Todd and Julie Chrisley Explain Why Real Life Is ‘Rougher’ Than Their Time in Prison

Todd and Julie Chrisley are getting real about life after prison.

“I’ve actually talked to a few of the women that I was in prison with that they’re already home, whatever,” Julie, 52, said during the Wednesday, July 23, episode of their “Chrisley Confessions 2.0” podcast. “We all have this general consensus that — it’s kind of weird to even say it.”

Todd, 56, chimed in, adding, “No, it’s not weird. Life is rougher than prison life.”

Todd continued that it was “a sad thing to say,” but it’s true.

“It is so horrific, the conditions that you’re there for, but that’s from a physical standpoint,” he explained. “But from an emotional and psychological standpoint, it is harder dealing with day to day.”

Julie said that while in prison she knew “that you don’t have any control” and “there’s very little you can do,” which changed her mindset.

“People told me this when I first got there: you can’t live out there and in here at the same time,” she added. “Because it’ll literally run you crazy, and that’s the truth. The longer you’re there, the more removed you become to the world.”

Todd and Julie both spent 28 months in prison after they were convicted on tax evasion and bank and wire fraud charges in 2022. President Donald Trump pardoned the reality TV stars in May, and they were released.

The couple’s conversation about life after prison came up as Todd and Julie explained to listeners how it’s been “crazy” rediscovering their normal routine.

“You’ve been having to get back in the swing of taking control of everything,” Todd said to his wife. “Running a house and making sure everything’s done the way it’s supposed to be done.”

Both Todd and Julie agreed that sleeping has been the biggest difficulty for them since being released from prison.

“I went to prison for 28 months. I never had trouble sleeping. Maybe, because I wasn’t fighting with everybody,” Todd said. “Let me tell you something, the members of my mob — otherwise known as the Chrisley Clan — they’re the ones who have kept me awake all these years.”

Elsewhere in the episode, Julie further discussed reuniting with the rest of her family after their release. (Todd and Julie share kids Chase, 29, Savanah, 27, and Grayson, 19.)

“The longer that people are away from their kids — as crazy as it sounds, because it’s a double-edged sword— the easier it becomes because you get into your own routine,” she said. “Doesn’t mean you don’t miss them, you don’t love them, all that. But just from me being in prison, I had to just watch out for me. I had to take care of me. I had to make sure that I was as good as I could be physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. And that’s all I could really do.”