Beyond The Bars is a series of stories, as told by a former inmate, highlighting one of failures of mass incarceration - prison gangs.  Stories he wasn't able to share - until now - an eye opening, riveting peek behind the razor wire.  Part 1 is now available.

Overcrowding, inadequate management of prisons, and lack of resources (nationwide) creates an environment where the "convict code" (informal rules for survival) is insufficient for safety. Where lack of effective rehabilitation, social isolation, and influence can take hold of people entering the prison system causing them to focus on in-prison survival rather than self-improvement. When people are thrown away to fend for themselves, without institutional support, they're forced to find ways to survive, and unfortunately gangs are there to fill that void. This series is about navigating prison gang culture, and survival. 

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@notesfromthepen9604

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bobbyb.l.a.c.k1

X: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

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

Sharing the mic with GR Joe on this episode. One of the things Bobby is passionate about is continuing his efforts with prison reform and highlighting some of the misconceptions about people behind bars. In true Bobby fashion he finds some humor in being sent to the hole, along with some heartfelt emotions as they talk about the fear of losing a loved one while incarcerated. 

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   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

Host Bobby and co-host JD reflect on Bobby's entire first day out of prison. He went from doing time in prison, to doing time with his favorite stand-up comedian Doug. I can't think of another day when an inmate walked out of prison and ended up on a stage performing with headliners like Doug Stanhope and Andy Andrist. A dream come true.

Special shout out to Doug and Andy, and please check the website for tour dates near you. 

https://www.dougstanhope.com

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

And check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

This is a short update on Bobby and his release. As you can imagine he's working on getting his feet under him and organizing things for life on the outside. He's doing well as he navigates the world after being out of it for over 12 years. When he returns, he has lots of ideas, surprise guests, and important topics, and can't wait to get them off the ground so please stay tuned. Thank you to all the pebbles, and I apologize if I missed anyone. We love you. mc 

*I recorded this one on my iPhone so sorry for the background noises and quality.

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

And check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

This is the last episode that Bobby will record on an active prison yard and he wanted to thank everyone for their support. Going forward he’ll be on the outside of those prison walls, so stay tuned. I wasn’t able to edit the recording since I’m on the road to pick Bobby up at the prison.

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

And check out the GoFundMe  to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

The fight for justice, even with the best intentions, can overlook the people it's trying to save. Bobby shares an article about an artist, who was asked by a department of corrections, to provide artwork for its facilities. In a well meaning attempt to highlight the failures of mass incarceration, the artist refused the offer. Their attempt to make a moral stand actual hurts inmates who view art not as an amenity for the institution, but a necessity for the soul.

This is Bobby's final recording from an active prison yard, and going forward he'll be recording as a free man so stay tuned.

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

And check out the GoFundMe  to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.  

Bobby is nearly free with only 1 more episode in prison, and in two weeks he'll be on this side of the razor wire spouting off at the mouth as a free man. Inflation hits the prison, mama c has decided to stop screaming in to the social media void, Bobby does some memory time-traveling as he spins some final laps on the prison yard, and perhaps people on the outside need to start living like they're in prison.

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

And check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

Bobby and Co-host JD are back to spin laps as they talk about their comedic hero, how life in prison teaches profound lessons of tolerance and understanding (something desperately missing in the outside world right now), and the polarizing death of Charlie Kirk.

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

And check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

As Bobby gets closer and closer to the door, the more important staying invisible becomes. He reflects on the life and death rules you learn during incarceration, and how he now has one foot inside the prison and one on the outside. Less than a month to go for his release.

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

And check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.

Bobby understanding how living in a giant void in prison, affects his perception of what life on the outside looks like when he's released next month. How to build a mental construct of life outside of prison. 

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

And check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-start

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.social

Shout-out to JD and Ashely Bell 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.