Penned

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 fut...

07-29

44:05

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 P...

06-13

01:03:21

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...

04-07

37:44

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 F...

03-10

57:35

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...

11-27

59:11

Christina speaks with BL Shirelle & Fury Young, Co-Executive Directors of Die Jim Crow Records, a non-profit record label dedicated to producing music from currently and formerly incarcerated artists. BL & Fury have made it their life's work to not only bridge the divide between incarcerated artists and artists in the free world, DJC Records works as a radical creative collective, agency for social change, and overall art power house. Listen to the very end of the episode for an addi...

09-10

41:47

Christina speaks with Martin Lockett, who spent 17.5 years in prison for a DUI fatality that claimed two lives and severely injured another. In Penned's 20th episode Martin shares the story of the tragedy that shaped his entire life and how, post-release, he has devoted the rest of his life to honoring his victims’ legacies. While incarcerated, Martin earned a BS in sociology, MS in psychology, and served as a mentor and role model to other inmates. He acquired state certification as a...

08-11

52:49

Christina speaks with Britnee who entered into a relationship with an inmate without planning to pursue anything romantically from the start. As their connection progressed and real life issues started to surface Britnee was forced to reevaluate her life, her decisions, and ultimately the future of their relationship. *** 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 ...

07-15

01:01:39

Christina speaks with Aundrea, a prison wife who is plugged in to what goes on at the prison where her boyfriend is incarcerated. She shares some insight at the injustices that continue to occur, even after someone is sentenced and gives us a look into her boyfriend's daily life in prison - an outsider looking in. *** 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 dr...

05-06

41:02

Christina speaks with Tiyauna, a prison wife who started a friendship with her now-husband Willie, during his incarceration over a decade ago. The friendship turned into something deeper in the last couple of years and the two were married in 2021. Willie has been serving a life-sentence since he was a minor with no end in sight, until an incredible turn of events happened in his favor. Tiyauna shares their story and gives us a new perspective on what marriage is like with someone...

04-01

51:15

Christina speaks with Jade, a TikTok sensation who has gone viral for her videos talking about what everyday life is like being a self-proclaimed prison wife. Jade uses the platform as a means to connect with others like her in the prison wife community; a vent for her frustrations about being separated from her husband; and an outlet for the sense of humor she has living everyday life being married to someone in prison. *** Find Jade on TikTok and Instagram Watch her Love Don't Judge Epis...

10-11

39:43

Christina speaks with author/journalist, Elizabeth Greenwood, about her newest book Love Lockdown, in which she follows 5 couples who have met while incarcerated and shares their vastly different experiences. Christina and Liz talk about these featured relationships, prison wife culture, what really goes on during conjugal visits, and how prison relationships endure years of incarceration with sometimes no hope of release. *** You can check out Liz's work at: lizgreenwood.com Find her on Tw...

08-17

41:50

Christina speaks with Robert Kingett, a blind journalist, who began writing to inmates who are serving life sentences and on death row. He thought they would be more accepting than any other sighted person in his life, knowing they would read his words and be able to look past his disability more than most people could. *** You can check out Robert Kingett's work at: https://blindjournalist.wordpress.com/ *** Written and produced by Christina Hansen Additional production and sound e...

02-19

40:53

Christina speaks with Emma, a woman who lives in Jackson, Michigan AKA 'Prison City'. She recently started writing to inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic, including one man who is currently on death row. *** This episode contains content that mentions issues pertaining to eating disorders, which might be sensitive for some listeners. *** Written and produced by Christina Hansen Additional production and sound editing by Jason Sissoyev *** If you or someone you know has a story to ...

11-06

42:46

In Episode 12, Christina explores the idea of uncertainty and shares the audio from Michael Shane Hale's TEDx Talk about redefining the prison reentry experience from within. This audio was recorded live from Sing Sing Correctional Facility in early February 2020. *** Special thanks to Michael Shane Hale for the permission to share his TEDx talk, and to Sean Gallagher, co-organizer of the TEDx Sing Sing Event, for providing Shane's audio. *** Written and produced by Christina ...