Notes From The Pen

Bobby worries that his prolonged confinement will have lasting effects and that he'll lose all the gains he's made with personal growth and rehabilitation because of the damaged system. The prison perpetuates the harm it was designed to address, ultimately failing both inmates and society. Yet Bobby still manages to find a way to push past all the damage, stress, and fatigue in order to ge...

After ten years in prison it's more important than ever that we document Bobby's journey. In this episode we hear how important it is to keep your word when living behind bars. We also learn what happens when a prison system without rehabilitation, a serious staff shortage, and lack of funding, can be like. The damage is far reaching, and long lasting. We do these podcasts with the hope of...

Bobby has a prison dream: in the midst of a collapsing system three new Bunkies arrive, all at the same time, creating tensions and chaos within the cube. This dream sheds light on the systemic issues that contribute to the high-stakes drama behind bars and a collapsing system. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.com GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/...

Bobby teases us with a story about 3 new Bunkies that arrive in the cube...needless to say issues are certain. We also get updates on prison reform by way of https://www.mi-cure.org please check them out. For information on Prison Legal News: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/subscribe/print/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4-25-avqgAMVOCatBh3wHgJTEAAYASAAEgKAJfD_BwE You can read more about Bobby and prison refor...

Bobby's gives us a brief background on his creative writing project and how it parallels with life behind bars. Spending so much time behind bars gets to a point where it's more detrimental than helpful...and by the end of this recording Bobby reaches pure exhaustion (I can not wait until he's released from that place). You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:  ...

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. Bobby's newest bunkie locks up, JD looks for Water World, prison staff shortages, and Bobby wonders if its safer living in prison based on all the negative news taking place in the outside world. GoFundMe:   https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start You can read more about Bo...

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. Bobby's cube gets a new bunkie that has issues, and we're introduced to Rizzo who totally makes up for the new bunkie. GoFundMe:   https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com   Shout-out t...

Bobby orders fiber instead of ramen soups, JD takes on scuba diving, and we're introduced to a new inmate named Russia (who's really from Georgia). You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq Threads: https://www.threads.net/@notesfr...

Over the last decade, in a place that offers no meaningful help, Bobby has managed to not only heal, but to grow beyond belief. In an attempt to shed light on the issues of mental health, addiction, and American incarceration, we decided to share his story in real time, with honesty and humor, in the hopes of honoring those affected by these issues. Unfortunately, even with all the work he's p...

Enter the world of an inmate who, against all odds, strives to share his life experiences and shed light on the urgent need for prison reform. With only 15-minute phone calls at his disposal, Bobby grapples with the chaos unfolding around him, constantly interrupted by the tumultuous environment he calls home. Through candid conversations, we explore the daily struggles Bobby faces, balancing his...

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars. This week's update; Bobby watched the documentary 'Exposing Parchman' AND gets an in-person visit with a surprise appearance! Although visits are exciting they're also bittersweet. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com   Shout-out to JD and Ashley Bell for all their behind the...

Few things are more familiar to the American inmate than the dissolution of meaningful relationships. After mourning the death of yet another friendship Bobby struggles to understand the motivations of those with the power to either nourish, or neglect these relationships. After a flash of outrage leads to a more measured analysis, Bobby engages in a desperate attempt to identify the causes behind...

A recent conversation about jello wrestling triggers a memory when Bobby saved a life while at work. AND Bobby has two, count them, two in-person visits coming up.  You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com  Shout-out to JD and Ashley Bell for all their behind the scenes support. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen  Instagram: https://www.instag...

Prison technology; the good, the bad, and the ugly. No matter how much pressure is put on the necks of inmates and their families, we'll keep sharing our journey of life behind bars, and using the 'master's' tools against them. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com   Shout-out to JD and Ashley Bell for all their behind the scenes supp...

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. Waking up with stress, Mama C cries, Du Bois, and Bobby finds a life hack! You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com   Shout-out to JD for all his behind the scenes support. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen   Instagram: https://www.insta...

After pushing off a more serious episode about the failures and solutions of our failed mass incarceration the topic changes to inmates who sleep during the day and stay up all night. Oh...and farts. Side note: I had to keep introduction bloopers in this one, it's way too funny to keep to myself. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com Twitter: htt...

This is a short and sweet episode...well...because finding working phones in prison is becoming harder and harder. NTM the facility where Bobby is housed, is constantly closing the yards!  Side note: we're currently working on a more intense episode that we hope to have out soon. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/...

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq Shout-out to JD for all his behind the scenes support. Intro and Outro music created just...

Prisons can exploit an inmate's lack of advocacy by denying basic rights and perpetuating unjust treatment. Those who don't have anyone to help fight for them are often tossed aside. During Bobby's incarceration there's been one constant by his side...ahhh well maybe two...Mama c and her alter ego Hurricane Judy. A look back at the birth of a hurricane and how it hovers just off th...

Bobby makes fun of his narcissism as he tries to decide what his pen and stage name will be. He wishes his name was as cool as some of the people who write him. What do you think will be a good stage name? You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo...

Writing a commutation is an emotional experience for Bobby as he pours his heart and soul into his letter. It's impossible to write without feeling remorse, regret, and sadness, which is why it's taken so long to finish. We also want to thank everyone who took the time to write letters of support, and stay tuned for future updates. If you liked this episode please visit Notes From The Pen...

Bobby & Co-host JD start out spinning laps and sharing stories, but take a turn with sharing the death of GR Joe's mom (Kim). Bobby reminds us all just how far reaching the failures of prison really are...punishing and destroying families along the way.   RIP Miss Kim, you were loved and will be missed. If you'd like to send Joe a sympathy card here's his address: Earnest C Brooks...

A series which takes a look at each of the 5 senses as it pertains to prison life, and the absence of touch. If you liked this episode please visit Notes From The Pen on Patreon and sign up - it helps supply bits of food, coffee, phone calls, and these podcasts.  https://www.patreon.com/user?u=56777802 You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on the website:   notesfromthepen.com   Shout-ou...

Short pre-show clip: during our first phone call, Bobby hits a wall. Hey, it's not always sunny in prison. As the 24 hour news cycle comes to an end with the Alex Murdaugh case, they bring out a two-dimensional consultant to give insight on what prison life will be like for Alex. Even though the beginning gets off to a rough start, it ends on a positive note, in true Bobby fashion. If you liked th...

Even though Bobby has nothing to do with the prison drama that unfolds in his dream, he must delicately navigate a peaceful resolution to a prison dilemma unfolding in front of him. I love how, with all the stress in this dream, he still manages to keep a sense of humor as well as wanting to bless someone less fortunate. JD gets a new tattoo, and congrats to Stanhope for winning best actor for his...