In this episode, the book club at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility connects over Zoom with veterans from Patrol Base Abbate, led by author and veteran Michael Plunkett, to explore how stories can bridge different worlds. With help from the prison's education department, the men gather in the visitation room to discuss War by Sebastian Junger, joined by the author himself for a rare and deeply engaging conversation.

What begins as a discussion about combat and survival expands into a dialogue about grief, vigilance, and healing — from the front lines to life inside prison walls. The men respond with openness and insight, finding unexpected parallels between their experiences and those of soldiers at war. While the recording carries the familiar hum of a prison Zoom call, the honesty and connection that emerge make this exchange something extraordinary.

In our next episode, the club turns to Jesmyn Ward's Where the Line Bleeds, a story about how choices define the paths we take.

Hidden Mirrors is recorded with the support of Management Training Corporation, the facility operator, and produced in collaboration with the Mississippi Humanities Council's statewide prison book clubs. Special thanks to Patrol Base Abbate and Michael Plunkett.

Credits:

Host & Writer: Alan Huffman

Co-Editor: Erisa Apantaku

Associate Producers: Amanda Zaremba & Matt Stroud (Amphibian.Media)

Audio Production: Red Caiman Studios

Music: Robert Connely Farr

Support: Mississippi Humanities Council | Funding: McMullan/O'Connor Fund