Behind the Bars's Podcast
Podcast Description
Behind the Bars takes you inside the walls of prisons worldwide, featuring raw and honest interviews with men and women who have done time or are currently incarcerated. Hear their stories, gain insight into their lives, and explore the realities of life behind bars.We give a voice to those often unheard, breaking down misconceptions and offering a platform for redemption, reflection, and change. Whether you’re curious about prison life, interested in personal stories of resilience, or looking to understand the human side of the justice system, this is the place to be.📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @BehindtheBarsYT 🐦 Follow us on Twitter: @btb55165 🎥 Follow us on TikTok: @behindthebars0Join the conversation and discover the stories that need to be told. #BehindTheBars #PrisonStories #RealTalk
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into various topics related to incarceration, justice, and personal stories, with episodes that explore specific cases like Felix Rocha's experiences on death row and the events surrounding Barry Chappell's violent act. Each episode focuses on themes of redemption, human rights, and the emotional realities faced by those behind bars.

Behind the Bars takes you inside the walls of prisons worldwide, featuring raw and honest interviews with men and women who have done time or are currently incarcerated. Hear their stories, gain insight into their lives, and explore the realities of life behind bars.
We give a voice to those often unheard, breaking down misconceptions and offering a platform for redemption, reflection, and change. Whether you’re curious about prison life, interested in personal stories of resilience, or looking to understand the human side of the justice system, this is the place to be.
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @BehindtheBarsYT
🐦 Follow us on Twitter: @btb55165
🎥 Follow us on TikTok: @behindthebars0
Join the conversation and discover the stories that need to be told. #BehindTheBars #PrisonStories #RealTalk
Ross Ulbricht, born in 1984 in Austin, Texas, is best known as the creator and operator of Silk Road, an infamous darknet marketplace. Launched in 2011, Silk Road facilitated the anonymous buying and selling of illegal goods and services, primarily drugs, using Bitcoin as its currency. Operating under the pseudonym ”Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht managed the platform until his arrest in 2013.
Creation and Operation of Silk Road
Ulbricht envisioned Silk Road as a free-market experiment, emphasizing user privacy and anonymity. The platform operated on the Tor network, which conceals users' identities by routing communications through a global network of servers. Transactions were conducted exclusively in Bitcoin, further enhancing anonymity. At its peak, Silk Road had nearly one million registered users.
Legal Actions and Conviction
In October 2013, the FBI arrested Ulbricht in a San Francisco library, seizing his laptop, which contained evidence linking him to Silk Road operations. In 2015, he was convicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, computer hacking, and drug trafficking. Ulbricht received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Pardon and Release
On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump granted Ulbricht a full and unconditional pardon, fulfilling a campaign promise to Libertarian supporters who viewed Ulbricht's sentence as excessive. This decision led to Ulbricht's release after over 11 years in prison.
Bitcoin Holdings
Throughout the operation of Silk Road, Ulbricht amassed significant Bitcoin holdings. Upon his arrest, authorities seized approximately 144,000 Bitcoins from his laptop. Over the years, the U.S. government auctioned off these assets. The current status of any remaining Bitcoin associated with Ulbricht is not publicly documented.
📺 **Subscribe to our YouTube channel**: [@BehindtheBarsYT](https://www.youtube.com/@BehindtheBarsYT)
🐦 **Follow us on Twitter**: [@btb55165](https://x.com/btb55165)
🎥 **Follow us on TikTok**: [@behindthebars0](https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebars0)
Support Us on Patreon
https://patreon.com/BehindtheBarsYT
**Have a story to share?**
If you've done time and would like to share your experience with *Behind the Bars*, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at **[email protected]** to be featured.
Join the conversation and discover the stories that need to be told. #BehindTheBars #PrisonStories #RealTalk #truecrimecommunity #truecrimestories #truecrimepodcast
Thanks to @BitcoinMagazine for this interview.

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.