Notes From The Pen

This episode is a call to action, a testament to the human spirit, and a powerful exploration of the intersection between literature and lived experience. Bobby re-tells the story of Dante's Inferno, plus little 5 year old Bobby loves to climb rope.

You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.com

Life behind bars is challenging in so many ways, and in this episode Bobby and Co-host JD talk about the limited living space and how quickly it can turn serious. Following the convict code is the difference between survival and demise. The 'Bunkie Gods' seem to have a problem finding a 40+ inmate that's not a Zombie. Bobby shares how his most recent bunkie burns himself out, but not after causing havoc.

You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website: notesfromthepen.com

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day: at what age did Bobby's quick whit and humor start, mama c thinks she has prosopagnosia, gross nose candy, updates on why there are two empty bunks, and driving 3 hours to get a lotto ticket. There's also a short post-show clip. 

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. 

Bobby shares how he and Co-host JD bonded over music and how their relationship grew to a meaningful friendship. Bobby loses his rock collection after a shake-down, and Mama C gets flowers.  

Breaking down the stereotypes of drug addicts. The creative writing piece Bobby has been working on - The Clinic - is nearing the end of edits. The Clinic is about the tumultuous dance between a drug addict and the cold embrace of a meth clinic (and everything in-between). A true love-hate relationship. It starts out at a meth clinic in South Florida - the waiting room for rock bottom...and ends up at one of the most magical places on earth - The Mouse. The road to get there, and the ending, is anything but enchanting. 

Co-host JD is on a well deserved 2 week vacation with the family, yard closures, and the prison phone system sucks, so we're using an oldie but goodie throwback this week. We'll be back on schedule soon.

EP #91 Gay Gazette - Doug's traveling the world, sending love to the Captain, and the LGBTQ putting in the work behind bars. 

* Episode was edited for this Time Warp episode

Is there a purpose to all of this? Why are we here?

Questions Bobby and Co-host Cousin Greg tackle as they discuss the meaning of the universe, the definition of God, the importance of love, and why we're here.

An episode that everyone should hear because it will cause you to re-think spirituality and our existence.

* This Bonus is a section taken from EP #86

Co-host JD is on a well deserved 2 week vacation with the family, and the prison phone system sucks, so we're using an oldie but goodie throwback this week.

EP #42 - Stanhope is the reason for an increase of international followers of our podcast, he's an artist and not writing bits as much as releasing steam. Plus, prison food is loaded with so much sodium Bobby can salt the entire state for the winter, Asian stereotypes, and drunk dialing for a Korean dad.  

Bobby is moving forward with working on his stand-up comedy routine; defining what a stand-up artist really is, and the viral Comedians In Prison piece he wrote shortly after arriving in prison. If you haven't read it yet...you're a loser! Just google COMEDIANS IN PRISON. 

JD, and America's favorite convict Bobby, discuss logic and reason behind prison walls...or the lack thereof. It brings to mind the movie Idiocracy. 

Well there's this blizzard thing going out throughout the Midwest and Northeast right now making it pretty hard for lots of people...including Bobby and the prison. No yard time because there's too much snow, and below freezing temps. No yard time means no phone time, so this week I pulled over a few edited clips from some of the more memorable episodes that are on the lighter side. Please stay safe and warm out there. 

In prison it's especially important to find ways to deal with all the chaos and tragedy that comes with living behind bars. For Bobby it's with humor and helping others. In this episode he talks about prison humor, and stoking the embers of humanity in a place that doesn't know how to address the failures of their own system. Even when faced with some of the most heartbreaking issues, Bobby still finds a way to not only help others, but to remind us all how to look for the good...and along the way crack a joke or two.

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. Bobby referees a chicken fight between The Professor and Grandpa Face.

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. Using artifical intelligence to solve prison issues, a former inmate gets banned for life from ChatGPT, and shaming A.I. for not knowing Notes From The Pen.

It worked out that the release of this Monday's episode falls on New Year's Day, and because of the lack of prison phone calls on a holiday I've pulled over some of the more memorable episodes we've done over the past few years. Everyone here with NTFP would like to wish you all a great start to 2024 and we'll be back next week with our normal episodes.

NFTP can be found where ever you listen.

America's favorite convict Bobby, and Co-host JD are back for another great episode. This one has just about everything. They discuss Aaron Rodgers talking about Travis Kelce on the Pat McAfee show, Derek Chauvin getting poked & the prison reason why, plus we're are introduced to some new prison characters, and learn about Bobby's new obsession.

Notes From The Week (NFTW): updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day. Things left unsaid, doing bits off someone, causing chaos between cubies, and pranking Paulie.

America's favorite convict Bobby, and Co-host JD: Living in the moment, the history of story telling and how it relates to us today. I love how they end this one by reminding us to be kind.

A snapshot of the prison system and their 4 Dentists, who have to treat 38 thousand inmates.

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 allows us to create these podcasts.    

he theme in this one is 'variety'. There's a lot in this one you're sure to enjoy.

We learn about a new podcast from someone unexpected...or maybe not so unexpected. Bobby continues the convict code dilemma, and how hard it is to navigate the convict code and unravel the internal conflict, choices, and struggle between conformity and individuality.

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day.

The issues with the understaffed and overworked Correctional Officers is still plaguing the prison system. Bobby gets a new bunkie and this one arrived by way of 17 countries, starting at the age of 14 and all alone. Immigration is a hot button topic, there are no easy solutions and we all agree something needs to be done, and in this episode we get a glimpse of the courage it takes to travel so far as an immigrant.

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 allows us to create these podcasts.    

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Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day.Football is here and it's game time in prison, including placing bets and trash talking. We also get an update on one of our Usual Suspects - Blaze. Plus Bobby talks about the Convict Code and an inmate who broke that code and now must deal with the fall out.

Notes From The Week (NFTW) - Updates of life behind bars and some of the characters who live it every day.

After a short time in the cube, one of the newest Bunkies locks up after running up a debt. Hopefully the conversations that Bobby has had with this young man will sink in...and soon. Plus, mama c worries about becoming manly.

A special look back at a few of the more memorable episodes.

After a decade behind bars Bobby sensing a shift taking place. But why? And why now? Plus updates on a couple of the usual suspects.

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 get to the positive...he refers to it as 'both sides of the coin". Bobby also finds a Ray of hope that shines her light all the way from Florida to Michigan, the beautiful side of the coin.

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 changing a failed prison system in Michigan.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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 put in, the current system does very little to assist inmates in the way of post-prison stability. The hard truth is that when Bobby is released, he'll have nothing. No house, no car, no clothes, no food, no phone, not even the basic toiletries necessary for survival.

I created a GoFundMe page to raise money for Bobby to get back on his feet once released and help with restitution. 

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 desire to address crucial issues with the ever-present threats that lurk in the background. With an open eye for his own safety, he navigates the harsh realities of prison life, determined to bring awareness to the pressing need for change.

Through his personal anecdotes, Bobby provides listeners with an unfiltered perspective on the urgent reforms needed to create a more just and humane environment. Despite the overwhelming challenges, he seeks to inspire hope and spark meaningful dialogue around the potential for change.

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode as we bear witness to the resilience of the human spirit amidst the chaos of incarceration, and explore the profound significance of prison reform through the eyes of someone who lives it every day.

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.

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 the near ubiquitous abandonment of the American inmate. And of course, the ensuing consequences. Taking cues from the likes of Sir Thomas Merton, Dubois, Baldwin and Foucault it turns out some men are indeed islands.

As listeners, we are invited to confront the discomforting reality of life behind bars and question society's role in perpetuating a system that further marginalizes those already marginalized. We hope this episode will challenge your understanding of incarceration, human connection, and what it truly means to be isolated.

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.

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!

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.