really like it here. It’s diverse, and I was kind of tired of the Bay Area. It just wasn’t for me anymore, and Sacramento is a bit more spread out and cheaper.
Diane: That’s nice! You can go out and enjoy a meal without breaking the bank. You were inside for 25 years. Where did you live before that?
Todd: Before that, I lived in Vallejo.
Diane: Had you ever been to Sacramento before?
Todd: I’ve been here a few times, but never really spent any time here. The last time I came was decades ago, and it was still developing. There were barely any freeways back then.
Diane: They’ve got all the big ones going through there now.
Todd: Exactly. But I like it here. It’s a great mix of people, and I really enjoy that.
Diane: What’s your living situation like now?
Todd: I’ve got a two-bedroom apartment in a nice area, in Rancho Cordova. It’s on the outskirts of Sacramento.
Diane: I grew up in Sacramento. Rancho Cordova used to be way out there, but it’s more populated now.
Todd: It definitely is. But I’m happy with it. I’m living life.
Diane: You’ve got an apartment all to yourself?
Todd: Yes, no roommates.
Diane: Was it hard to get a job at Kaiser? How did that work out for you?
Todd: Well, not really, but from what I understand, a lot of people have applied, and they’re like, “How did you get in so quickly? It took me five years,” or, “I know someone who’s been applying for years.” For one thing, I got my certification from the State of California in hospital facility maintenance while I was up at Jamestown. I went through an apprenticeship program and got certified, so I’d like to believe that played a part. And, of course, the man upstairs had a lot to do with it. I applied with a decent resume, attached my apprenticeship certificate and a couple of other certificates I had, and they called me back. Most of the process wasn’t in person—it was all online. They contacted me for an online interview, and the way it works is they give you a set of questions, but you have no idea what they’ll ask. You have to be quick on your feet because there’s only so much time to answer each question. I went through the interview, did well, and they called me back, saying, “We like you, and we want you to come for a meet and greet.” That’s when I finally got to visit the hospital and talk to the managers. There were about five of us, and one of the recruiters told me, “When they invite you for a meet and greet, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’re going to get hired, unless they really don’t like you.” During the meet and greet, they didn’t say much. They gave us a quick tour and let us ask questions. Not long after, they called me and said, “We want you to start the onboarding process.”
Diane: How do you think having a felon affected you?
Todd: Had I been a fresh felon? Because of the application, I didn’t have to lie or anything. They only go back five years in time. So they said, have you been convicted of a felony within the last five years? No, they do an extensive background check. But nothing came up because it had been 25 years since my conviction. So that helps a lot that probably for people that have newer convictions is probably a lot harder.
Diane: I hear it’s difficult because you’ve got to disclose where you’ve lived. So sometimes that can hook you up as far as where you’ve been, but it sounds like without them looking at your felon background, maybe that wasn’t it.
Todd: They conduct a pretty extensive background check. I thought I might run into trouble because they wanted information about my last job. I was the lead guy, but I worked for the State of California, Cal PIA, and the agency doing the background check couldn’t verify it since there were no tax records or W-2s. They said, “We can’t verify it,” so I called PIA in Folsom. Luckily, I connected with one of the head supervisors who knew me and knew I had been running the crew there. I explained the situation and told him I needed someone to verify my employment with PIA. He said, “No problem. Give them my direct number, and I’ll verify it.” After that, everything was fine. There are a lot of roadblocks you have to get past, but one thing I didn’t do was panic. I kept my head straight and asked, “How do I solve this problem?” A lot of that mindset came from what I learned in there about problem-solving and handling challenges. Things worked out, but one realization I had—and I don’t think a lot of guys fully grasp this—is that when you’re in those groups, it’s the perfect opportunity to practice speaking and getting comfortable talking in front of people because you’ll need to do it a lot. That wasn’t my first interview; I went to plenty. But that was the one I wanted. I got offered a few jobs, but this was the one I was determined to land.
Diane: You have to kiss a lot of frogs, as I like to say.
Todd: Right, it was good. Since then, I’ve been working out. I needed a car, and while I was incarcerated, I saved up some money and bought a little used car. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long—the transmission started acting up just a month after I got it. I started to panic because I needed a reliable car for work. When I first started with Kaiser, I was on call and had to work all kinds of shifts. There was no way I’d make it to work at 11:30 at night for a night shift without a car. So, I got on the internet, started looking around, and applied to a few places. The problem was, I didn’t have any credit, not even a credit score. Then Nissan Acura called me and asked if I was still looking for a car. I said yes, and they really came through. They charged me a high-interest rate, but it was a blessing. I managed to get a 2020 Nissan Altima with low mileage, and I didn’t have to put much money down. They even took my old car as a trade-in. Here’s the crazy part: my old car broke down on the way to the dealership. They actually sent a tow truck, picked it up, and still gave me the same trade-in value. Now, I’m working on getting the car refinanced, but overall, it’s been such a relief.
Diane: What are the chances? They’re willing to make it work for you.
Todd: I think a lot of it has to do with my employer because they carry a lot of weight.
Diane: The interest rate helps.
Todd: So now I went from zero, I didn’t even have a credit score and now I got credit cards and stuff in my credit card. My score is like a 7.45 in a year’s time. So I’m being super responsible now and it feels good because when I get bills, I just pay them. It feels good to have it. To be able to pay and just take care of stuff and get it out of the way.
Diane: Exactly. And you got lots of daughters I’m sure that would like to pull on you for that too. So what’s been one of your biggest struggles in the last 15 months?
Todd: Probably I should not have tried to get in a relationship, at least for the first year, because I got in one and it did not work out, because I think there was too many expectations of me, like in that time, and I was just super focused on myself, I need to get myself together. I need to get things together. I need to rebuild. And I should have just let a year go by, before I even tried that.
Diane: But that discipline after your 25 years in!
Todd: It’s difficult, of course you want somebody. That was probably a big hurdle for me, just time management, managing my time properly because I work on the swing shift. So, it’s 3 to 11:30. So then I got to come home, sleep and I don’t have much time. So I had to readjust it to get the things done that I need to do within the time constraints, because it’s not just regular hours and then my schedule is difficult sometimes.
Diane: It’s not your own really. How’s it going with your kids?
Todd: Wonderful. We just had the greatest time this past week, and I couldn’t ask for more. They’re super proud of me, and that part feels amazing because now everything’s good, and they see it. I was talking to them, and they saw the effort I put in and all the strides I’ve made. It feels good to have them in my corner. They’ve always been there, but I didn’t want to let them down anymore. I let them down big time for those 25 years with the one bad decision I made. Now’s my chance to make up for all of that and show both myself and them that I’m serious about coming out, living life, and never repeating those mistakes.
Diane: Time helps too, right? Showing all the good that you’re doing. What are your future plans?
Todd: Yes, it does. I want to be a homeowner, and I see that as a real possibility. I’m saving like crazy and set a goal for myself this year, and I’m just about to hit it. So, becoming a homeowner is definitely on my list. I’m also involved in a couple of organizations. One is the OK Program in Oakland, which is put on by the Oakland Police Department. It’s a mentorship program where I went through a training session and got certified. They meet every Saturday with young kids who are either system-impacted or disadvantaged, and we help mentor them and keep them on the right path. I’m also involved with the Returning Citizens Association—I had a Zoom meeting with them the other night, and I’ll be working with them in some capacity. Plus, I voted for the first time in my life.
Diane: Did you do it in person?
Todd: I did it through the mail because I didn’t want to stand in any long lines. But it felt good just to be able to fill out a ballot and drop it in the ballot box. It felt good. It kind of symbolizes “you’re a citizen again.”
Diane: You’re real. You’re somebody.
Todd: On my job, I don’t talk about my prison experience because I don’t know how a lot of people feel and you don’t want to be judged. I’m just a regular person working just like everybody else, and I’ve made some friends there, so it is pretty good.
Diane:. Everything sounds logical and clean with you. The car, the job, your apartment, your frame of thinking, your kids.
Todd: I came out with laser focus, but don’t get me wrong, when I first got out, I thought I was heading to the transitional house. However, because they didn’t have any available beds, they sent me to an inpatient recovery center where I couldn’t leave, and I couldn’t have my phone. I spent 30 days there with people who were just getting off the streets and drugs, while I had been clean for 15 years. It was difficult for me, and honestly, I was angry.
Diane: Did you have triggers while you were there?
Todd: That part wasn’t easy. I was angry because I wanted to get my life started, but I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything. I couldn’t look for a job, get my license, or take care of any of that. I was just stuck there, going to meetings three or four times a day.
Diane: Which you had done for the last 25 years!
Todd: Exactly. So, I was angry. My first thought when I first got there was my daughters. When I got there and they told me I couldn’t have my phone and couldn’t leave, I was ready to go. I was like, “I’m not staying here.” Then, common sense kicked in and said, “What are you doing? You’re free. You’re outside of that gate. You’re getting to do whatever it takes to make it. If this is what they’ve got planned for you right now, then I’m going to suck it up and handle it.” And I did. I stayed there for 30 days, but it was actually probably a blessing for me because I really wanted to go get her. But it helped me slow down for a minute and realize I needed to keep things in perspective. So, it was actually a blessing. After 30 days, I left there and went to the transitional house, and that was good. It was decent. My plan was to stay in the transitional period for a year. However, things don’t always work out like you plan. That’s what they told us, that we could stay, but then it changed. When it got close to my six months, they said, “Okay, so you got a place to go?” I was like, “Wait a minute, I thought you guys told me that as lifers, we were eligible to stay longer.” I was in there saving a lot of money because I had to start fresh. I had to buy furniture and everything. They said, “Well, that’s normally for people who have clinical issues.” So, I said, “I am going to be crazy. I am going to have some emotional issues.” I told myself, “You know what? Okay, I’m going to start looking for my place,” and that kind of fell into place. Even though I still didn’t have credit, I went to an apartment complex, and the owner just happened to be there the same day. We started talking, and he asked, “Where do you work?” I told him, and I said, “Look, I don’t really have credit. I just don’t have credit. I’ve never had any evictions or anything like that.” He said, “Well, send me a couple of your pay stubs.” I did that, and he said, “Alright, you’re good, you’re approved.”
Diane: Nice, that’s a real win right there. It gets you back on your feet.
Todd: So, I was a little angry with the transitional house because sometimes these people misrepresent themselves and don’t tell you the whole story. But then I said, you know what, I’m not going to be angry. It was probably divine intervention, so I could go. I was a little nervous about leaving the transitional house and going out on my own. It was like a safety net, and I guess that’s what I needed. So I don’t regret anything that’s happened. Everything that’s happened was supposed to happen.
Diane: That’s the process, it sounds like that’s good. So is that the same apartment you’ve been in this whole time?
Todd: Yes. Since I left the transition.
Diane: Well, I gotta get up to Sacramento to come see you.
Todd: You do for sure. For sure you do.
Diane: Are you ever down here?
Todd: I am. I come down probably once a month to the Bay Area because I go see my daughters
Todd: Where are you at?
Diane: We’re in Marin County. Our office is right outside the gates of San Quentin. Have you been to Jody’s, to Mount Tam College?
Todd: No, I went to the alumni picnic they had, it was in San Leandro.
Diane: Cory just walked in the office. Come over, Corey, and say hi. Do you know Corey?
Todd: Of course I know Corey.
Diane: I got Silk on the phone here.
Todd: What’s up, Corey?
Corey: What’s up, man? Hi, how are you doing?
Todd: I’m alright, what’s up, man?
Corey: Good. How are you doing? We’ve been texting each other for Thanksgiving.
Todd: Full. Trying to pump this food off, from Thanksgiving still.
Todd: I’m doing good, I had a nice Thanksgiving.
Corey: You have a beautiful family.
Todd: Thank you.
Corey: How long you been out? A year coming up in a year?
Todd: A little over a year. It was a year in September.
Diane: Good memory
Corey: I know. Somewhere around, right?
Todd: Yes. Because I saw him right before I left.
Corey: You did, right? Hopefully I see you at the holiday party.
Todd:I think I am going to work that weekend too.
Corey: Some people do stuff like that. Well, hey, it costs out here. That’s why I tell a lot of people beforehand that if you can, before you start working, decompress, get off there. Once you get on that wheel.
Todd: You can’t just jump off of there.
Corey: It dictates your schedule. Good to see you.
Todd: All right. You too, Corey.
Corey: All right. I’m going to let y’all go. Okay. Keep me plugged in with things that’s going on.
Todd: I’m sure I’ll get to another event.
Corey: Okay. For sure. Alright, man. Take care.
Todd: All right. Have a good one.
Corey: How have you been?
Diane: I’ve been good. I had a good Thanksgiving too. I’m the youngest of seven. So two of my siblings were with me and their families. And there were 30 people at my house on Thanksgiving day.
Diane: Is there anything else you want to share or you want people to know?
Todd: I think I just want to tell people who are getting ready or are about to be released to be prepared. Make sure you have a game plan. The parole board says, “Get your parole plans,” but you have to be focused. You can’t just come out and hope things work out because I’ve seen some guys come out and not do so well. I had my resume together when I got out, and I knew where to go for things like social security and the DMV. I asked a lot of questions because there were a lot of things I didn’t know, but there were people who were willing to help. They are seriously willing to help you build your network, and that’s something I never believed in before because I was always like, “I can do this on my own. I don’t need anybody.” But that’s so far from the truth. You have to have people in your corner. You have to have people you can talk to. There were times when I was really pissed off, and you don’t always want to go to your family, but you need those other sounding boards. I had a few friends I could vent to when I was going through something or just needed someone to listen. That’s the biggest thing. I used to always say, “It’s easy to get out, but can you stay out?” The key is to do enough to stay out.
Diane: Make sure to use the tools at your disposal and recognize who you can turn to for help. As we get older, especially after facing tough situations, we often feel the need to handle everything ourselves. We become more self-reliant. However, relying on others in the past may not always have worked out. That’s why it’s important to remember: sometimes you need to lean on others and know when to ask for help.
Todd: Right. But you also have to lean on the right people, because there are people I know I just don’t associate with. I’ll speak to them, but I don’t hang around or mess with them because they’re living a lifestyle I’ve chosen to leave behind. It’s not for me anymore. So, I need to have enough self-discipline to keep myself away from that, as it no longer serves me. I want things in my life that will be beneficial, not negative.
Diane: You are who you hang around with.
Todd: I was even introduced to a guy who invests heavily in stocks, and he’s been teaching me about the stock market. I’ve made some small investments in cryptocurrency and other stocks, and I’ve actually made a little bit of money.I’m just going to say that I have a strong belief in God and I don’t push my beliefs, but everything that I’ve been blessed with, he’s just made it possible. And I really believe it’s because I’m living right today, and I’m doing the right things. so I’m receiving my blessing.
Diane: You’re also approaching things with a positive mindset. You’re in this tough situation, but instead of fighting it, getting angry, or falling into a negative path, you chose to trust the process. You believed in yourself, seeing it as a test you were determined to overcome.
Todd: Life consists of a series of tests. If you pass one, you move on to the next, but if you don’t pass, the test becomes harder. I’ve actually gone back to that place just to attend a meeting, to show guys that, hey, this works. You have to start believing in the process. It feels good because, like I said, I was fighting it at first, but then I just said, “Okay, I’m here. Let me make the best of it.”
Diane: Well, amen. You’re doing a great job. So proud of you.
Todd: I’m happy, blessed. Of course there’s areas of my life that I’d like to improve.
Diane: It’s only been 15 months.
Todd: Eventually I’d like to be married, have a wife. I’m not forcing that anymore because it just doesn’t pay off.
Diane: Your time will come. You’re getting all the other ducks in line.
Todd: I got two cars. So go figure, like, things have just happened. I found a good deal in a nice little BMW. So I got two cars and I’m happy. I’m proud of me. I’m proud of how I’m living life. I’m proud of the strides I’ve made. I’m super proud of myself. Nobody can take that away. The only person who could take that away is me.
Diane: That’s a great perspective, not everyone sees it that way. For me, it’s often been, “Why did this happen to me?” But having that positive attitude makes all the difference. I’m really glad we finally had the chance to sit down and talk.
Todd: When I first got out, I was just so chaotic, just trying to get everything in place, and I hadn’t forgotten about you. I just wanted to make sure that I got to a point where I was a little more settled down.
Diane: I can tell, I can feel it, it’s great.
Todd: But guys should know that, life is possible. I had all these fears before I left prison. I had all these fears, every step of the way, I just stayed positive, and all my fears got relieved, and things were just falling into place. And so, life is possible, and a good life is possible. You don’t have to keep using the excuse. Well, I got felonies. I’ve been to prison. There’s plenty of jobs out there. Plenty of jobs may not be the one you want. I was just blessed because I was ready to take any kind of job. I was ready to go pick up trash on the side of the highway, whatever it took to just get started. And that’s not what God wanted for me. He put me right in a career job, it doesn’t happen for everybody and sometimes you’ve got to struggle, but I was willing.
Diane: Taking the right steps and showing up consistently truly matters. How would you encourage someone considering hiring an individual who has been incarcerated for 25 years to see the potential and value in giving them a chance?
Todd: I would tell them that if you’ve done that much time, we’re some of the best workers you could ever have. We carry a lot of integrity and honesty. For example, on my job, I’ve found multiple things, and I just automatically turn them in, whether it’s purses, phones, or whatever it is. My level of integrity is extremely high. People should understand that if you’ve spent that much time incarcerated, you’re not the same person you were when you went in. Those are the people you want working for you. I feel like I’ll be incredibly loyal because I’ve been given a second chance, how could I not be loyal? It would be foolish not to be. We’re some of the best, and honestly, I can outwork 99 percent of my coworkers because I’m grateful. I’m grateful for the money I’m making, for simply being out, for having a job, and for the opportunity to build a life again. Some people take all of those things for granted, which is why they don’t have the same appreciation and drive as I do to work hard and do a good job.
Diane: That’s absolutely true. In fact, there are only certain transitional houses that will accept someone who’s been incarcerated for life or served a long sentence, like 25 years, because they understand exactly what you’re saying. These individuals are reliable, they have their act together, and they’ve spent significant time reflecting and preparing for their future. They’ve worked through their challenges, and with the right mentors, they’re ready to thrive.
Todd: I’m not playing games anymore. This is real life, and I’m looking towards my future, which I’m anxious about, because I have to get things together, so it’s serious, but I’m loving every step of the journey.
Diane: That’s wonderful to hear! I can truly feel your positive energy, and it’s so inspiring. I wish I could give you a big hug and thank you for being so amazing, for taking the time to sit down and share today, and for radiating such happiness. It’s truly uplifting.
Todd: Thank you. I really appreciate it. I truly do. I appreciate everything you all do because you help get the message out, and people need to hear it. They need to know that we are redeemable. I’m not the sum of my mistakes; I’m a human being, a father, a brother, a son. People need to understand that we can change. I’m not saying that everyone will, because some will make mistakes and hurt the rest of us in the process, but that’s just life. There are people who have never been incarcerated who still mess up. There’s no difference. So, don’t judge someone just because one person made a mistake and you say, “Oh, I knew they couldn’t change.” That’s not true for everyone. There are so many of us — probably 99 percent — who have served life sentences and are going to come out and do good things, because we have a different kind of motivation.
Diane: This is a total mic drop moment. Listening to you talk about being human, embracing change, and the power of second chances truly moves me to tears. It’s a powerful reminder that we need to share these stories, to ensure more people see and hear you. What you’re doing is beautiful, truly beautiful.
Todd: Thank you, you get up here to Sacramento so we can go to lunch or something,
Diane: I would love that. We are in the beginning stages of rolling out a program in Mule Creek State Prison. We’ll be making our way up there, it’s happening.
Todd: Eventually I’d like to be involved in some kind of way. If it’s nothing but just a speaker or whatever.
Diane: That’s my favorite thing to do, speak on behalf of people incarcerated. I’ll get on you and I on stage.
Todd: I’ve got a message.
Diane: I can hear it. I can feel it.
Todd: All right, Diane.
Diane: Thank you for your time and good luck with everything. Hopefully, I’ll see you sooner than later.
Todd: I will
Diane: It was so nice seeing you.
Todd: You too. I’ll talk to you later.
Diane: I hope to see you soon and give you a real hug.
Todd: Alright, Diane. Bye bye.
