Savannah Chrisley podcast: What the reality star revealed about Todd & Julie’s prison time
Out of the entire Chrisley clan, Savannah Chrisley has been the most vocal about the rough year her family has had.
The reality star spent 2023 speaking on her hit podcast about her parents' incarceration and standing up for prison reform in the American penal system.
Her parents, Julie and Todd Chrisley, were found guilty of committing tax evasion and defrauding community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans in June 2022. Julie Chrisley was additionally convicted of obstruction of justice and wire fraud. Todd and Julie Chrisley starred on the USA Network docuseries, “Chrisley Knows Best.” The couple called themselves real estate tycoons.
What is Savannah Chrisley's podcast?
Started in October 2022, Savannah Chrisley started "Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley" to break down the emotional walls she has "built through a decade of reality television." On the first episode of the podcast, she touched on accusations and scandals surrounding her family.
Now with nearly 60 episodes under her belt, the reality star has used her podcast to talk about her parents' negative experiences so far and shine a light on prison reform.
Here are some of the biggest details Savannah Chrisley has revealed on her podcast so far.
While in prison, Todd and Julie Chrisley are not able to physically speak with each other
In May 2023, Savannah Chrisley told listeners that she recently received dozens of letters written by her mother. These letters detailed how much she misses Todd Chrisley, as the two had allegedly been unable to talk with each other after reporting to prison in January 2023.
“She actually sent me 30 to 40 days’ worth of letters, it was just like her daily diary, journal … I’ll eventually put them out, read them at some point to give people updates on how they were doing and what was going through their minds," Savannah Chrisley said of her parents, Todd and Julie.
She continued, “I don’t think there’s a single letter that goes by that she does not say how much she misses my dad. They don’t get to talk, so we’re four months in, almost, and being together almost 30 years now and not going a day without speaking to now going on four months is a lot.”
In September 2023, she said that her parents were able to email with each other.
Julie and Todd Chrisley allegedly live in unsafe, inhumane conditions while in federal prison
In a July 2023 episode of her podcast, Savannah Chrisley, joined by her brother Chase, criticized the conditions at the federal prisons housing her parents. Todd Chrisley is serving his sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola while Julie Chrisley is at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Chrisley siblings claimed their parents did not have air-conditioning at their facilities and also said the prisons had "black mold, asbestos" and snakes "slithering on the floor" in Julie's case.
“The truth is that they are in inhumane conditions, but they’re keeping their sanity and they’re putting one foot in front of the other,” Savannah Chrisley said of her parents’ incarceration. “So they’re not giving up. There is no admission of guilt.”
The siblings also alleged the prisons hide the conditions when a Bureau of Prison director comes to inspect, with Savannah Chrisley claiming the prisons get advance notice of inspections.
A representative for the Bureau of Prisons declined the Los Angeles Times' request for comment on any “anecdotal allegations” or specific inmates, but told the outlet that its facilities follow Environmental Protection Agency and other official guidelines.
Todd Chrisley is being retaliated against due to Savannah's comments
After her comments about her parents tore through the internet over the summer, Savannah Chrisley returned to her podcast to claim that the prison staff was retaliating against her father.
“It’s been really tough (for them) since I started speaking out about everything. That’s been the toughest part. More so for Dad. There’s been a lot of retaliation, so we have to worry (about him),” Savannah Chrisley said.
Savannah told viewers that she though Todd Chrisley was being prevented from setting up phone calls with his lawyers.
"Which is a huge thing because … it's a non-recorded phone call to where you can speak about the things that are happening to you to your lawyer, they're not letting him do that," Savannah Chrisley said.
Savannah also believed the prison guards were wiping out Todd's commissary account in an effort to try and keep Todd quiet. She claimed it was their way of "retaliating against these men for speaking out. They’re literally going to starve them to death."
In an interview for NewsNation's "CUOMO," Todd Chrisley confirmed this allegation from his daughters. He told reporter Brian Entin in a phone call that the food was expired, dead animals were found near the storage facility and guards were withholding commissary items from him.
Savannah Chrisley is raising 17-year-old brother, 10-year-old niece
In the aftermath of the Chrisleys’ sentencing, Savannah took custody of the married couple's teenage son, Grayson, and their adopted granddaughter, Chloe. She has publicly stated that raising the two has been the “hardest but most rewarding job” she will ever have.
Savannah Chrisley revealed in December 2023 that she has been focusing on the kids' "travel and holidays and school and work" instead of her parents, going weeks without visiting.
"I have this layer of guilt that weighs over me like, 'Oh my gosh, you have to go see and them. Like, how selfish of you?' I'm the angel on one side and devil on the other, of just this constant battle of feeling what I'm doing isn't enough."
She had also spoken about the toll the Chrisleys’ incarceration has taken on them. In an episode of her podcast with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, she revealed that she personally spends "thousands of dollars a month for therapists, for psychologists" for herself and her younger family members.
Grayson even joined Savannah on an episode to talk about the family's new dynamic.
"To me, it's worse than them dying," Grayson said. "Because they're here, but they're not here. So it's just time that's being wasted. I'm saying, like, if they died, there's no possibility of you getting any more time with them. So it's over."
Julie and Todd Chrisley are teaching classes while serving time in prison
In an October 2023 episode of the podcast, Savannah Chrisley shared with listeners that her parents have been teaching classes at their prisons.
She explained that because of the First Step Act, her parents were able to get their sentences reduced. Todd Chrisley will be released Jan. 22, 2033, two years sooner than his original sentence. As for Julie Chrisley, her sentence was reduced by 14 months, and she will now be released on Oct. 19. 2028.
According to the description, the act was meant to place prisoners in programs that will assist with their readmission to society after their release through taking and teaching classes.
"Dad's definitely taught some classes too," she said. "Trauma is one of them. I think another one was a financial class, which how ironic?"
She added, "I know she's (Julie) definitely taught classes, like she taught a real estate class, she's got all these certificates from teaching and completing classes and all these things. Overachiever Julie is … always been."
Where can I listen to Savannah Chrisley's podcast?
Those interested in catching up with Chrisley and her life in 2024 can head to these platforms to listen to her podcast:
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley: How to listen, what she's said so far
