Our history
Founded in 2011, Restorative Justice on The Rise emerged from the deeply personal journey of our founder, Molly Rowan Leach, who bore witness to her mother’s 15-year incarceration, including time spent in solitary confinement. (See Story Here)
Rather than allowing this experience to deepen cycles of grief and separation, Molly made a pivotal choice: to transform tragedy into a lifelong commitment to healing, justice, and connection.
What began as a response to personal pain evolved into a public platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of grassroots leaders, sharing powerful stories of transformation and challenge, and reaching underserved communities around the world.
Today, Restorative Justice on The Rise has grown into a global virtual network, uniting practitioners, educators, students, academics, and everyday citizens in the shared work of advancing restorative justice and disrupting systems of harm.
OUR MODEL
At the dawn of podcasting, and long before Zoom became a household name, Restorative Justice on The Rise emerged in 2011 as the world’s first restorative justice podcast, offering live, public dialogue formats open to global audiences.
Our mission has been rooted in creating honest, courageous, and often challenging conversations that deepen understanding, shift worldviews, and empower action.
What makes us unique is our commitment to open access, participatory dialogue. Since 2011, we've gone beyond the traditional podcast model, inviting live global audiences to directly engage with featured guests in real time. These are not one-way interviews, but interactive, face-to-face conversations that allow for meaningful connection, deep inquiry, and shared learning across borders and backgrounds.
