Penned

Christina speaks with Mercedes about the life she's created with her husband, who is incarcerated in San Diego and serving a sentence of life without parole.  Mercedes' perspective shows how difficult it can be to navigate the nuances of loving someone behind bars and coming to terms with the reality of their crime - balancing being in love with that person and simultaneously experiencing strong feelings of empathy for the victim and their loved ones.


***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Unconditional Freedom is an organization determined to create massive change within the United States' prison system by introducing a new model for prisons called The Prison Monastery.  This radical concept is meant to restore the penitentiary to its roots; a place to contemplate and meaningfully contribute to society while incarcerated. 

Christina speaks with the organization's Director, Kate Feigin, who has made it her life's work to transform prisons from the inside, and Nancy Coleman who directs The Art of Soulmaking. This program teaches prison residents contemplative practices, along with meditation and yoga. Every student is paired with a volunteer to correspond with by mail as they journey through the course.


The transformation of a prison involves everyone:  the incarcerated, law enforcement, correctional officers, and communities. 

To learn more about Unconditional Freedom, The Prison Monastery Program,  The Art of Soulmaking or if you'd like to volunteer please visit: unconditionalfreedom.org

Become a Prison Pen Pal through Unconditional Freedom


***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina speaks with Audree, a prison wife from Canada, who is in a relationship with Jeffrey, an American currently serving time in a facility near the US/Canadian border.  

 As with most incarcerated relationships, Audree and Jeffrey aren’t without their hardships.  However, their love story is reminiscent of a  RomCom - from the first letter to the first kiss and everything in between.  The love they have for each other is pure and intentional, both of them giving their all to a relationship most would classify as unconventional.

***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina speaks with Paige, a woman living on the opposite coast from her incarcerated husband. She speaks candidly about her life as a prison wife, detailing the ups and downs that come with being married to someone who may never be released into the free world again. 

Paige is an advocate on issues like the death penalty and people serving life without parole - she and Christina discuss alternative ideas surrounding criminal justice reform and talk about what a world could look like if rehabilitation was the ultimate goal of a prison sentence.




***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina continues her conversation with Danny, who is speaking from within Waupun Correctional Institution*. He speaks more on the programs in prison, what works and doesn't work, the reality of what it's like to be released and how easy it is to reoffend, especially when there is a lack of support from the community and society.

Danny opens up about his goals upon release in the near future and shares his ideas on how a system that is so flawed can change.


*Waupun Correctional Institution is still experiencing a form of lockdown and there is still little information on when it will come to an end.


New York Times Article on the lockdown in Waupun


***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina speaks with Danny, who is currently incarcerated in Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin*.  He's engaged to Katie, a British woman, who was featured in Episode 23 and shares his experience and perspective from the inside about his life, his love, and his plans for the future.

Danny speaks on the flawed system designed to keep people down -  starting with being a child in foster care, trying his best to fit in, to making choices at a young age that altered his future. In a rare perspective from someone on the inside, Danny takes Christina on a journey through his life and what led him to his most recent sentence.


*Waupun Correctional Institution is currently in a state of lockdown and has been for months. There hasn't been a lot of information released to the public as to why the lockdown has gone on for so long, but there have been dozens of reports from inmates regarding the inhumane conditions they've been dealing with since this happened.  I'll continue to update on this as I get more information.

***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina speaks with investigative journalist, TV show producer, and filmmaker Catherine Legge. Her documentary From Prison With Love  (known outside of the US as Met While Incarcerated) tells the love stories of 3 women who are romantically involved with men in prison that have been charged with violent crimes.

Catherine's film challenges the stereotypes surrounding these offenders and shows the perspective of women who put it all on the line to love them.

You can stream From Prison With Love on TUBI

Follow Catherine Legge on Instagram @metwhileincarceratedthefilm

https://www.metwhileincarceratedthefilm.com/

***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina speaks with Dana, an artist and educator who works with incarcerated folks in Mankato, MN through the "Art Under Confinement Program", a collaborative between the 410 Project and artists who are currently incarcerated. This program advocates on educating creatives on the professional development side of being an artist as well as pushing their creative thinking and technical skills, to then hopefully be utilized once released. 


You can check out the 410 Project:
On Instagram @410project_communityart
the410project.com

Christina speaks with Katie, a soon-to-be prison wife who is separated from her fiancé, Danny,  by more than just prison walls. There's several states and an ocean between them, she lives in the UK and he is currently serving his time halfway across the world in a Wisconsin prison. Katie's journey has just begun as she prepares to uproot her life and leave the United Kingdom for the United States to be with Danny upon his release.

***
This episode sponsored by Magic Mind, The World’s First Productivity Shot.
https://www.magicmind.co/penned
Get 40% off by using offer code: PENNED20

***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]

Christina speaks with Christine, a recently married prison wife who met her husband, Carlos, through a prison pen pal website during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Despite Carlos' 25 year prison sentence and living on opposite coasts they couldn't imagine life without each other.

Christine and Carlos started prisonpenpalconnect.com - they run the site together working on it from both inside and outside of prison, connecting inmates with pen pals all over the globe and showcasing an array of art created by incarcerated folks on the site's marketplace for purchase.

Christine shares what it takes for her and Carlos to make their marriage and business  succeed while he's incarcerated and waiting for release.


***
This episode sponsored by Magic Mind, The World’s First Productivity Shot.
https://www.magicmind.co/penned
Get 40% off by using offer code: PENNED20

***
Written and produced by Christina Hansen

Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev

***
If you or someone you know has a story to share or if you'd like to drop me a note, send an email to: [email protected]