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.

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

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Shout-out to JD and Ashley B for all their behind the scenes support.

Intro and Outro music created just for Notes From The Pen by PJ Trofibio and Jeff Quintero and used with permission.