190. Life Lessons from Death Row with Fr. Dustin Feddon

What happens when we are defined by our worst? What does it do to the human heart when we are considered without redemption? 

Fr. Dustin Feddon has spent over a decade walking alongside men in maximum-security prisons and on death row. In this episode, he shares the stories that changed him — stories of trauma, responsibility, trust, remorse, and unexpected dignity. 

This isn’t a political conversation. It’s about shame, relationship, and what it means to see someone as more than the worst thing they’ve done. 

These are stories from death row — and what they reveal about all of us. 

Fr. Dustin Feddon is a priest of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and the founder/executive director of Joseph House. Fr. Dustin combines his dedication to those on the margins of society with his service to the Church. After spending years visiting the incarcerated in Florida’s massive prison system, he believes that the church has the resources and the community to assist those that are returning back into society from prison. 

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Background

00:05:30 - First Experiences in Prison Ministry

00:06:49 - Impact of Prison Ministry on Father Dustin

00:13:39 - Returning to Seminary with a New Focus

00:24:55 - Encountering the Harsh Realities of Solitary Confinement

00:31:21 - Establishing Joseph House

00:46:35 - The Concept of Irredeemability and Its Impact

00:58:28 - The Story of Daryl: Accompanying Men at Their Execution

01:02:45 - The Execution of Daryl: A Witness's Perspective

01:18:59 - Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Joseph House: https://www.josephhouseus.org

More Than Halfway Home Book: https://www.josephhouseus.org/more-than-half-way-home

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