Starling Thomas on Wrongful Incarceration & Born Captive With Naturi Naughton-Lewis

Wrongfully incarcerated and later victorious on appeal, Starling Thomas reveals how she reclaimed her life and created Born Captive with Power star Naturi Naughton-Lewis.What happens when the justice system takes your freedom but you refuse to let it take your voice?In this powerful episode of PlanetRoq, Raquel Herring sits down with writer, director and brand strategist Starling Thomas, who recounts refusing a plea agreement, facing an expanded federal indictment, being incarcerated and ultimately prevailing on appeal. Starling explains how she used that experience to become a filmmaker and advocate for women whose stories are too often ignored, exploited or misunderstood. The conversation also goes behind the scenes of Born Captive, Starling’s forthcoming short film inspired by her mother’s experience of giving birth while incarcerated. The film stars acclaimed Power actress Naturi Naughton-Lewis, who also serves as co-director and executive producer. Naturi is the co-founder of Take Two Entertainment, the production company she built with producer Xavier “Two” Lewis to support meaningful, underrepresented stories. Starling describes watching Naturi bring the lead character, Naomi, to life and becoming so absorbed in her performance that she momentarily forgot to call “cut.” She also explains how Born Captive connects the treatment of incarcerated pregnant women to a longer historical pattern of Black women giving birth under bondage. Raquel and Starling discuss:Why innocent people may accept plea agreements.How Starling fought her federal conviction on appeal.What women experience inside jails and prisons.The lasting trauma of incarceration and family separation.Pregnancy, shackling and childbirth behind bars.Prison labor and the economics of incarceration.Storytelling as a tool for healing, advocacy and legislative change.Born Captive, starring Naturi Naughton-Lewis.Starling’s documentary project, Black Butterflies.Why your hardest chapter does not have to become the title of your life.This is more than a conversation about wrongful incarceration. It is an urgent examination of truth of the American legal system, plea deals, dignity, power and what it takes to reclaim your story after a system has tried to write it for you.Guest: Starling ThomasWriter • Director • Brand Strategist • Founder, Soulture MediaBorn Captive: Written and directed by Starling Thomas; starring, co-directed and executive-produced by Naturi Naughton-Lewis. Hosted by: Raquel Herring