In this powerful episode, Inclusion Catalyst sits down with Professor Corinna Lain, legal scholar and author of the forthcoming book Secrets of the Killing State, to examine the realities behind lethal injection in the United States. Lain’s work exposes a system shrouded in secrecy, built on medical misconception, and sustained by public misunderstanding.

Corinna Lain’s research confronts the core question: Why are states so bad at lethal injection?What emerges is a disturbing truth: the method widely perceived as humane is structurally designed to hide pain, avoid accountability, and preserve the political palatability of the death penalty.

Key Themes & Insights

Lethal Injection as Hidden Torture

• The standard three-drug protocol uses a paralytic that freezes the face and body, masking the agony inflicted by potassium chloride.

• Autopsies routinely show multiple puncture wounds, evidence of repeated failed IV attempts by unqualified staff.

• Some executions have lasted hours, including the three-hour execution of Joe Nathan James.

State Secrecy and Systemic Malpractice

• Many executions are carried out by non-medical prison staff, not trained clinicians

• States source drugs from unqualified vendors, including individuals running non-pharmaceutical businesses.

• Protocols are frequently violated:

• Curtains raised too early.

• Media witnesses banned.

• IV insertions hidden from public view.

• Prisoners’ fingers are often taped down to prevent signaling pain.

The Making of the Book

• Lain felt spiritually called to document these abuses and persisted through a year of publisher rejections.

• A fortuitous meeting led to a contract with NYU Press, which will release the book Easter 2025.

• The manuscript is extensively documented, with 1,000+ endnotes drawn from depositions, investigative journalism, and insider accounts.

The 80-Day National Book Tour

• Lain traveled 12,000 miles across 23 states, taking unpaid leave to bring public attention to the issue.

• Reception has been overwhelmingly positive — and notably, no state official has challenged her findings.

Why Lethal Injection Persists

• Lain argues its primary function is aesthetic: to make state killing appear peaceful, preserving public support.

• The book reframes the death penalty debate from “Does the prisoner deserve to die?” to “Does the state deserve the power to kill?”

• Many people on death row undergo profound personal transformation; the state may be, in Lain’s words, “killing its Pauls.”

This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.

Charles Gibson is the Chief Engagement and Belonging Officer at Randolph College. He visits the Inclusion Catalyst to talk about fostering a culture of belongingness and home for Randolph Students. Key Takeaways

• Engagement and belonging work aims to make everyone feel at home on campus, focusing on authentic self-expression and learning from differences
• Private colleges have more latitude in DEI efforts compared to public institutions facing political pressures
• Religious/spiritual life on campus requires careful policy development to balance inclusivity with religious freedom
• Assessment, active listening, and adaptability are crucial for effective DEI and interfaith initiatives.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.

Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/

Nadia Mian is the Senior Program Director at the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement at Rutgers University. She visits the Inclusion Catalyst to discuss a very innovative faith-based housing initiative. Key Takeaways

• Dr. Mian is leading research on faith-based affordable housing, including a database of congregational housing projects across the U.S.
• California's SB4 legislation allows houses of worship to bypass local zoning laws for affordable housing development, setting a potential model for other states.
• Faith-based organizations are repurposing underutilized assets like parking lots for affordable housing and community services.
• Internal congregational discussions and community engagement are crucial first steps before pursuing development projects.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.

Inclusion Catalyst invites you to become our next guest host. Learn more here: http://inclusioncatalyst.com/join-us-as-a-guest-host/