The Hard Knox of Metta: How to Survive Prison, Forgive Your Prosecutor, & Love Anyone | Amanda Knox

In this interview, Ajahn Nisabho speaks with Amanda Knox, who was falsely convicted of murder in 2009, about her journey to find meaning in prison and forgiveness afterwards. The conversation delves into Amanda's practice of meditation, loving-kindness (metta), and advice for those struggling to forgive. Bio Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, public speaker, author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, Waiting to Be Heard, and host of the podcast Hard Knox. Her second book, FREE: My Search for Meaning came out in 2025. Between 2007 and 2015, she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. She has since become an advocate for criminal justice reform and media ethics. She sits on the advisory council for the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, serves as an Innocence Network Ambassador and is on The Innocence Center Board of Directors. And she is the recipient of the 2024 Innocence Network Impact Award and the 2025 Catalyst of Change Award from the Washington Innocence Project. To find out more, visit https://www.amandaknox.com/. 00:00 Introduction 01:48 Amanda Knox's background and bio 03:06 What led to the Italian prison 05:22 Wishing for a meditation practice during the darkest times 05:49 The moment of conviction — an existential crisis 08:27 Accepting "this is my life" 10:14 Surviving day by day without a practice 12:44 Life after prison: who am I now? 13:32 The Vipassana retreat disaster 15:56 What brought her back to practice 18:48 Don Salo: the Catholic priest who became her lifeline 22:31 Plagued by "why" questions — and metta practice 24:50 The idea of reaching out to her prosecutor 27:28 Questioning her own motives 29:33 Showing up to give, not to get 32:16 The Four Noble Truths and turning toward suffering 35:44 Reaching out to the prosecutor 38:01 Finding common ground with the man who imprisoned her 40:59 The meeting in Perugia — arriving without attachment 41:28 Delivering her message: "I see you" 43:37 His unexpected response: "I love you" 45:25 Advice for those who can't forgive 46:52 The distinction between forgiveness and understanding 50:11 Has the forgiveness settled in the heart? 51:16 The ongoing splinter: society, not just one man 52:25 Buddhism's joyfulness in the face of darkness 53:24 The Puget Sound Zen Center and building a practice 54:30 The sangha's card after her grandfather died 56:19 Meditating as a family with young children 58:37 Closing reflections ----- Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events! - Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom) - Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person) - Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online) See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!