The Prison Pen Pal Podcast with Big Steve

Yes, it's a podcast about prison pen pals! Many believe prison inmates are undeserving of a pen pal, and shouldn't be allowed to find love or friendships. Big Steve, host of the Prison Pen Pal Podcast, disagrees. He discusses the value of having a pen pal, both for the inmate and for the free-world individual. Hear insightful interviews and stories from people who write prisoners, prison staff, and the inmates themselves.

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Sept. 1, 2026

From St. Peter, Minnesota: Checking in with Ben Alverson

Ben Alverson returns to the Prison Pen Pal Podcast for his third appearance, and a lot has changed since we last checked in with him at the Civil Commitment Center in St. Peter, Minnesota. Ben discusses the changes he’s seen in the program, the possibility of moving more quickly toward life outside the facility, and his upcoming court proceedings. He also explains how some people are now making it through the system faster than before—including one friend who went from the facility to having his

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Aug. 19, 2026

What If Your Worst Mistake at 16 Meant Life in Prison? The Nicco Plowden Interview

On this episode of the Prison Pen Pal Podcast, Big Steve is joined by Nicco Plowden from the Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, New York. Nicco, incarcerated for well over three decades, shares his journey from growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s, getting caught up in street life, and eventually being sentenced to 55 years to life for crimes committed as a teenager. He talks about the realities of life on the run, the differences between federal and state prisons, and how he stays out

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Aug. 9, 2026

Stories From a Mentally Ill Inmate: Where Fantasy and Certainty Collide

In this episode, we talk to a prisoner who lives with severe mental illness. He shares stories about his life -- tales of great wealth, global fame, and wild adventures -- that reveal the depth of his personal convictions, even as they depart from reality. Our goal isn’t to challenge his beliefs or judge his narrative, but to listen, and to reflect on the lived experience of mental illness behind bars. This episode offers a window into one man’s world, where fact and imagination are deeply inter

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July 28, 2026

He Wrote to a Woman Serving 40 Years in Prison...Then Married Her

Erik Beller had a Master's degree in Education, a professional career, and a seemingly good life. But just as things were really starting to fall into place, his brother died of an overdose. Then, on Erik's birthday, his best friend, John, also passed away. These tragic events set Erik on a downward spiral of addiction, homelessness, and ultimately jail. While incarcerated, Erik was beaten, almost to death, by a guard (who was later convicted and served prison time for the assault). Erik spen

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July 21, 2026

Pen, Paint, and a Lifelong Friendship: Anya Blakeley and Mike Tran

When Baltimore artist Anya Blakeley walked away from a high-stress job in the criminal legal system, she knew it was time for a change. Anya began searching for meaning and healing in a world that suddenly felt broken. Her journey led her to the Justice Arts Coalition, a group that didn’t just talk about change, but created it by matching incarcerated artists with creative allies on the outside. Enter Cuong Tran, better known as Mike, a self-taught artist behind bars in California, whose raw

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July 8, 2026

From Survival to Second Chances: Anjel Ocegueda's Journey Toward a Better Future

Growing up near Chicago, Illinois, Anjel Ocegueda learned by age 13 that the environment around you can shape the course of your life. "The streets take a toll on you. Whether it's your environment, the people around you, or something that happens to your friends or family, you feel like you have to choose a side." As a sixth and seventh grader, Anjel excelled in school. He earned straight A's, made the honor roll, participated in sports, and envisioned a future built around higher education. H

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About the Host

Big Steve

Founder of PenPals.Buzz, Podcast Host

The founder of PenPals.Buzz and a former radio personality in San Francisco, Big Steve has extensive first-hand experience with both the prison system and a microphone. In 2014, he met his European wife, Anya, on a prison pen pal website. They married in his front yard in 2022. Big Steve worked for many years in corporate America, both as founder of a successful online retail business at the turn of the millennium, and as Marketing Director for a Fortune 500 company. Now that he's older and wiser, he hopes to make a difference in the lives of incarcerated men and women, and their loved ones. During the few minutes a day when he’s not working or sleeping, Steve enjoys chess, poker, football, wine tasting, carnitas nachos, reality TV shows, and sitting in his hot tub while thinking of ways to give incarcerated men and women a sense of hope and purpose, thereby reducing the recidivism rate. Big Steve lives in Northern California and has hosted the Prison Pen Pal Podcast since March, 2024. Email him at podcast@penpals.buzz

Reviews

This guy really knows his stuff

"Love how he can relate to the inmate guests so well. Great podcast and it really makes you think about how we judge others."

Breanne | March 9, 2026

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