Hold or Fold

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.

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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 him

He 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.

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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 change

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On this episode, Steve sits down for an open and honest chat with Martin. Martin tells us how his childhood led him to gambling and what started as fruit machines by the sea soon became spending a full day, on one machine, in a bookmaker

Martin also shares how his prison experience changed him, made him better understand himself and taught him to make the best of every situation through embracing the present

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This episode explores the links between gambling harm in Black communities and the Criminal Justice System. Ben is joined by Ryan Taylor-Hines & Kiki Marriott from BetKnowMore to unpack how culture, targeted industry practices and social inequality shape gambling risk - And what community-led responses like “Breaking the Cycle” actually do on the ground to help address the problem and raise awareness

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