EP #217 - The Painful Journey Of Self Awareness

Who is your favorite Diaz Brother, Shane Gillis is a big boy, the tattoos you get in the real world take on a whole new meaning behind bars, placing new inmates in max security joints lead the fresh inmates down the fraternity path, and POC (Paint On Canvas) art. Plus a post show clip. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.comAnd check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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.

Michale Bay movies, an emotional dilemma on the prison yard and, for the first time in history, the Federal Bureau Of Prisons (BOP) has appointed a former inmate to the position of Deputy Director. Will this appointment mark a turning point in prison reform? Bobby shares his thoughts on the man responsible for this decision, and what it means to someone still serving a prison sentence. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.comAnd check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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.

Join a conversation that begins with mythology and how others may view an individual. Bobby reflects on the mistakes and missteps of youth, the moments that, in hindsight, make us wince. But this isn't just about regret; it's about growth and exploring how confronting our past selves can be a powerful catalyst for change. How would others from your past describe you? Have you ever looked back at your younger self and felt a pang of regret for choices made? Bobby has a candid conversation about reflections and navigating feelings of remorse and the crucial steps towards making growth and moving forward. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.comAnd check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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.

Prison culture encompasses the values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors that emerge within a prison environment. What happens when this culture changes? Bobby shares valuable insight on how prison is shaped by the 'prison code', a set of unwritten rules crucial for maintaining order and safety within prison. What happens when what was once order among convicts is becoming chaos?You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website: notesfromthepen.comAnd check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvqBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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 talks about joining the Marines, priority changes as we age, and just trying to get across the line during his last few months in prison.You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.comAnd check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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 shares his parole news, someone is looking for Mark, and getting excited about stand-up. Plus, don't miss a post show clip of mama c and Bobby talking about how his parole news was delivered. 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-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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.  

Prison phones have been down for a few days, which means Bobby hasn't been able to call to record an episode, so I'm using unpublished recording with JD from last month. We promise next week we'll have an update on Bobby's parole hearing process. You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.comAnd check out the GoFundMe to help with Bobby’s new start  https://www.gofundme.com/f/j3khzk-help-for-a-new-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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.

With Bobby's upcoming parole hearing, it's been a bit challenging getting into the mindset of recording lately, as you'll hear. In this episode Bobby recounts his childhood experiences of feeling like an outsider in the only world he knew, and how those early experiences shaped his life. This one offers a crucial look at the nuances of identity, the hidden scars of childhood, and the search for self-acceptance. It also reminds us how easy it is to fall into the limited, or one-dimensional, narrative about a person.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-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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, just weeks away from his parole hearing, shares the anxieties and hopes swirling within him, and the culmination of 12 years spent preparing for this chance is finally here. But beyond the desire for release he reveals a deeper desire; to make this right again, and rebuild what he destroyed. Also, how can a system expect individuals to realistically reintegrate when their journey upon release is already paved with significant obstacles?

As Bobby prepares to sit in front the parole board, he shares the results of his PER (Parole Eligibility Report) and tries to interrupt the scoring process. The parole hearing isn't just about the legal process, it's about the human stories behind it. It's about yearning for a second chance, the fear of judgment, and the agonizing uncertainty of whether their past will forever define their future. In true Bobby fashion he'd rather look at this experience in a positive light with lessons to be learned. A reminder for all of us.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-startTwitter: https://twitter.com/NotesFromThePen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJYuOh4pKxa/?igshid=y8lo9kbdifvq   Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/notesfromthepen.bsky.socialShout-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.