A Conversation with Sister Helen Prejean

This week, we sit down with Sister Helen Prejean, one of the most influential moral leaders of our time and a guiding force in the movement to end the death penalty. For more than three decades, she has accompanied people on death row with dignity, supported families affected by violence, and challenged the nation to confront the human cost of state killing with honesty and compassion. She joins us to celebrate the release of Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition, a powerful new retelling created to reach younger readers, visual storytellers, and classrooms. This edition renews the impact of her work through art and narrative, and we talk with Sister Helen about why this moment matters, how storytelling opens hearts, and what continues to sustain her spirit after decades of courageous advocacy. Our conversation explores her childhood in Baton Rouge during the Jim Crow era, her early formation as a young nun, and the unexpected letter in 1982 that set her on the path of accompanying people on death row. Sister Helen shares profound personal stories, reflects on the global landscape of state killing, and offers wisdom on courage, conscience, and the dignity at the center of every human life. May this conversation strengthen our collective resolve to end the death penalty in every corner of the world.   SHOW NOTES Episode Transcript PDF Sister Helen’s Website: Learn more about her books, advocacy, and ongoing work. Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition: A new adaptation illustrated by Catherine Anyango Grünewald with a script by Rose Vines, created to reach new generations through visual storytelling. SISTER Documentary Rebel Nun Documentary Calvin Duncan’s Book: The Jailhouse Lawyer: The remarkable story of a wrongfully convicted man who became a leading jailhouse lawyer and was recently elected Clerk of Criminal Court in New Orleans. The Guardian Investigation on Saudi Arabia Amnesty International Report on Executions in Saudi Arabia (2025) Innocence Project