He Got Released After 2 Life Sentences

What happened in this episode?

In this short episode of Armchair Expert, Dax Shepard speaks with Chris Young about his incarceration, health problems, and the events surrounding his release after receiving presidential clemency. Young describes being held in “the hole” (solitary confinement) during COVID-era lockdowns, including being placed in a single cell he says was flooded and cut off from basic comforts such as commissary. He explains how he maintained a strict daily routine of exercise and reading to cope with isolation, and says he began writing a memoir to ensure the public record reflected his “humanity”.

Young also recounts the moment he says he learned he was being released: a prison lieutenant asked if he wanted to “go home”, after which Young says he was taken to sign paperwork bearing the US presidential seal, ordering his immediate release on 20 January 2021. Elsewhere, the conversation turns to Young’s sickle cell disease and chronic pain; he and Shepard discuss perceptions of pain medication-seeking and the limitations and cost of gene-editing treatments. Young describes the emotional impact of leaving prison, including grief for family and friends who died while he was incarcerated and guilt about others still serving long sentences. He contrasts his drug-dealing offence with what he argues are disproportionate sentencing outcomes, while acknowledging the harm caused by trafficking crack and cocaine.

What are the key points?

• Young describes COVID-era solitary confinement conditions at USP Beaumont, including a cell he says had standing water and no commissary access.
• He says he started writing a memoir in solitary to put his own account on the record.
• Young recalls learning of his release when he was shown paperwork with the US presidential seal ordering immediate release on 20 January 2021.
• He discusses living with sickle cell disease, including severe chronic pain and deteriorating bones requiring joint replacements.
• Young and Shepard discuss gene-editing treatments (including CRISPR), with Young noting barriers related to eligibility and cost.
• Young describes intense, mixed emotions after release, including grief for deaths during his incarceration and concern for prisoners left behind.

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Published

22 August 2026

Duration

12m

Original episode

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