Hold or Fold

In this powerful must-listen episode of Hold or Fold, Steve sits down with Naman, whose extraordinary journey lays bare the complex intersections of gambling harm, culture, faith, and the Criminal Justice System.Naman opens up about how his religion shaped both his addiction and his recovery, a belief system that ultimately helped save his life. He reflects on how cultural expectations kept him silent for far too long, pushing him deeper into gambling as he tried to provide his partner with the love and security he felt his own mother never receivedHis story takes unexpected turns: being mistaken for the prison doctor, completely misjudging what life in an open prison would be like, and an almost darkly comedic, but ultimately dangerous, incident born from his naivety around drugs behind bars.For Ben and Steve, who both served prison sentences for gambling-related crimes themselves, Naman’s story feels strikingly familiar, yet it also challenges them, revealing new layers of harm, identity, and resilience they haven’t explored before.Raw, reflective, and at times astonishing, this episode shines a fresh light on the hidden pathways that lead people from gambling addiction to prison, and the unexpected forces that help them find their way backUSEFUL LINKS:GamlearnGordon MoodyReframe CoachingGambing Harm UKGamcareGamble AwareTELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben stepped back inside the prison walls to meet with a group of lads at HMP Berwyn. There he shared his own story of gambling and prison, took questions from the group and facilitated a powerful and meaningful conversation around addiction & recovery After the session he spoke with Rob & Rebecca from the fantastic charity ARA: Recovery for all, to find out more about the work they do generally but also within HMP Berwyn. Ben also met with Ian, a former resident of Berwyn and a gambler of 47 years - Ian’s story is one of the most powerful and emotional we have ever shared on Hold or Fold and displays the power of recovery and how important it is that gambling harm support is offered within our prisonsUSEFUL LINKS:ARAGordon MoodyHMP BerwynReframe CoachingGambing Harm UKGamcareGamble AwareCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133TELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHIf you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Howard first made an appearance on Hold or Fold when it was exclusive to National Prison Radio. At that point he was in limbo, waiting to see if his crimes would lead him to prison or not.He waited 4 years for his case to land, served his sentence, and came out determined to turn hard lessons into real change. In this episode he talks about how gambling took over his life, the unlikely friendship he formed on the prison bus and the informal research he carried out on his wing to count how many people had been harmed by gambling.USEFUL LINKS:GamcareBetknowmoreReframe CoachingGamble AwareEpic Restart FoundationShannon TrustGambling Harm UKTELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this raw and powerful episode of Hold or Fold, Nottingham rapper and poet Jah Digga opens up about his battle with gambling addiction, and the creative lifeline that saved him.Behind the viral hit “Addictions”, there’s a deeply personal story; nights spent haunted by visions of cards and chips, insomnia, and the relentless “chase” that drove him to near rock bottom.Raised in a rough neighbourhood, Jah watched his siblings jailed or worse, and vowed to carve out a different path. Through writing, rapping, and poetry, he channeled his pain into purpose, and found an alternative route to the one laid out for himHe talks to fellow Nottingham lad Ben about how gambling impacted his life, how his mental health suffered, and the coping strategies that helped him reclaim his life - From playing 'games' against the casino to building structure with gym routines and art. He also reflects on the power of community, the importance of celebrating real achievements in disadvantaged areas, and why he believes that creativity can be a force for healing and hope.USEFUL LINKS:Jah Digga LinktreeThe Track 'Addictions'The Track 'Dissertation'Reframe CoachingGambling Harm UKGamcareGamble AwareTELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mark Murray, co-founder of the mental health and addiction charity Whysup, to unpack a life that could’ve gone very differently. As a teenager, Mark was on the books at Manchester City, a promising football career ahead but everything shifted when he became a father at just 16. To cope with the pressure, Mark turned to gambling. What began as a way out soon spiralled into a 13-year addiction that would leave him drowning in debt, facing threats, and entangled with dangerous people. Mark found help at Gordon Moody, where he rebuilt his life. It’s here that the spark for Whysup was born: using lived experience as the foundation to drive changeUSEFUL LINKS:WhysupGordon MoodyGambler’s AnonymousReframe CoachingGambing Harm UKGamcareGamble AwareTELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.