A podcast for anyone who has suffered from gambling related harm. 'Hold or Fold' explores the 'hidden addiction' that is gambling with a keen eye on how this affects those with experience of the Criminal Justice System.Your hosts Ben & Steve both spent time in prison as a direct result of their gambling addiction - On Hold or Fold they share the stories of people who, like them, have been taken to the brink by gambling. You'll hear how gambling took a hold of people's lives, the dark places this led them to and how they were able to embark on the road to recovery.This is part of the 'Life After Prison' podcast network from the multi-award winning 'National Prison Radio'<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Hold or Fold
Claim This Podcastby National Prison Radio
Podcast Authority
Beta
Podcast Overview
A podcast for anyone who has suffered from gambling related harm. 'Hold or Fold' explores the 'hidden addiction' that is gambling with a keen eye on how this affects those with experience of the Criminal Justice System.Your hosts Ben & Steve both spent time in prison as a direct result of their gambling addiction - On Hold or Fold they share the stories of people who, like them, have been taken to the brink by gambling. You'll hear how gambling took a hold of people's lives, the dark places this led them to and how they were able to embark on the road to recovery.This is part of the 'Life After Prison' podcast network from the multi-award winning 'National Prison Radio'<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/1/2024
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
Podcast Authority
BetaRecommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
See how your show performs across every key metric
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for Hold or Fold
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
December 23, 2025
30. Listener Questions, Series Highlights & Previously Unheard Bits | Series Finale
<p>For the final episode of the series, Ben and Steve are laying it all out. Every question, every truth, every angle left unexplored. This is a full-length “Cards on the Table” special, created because there were simply too many listener questions to squeeze into the series… and far too many worth answering.</p><br><p>In this unfiltered, deeply personal finale, the hosts dig into the topics listeners most wanted to know about:</p><p>• How did prison really shape their recovery?</p><p>• What became of the money they stole and gambled?</p><p>• What does life look like after addiction, crime, and time behind bars?</p><br><p>But this episode isn’t just Q&A, it’s a celebration of the journey so far. Expect moments of emotion and surprise as Ben and Steve share unheard clips that never made previous episodes, spotlight powerful poetry, and reflect on the guests and stories that left the biggest mark on them this series.</p><br><p>Honest, reflective, and packed with never-before-heard content, this finale brings the heart of Hold or Fold into sharp focus: real people, real consequences, and real recovery.</p><br><p>USEFUL LINKS</p><p><br></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.reframecoaching.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reframe Coaching</a></li><li><a href="https://gamblingharm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gambling Harm UK </a></li><li><a href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamcare</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gambleaware.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamble Aware</a></li><li><a href="https://www.betknowmoreuk.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bet Know More</a></li><li><a href="https://www.breakeven.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Breakeven</a></li><li><a href="https://gamfam.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamfam</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gamlearn.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamlearn</a></li><li><a href="https://gamblersanonymous.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gambler's Anonymous</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GAMSTOP</a></li><li><a href="https://gamban.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamban</a></li><li><a href="https://www.whysup.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Whysup</a></li><li><a href="https://gordonmoody.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gordon Moody</a></li><li><a href="https://www.recovery4all.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ARA</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>TELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT<a href="https://forms.gle/Gd8dY27WnHMJppVV9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> THIS QUICK SURVEY</a> - THANKS SO MUCH</p><br><p>Call the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133</p><br><p>If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...</p><p>📧: <strong>Podcasts@prison.radio</strong></p><p>💬 DM us: <strong>@holdorfoldpod</strong> on Instagram & Twitter (X) </p><p>✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF</p><br><p>This episode is hosted by...</p><p>Ben Jones & Steve Girling</p><br><p>You can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:</p><p><a href="https://prison.radio/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://prison.radio/</a></p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
December 16, 2025
29. Religion & Recovery | Naman
<p>In this powerful must-listen episode of Hold or Fold, Steve sits down with Naman, whose extraordinary journey lays bare the complex intersections of gambling harm, culture, faith, and the Criminal Justice System.</p><br><p>Naman opens up about how his religion shaped both his addiction and his recovery, a belief system that ultimately helped save his life. He reflects on how cultural expectations kept him silent for far too long, pushing him deeper into gambling as he tried to provide his partner with the love and security he felt his own mother never received</p><br><p>His story takes unexpected turns: being mistaken for the prison doctor, completely misjudging what life in an open prison would be like, and an almost darkly comedic, but ultimately dangerous, incident born from his naivety around drugs behind bars.</p><br><p>For Ben and Steve, who both served prison sentences for gambling-related crimes themselves, Naman’s story feels strikingly familiar, yet it also challenges them, revealing new layers of harm, identity, and resilience they haven’t explored before.</p><br><p>Raw, reflective, and at times astonishing, this episode shines a fresh light on the hidden pathways that lead people from gambling addiction to prison, and the unexpected forces that help them find their way back</p><br><p>USEFUL LINKS:</p><p><br></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gamlearn.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamlearn</a></li><li><a href="https://gordonmoody.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gordon Moody</a></li><li><a href="https://www.reframecoaching.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reframe Coaching</a></li><li><a href="https://gamblingharm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gambing Harm UK</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamcare</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gambleaware.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamble Aware</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>TELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT<a href="https://forms.gle/Gd8dY27WnHMJppVV9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> THIS QUICK SURVEY</a> - THANKS SO MUCH</p><br><p>Call the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133</p><br><p>If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...</p><p>📧: <strong>Podcasts@prison.radio</strong></p><p>💬 DM us: <strong>@holdorfoldpod</strong> on Instagram & Twitter (X) </p><p>✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF</p><br><p>This episode is hosted by...</p><p>Ben Jones & Steve Girling</p><br><p>You can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:</p><p><a href="https://prison.radio/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://prison.radio/</a></p><br><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
December 9, 2025
28. Being the change at HMP Berwyn | Rob & Rebecca from ARA & Ian
<p>In this episode, Ben stepped back inside the prison walls to meet with a group of lads at HMP Berwyn. There he shared his own story of gambling and prison, took questions from the group and facilitated a powerful and meaningful conversation around addiction & recovery </p><br><p>After the session he spoke with Rob & Rebecca from the fantastic charity ARA: Recovery for all, to find out more about the work they do generally but also within HMP Berwyn. Ben also met with Ian, a former resident of Berwyn and a gambler of 47 years - Ian’s story is one of the most powerful and emotional we have ever shared on Hold or Fold and displays the power of recovery and how important it is that gambling harm support is offered within our prisons</p><br><p>USEFUL LINKS:</p><p><br></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.recovery4all.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ARA</a></li><li><a href="https://gordonmoody.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gordon Moody</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/berwyn-prison" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HMP Berwyn</a></li><li><a href="https://www.reframecoaching.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reframe Coaching</a></li><li><a href="https://gamblingharm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gambing Harm UK</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamcare</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gambleaware.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gamble Aware</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Call the National Gambling helpline, for free, on <strong>0808 8020 133</strong></p><br><p><br></p><p>TELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT <a href="https://forms.gle/Gd8dY27WnHMJppVV9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">THIS QUICK SURVEY</a> - THANKS SO MUCH</p><br><p><br></p><p>If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...</p><p>📧: <strong>Podcasts@prison.radio</strong></p><p>💬 DM us: <strong>@holdorfoldpod</strong> on Instagram & Twitter (X) </p><p>✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF</p><br><p>This episode is hosted by...</p><p>Ben Jones & Steve Girling</p><br><p>You can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:</p><p><a href="https://prison.radio/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://prison.radio/</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
31 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
How Do You Cope?
Significant Productions
Elis James and John Robins
Significant Productions
What Did You Do Yesterday? with Max Rushden & David O' Doherty
Keep It Light Media
THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
ADAM BUXTON
The Rest Is Entertainment
Goalhanger
Wolf and Owl
Ranga Bee & Platform Media
The News Agents
Global
20/20
ABC News
Deep-dive analytics for Hold or Fold
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Hold or Fold?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.