With(in)

Episode 15 of With(in) journeys into today’s social climate, as Associate Producer Sean Marshall (incarcerated at Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center) opens by laying down a framework describing the facts about the origination of two seemingly polarizing organizations: Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. Sean then interviews Cyrus Clarkson, a captain in the Colorado Department of Corrections. In it, we discover that our differences are outweighed by our shared humanity, and the power of treating people not in the way we want to be treated, but in the way they want to be treated. Next, Segment Host Brett Phillips (incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility) talks with Leandra Bumpass (incarcerated at Denver Womens), where she depicts her childhood as preparing her to be a strong black woman, and her deep desire to see the world as a place where we can exhale. Co-Hosts Andrew Draper and Denise Presson explain the blurring of the mythos in America of who are villains and who are heroes. They extol the virtues of curiosity and conversation as a way forward for our country, during this moment of deep divide.

In episode 14 of With(in) segment host Matthew LaBonte (incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility) chats with Professor Wayne Gilbert about coping with the painful dance between solitude and engagement in the claustrophobic new world of "lockdown" that the pandemic has created. Then, Denver Women’s Correctional Facility Sergeant Dejoire Cooper speaks with Associate Producer Sarah Berry about the unique opportunities that arise out of the added stressors of Covid-19 lockdowns, and the realization that she missed the daily personal interactions with her incarcerated workers. Co-host Andrew Draper sits with Nurse Susan who describes the epiphany she experienced around the social and professional barriers of nursing in prison, and her discovery of the rich humanity in those she serves. Finally, our co-hosts, Denise Presson and Andrew Draper, have an intimate conversation about the concept of legacy in prison, stemming from their thoughts while Denise was sick with Covid and Andrew was isolated due to an outbreak

In the first episode of Season 2 of With(in), "The Way Back", we begin by sharing a bit about our team's journey over the past two years, creating Season 2 of With(in)-- virtually -- during the Covid19 pandemic, across three prisons in the Colorado Department of Corrections. We then share glimpses of the Season to come in a trailer of the upcoming episodes, introducing an incredible lineup of interviews to come. Then, incarcerated co-hosts Denise Presson and Andrew Draper delve into their personal lives over the last two years. Andrew speaks about grappling with the hard subjects from Season One, his illness and subsequent diagnosis. Denise describes the weight of her responsibility as a voice for incarcerated women, and maintaining the incredible trust that has been placed upon her as a co-host of With(in). Finally, With(in) Producer Terry W. Mosley Jr. gets a chance to sit down with Colorado Department of Corrections’ Executive Director Dean Williams. Mr. Williams talks about his anticipation of entering Season One as well as his takeaways from it. He continues with his excitement about the direction for Season Two, and his continued hope to humanize prisons. In an exciting shift, all recording, producing and mastery of Season 2 of With(in) was done inside of prison. For more on With(in) and the team -- including art, poetry and music from inside -- visit thisiswithin.com

In our final episode of season 1, we complete our story on dying in prison by speaking with Nick Jones, an incarcerated man in his 60s, dying from cancer in the infirmary at DRDC. A woodworker, Mr. Jones shares with us the legacy he’d like to leave behind – a wooden toy chest filled with toys for children in hospitals. Mr. Jones sadly passed away this fall before he was able to make his dream a reality. Draper, Ashley, and other members of our team have come together with Bags of Fun (https://www.bagsoffun.org) to make Mr. Jones’ wish come true for the holidays. To learn how you can donate, stay tuned until the end of the episode.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com.

This week, we begin our two-part story on dying in prison. With so many of our team members serving long or life sentences, this subject was a particularly difficult one for us. Today, we sit down with Damon Davis, an offender care aide (OCA) serving a life plus 480-year sentence. He explains the offender care vocational program, why he chose to get involved with it, and how the work affects the way he sees himself and his sentence. Davis speaks honestly about challenging society’s view of him and the importance of being there for other incarcerated men during end-of-life.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com

In today’s episode, we continue our mission to shift the conversation on who is in prison, by speaking to the Warden of the Denver Complex. Warden Ryan Long has spent a significant amount of his professional career in Colorado’s prisons, working his way from correctional officer, to case manager, to warden. Currently, Warden Long oversees the multiple facilities in the Denver Complex, including DRDC, where we record this podcast. Warden Long discusses the importance of seeing the humanity in the residents of his facilities, and the role that staff and incarcerated folks play in shaping a facility’s environment.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com.

You’ve heard his work all season, and today you finally get to hear from the man himself. This week on With(in), Denise, Draper, and Ashley speak with our resident poet, William S. Graham, about the role art has had in his life. Unlike the story you heard from our Reverberations Newsletter Liaison, Terry Mosley Jr., a couple weeks ago, Graham’s relationship with art started way before he came to prison. Now a published author of five books (and counting), Graham explains how writing has always been a place of refuge for him and has served as a way for him to stay connected to the world outside the prison walls.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com.

On this week’s episode, we explore the extremely difficult subject of domestic violence. Denise, Draper, and Ashley first speak with Jamiylah Nelson, a resident of Denver Women’s Correctional facility serving a life without parole sentence. Jamiylah shares her story of being in an abusive relationship and how she’s come to recognize the type of love she deserves. Later, we speak with Robert Hill, who is serving a life plus 48-years sentence at the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center. Robert reflects on the violence he inflicted on his partner as a young father struggling with identity issues. He explains that by doing the difficult work of exploring and learning to articulate his emotions, he has found healthier ways to communicate how he feels to others. Domestic Violence resources can be found on our website.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com.

This week, we hear from our very own Terry Mosley Jr. on his experiences with arts practices in prison and how his work with the DU Prison Arts Initiative has changed his perspective on what it means to be an artist and to live in prison. Terry is our Reverberations from With(in) liaison and a DU PAI group leader at Sterling Correctional Facility. He is an integral part of this podcast and numerous other DU PAI programs, including the recent touring production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, in which he played the character Martini.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com.

In the second part of Rory and Otis’ story into and out of violence, we hear how their plan to escape Centennial Correctional Facility failed, and the consequences they both faced as a result of their attempt. This week, they tell us about their experiences in solitary confinement, where they spent a combined total of nearly 40 years. Rory and Otis discuss their breaking points, and what convinced them to change their ways and become who they are today, pillars of the community who use their experience to positively influence others and help younger guys coming into the system.

For more information on With(in), including team bios and how to subscribe to our newsletter, Reverberations from With(in), please visit our website: https://www.thisiswithin.com.